Seven Exciting Musicals Set for CYT – February and March 2008 

            Students enrolled in CYT’s Winter 2008 classes will present seven musical theater productions for family audiences to be performed at theater venues across San Diego County. Each production features student performers and stage crew ranging in age from 8 to 18 in a fully-staged musical, guaranteed to offer quality, live theater entertainment for audiences of all ages to enjoy. All seats are reserved and tickets are available for all productions by calling 619-588-0206 or 800-696-1929. Tickets are also available at each theater location one half hour prior to each performance. Ticket prices are $11 for adults and $9 for youth (ages 3-19), ECPAC show prices reflect a renovation fee and are $2 more. Attendees of the Bargain Day performance and groups of 10 or more receive a discounted rate at the child’s price.

            Fallbrook - Tie-dyed t-shirts, bell-bottomed jeans, hip-huggers, and go-go boots are coming back in style with CYT’s adventure on stage, Bridge to Terabithia. Based on the Newbery Award-winning children's book, this musical met with rave reviews on its San Diego premier. Bridge to Terabithia director, Paul Russell, was astounded at the response. "We knew this book was required reading by most schools in the San Diego School District, but we never anticipated the crowds. Our school day performances were packed!" The story is about a shy boy (Jesse), the new girl in town (Leslie), and the friendship that blossoms between them as they create their own imaginary kingdom of Terabithia. It's there that Leslie finds unconditional acceptance, and Jesse finds the courage to be himself. Performance dates for Bridge to Terabithia are February 29, March 7 & 8 at 7:00 p.m., March 2 at 2:30 p.m., March 1 & 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bob Burton Center: 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook 92028. The Bargain Day performance is Saturday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m.

            Escondido – Cinderella is the magical story of an over-worked step-daughter whose fairy god-mother fulfills her wish to attend the Prince's ball. It's the magic of Cinderella's charm, however, that sends the Prince searching for the owner of the glass slipper. Rodgers and Hammerstein balance the romance with zany comedy and have produced great entertainment. Performance dates for Cinderella are February 29, March 1, 7 & 8 at 7:00 p.m., March 2, 8 & 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the American Spirit Theater: 1868 East Valley parkway, Escondido 92027. The Bargain Day performance is Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m.

            El Cajon – Annie is the comic strip that will live forever in the young at heart. Join Annie as she searches for her lost parents and finds love and security in the home of billionaire Daddy Warbucks. This Tony Award-winning musical for best book, score and musical has touched the lives of millions as it played in New York for over three years and over 2,000 shows. Such show-stopping numbers as "Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" and, of course, "Tomorrow" are sure to bring down the house. Don't miss out on Annie Jr. – be a part of this exciting musical comedy that has become part of Americans’ lives. Performance dates are February 22, 23, 29 & March 1 at 7:00 p.m. and February 24, March 1 & 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the East County Performing Arts Center: 210 East Main St, El Cajon 92020. The Bargain Day Performance is Friday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.

            San Diego – Oliver, set in 19th century England, is about a courageous young boy from the workhouses. Despite his struggles with poverty, mistreatment and lawbreaking companions, Oliver remains sweet and virtuous. In the face of tremendous peer pressure he was a type of hero, and he touched the lives of many people. Originally written by Charles Dickens to expose the harsh injustices of the British child labor practices, Lionel Bart's musical adaptation of Oliver mellows the story with music and humor while telling the desperate story of Oliver Twist.  Performance dates are February 29, March 7 & 8 at 7:00 p.m. and March 1, 2 & 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Pacific Beach Middle School: 4676 Ingraham, San Diego 92109. The Bargain performance is on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00p.m.

    Oceanside – Honk! is a musical retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling. With a book and score provided by British songwriting duo Stiles and Drewe (George Stiles and Anthony Drewe) aimed mostly at children and their parents, Honk! opened in 1993 at The Watermill Theatre in Newbury, originally titled "The Ugly Duckling or the Aesthetically Challenged Farmyard Fowl". A revised version opened at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in 1997 under the name Honk!. The story features an ugly duckling who discovers his inner beauty by becoming a swan, his tearful mother Ida, his dad, who 'ducks' his responsibilities, a gaggle of comical geese, a sly tomcat who just wants to play with his food, a wisecracking bullfrog, and other such barnyard creatures together with lots of 'fowl' puns that would make Shakespeare balk. Memorable songs include "A Poultry Tale," "Warts and All," "Look at Him," "Play With Your Food," "Now I've Seen You," and "Different". Performance dates are February 23 & March 1 at 7:00 p.m. and February 23, 24, March 1 & 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the El Camino High School Truax Center: 400 Rancho Del Oro Dr, Oceanside 92057. The Bargain Day performance is Sunday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m.

            Chula Vista - It's remarkable! Fantastic! Entertaining! Yes, Charles M. Schulz has done it again. SNOOPY!!!, the musical sequel to YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, deserves each of its three exclamation points. Based on the world renowned "Peanuts" comic strip, it delights every audience with the quiet knowledge and wit of its characters. Musical numbers include The Big Bow-Wow, Don't Be Anything Less (Than Everything You Can Be), Where Did That Little Dog Go and Daisy Hill. Performance dates are March 28 & 29 at 7:00 p.m., March 29 at 3:00 p.m. and March 30 at 1:00p.m. & 4:00 p.m. at the Eastlake High School Performing Arts Center: 1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista 91915. Bargain Day performance is Saturday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m.

    Ramona - A musical based on one of the great English classics, The Jungle Book comes to life on stage as never before. As far as anyone knows there is no other children's musical based on Rudyard Kipling's exotic tale of the young boy named Mowgli who was raised in the jungles of India by a pack of wolves. There he learns the laws of the jungle from his good friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther. The beauty of this book is the variety of adventures that Mowgli has and the various characters that he meets. Kaa the snake, King Louie the leader of the monkeys in the jungle, Shere Khan the dangerous Bengal Tiger and, of course, the beautiful young girl from the "real people" village are just some of the unforgettable characters Mowgli encounters. The Jungle Book performances are March 8 & 15 at 7:00 p.m., and March 9 & 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ramona Mainstage Theater: 626 Main St., Ramona 92065.