Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We’ve set a goal of raising 50k in just

We’ve set a goal of raising 50k in just 24 hours with #longbeachgives. Donate or share this link to help support our student matinees: https://www.longbeachgives.org/team/musical-theatre-west #musicaltheatrewest #raceto50k

Q&A with Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer at Musical Theatre West

Executive Director/Producer, Paul Garman, practicing the piano while his dog Cody sits at his feet.

Q: You have been with the organization for almost 50 years; what do you feel is MTW’s biggest accomplishment?

A: I’d say to have survived three location moves from Whittier to La Mirada to Long Beach, so to have had grown up in three different homes. And definitely to have grown from a small company into a regional theatre.

Q: In the last 10 years, what shows do you think have really made an impact on your audience?

A: Oh boy, I think RAGTIME did a tremendous impact. I think RENT did well with the younger audience, and SWEENEY TODD certainly did well too. Just within the last year, I think MAN OF LA MANCHA was over the top as well as SPAMALOT.

Q: Are there any reasons why you mentioned those shows is specific?

A: It always kind of depends on the mood of the country and with whatever else is going on in life at the moment. Like 1776 did really well since it was a historical show, and maybe it had to do with the fact that we put it on in July with the holiday around the corner. Whatever the reason, it really resonated with the audiences.

Q: I saw that you started out with the company as a performer, so how many of the shows have you made appearances in?

A: Not a lot. KING AND I was my first show back in 1963 when i played Louis. Then there was THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE MUSIC MAN, SOUTH PACIFIC and MAME. In total, I acted in about ten.

Q: If you could choose to play any role on Broadway, what would you pick?

A: I don’t know that I would since I went from being a performer to directly jumping into producing, so I don’t look at shows that way anymore.

Q: What about shows? Is there a show out there that you would ideally produce that you have not already?

A: No, I kind of enjoy every one that I’m doing. I think that maybe 42ND STREET’s, Julian Marsh, the guy that’s the producer in JULIAN MARSH. That’s kind of something similar to my life story, so maybe JULIAN MARSH is something that fits me?

Q: What aspect of being Executive Director/Producer do you love the most?

A: I think working with the actors, the performers, and the different patrons of the company. Knowing that what we are doing is really making a difference in people’s lives. Seeing the audience members come into the theatre and leaving with a big smile on their face, and realizing that at least for a couple of hours you’ve taken away from reality and made it into something fun. I think that’s what I enjoy the most. And I really love our youth programs. Anything we’re doing with kids is important to me.

Q: Do you think that is what had kept you with the company for so long?

A: [Musical Theatre West] is kind of my lot in life. I think with all the changing and the fact that we’re not a repertory company, so we don’t have the same actors. Another aspect that keeps me coming back is the difference in the cast every time, the constant impressions of the audience, and the new generations of performers that we’re always grooming and helping along.

Q: I saw that your forty-second season producers message talked about the company’s name change to Musical Theatre West. Do you think the name is finally going to stick?

A: I think so. We realized at that point that we needed to get away from just being La Mirada. There were lots of things going on in La Mirada at that point, so we realized we probably weren’t going to be able to stay there forever. The idea was just to expand into more regional names so that whatever community we’d go into would remain the same name.

Q: SPAMALOT marks the end of your 59th season. How do you feel about going into the 60th anniversary celebrations?

A: I think it’s going to be a great season. I think the fact that we’re entering into this next season with over a thousand new subscribers is very exciting. It think there’s a great energy and a great excitement with all the classic shows coming up.

Q: If you had to pick out one musical production that Musical Theatre West has put on over the years, which would you say is your absolute favorite?

A: People ask me that all the time. I have to say that I love the traditional Rogers and Hammerstein type musicals. Maybe it’s because it’s the first musical I was in, and I also just love THE SOUND OF MUSIC. I just feel they’re wonderful and classical musicals. I love the music in them, but I have enjoyed some of the newer ones too. I loved HOT MIKADO when we produced it because I thought it was really fun by taking a classic thing and giving it a twist. I enjoyed RAGTIME big time, and so I don’t think I have “A” favorite, but pretty much there weren’t any that I didn’t care for. I enjoyed each one.

Q: Is there any kind of message you want to leave your patrons with?

A: Just that we hope that we’ll be around for another sixty years continuing to entertain audiences and bringing them the best that Broadway has to offer. And really just helping lift the human spirit by musical theatre.

The End of the 59th Season

To  honor the end of Musical Theatre West’s 59th Season and to commemorate the life of Marvin Hamlisch (June 2, 1944-August 7, 2012), the composer of A CHORUS LINE, we have composed a video of some of MTW’s productions over the last few years. The song is titled, “One” and its reprisal is the finale of A CHORUS LINE.

We are very excited about the upcoming 60th Season shows, but we hope you’ve enjoyed our other productions as well.

Q&A with Kahlo Buffington, a FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE performer for MTW’s Education and Outreach Program

Kahlo Buffington in Wilson High School and Musical Theatre West’s collaborative production of FOOTLOOSE.

Q:  So I know that you performed as Eugene in a collaborative production of GREASE between Wilson High School and Musical Theatre West, but are there any other projects you have done with the company as well?

A: Yes, I have done FOOTLOOSE at my high school, but Musical Theatre West really did put on the production and I have done a  HAIRSPRAY workshop here. I’ve also done FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE and next year [Musical Theatre West] is going to help us put on a production, so that should be fun.

Q: What do you mean you did a HAIRSPRAY workshop here?

A: It was like a workshop that taught you a song from HAIRSPRAY called, “You Can’t Stop The Beat.” We had the choreographer FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE and she taught us in the rehearsal hall how the actual audition’s going to be and we had maybe an hour to learn the whole song, and sing and dance to it. It was fun.

Q: Which project do you think was your favorite?

A: I loved playing Willard in FOOTLOOSE because it was so cool. Willard is not the main guy, but he’s the second main guy. He’s the best friend of the main guy, which is Ren. In the beginning he can’t dance, but at the beginning of the second act they teach him how to dance in one whole number, and it’s supposed to like steal the show. It’s really colorful, a lot of dancing, and I got to sing my own song.

Q: PAGE TO THE STAGE productions started circulating around the Long Beach libraries two weeks ago. How did you get involved with the production?

A: For FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE, I actually didn’t audition because I was out of town. I kept bugging and bugging Sari to keep me in consideration, so when I got off the plane from Europe, I came back and I got the e-mail that I made it. I was so happy and it was so cool.

Q: How do you feel your involvement with MTW has impacted your experience and confidence with musical theatre and acting? Do you think it has made a big difference being involved with the Education and Outreach programs?

A:Without Musical Theatre West I wouldn’t be doing any of the stuff I’m doing right now because the first musical I’ve ever done was GREASE and Musical Theatre West practically put that on at my high school. It was a confidence booster, which was really great and a lot of fun. I didn’t really know I could sing before Musical Theatre West. They helped me come out a little bit with the singing; the acting I’ve always wanted to do, and the dancing I didn’t even know I was good at. My personal opinion and my frienship with Paul Garman is that he takes the time to actually get the money for these youth programs, he comes out and watches us, and he actually goes to performances because he wants the arts to live on.  I definitely recommend it to anybody who wants to get into the arts, but is kind of timid to try Musical Theatre West stuff.

Q: If you could play any character on Broadway, who would you choose to play?

A: I would love to be…can I say a couple? I would love to be almost any character in RENT.  I love RENT because I love the music and the story is really great, and I understand that if you’re not in a play and you say, “Oh yeah, I love that musical and I could do it over and over again,” and you won’t get bored of it, but I don’t think I would bored of that one. That’s just a great story and I love it. My number one is to be Link Larkin in HAIRSPRAY because I love the Elvis thing. I love the 50s and 60s era, I love Rock and Roll, and just being an icon is so cool. I would want to be Conrad Birdie if we do BYE, BYE, BIRDIE because it’s very Elvis-like.

Q: Do you think you’ll eventually try out and perform for MTW shows in the future?

A: I totally want to. Really, a lot. I would love to be in it. I already talked to Paul about it, but the problem is that he doesn’t have musicals that need kid roles for now. I looked at all of their musicals for next season. Like A CHORUS LINE is all adults, OKLAHOMA! is all adults, sadly, or I would love to do that. 42ND STREET I have no idea, and SUNSET BOULEVARD is the same way. I would totally want to when I’m older though. I want to eventually belong to a union.

Broadway in the Park Volunteer Appreciation

Volunteers put together silent auction baskets to raise funds for MTW’s Education and Outreach programs. Photo by Amaryllis Velasco

Broadway in the Park is just around the corner, but it’s still not too late to buy your tickets for the event.

We here at Musical Theatre West would like to give a big thank you to everyone who has been volunteering and donating their time and money to make this event come to life, but a special mention goes out to Jaymi Rhoads, Kathy Biggs, Susan Nathon and Debbie Whitaker for working relentlessly all week to creating such wonderful baskets for our silent auction items.

One of the various auction baskets up for grabs this Saturday at Broadway in the Park.

“Im very excited about the event since we think it’s a wonderful charity. We’re just happy to help out,” said Rhoads. “The four of us [volunteers] have been friends for a long time, and we just hope everyone comes out to bid on these amazing items.”

Broadway in the Park is truly a community-involved event, and we look forward to all the fabulous performances, cuisine, and auctions coming up ahead.

Musical Theatre West Youth Conservatory

Pupils from the 2012 Summer Youth Conservatory practicing for the showcase on July 20, 212. Photo by Amaryllis Velasco

Great News! For any students interested in pursuing more workshops with theatre professionals, Musical Theatre West is happy to announce a potential for more workshops on Saturdays throughout the Fall 2012 semester.

There may even be an added Summer Youth Conservatory session during either the second or third week of August, depending on student interest and staff availability.

For more information, contact our Education/Outreach Coordinator, Sari Rose Poll

(562) 856-1999 (x225)     or       sari@musical.org

Q&A with Lacie Turcott, Box Office Assistant

Musical Theatre West’s Box Office Assistant and crew member, Lacie Turcott. Photo by Amaryllis Velasco

Q: How long have you been here at Musical Theatre West?

A: I’ve been working crew since October and I’ve been working in the box office since January.

Q: What do you mean by “working crew”?

A: For HAIRSPRAY  I did the load in and load out, which means the construction work of the set, setting everything up and making sure everything looks right for the show. During the run of HAIRSPRAY I was backstage doing crew work by moving the sets back and forth on and off the stage and that sort of thing. I also do the occasional load in and load out for the shows whenever they need me.

Q: How did you get involved with the company in the first place?

A: I found a posting online that they needed help for load in for HAIRSPRAY  and since I got along with everybody then they kept calling me back for jobs whenever they needed a hand around the warehouse helping out with the shows. And it’s a lot of fun and cool being part of that process to do the super behind the scenes stuff.

Q: What were you doing before you started working here?

A: Before I got here I was living in Louisville, Kentucky. I had been working at a box-making factory. I just moved here actually. I moved and then I got the job here working crew.

Q: If you could play any character on Broadway who would you choose to be?

A: I would say Edgar in BATBOY because that is my dream role and it’s my favorite show. It’s also adorable and hilarious. The music in the show is great, and I think I would make a ridiculously awesome Bat Boy.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of working here in the box office?

A: Providing excellent customer service to our patrons and seeing all the antics that everybody here gets up. Being a part of musical theatre in any capacity is awesome and gratifying.

Musical Theatre West’s Summer Youth Conservatory Showcase 2012

Students from Musical Theatre West’s Summer Youth Conservatory performed a showcase on July 20, 2012 for friends and family. We here at Musical Theatre West are very proud of all our students and we hope everybody got a chance to enjoy the show!

If any students are interested in pursuing Saturday workshops during the school year or the one-week workshop in the month of August, please contact Paul Garman for more information.

Broadway in the Park

Come for a Taste of Musical Theatre West’s 6oth Anniversary Season at Broadway in the Park

Enjoy a harmonious and savory night under the stars with Broadway in the Park’s sumptuos three-course dinner spread, while basking in the regales of preview performances for Musical Theatre West’s 60th Anniversary Season shows. Broadway in the Park provides much of the needed funding for our Education and Outreach programs, which introduce thousands of children to the joy and magic of live theatre each year, as well as other vital programs and services. There is an enchanting lineup of musical entertainment planned, along with amazing goods and services to bid on during the silent auction, such as event tickets and even travel getaways. Make sure to purchase opportunity drawing tickets for wonderful prizes and take a chance on your luck at the Mystery Wine Wall.

Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 6:00pm (VIP 4:30pm)

Park Estates, Corner of El Cedral Street and La Perla Avenue, Long Beach

Valet parking available

Attire is Country Club Casual (Comfortable shoes are recommended)

Tickets: $200 ($150 tax deductible)

Registration and Silent Auction will begin at 5:00PM. Entertainment starts at 6:00PM

VIP Tickets: $275 ($200 tax deductible)

Includes a reception sponsored by MTW Footlighters 4:30PM to 5:45PM with cocktails & hors d’oeuvers. VIP Registration begins at 4:00PM

Underwritten by Joe and Edna Moore.