12505 Cultural Center Drive • Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 • Tel: 909-477-2775 • Fax: 909-477-2774
NEWS RELEASE
MAINSTREET THEATRE COMPANY BRINGS CLASSIC ADVENTURE TALE "TREASURE ISLAND" TO THE STAGE MAY 8 AT LEWIS FAMILY PLAYHOUSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2010
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – The MainStreet Theatre Company wraps up its fourth season of high-quality, professional theatre for young audiences with the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale "Treasure Island." The production opens May 8 and runs through May 22 at Rancho Cucamonga's Lewis Family Playhouse in the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, 12505 Cultural Center Drive. Robert Castro directs this Jonathan Bolt adaptation.
"Treasure Island," one of classic literature's original pirate tales and "coming of age" stories, follows young Jim Hawkins' adventures on the high seas with Captain Smollet, Long John Silver and other larger-than-life characters aboard the Hispaniola. In their search for buried treasure they encounter dangerous pirates, double crosses and friendship. This is an adventure tale whose hallmarks are truth, loyalty and superb atmosphere, captured beautifully on-stage by The MainStreet Theatre Company.
"'Treasure Island' gave us ÔX Marks the Spot,' Ôpieces of eight,' and so many other things we still associate with pirate adventures," said Mireya (Murry) Hepner, MainStreet Theatre Company producer. "We're excited to bring this legacy to a new audience. The play stays true to the original text and doesn't water down the action. And, our set will transform the audience to the decks of the Hispaniola and the beaches of Treasure Island." Scenic Designer Victoria Petrovich's design includes sand covering part of the stage.
Jeremy Lelliott (Jim Hawkins) returns to MainStreet after portraying The Prince in their last production, "Cinderella," and was also in "Dreams of Anne Frank" in the Ô07/'08 season. Also returning to MainStreet are Matthew Henerson (Long John Silver) and Michael Manuel (Squire Trelawney, Blind Pew, Dirk). Rounding out the cast are, Mark McCracken (Benn Gunn, Israel Hands), Larry Reinhardt-Meyer (Doctor Livesey, Tom Morgan) and Andrew Ross-Wynn (Billy Bones, Captain Smollett, Harry).
This production's extraordinary creative team includes director Robert Castro, who also directed MainStreet's "Ferdinand the Bull" and "Dreams of Anne Frank." He has been an Artistic Associate at Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group and is a member of New York Theatre Workshop and Lincoln Center Theater Director's Lab. Raquel Barreto, costume designer, has recently designed "Philoketes" at the Getty Villa Theater Lab and "Uncle Vanya," "Pericles" and "The Triumph of Love" at the California Shakespeare Theater. Lighting design is by Jaymi Lee Smith, John Zalewski is sound designer and supplies original music, and fight choreographer is Brian Danner.
Stevenson (1850 - 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. He was 30 years old when he began writing "Treasure Island," which was his first success as a novelist. Other well-known works include "A Child's Garden of Verses," "Kidnapped," and "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
Bolt has written many plays, including six plays and musicals produced by Theatreworks USA, America's largest producer of theatre for young audiences. He is a principal director at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
"Treasure Island," appropriate for ages eight years and up, runs Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, and one Sunday matinee May 16 at 1:00 pm., which will also be interpreted in American Sign Language. The city also runs special weekday matinees for school children. Tickets are $16.50 for general admission, $14.50 for seniors, and $13.50 for youth up to age 12. Specially priced $8 tickets are available during the Target Family Weekend performances on May 8. For tickets, call the Lewis Family Playhouse Box Office at (909) 477-2752, (877) 858-8422 or visit www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com.
An intimate, 536-seat venue, the Lewis Family Playhouse is the crown jewel of the three-acre, 89,000-square foot Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. The complex is conveniently located off the I-15 at Foothill Boulevard, as a major anchor of Victoria Gardens. The Box Office is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 6:00 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with free parking available.
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For reservations to the Press Opening, Saturday, May 8, 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm, contact: sandy@aldrichpr.com
CALENDAR
The MainStreet Theatre Company presents Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" adapted by Jonathan Bolt (ages 8 and up) opening Saturday, May 8 at the Lewis Family Playhouse at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Directed by Robert Castro, this classic pirate tale is filled with swashbuckling and adventure. May 8 through May 22, Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm and one Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm May 16, will also be interpreted in American Sign Language. Tickets: $16.50 general admission, $14.50 seniors, $13.50 youth to age 12. Specially priced $8 tickets are available during the Target Family Weekend performances on May 8, (909) 477-2752, (877) 858-8422 or visit lewisfamilyplayhouse.com for tickets.
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Contact:
Sandy Smith, Larry Aldrich
Aldrich & Associates, Inc.
(562) 436-5156
or
Annette Mumolo
Lewis Family Playhouse
(909) 477-2775 ext. 2205