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At Umpqua Community College in Oregon

Summer musical theatre festival adds 2 more stages, 2 more shows

	News Release 07-127-D	For more information:
	Release date: 04/04/08	Bentley Gilbert
	For immediate release	(541) 440-7747
	http://www.umpqua.edu/

Roseburg, Oregon— The popular summer musical theatre at Umpqua Community College in southern Oregon, is mounting a total of three different plays this year, one for each of its stages – including the new Swanson Amphitheatre. For many years, UCC has produced one summer musical staged in the Jacoby Auditorium.

The newly-formed Oregon Musical Theatre Festival at UCC will open this summer on Thursday, July 24, with Cinderella, in the College’s 1,010-seat Jacoby Auditorium. That is joined by openings of The Fantasticks, in the 180-seat Centerstage Theatre, and The Last Five Years, in the new outdoor Swanson Amphitheatre, on Friday, July 25. Each show continues July 26, 27, 31, August 1, 2, and 3. The Fantasticks has a special showing on Monday, July 28, and The Last Five Years on Monday, August 4. The curtain rises on evening shows at 7:30 pm, and on matinees at 2 pm. Depending on the show, theatre and time, ticket prices range from $10 to $30. For specific times and prices, consult the website at www.oregonmtf.com.

The Oregon Musical Theatre Festival has just been formed this summer at UCC. In this, its first reason, it will stage a two-week run of 24 performance of three different shows performed in reparatory.

For young fans of Cinderella, the Oregon Musical Theatre Festival will feature an exciting fantasy tea party and photo session with leading characters. The day is expected to be one of imaginary pleasure for everyone.

The Fantasticks, the longest-running musical in the world, is a moving tale of young lovers who become disillusioned, only to discover more mature, meaningful love, and is punctuated by catchy, memorable songs, many of which have become standards.

Cinderella is a musical retelling of perhaps the best-loved fairytale of all time. The story unfolds in a swirl of sumptuous spectacle, magnificent music, and breathtaking choreography as we travel to a faraway land where a handsome prince searches for the beautiful owner of a dainty crystal slipper.

The Last Five Years is a contemporary song-cycle musical that ingeniously chronicles the five-year life of a marriage. The show is presented in “forward time” as we follow the story of Jamie and Cathy’s relationship. Made up of solo turns with beautiful music, humor and heartfelt lyrics, it is only in the middle of the show that they come together as Jamie proposes and the two are wed.

Dean Remick, the artistic director of the Oregon Musical Theatre Festival, has been instructing theatre classes at Umpqua Community College since 1985. Remick’s desire to produce high quality entertainment, respect for the discipline, and a passion for detail shows in every performance. He has directed a variety of drama, comedy and musical performances, as well as acclaimed productions of such world-popular shows as Oklahoma, Hello Dolly, Sweeny Todd, and Beauty and the Beast.

Dr. Jason Heald, the musical director of the Oregon Musical Theatre Festival, has taught vocal and instrumental music at Umpqua Community College since 1998. He conducts one of the Northwest’s premiere vocal jazz groups, the Umpqua Singers. They perform well-known jazz standards, popular favorites and original selections. In addition to being an active conductor and clinician, Heald is a prolific composer, with works published by ChoralWeb, UNC Jazz Press, Plymouth Music and Call of the Wild Publishing. Heald was selected as a finalist in the 21st Annual Ithaca College of Music Choral Composition Competition and also was the recipient of an ASCAP 2002-2003 Award.

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