The Willows presents a Dickens of a show!

Oliver!, Lionel Bart’s beloved musical based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel plays through December 31 at the Willows Theatre

November 7 - December 31, 2005: tickets on sale now 

Concord, CA.  October 12, 2005 – Charles Dickens’ greatest characters, Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sikes and The Artful Dodger, spring to life on the Willows Theatre stage this holiday season in Oliver!, Lionel Bart’s adaptation of the classic Dickens novel Oliver Twist.  The musical chronicles the adventures of the orphaned boy Oliver as he escapes his bleak workhouse existence, journeys to London, and is taken in by a gang of apprentice pickpockets working for master thief Fagin while learning their trade.  When Oliver is falsely accused of exposing the gang by the frightening Bill Sikes, he begins to realize he has more friends than he thought.

With its vivid characters and engaging plot, Oliver Twist has come to life through dramatic interpretations time and time again since the novel's first publication in 1838.  Of the numerous staged versions, the best loved and most successful is Bart's musical Oliver!  The show debuted in London in 1960, the first time the story had ever been told in a musical format.  It was an instant hit, and after transferring to New York in 1963, it became Broadway's longest-running British musical to date.  The show's unforgettable songs include "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," "Where is Love?," "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two," "I'd Do Anything," "Oom-Pah-Pah," and "As Long As He Needs Me."  Oliver! was nominated for 10 Tony awards and won three: Best Composer & Lyricist; Best Conductor & Musical Director; and Best Scenic Designer.

Willows Theatre Artistic Director Richard Elliott will direct the show, which opens November 11 and runs through December 31, 2005, at the Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Boulevard, Concord, CA.  Preview performances begin November 7.

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Lionel Bart’s earliest efforts included lyrics for the London musical Lock Up Your Daughters (1959) and both words and music for the popular British hit Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1960).  But his greatest claim to fame may be that he restored the faded fortunes of the British stage musical with Oliver! (1960).  It was the first British musical to enjoy international success since Noel Coward's revues three decades earlier. The songs "Consider Yourself," "Oom-Pah-Pah" and "As Long As He Needs Me" became standards, and the 1968 movie version won the Academy Award for Best Film.  However, Bart's later musicals – including Blitz! (1962) and Maggie May (1964) – had little life beyond their London runs.  In an ill-advised move, he sold his valuable rights to Oliver! to finance the ill-fated musical Twang (1965) -- a decision that cost him millions.  His later years were often plagued by debt and chemical dependency.  After Bart's death, Andrew Lloyd Webber hailed him as "the father of the modern British musical."

THE CAST

The Willows Theatre production of Oliver! has a cast of 40, with many of the roles being double cast.  Three young men will be seen in the title of role of Oliver:

Matthew Dragicevic (Martinez) is an 8-year-old 3^rd grader attending John Swett Elementary School in Martinez.  Matthew’s theater experience includes performances of The Nutcracker and The Nutcracker Gone Nuts with California Academy of Ballet; supernumerary work with Festival Opera; and the role of Schroeder in the Willows Theatre Conservatory production of Snoopy.

Bryce Gerson (Walnut Creek) is making his regional theater debut at the Willows.  He entered the theater scene with school performances as Bert in Mary Poppins and as Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  Bryce has taken vocal lessons from both CTA and voice teacher Frank Ryken.  When he is not rehearsing or singing, you can find him out on the soccer fields with the Walnut Creek Soccer Club.

Zachary Sorenson (Orinda) is 11 years old and is a 6th grader at Orinda Intermediate School.  He is appearing in his first production at the Willows.  He previously performed the title role in Oliver! in his elementary school production, as well as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, and is currently appearing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – all directed by fellow Oliver! cast-member Ron Pickett.  Zachary plays the violin and piano, and enjoys soccer, basketball and tennis.

Two young performers familiar to Willows audiences will be playing the role of The Artful Dodger:

David Beal (Orinda) recently appeared as Rudy in the Willows production of Over the Tavern and in the Willows Conservatory production of Urinetown.  He also was seen at the Willows as a Town Boy in The Night of the Hunter last fall, as a Newsboy in Gypsy last summer, and as a Young Storyteller in Children of Eden in February 2004.  He played the role of Papa Ge in Once on this Island at the Orinda Intermediate School, where he is currently in 7^th grade.  His other school productions include Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye) and Oliver (Artful Dodger).  David’s other hobbies include performing magic tricks, watching and making movies, and playing tuba and piano.

Daniel Lachman (Walnut Creek) has performed on numerous occasions with the Willows Theatre, most recently as Kurt in The Sound of Music and as Davy Muir in John Muir’s Mountain Days.  Last year, Daniel created the role of John Harper in the world premiere of The Night of the Hunter, for which he received a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award (Supporting Actor – Musical).  Other Willows appearances include Children of Eden and Big River.  Daniel has also performed with Solano College Theatre in Beauty and the Beast and Seussical!; with Diablo Light Opera Company in The Wizard of Oz; and with Center REPertory in On Borrowed Time, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and A Christmas Carol.

Fagin – Robert Rossman* (Oakland) has appeared in the Willows Theatre productions of 1776 (Benjamin Franklin), Jekyll & Hyde (Sir Danvers Carew), and Here’s Love (Kris Kringle).  Other regional acting credits include the TheatreWorks productions of Ragtime (J.P. Morgan) and You Can’t Take It With You (Mr. Kirby).  Mr. Rossman has appeared throughout the Bay Area in productions of Damn Yankees (Mr. Applegate), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye), Oliver (Fagin), Lend Me a Tenor (Saunders), Rain (Rev. Davidson), Diary of Anne Frank (Otto Frank), Moon Over Buffalo (George Hay), and Noises Off (Selsdon).  Some of his local directorial projects have included Diary of Anne Frank, The Odd Couple, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Ladies in Retirement, Play On, and Crimes of the Heart.

Nancy – Gina Green* (Concord) This is Gina’s second appearance on the Willows stage.  She was previously seen as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific.  Gina most recently appeared in the extended run of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in Sacramento.  Other Bay Area credits include: Me & My Girl (Mrs. Brown) at Marin Theatre Company; The Last Five Years (Cathy u/s) at Playhouse West; Promises, Promises (Miss Olsen) at Pacific Alliance Stage Co.; and the world premiere of Just Two Words (Carol).  She was in the national tour of Mame (Gloria) and toured throughout Russia with the dance ensemble Orlyata

Bill Sikes – Steven Durflinger (Lafayette) returns to the Willows after last appearing in 1982’s The Sound of Music, where he was seen in the role of Rolf.  Since relocating back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles in 2002, local audiences may remember him from his performance as the Captain in CCMT’s Shellie-winning Titanic.  Other Bay Area credits include leading or supporting roles in George M!, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Shellie winner), Oklahoma, Guys & Dolls, Sugar, and My Fair Lady for CCMT; Fiddler on the Roof, Li'l Abner, Promises, Promises, at the Willows in the 1980’s; and numerous productions for Diablo Valley College, Solano College, Onstage, and Woodminster Amphitheatre.

*Member, Actors’ Equity Association

PRODUCTION TEAM

As artistic director of the Willows since 1986, director Richard Elliott has overseen the company’s growth from a small community theater to a nationally recognized professional LORT theater company, recipient of two NEA grants for the commission of new outdoor drama, and has overseen the development and production of more than 15 new plays and musicals.  Elliott has directed over 100 productions, garnered two Shellie awards, and won the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle director’s award for the West Coast premiere of Brimstone.  He has produced and directed the acclaimed musical John Muir’s Mountain Days, based on the life of environmentalist John Muir, and is currently overseeing the development of a newly commissioned piece, Sacagawea.  Mr. Elliott is a past recipient of the Arts Recognition Award from the Arts & Cultural Commission of Contra Costa County.  He holds a B.A. in Theatre from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona, where he was a guest director in 2005.

The design team for Oliver! includes Shaun Carroll (Properties and Set Dressing), Jon Retsky (Lighting), Aiyana Trotter (Scenery), Loran Watkins (Costumes), and John Koss (Sound).  Jon M. Marshall* is production stage manager.  Dan Uroff will provide the rousing choreography.  Andrew Holtz is Musical Director.

Ticket and Schedule Information

Tickets are $30-$35 with discounts for students (6-18), seniors (65+), and groups (10+).  To purchase tickets call (925) 798-1300 or visit the Willows Theatre Company Web site at www.willowstheatre.org.  Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.

The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. next to CompUSA and REI in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord, across the street from the Concord Hilton and one block east of the Willow Pass Road exit off Highway 680.

The Willows Theatre Company daytime box office is located at 1425 Gasoline Alley, Concord, at the corner of Bisso Lane, one block north of Concord Avenue.  The daytime box office hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday Noon-5 p.m.  The theatre box office and will-call window, located in the theater lobby, opens one hour prior to each performance. For more information call (925) 798-1300.

Recipient of the 2002 Cyril Award of the San Francisco Business Arts Council for Nonprofit Arts Excellence, the Willows Theatre Company is led by Artistic Director Richard Elliott and Managing Director Andrew Holtz. The Willows Theatre Company 2005 sponsors are Rocco’s Pizzeria of Walnut Creek, Industrial Lumber of Martinez, Contra Costa Newspapers, Alphagraphics of Walnut Creek, The Crowne Plaza Concord, and US Bank (student/teacher discount ticket sponsor).