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Award-Winning Local Theatre Group To Stage Into the Woods at the Lyceum Theatre

California Youth Conservatory Theatre (CYC), San Diego’s premier training theatre for serious young performers for over 10 years, is in rehearsal for a spring production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. The show will be produced and directed by CYC’s award-winning founder, Shaun T. Evans. Since 2003, San Diego theatre-goers have been treated to CYC’s outstanding programming which features bold and ambitious projects with professional guest performers and collaborators. In the summer of 2013, CYC produced San Diego’s first presentation of the new Broadway version of Les Misèrables, which was co-directed by Evans and special guest director Thomas O’Leary, who played the title character in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. That production garnered the group a Bravo San Diego award for “Best Musical” from the San Diego Performing Arts League—an honor never before bestowed on a youth theatre group. Additionally, the production hit a national high for box-office sales with a six-figure take in only a two-week run. Prior to that, the group gained attention with several ‘first-ever’ productions for a youth company, including the world’s first-ever youth theatre productions of RENT, Ragtime and Aaron Sorkin’s play, A Few Good Men. As evidence of the group’s local acclaim, CYC Theatre also won the “Best Theatre Group” title on the San Diego A-List Awards for three consecutive years (2011, 2012 and 2013).

Producer/Director Shaun T. Evans has assembled an impressive team for this production, including a stellar cast which includes five well-known, Equity performers. Atop this list of professional guest performers is renowned San Diego power-house, Leigh Scarritt as The Witch. Also appearing in the production are award-winning actors Tom Andrew as The Baker, Bryan Stanton (of the San Diego Actor’s Alliance) as The Prince and Shaun T. Evans himself as The Mysterious Man. These seasoned, experienced pros will be performing alongside a cast of 35 of San Diego’s very finest young performers like Ms. Meghan McKenzie, the stunningly talented soprano who played Cosette in CYC’s production of Les Miz and Grace Farrell in CYC’s recent production of Annie, Jr. at the Lyceum Theatre.

CYC Theatre pioneered the trend-setting model of pairing aspiring young performers with seasoned professional performers who serve as mentors for the student performers. This mentor-based training model has served CYC’s students very well as many of them have gone on to professional careers at very young ages. In its 11 short years of programming, CYC has already sent three of its ‘native sons’ to Broadway, and is celebrating the third CYC alumnus to appear on “American Idol.”

The company’s founder, Shaun T. Evans, recently experienced some major health issues and spent several months in the critical-care ward at Scripps hospital in La Jolla. The hospital stay, and the many invasive surgical procedures he endured during the summer and fall of last year left him unable to finish two major projects the company had started. Of this new production of Into the Woods, Evans says, “This is going to be a big one. All of our eggs are in this basket because it’s my ‘I’m back’ show. Last year, I went out with a whimper but this year, I’m coming back with a bang. Part of that was getting some ‘heavy-hitters’ to be in the cast with my students, which is why I’m so excited about having someone like Leigh Scarritt in the show. I’ve been dying to collaborate with her for years now and the stars just lined up for us on this one. Another part is bringing in a full live orchestra. Recorded music just wouldn’t do for this one.”

This show will preview on Saturday, April 11th at 1pm and officially open that same night at 7pm at the Lyceum Theatre. All patrons in attendance that night will be treated to a complimentary champagne and dessert reception after the show. Tickets range in price from $18 to $32, with discounts available for students, seniors and military personnel. There will also be at least one morning performance for school groups with a special $6 ticket price. For more information, go to www.cyctheatre.com or call 619-944-7574. To order tickets directly, call the Lyceum Theatre box office at 619-544-1000. For a complete cast-list, cast photos and other materials, please see the PRESS page on www.cyctheatre.com.

WHAT: California Youth Conservatory Theatre presents Into the Woods starring Leigh Scarritt at the Lyceum Theatre

WHERE: The Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza. 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

WHEN: April 11th through April 19th, 2015.

April 11th @ 1pm and 7pm;
April 12th @ 1pm and 7pm
April 15th-17th @ 7pm
April 18th @ 1pm and 7pm
April 19th @ 1pm
Special SCHOOLS-ONLY Matinee April 17th @ 10am.

Principal Cast:
The Baker: Tom Andrew**
The Baker’s Wife: Meghan McKenzie
The Witch: Ms. Leigh Scarritt**/Sara Ah Sing
Cinderella: Gabi Leibowitz/Olivia Hodson
Jack: Nick Lux/Riley Cavanaugh
Jack's Mother: Kacey Ross-McGrath
Rapunzel: Hannah Green
Little Red Riding Hood: Katie Thomas/Megan Spector
The Wolf: Erik Ramirez
Cinderella’s Prince: Ben Read
Rapunzel’s Prince: Bryan Stanton**
The Narrator: Dr. Chris Hoolihan
Mysterious Man: Shaun T. Evans**
Cinderella’s Mother: Amy McDowell

Other Cast:
Cinderella's Stepmother: Elizabeth Blust
Lucinda: Madeline Aldecoa/Olivia Wiese
Florinda: Kristen Bollinger/Sarah Mehling
The Giant: Sage Tellew
Snow White: Amiet Scheidegger
The Steward: Wyatt Chapman
Sleeping Beauty: Alana Austin

Ensemble Cast:
Alana Austin
Cassandra Blust
Kira Blust
Tiffany Buu
Justin Canning
Diana Danner
Savion Dozier-Schad
Abraham German
Macey Groves
Natalie Marrewa
Kaitlyn McCormick
Angelica Montiel
Eileen Parks
Natalie Racanelli
Alice Rickless
Vianne Schwaebe
Cassandra Shellum
Mimi Weisenberg
Alisha Werry
Jasmine Werry
Olivia Weise

**Appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
For Full Cast List, please go to www.cyctheatre.com

Tickets: www.cyctheatre.com or www.lyceumevents.org or by calling the Lyceum Theatre box office at 619-544-1000. Significantly discounted group ticket rates available. For groups, call 619-944-7574.