August 11 – 14, 2016 -Tickets: $35-$45 / Multiple Times Available
Escondido, CA — The California Center for the Arts, Escondido is proud to present the 2016/17 season opener Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show in partnership with North Coast Repertory Theatre, running fromAugust 11 – 14, 2016 in the Center Theater. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a roof-raising, sassy, sultry musical celebration of the legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. This rousing musical tribute will have audiences feeling like members of the high society of the ’20s and ’30s, tapping their feet to the rowdy songs, and experiencing the true essence of glory days of the Harlem Renaissance. Interviews and hi-res images are available upon request.
Richard Malty, Jr. and Murray Horwitz conceived the musical, and though it was originally created and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr., Yvette Freeman now directs Ain’t Misbehavin’. Freeman is known for her work as an actress on the television medical drama series, ER, and for replacing Nell Carter in the original Broadway production of Ain’t Misbehavin’.
The versatile cast of actors, Yvonne (Charlaine), Cynthia Thomas (Armelia), Ron Christopher Jones (Andre), Anise Ritchie (Nell), and Tony Perry (Ken), strut, strum and sing the songs that made Waller famous during his storied career. The cast is backed by a dedicated team of individuals, including Julia Lema (Choreographer), Lanny Hartley (Music Director/Pianist), Cindy Rumley (Stage Manager), Marty Burnett (Resident Scenic Designer), Matthew Novotny (Light Design), Melanie Chen (Sound Design),Anastasia Paulova (Costume Design), Andrew Gutierrez (Prop Design), and Peter Herman (Hair & Wig Design). Some of the singular songs that fans can expect to hear, include “Honeysuckle Rose,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” and dozens more.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ made its premiere on May 9, 1978 and later that year it went on to win three Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Nell Carter, and Best Direction of a Musical), two Theatre World Awards (Nell Carter and Armelia McQueen) and three Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical – Ken Page, and Outstanding Actress in a Musical – Nell Carter). The following year in 1979, the musical won a Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album.
Following the run at the North Coast Repertory Theatre, come experience Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Center from August 11 – 14, 2016!
About the California Center for the Arts, Escondido …With a mission of bringing people together to discover, create and celebrate both the visual and performing arts, the California Center for the Arts, Escondido is the cultural center of North San Diego County.
The Center’s unique campus includes a 1,523-seat concert hall, a 404-seat theater, a contemporary art museum, art and dance studios, and a full-service conference center with meeting and banquet facilities. The Center also runs an extensive education program and produces free community events. San Diego Magazine named the Center the “Best Limited Engagement” in North County, and the Center was named in the Top Five for U-T San Diego’s Readers Poll for “Best Live Music Venue.” In 2016, the Center was named “Organization of the Year” by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce.
The Center is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido. The Ticket Office can be reached at (800) 988-4253. Tickets can also be purchased online. To learn more, including performance dates, times and ticket information, visit artcenter.org.
California Center for the Arts, Escondido – 340 N. Escondido Blvd. – Escondido, CA 92025
