FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Douglas
Morrisson
Theatre
22311 N. Third St.
Hayward, CA
(510) 881-6777
www.dmtonline.org
Mailing address:
Theatre, c/o H.A.R.D.
1099 E Street
Hayward, CA
94541
Media contact: Susan E. Evans, Bob Miller
Media phone: (510) 881-6733
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
2014-2015 Season: JOURNEYS
DOUGLAS MORRISSON THEATRE CONTINUES ITS 2014-2015 SEASON WITH
GLORIOUS MUSICAL CANDIDE
October 15, 2014 – The Douglas Morrisson Theatre continues its 35th Season with
the musical CANDIDE, Royal National Theatre Version, with music by Leonard
Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, in a new version by John
Caird; and lyrics by Richard Wilbur, additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John
Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein. Featuring Leonard
Bernstein's soaring score and lyrics from some of the wittiest writers of all time, this
rollicking musical satire chronicles the lives and loves of Candide, a simple soul
whose glass is always half-full.
Candide will have 15 performances, including one preview, Nov. 6 through
November 30, 2014, at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St. in
Hayward, CA. Tickets are $10-$29, and are available through the Box Office at (510)
881-6777 or online at www.dmtonline.org.
DMT’s production features an ensemble of local performers: Andy Ramirez as
Candide, Angela Jarosz as Cunegonde, Geoffrey Colton as Pangloss, Tina Marzell as
the Old Woman, Anna Joham as Paquette, Johnny Villar as Maximilian and Tom
Reilly as Voltaire.
Candide is a musical/operetta based on the 1759 novel by Voltaire, Candide, or
Optimism. One of the most celebrated examples of the genre of satire in modern
literature, Voltaire’s picaresque novella satirized the fashionable philosophies of his
day and, especially, the Catholic church. Candide, Cunegonde, Paquette,
Maximilian, Dr. Pangloss and the old lady with one buttock survive numerous
calamities but never give up their search for truth in this "best of all possible
worlds.” Candide travels far and wide, from Westphalia, to Bavaria, Holland, Paris,
Vienna, Portugal, Spain, Paraguay, El Dorado, Surinam, Tunisia, Venice and, finally,
the Carnian mountains of Italy. Mentally, he bounces back and forth between the
philosophies of optimism and pessimism, and, ultimately, lands in neither universe.
In the last song, Make Our Garden Grow, Candide sums up what he has learned:
A Program and
Facility of the
Hayward Area
Recreation and
Park District
Life is neither good nor bad
Life is life and all we know
Good and bad and joy and woe
Are woven fine
…
We’ll do the best we know
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"Candide … at the National Theatre … is an unqualifying triumph: a classy,
funny, moving, uplifting warm and tender musical that sends you delirious
out into the night." - The News of The World
HISTORY OF CANDIDE, THE MUSICAL
Candide has enjoyed a complex and somewhat checkered history, involving
numerous changes to score and libretto. In 1953, the celebrated playwright
Lillian Hellman suggested to Leonard Bernstein that they adapt Voltaire's
Candide for the musical theater. The original version of Candide opened on
Broadway on December 1, 1956, with a book by Hellman, music by
Bernstein, and lyrics by poet Richard Wilbur, John Latouche and Dorothy
Parker. The production featured a distinguished cast, including future
Broadway legend Barbara Cook as Cunegonde. But the show ran only 73
performances, and 18 years elapsed before the show headed back to
Broadway.
For the 1973 production, Hugh Wheeler crafted a new libretto, as well as a
revised score and new lyrics, along with Stephen Sondheim. Harold Prince’s
staging surrounded the audience with the action. The production
subsequently transferred to Broadway in March, 1974. More revisions
ensued. New versions premiered with the New York City Opera in 1982 and
with the Scottish Opera in 1988. Bernstein’s “final revised version,”
which Bernstein himself conducted in concert form, was recorded in 1989.
DMT presents John Caird’s 1999 Royal National Theatre adaptation which also
included new lyrics from Richard Wilbur. Caird returned to Voltaire’s original satirical
novel, expanded on the one-act 1973 version, added characters, rearranged scenes
and restored songs that had been cut from subsequent versions. Leonard Bernstein
once said that there was more of himself in his musical Candide than in any of his
other famed works, including West Side Story.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
COMPOSER
Leonard Bernstein (1918- 1990) was an internationally celebrated musician,
conductor, composer, educator, humanitarian and one of the most influential
figures in music in the 20th century. He served as Music Director of the New York
Philharmonic for over a decade, and conducted with some of the world’s major
orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic.
Throughout his life, Bernstein placed great emphasis on education, especially of
young people, performing “Young People’s Concerts” for over 14 seasons.
Compositions include Symphonies No. 1, 2 and 3 (Jeremiah, The Age of Anxiety,
Kaddish); Serenade, Five Anniversaries, Chichester Psalms, Songfest, Divertimento for
Orchestra, Missa Brevis, Arias and Barcarolles and Concerto for Orchestra. His stage
musicals include On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, and the hugely popular
West Side Story. In addition to West Side Story, Bernstein also collaborated with
choreographer Jerome Robbins on three major ballets: Fancy Free, Facsimile, and
Dybbuk. His numerous honors and awards included the Tony Award for
Distinguished Achievement in the Theatre, 11 Emmy Awards, the Lifetime
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Achievement Grammy Award, induction into the American Society of Arts and
Letters and the Kennedy Center Honors.
DIRECTOR
Michael Mohammed has received acclaim as a director, choreographer,
and performer. Directing credits: The Full Monty (ACT, MFA program), X: The Life &
Times of Malcolm X (Oakland Opera Theater), Wilde Boys (New Conservatory
Theater, BACC winner: Best Musical), The Unsung Diva (NY Fringe Festival), The
Marriage of Figaro (Opera On Tap) and Carmen (Mendocino Music Festival).
Performing credits: Little Truth (The Great Big Also, Mugwumpin), Mitch (The 25th
Annual…Bee, Busbarn Theater), and Sister (Marat/Sade, Thrillpeddlers). He is the
Director of the Musical Theatre Ensemble at the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music and on faculty at the Community Music Center.
MUSICAL/VOCAL DIRECTOR
David Möschler is an award-winning freelance conductor and musical director based
in the San Francisco Bay Area, making his Douglas Morrisson Theatre debut with
Candide. Recent musical direction credits include West Edge Opera (Hydrogen
Jukebox), San Jose Rep (One Night with Janis Joplin), Shotgun Players
(Woyzeck, Assassins, The Threepenny Opera), Ray of Light Theatre (Into The
Woods, Assassins), Broadway by the Bay (Evita), Center REPertory Company (Spring
Awakening), Berkeley Repertory Theatre (multiple projects for The Ground Floor), as
well as the last thirteen productions for YMTC Berkeley where he serves as their first
Resident Music Director. This fall, Möschler's work can also be seen at SF Playhouse
(Promises, Promises) followed by the west coast premiere of Mr. Burns at American
Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Winner of two Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards as well as The American Prize
for Conducting, Möschler also founded the Bay Area-based Awesöme Orchestra
Collective, which he conducts every month. For more information
visit www.davidmoschler.com.
ABOUT THE DOUGLAS MORRISSON THEATRE
The Douglas Morrisson Theatre is a program and facility of the Hayward Area
Recreation and Park District. The DMT is located at 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward,
next to the Senior Center and the Japanese Gardens. The Box Office is open Tuesday
through Friday, 12:30 to 5:30 and can be reached at (510) 881-6777. Information is
also available at www.dmtonline.org.
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CALENDAR INFORMATION ON CANDIDE:
WHO: Douglas Morrisson Theatre presents the musical CANDIDE. Based on the
novel by Voltaire and featuring Leonard Bernstein's soaring score, this rollicking
musical satire chronicles the lives and loves of Candide, a simple soul whose glass is
always half-full.
WHAT: CANDIDE by with music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire
by Hugh Wheeler, in a new version by John Caird; and lyrics by Richard Wilbur,
additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy
Parker and Leonard Bernstein.
Cast: Dee Baily, Jacob Bronson, Reg Clay, Geoffrey Colton, Rachel Deatherage,
George Fernandez, Don Hardwick, Angela Jarosz, Alexis Lane Jensen, Anna Joham,
Kenneth Keel, Jay Krohnengold, Tina Marzell, Jennifer Medeiros, Carlo Olmos, Kelcey
Poe, Andy Ramirez, Tom Reilly, Carmello Tringali. Johnny Villar, Marianna Wolff.
DATES:
Thursday, November 6, 2014 Preview @ 8:00 p.m.
Friday, November 7, 2014: OPENING RECEPTION
THROUGH November 30, 2014
SHOWTIMES: November 6 – November 30, 2014
Thursday November 6 (preview) and November 13 @ 8:00 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, November 22, 2014 @ 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sundays @ 2:00 PM
CLOSES: November 30
WHERE:
Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St., Hayward, CA 94546
Special Events: PRE-SHOW TALK: 7:10 pm Friday November 14
POST-PLAY DISCUSSION: Saturday matinee, November 22
TICKETS:
$10 Preview
$32 Opening Night
$29 Thurs. eve, Fri. eve, Sat. matinee, Sat. eve., Sun. matinee
Discounts available for seniors, students, TBA, KQED members, and
groups (10+)
BOX OFFICE: (510) 881-6777; www.dmtonline.org
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