California Musical Theatre

"California Musical Theatre" is the largest nonprofit arts organization primarily producing musical theatre in the state of California and the city of Sacramento's oldest professional performing arts organization. [http://www.calmt.com/] Its summer stock theatre, "Music Circus", has been producing Broadway-style musicals since 1951. In 2002 Music Circus produced its last season under a traditional canvas big-top. The following year California Musical Theatre opened the Wells Fargo Pavilion on the site of the former tent. Instead of a canvas big top, the enclosed arena theatre was now covered by an insulated space-age fabric.

History

In 1949 the original Music Circus began its operations in a field in Lambertville, New Jersey. Begun by St. John Terrell as a summer stock theatre hybrid, mixing musical theatre within a circus tent, the new musical theatre performed in the round. The unique experience gained popularity through the 1950s and 1960s. ["General Roundup of Summer Theatre", Theatre Arts magazine, July 1956, John D. MacArthur, publisher] Theaters copied the format and name, eventually spawning similar Music Circus theatres along the East coast as far south as Miami. In California, producers Russell Lewis and Howard Young began scouting a location to build their theatre and were lured to Sacramento by Sacramento Bee president Eleanor McClatchy. The theatre opened with a production of "Show Boat" the same show which opened the original Lambertville theatre as well as the North Shore Music Theatre. In 1951 the Sacramento Music Circus tent went up for the first time. McClatchy had been a patron of the Sacramento Civic Theatre (now known as Sacramento Theatre Company). Its facility had a large parking area that would be the home to the original Music Circus tent.

Music Circus

From 1951 to 1989 Music Circus was the only season produced by California Musical Theatre. Its summer stock performances have been providing professional Broadway-style productions for over 50 years in nearly the same location. Sacramento Music Circus was once one of many summer stock musical theatres performed in the round. The theatre is now one of only a few professional theatres producing musicals in an arena setting. Actors, directors and designers from New York and Los Angeles have been traveling to Sacramento and providing high quality performances. The current executive producer, Richard Lewis, is the son of Russell Lewis. Artistic Director Scott Eckern has worked for the company since 1984, originally as the internship director and soon after as casting director and general manager.

Broadway Sacramento

Originally known as the Music Circus Winter Season and later as The Broadway Series, this series of touring productions have brought musicals that are current and classic in nature to the Community Center Theater. Starting in 1989, some titles include "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Chicago" and "The Producers". California Musical Theatre is a founding member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and Executive Producer Richard Lewis is a member of the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Cast, crew and behind the scenes

California Musical Theatre employees operates under contracts with Actors' Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States; the theatrical trade union IATSE; the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers; and the American Federation of Musicians. During the summer Music Circus season, crews are augmented with student interns and community volunteers.

References