Everybody's got the right to be happy...

We've dealt with drug use in REEFER MADNESS (April 2010) and war in HAIR (October 2010). Now Out of the Box Theatre Company is taking on politics and the American Dream in our first production of 2011, ASSASSINS.

With a book by John Weidman and music and lyrics by none other than Stephen Sondheim, ASSASSINS lays bare the lives of nine individuals who have assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States and explores the dark side of what harrowing acts mankind will undertake in their efforts to obtain celebrity, remembrance, understanding and success.

Auditions will be held in early March 2011 and rehearsals will begin in early April. The show will run from May 4th-May 15th at Center Stage Theater. More information is on the way!

Flesh (and Updating) Failures

Hello everyone! Once again, the rehearsal process has utterly distracted me from updating this blog, but I couldn't let this show escape me without at least one entry. First of all, I have to say that the cast we have for Hair is just... amazing. Incredible. Outstanding. All of the above. The talent level is through the roof and the chemistry between the actors is inspiring. When you're dealing with intense subject material such as that in Hair, the cast can really make or break it. When blocking the final number of Act I ("Where Do I Go") was enough to make a few of the cast members teary-eyed, myself included, I knew things were on the right track. The Tribe is already building the base of a connection that's going to bring this production to a new level, and I'm really honored to be a part of it.

Oh yes, and we've found ourselves a set designer. Whereas with Reefer Madness we simply rented platforms and covered them with strips of fabric (CLASSY, RIGHT), Thomas Crabtree of Crabtree Construction has taken on the arduous task of building us a series of steps and platforms, along with a 6 foot wooden scaffold. This, paired with the fact that we have the INFAMOUS Vickie Scott handling our lighting design, makes it hard to not get overly excited, even with weeks to go.

Two weeks in and we've survived our first Act I run-through... all in all, a successful start!

Let the Sunshine In...

Following a successful run of REEFER MADNESS in April 2010, Out of the Box Theatre Company is proud (and beyond excited) to announce HAIR: THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE ROCK MUSICAL as our Fall 2010 production.

With a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, HAIR follows a group of hopeful, free-spirited young people who advocate a lifestyle of pacifism and free love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War. As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the "tribe" in HAIR creates an irresistible message of hope that continues to resonate with audiences 40 years later.

Auditions will be held in late August 2010 and rehearsals will begin in early September. The show will run from October 20th-31st at Center Stage Theater. Stay tuned for more information!

Exciting News!

Thank you to everyone who came to see Reefer Madness. It was just such an amazing experience from the first day to the last, and it was wonderful to see the support from the Santa Barbara community in the form of SOLD OUT signs on the box office window. You're all wonderful-fabulous-super-spectacular. It's been awhile, I know, but Out of the Box Theatre has some news!

NUMBER ONE: Be sure to check out our brand-spanking-new OFFICIAL website!

HTTP://WWW.OUTOFTHEBOXTHEATRE.ORG

NUMBER TWO: Our next production is already in the works! To raise some money for a second "mainstage" production in October 2010, we'll be doing a song cycle/concert called PARTY WORTH CRASHING (music by Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk.) Performances will be at the end of August, more info TBD.

PARTY WORTH CRASHING is about youth, coming of age and making big decisions. It’s about laughing at yourself and figuring things out on your own, failed relationships, getting married, picking up strangers in bars, feeling old at twenty-five, hating your job, and making Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Above all else, PARTY WORTH CRASHING honors the twenty-something generation who challenge themselves to actively live their own lives, rather than just sit on their futons playing Wii. With the freedom to do anything comes the responsibility to do something.

Words cannot do these composers justice... so watch a couple of videos.

AUDITION INFORMATION COMING SOON!

Reefer Madness Impromptu Performance

The cast decided to get together for an impromptu performance in the center of Paseo Nuevo mall and the result was nothing less than spectacular. Fun was had by all... except for maybe the family that quickly packed up and moved from their table when John the Zombie gave them a quick hello before the camera started rolling. Did you see a zombie at Sephora? Barnes and Noble? Nordstrom? If not, enjoy the video!

Buy Your Tickets Now

Buy your tickets now to see the final product of months of preparation...

Reefer Madness, the 'Hit' Musical.

April 7-11th, 2010 at Center Stage Theater

DISCO ORGY!
HALF-MAN/HALF-GOAT!
SHAKESPEARE!
SADISM!
SWING DANCING!
BROWNIES!
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT!
ZOMBIES!
AND JESUS!

Seriously. You don't want to miss this.


WAYS TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS:
1. Call the box-office at (805) 963-0408.
2. Visit the box-office at Center Stage Theater, on top of CPK in Paseo Nuevo.
3. Go to http://centerstagetheater.tix.com/ and scroll on down.
WARNING: May cause giggling... for no good reason.

Meet the Madness!- Geren Piltz

quick questions

(transcribed)

role in the production?
jack stone/jesus/george washington
personal theme song?
theme from "back to the future" - alan silvestri
special skills?
barbershop harmony, voiceover, juggling, radio production
if you could go back in time and catch any Broadway show, what would it be?
after marveling the sweet concept of having a time machine, then worrying about creating a paradox, i'd go see the premiere of the music man.
last book you read?
state of fear - michael crichton
must see t.v. show?
burn notice - "when you're a spy..."
favorite line from the show?
"y'like brownies?"
winter, spring, summer, or fall?
fall, it's the closest thing to a season in santa barbara
favorite cereal?
puffins! (barbara's)
if you were stranded on an island, what three things would you want with you?
just 1 item: waterproof, solar-powered satellite phone. too literal? okay.
1) wind in the willows by kenneth grahame
2) little shop of horrors soundtrack + player
3) the truman show dvd + player