This summer, as a part of its 55th year anniversary celebration, the Cabrillo Playhouse will offer a variety of theatrical opportunities for children between the ages of 8 and 18 as they participate in our brand-new “Youth Theatre at the Cabrillo Playhouse”.

Beginning June 23rd, a three-week musical workshop of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” will begin. Such favorites as, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “I’m Late,” the “Tweedles,” the “Mad Hatter,” and many more are featured in “Alice in Wonderland”. This workshop will be directed by Austin Peay. Mr. Peay is a veteran actor/director and 20-year high school drama teacher, teaching and directing at Vanguard University, Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Community College. He has directed four productions for the Cabrillo including this season’s very successful, “Caught in the Net”. Joining him is veteran choreographer and dancer, Jimmy Hippinstiel and musical director, Debbie Owens. Both Mr. Peay and Mr. Hippinstiel have worked extensively in South Orange County and have presented award-winning productions while Ms. Owens has been musical director for “Music Ministry” and is currently an elementary and middle school music teacher.

Registration and auditions for “Alice in Wonderland” for the leading roles, solos and featured numbers will be held at the theatre Saturday, May 3rd from 9 a.m. to noon; registration only will be held on Wednesday, May 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $400 and is limited to 30 students. The workshop and rehearsals will run Monday through Friday June 23rd thru July 11th from 9a.m to 1p.m. (Please Note: there will not be a workshop on Friday, July 4th). Performances of the production will be at the Cabrillo Playhouse the evenings of July 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30p.m.

Beginning July 14th, local children are invited to participate in our “Young Actors Workshop”. Aspiring actors will be encouraged to unlock their creativity by exploring character, movement, play-making and voice sessions in the “Young Actors Workshop”. This workshop will be directed by Deb Marley with special sessions offered by costumers, make-up artists and theatrical designers. Ms. Marley is on the faculty of Vanguard University as an instructor in acting styles and has directed and taught at the South Coast Repertory Theatre, Maverick Theater and Orange County High School for the Arts.

Registration be held at the theatre Saturday, May 31st from 9 a.m. to noon and on Wednesday, June 4th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $195 and is limited to 30 students per age group per session. There will be two “Young Actors Workshop” sessions this summer. Session I will run Monday through Friday July 14th thru July 25th. Session II will run Monday through Friday, July 28th through August 8th. For both sessions, the workshop for ages 8 through 12 will be from 9a.m. to noon and ages 12 through 18 will be from 1 to 4p.m. There will be an exciting culmination experience held on Friday, July 25th for Session I, and August 8th for Session II at the Cabrillo Playhouse at 7:30p.m. This culmination experience will allow family, friends and the community to see demonstrations of skills of our young participants.

Please come join us for the fun this summer at the Youth Theatre at the Cabrillo Playhouse!

The Cabrillo Playhouse has been bringing quality live theater to the community since 1953. The historic playhouse, designed in the Ole Hansen-style, has hosted hundreds of plays over the years, attracting top talent from the southland and winning rave reviews along the way. The playhouse is located at 202 Avenida Cabrillo in downtown San Clemente.