Plays-in-Progress Program

Fashion Forms™ Plays-in-Progress provides playwrights with the opportunity to hear their works read by professional actors, while giving patrons insight into the process of play development. Audiences attend a free staged reading of a new play, and then are invited to give feedback to the playwrights in a structured "talkback."

The next week, Rubicon's artistic staff and the directors meet with the playwrights and provide additional input. New scripts are then read again for the public. Although audience members are not required to attend both readings of a single play, many find it especially enjoyable to see how the play grows from one week to the next.

Admittance to the Fashion Forms™ Plays-in-Progress Series is free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended. Attendees must check in at will call 20 minutes prior to curtain, otherwise, reservations will be released to those on the waiting list.

Call (805) 667-2900 to make reservations.
 
 

The 2008 Fashion Forms™ Plays-in-Progress Series brings together a diverse group of extraordinary talents: among them the best-and-brightest of the new generation of writers (Neil Berg – currently writing the Broadway bound musical Grumpy Old Men); established Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End legends (John Caird, whose enormous successes include Les Miserables), esteemed composers for the stage who have also written #1 pop hits (Paul Gordon – Jane Eyre for Broadway, “Next Time I Fall” and “Friends and Lovers”)’ and Emmy Award-winning writers and directors (Paris Barclay – currently executive producer of HBO’s “In Treatment”).

Rubicon’s first ever all-musical Plays-in-Progress features:

daddy long legsDaddy-Long-Legs
A new musical based on the novel by Jean Webster
Book by John Caird
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Directed by John Caird

Starring Rob Hancock and Leslie Henstock

Sunday, June 22 at 7pm; Sunday, June 29 at 7pm

A trustee of the John Grier Orphanage offers young Judy Abbott a proper education. The benefactor’s only requirement is that Judy must never know who he is, and that she must write to him monthly, though he will never respond. She sees him only once form the back in the shadows and invents an identity and a nickname for her mysterious patron – Daddy-Long-Legs. Her letters to him paint a moving portrait of her lonely life in the orphanage, and the development of her mind and spirit as she blossoms into a beautiful, vivacious, intelligent woman. This new two-person musical includes memorable melodies andlyrics by Paul Gordon, and an imaginative libretto by John Caird, who will also direct. Gordon and Caird have been creators of such landmark Broadway and international hits as Nicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables and Jane Eyre. Both will be in residence here in Ventura.


daddy long legsThe Man Who Would Be King
Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling
Music by Neil Berg
Book and Lyrics by DJ Salisbury
Musical Supervisor and Arranger Wendy Bobbit Cavett
Directed by Michael Michetti
Musical Director Scott Wooley
Produced by Adam Friedson

Starring Marc Kucisch and Kevin Earley

Monday, June 23 at 7pm; Monday, June 30 at 7pm

This new musical recounts the adventures of two rag-tag British soldiers Daniel and Peachy, who resign from the army in 19th century India and take off in pursuit of adventure and riches. Ever-the-scoundrels, the two contrive and carry out a daring plan to become rulers of the isolated pagan society of Kafiristan where Daniel is mistakenly believed to be a god. The film version of this Rudyard Kipling short story, directed by John Huston and starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine, garnered four Academy Award nominations. This production has a soaring, sumptuous score created by Neil Berg (The Prince and the Pauper Off-Broadway) and lyrics by DJ Salisbury. Tony and Outer Critics Circle nominee Marc Kudisch is slated to play Daniel with Kevin Earley as Peachy.


daddy long legsOne Red Flower
A Musical play by Emmy Award-Winner Paris Barclay
Adapted for the stage from the book, “Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam”
Edited by Bernard Edelman for the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission
Directed by Ken Sawyer
Musical Direction and Arrangements by David O

Starring Maureen McGovern (Little Women) and Hunter Parrish ("Weeds")

Tuesday, June 24 at 7pm; Tuesday, July 1 at 7pm

One Red Flower will also be performed as a benefit for New Directions Veterans Services and Rubicon Theatre Company's Innovation Fund at the Brentwood in Los Angeles. For tickets, please click here.

This revealing rock musical takes a look at the thoughts, joys and fears of six soldiers over the course of a year in Vietnam. The book and songs are based on the book “Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam,” and on actual letters exchanged with family and loved ones. Although the names have been changed, the stories are very real – raw, powerful, touching, and at times surprisingly humorous and uplifting. Audiences will come away with a deeper understanding of those who serve our country. Maureen McGovern plays Eleanor Bridges, the mother of Billy – one of the soldiers. This musical is created by Emmy Award-winner Paris Barclay (whose credits include “NYPD Blue,” “The West Wing,” “E.R.” and the current HBO Series “In Treatment”).

 

Call (805) 667-2900 to make reservations now!

All three productions are a part of the first-ever Southern California Festival of New American Musicals.  To learn more about the festival, visit www.lafestival.org