Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura
Launches New Special Event Series
VENTURA LIVE!
Music, Laughter and Magic
Featuring One-Night and Short-Run Concerts, Jam Sessions, New Play Readings, Magic Nights, Comedy, and Much More
12 Events! May 11 – June 15 at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura!
April 22, 2024 (Ventura, CA) – Rubicon Theatre Company, celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season this year, announces the launch of its exciting new special event series, “VENTURA LIVE! Music, Laughter and Magic,” featuring one-night and short-run concerts, jam sessions, new play readings, magic nights, comedy, and much more. The series runs from May 11 – June 15, 2024. From a reading of a new rock-and-roll musical to a side-splitting comedy and soulful tributes, this diverse series promises to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages and tastes. All events will take place at Rubicon’s home, The Karyn Jackson Theatre in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District, 1006 E. Main Street. For tickets, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call (805) 667-2900.
“We are thrilled to launch our new series ‘VENTURA LIVE!’ an exciting milestone for us,” says KARYL LYNN BURNS, Producing Artistic Director of Rubicon Theatre Company.
“The ideas came from a desire to make the theatre more of a community hub,” continues Burns, “and to welcome new audiences to our venue.”
“Our goal is to produce and present events between our mainstage theatrical productions and on off-nights at the theatre,” continues Burns, “and to expand our offerings with a diverse range of live entertainment that will bring more music, joy and laughter to audiences of all ages at a affordable price. (Most events are between $20 and $40, with some free.) With such a diverse lineup of talent and entertainment, VENTURA LIVE! has something for everyone to enjoy.”
Event Series Lineup:
Saturday, May 11 @ 7 pm
MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC
An Evening Celebrating the 60s’ & 70s’ Most Iconic Women in Music
Tickets: $39.50
Sunday, May 12 @ 3 pm (Mother’s Day)
FROM BROOKLYN TO BROADWAY
Tony and Emmy Award-Winner Lillias White in Concert
Tickets: $39.50
Friday, May 17 @ 7 pm & Saturday, May 18 @ 2 pm
THE FOLK LEGACY TRIO IN CONCERT
Lifetime Grammy Winners Play and Sing Folk Favorites
Tickets: $69.50 | $89.50 for VIP Seats with Post-Show Reception with the Artists with (by popular demand) Irish stew, breads, cheeses and stout. (Friday Performance Only)
Member of the Banjo Hall of Fame GEORGE GROVE and RICK DOUGHERTY (both Lifetime Grammy Winners with The Kingston Trio) and JERRY SIGGINS (The Diamonds) perform folk favorites. The Trio brings dynamic vocals and instrumental arrangements to songs from The Weavers, Peter, Paul and Mary, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Paxton, Simon & Garfunkel and others.
Monday, May 20 @ 7 pm w/Talkback Following
SOMEBODY TO LOVE
Reading of a New Rock-and-Roll Musical in Development
Written by ROBERT STERNIN and PRUDENCE FRASER (“The Nanny”/Off-Broadway)
Directed by SEAN DANIELS
Musical Direction by BRETT RYBACK
Musical Supervision by DILLON KONDOR
Sunday, May 26 @ 6:30 pm
Be the Revolution presents
PALOMINO NIGHTS
Country and Rhythm Revue
A Benefit for Theatre and Advocacy Education Programs in the Community
Tickets: $25 at door | $20 in advance
Embark on a musical journey as a thrilling group of bands and artists including BEAU RED, MARK MASSON (Shaky Feelin’), THE VAN ALLEN TWINS, and JAY PONTI, pay homage to icons such as Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, and the Allman Brothers.
Thursday, May 30 @ 7 pm
MARLEY’S GHOST
Tickets: $39.50
Composed of Singer/Multi-Instrumentalists: DAN WHEETMAN, JON WILCOX, MIKE PHELAN, ED LITTLEFIELD JR., JERRY FLETCHER AND BOB NICHOLS
A night with Marley’s Ghost transcends genres and generations, with an eclectic, rollicking set featuring Honky Tonk, Texas Swing, Folk, Country, Swampy Blues and ballads invoking the great crooners of years past. More than three decades from that initial spark, they’re still playing together with the same passion, purpose and chemistry that inspired them early on.
Friday, May 31 @ 7 pm
STARS OF TOMORROW
Directed by Joseph Fuqua and Miriam Arichea
Musical Direction by Miriam Arichea
Choreography by Jesse Graham
Tickets $39.50
A Benefit for Rubicon’s Education and Outreach Programs
Sponsored by Dr. Jeanne P. Adams, Anonymous, Barbara Meister and the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation
This benefit concert features outstanding talented young artists from Rubicon’s Education and Outreach programs and alumni in an all-star evening of song and dance.
Saturday, June 1 @ 7 pm
JERRY ROCHA COMEDY HOUR: CANCER CULTURE
Tickets: $25 at door | $20 in advance
Known for appearances on Netflix, Conan, Comedy Central, and Last Comic Standing, powerhouse comedian Rocha shares the power of laughter to bring light to the darkest of times.
Sunday, June 2 @ 7 pm
IN LOVE WITH A WONDERFUL GUY
Golden Globe Award-Winner Amanda McBroom in Concert
Tickets: $39.50 | $55 includes VIP After-Party with food, birthday cake, wines and “George’s Socks” (a whiskey flight)
Golden Globe Award-Winner AMANDA McBROOM (“The Rose”) sings about love in its many forms in celebration of Rubicon Company Member (and her husband) George Ball’s big birthday!
Musical Director: MICHELE BROURMAN
LARRY TUTTLE on Bass
Tuesday, June 4 @ 7 pm
TREVOR AND SYLVIE SING JAMES AND JONI
The Music of James Taylor and Joni Mitchell
Sponsored by Nancy and Richard Francis
Tickets: $29.50
Known for The Lonesome Traveler (at Rubicon and Off-Broadway), Liberty Valance and numerous other Rubicon shows, this dynamic husband and wife duo TREVOR WHEETMAN and SYLVIE DAVIDSON bring their soulful sounds and instrumental prowess to songs from James Taylor and Joni Mitchell.
Thursday – Sunday, June 6 – 9
FOREVER MOTOWN
Direct from New York – The Original Cast
Perf. Schedule: Thursday, June 6 at 7pm, Friday, June 7 (2 and 7pm), Saturday, June 8 (2 and 7pm), and Sunday, June 9 at 2pm
Tickets: $64.50 (Sides) – $74.50 (Center)
Saturday, June 15 @ 7 pm – Sunday, June 16 @ 2 pm
JOHN CARNEY IN CARNEYMAGIC
A Show about Secrets, Mentors and the Beauty of a Perfect Illusion
Tickets: $49.50 | $20 for those 18 and under
The VENTURA LIVE! Series is produced by ANTHONY M. COLOMBO and JULIA DONLON for Rubicon, and JAY PONTI for Be the Revolution.
To purchase tickets online, or for more information about VENTURA LIVE!, visit www.rubicontheatre.org.Tickets are also available by phone at 805.667.2900, or may be purchased in-person at Rubicon Theatre Company’s home, The Karyn Jackson Theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 (Laurel entrance). Guest Services is open from Noon to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
—###—
About Rubicon Theatre Company
Rubicon Theatre has been described as “the rising star of the Southern California cultural constellation.” The not-for-profit professional regional theatre company has reached more than 540,000 attendees and more than 53,000 students. Rubicon serves area residents and visitors with innovative productions of classic and contemporary plays, as well as a wide array of educational programs and events. Acclaimed by critics and industry professionals, the company has received the L.A. Drama Critics Margaret Harford Special Award for “Sustained Excellence,” Drama Desk Awards for the Off-Broadway productions of The Best is Yet to Come and Daddy Long Legs and has won more than 20 Ovation Awards from the L.A. Stage Alliance.
Just prior to the pandemic, Rubicon transferred three shows to New York (Wiesenthal – Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations; Lonesome Traveler – Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations; and Daddy Long Legs (Drama Desk Award). Rubicon has welcomed a steady stream of high-profile actors and directors to the stage, including BRUNO and ODISEO BICHIR, ALISON BRIE, SUSAN CLARK, DANA DELANY, CONCHATA FERRELL, BONNIE FRANKLIN, HAROLD GOULD, JOEL GREY, LARRY HAGMAN, BILL IRWIN, STACY KEACH, JACK LEMMON, AMANDA McBROOM, TED NEELEY, LAUREN PATTEN, PAUL PROVENZA, LINDA PURL, RONDI REED, JOHN RITTER, JOE SPANO, BRUCE WEITZ, LILLIAS WHITE and others. Company members are GEORGE BALL, JOSEPH FUQUA, JOE SPANO and JENNY SULLIVAN.
Based in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District, just blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Rubicon resides in a 185-seat historic church built in the 1920s. In this renovated historic landmark, audience members are never further than 10 rows from the stage on the main floor.
True to the company’s name and the vision of artistic directors KARYL LYNN BURNS and JAMES O’NEIL, Rubicon has created an environment where commitment and risk are encouraged, and where artists are nurtured and respected. As a result, the company has gained a reputation for producing invigorating interpretations of the classics and for supporting the development of new works. Rubicon presents at least one World Premiere each season, as well as readings of works-in-progress.
Deeply rooted in the region it serves, Rubicon offers extensive outreach programs, including daytime matinees for high school students, after-school and weekend programs for at-risk youth, and summer musical theatre, drama, and technical theatre camps.
A board of directors of prominent social and civic leaders governs Rubicon under the leadership of President DOUG HALTER and Honorary Chair Rosa Lee Measures. The company is also supported by an advisory group of regional ambassadors and a volunteer auxiliary.
Rubicon Theatre Companys is located in The Karyn Jackson Theatre at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.
For more information about Rubicon Theatre Company, or to purchase tickets, call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.
