Two Gentlemen Rock Verona
Edited and adapted by James Saba from The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Musical arrangements by Steve Gunderson
San Diego Premiere!
26th Annual FREE Classic Series
Made possible by a grant from the City of Coronado
New show dates:
July 28 – August 7, 2022
Thursday-Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 2pm
Saturday matinees just added:
July 30 & August 6 @ 2pm
Directed by James Saba
Musical Direction by Imahni King
Choreography by Erin Petersen
Two Gentlemen Rock Verona follows the misadventures of two best friends, Valentine and Proteus set in the Rockin’ and Rollin’ 1950s. Valentine is about to leave his small town for a life in the big city, while Proteus chooses to stay behind to woo the lovely Julia. Proteus’ father has other plans for him, however, and instructs him to follow Valentine to pursue his education. When Proteus arrives, he gets one look at the Duke’s daughter, Sylvia, and immediately forgets Julia back home. The problem is that Sylvia is his best friend’s girl; and Julia won’t be dumped that easily! Mix in some bandits, an incensed father and a disguise (of course) and it’s friend versus friend in a madcap tale of romantic rivals.
Set to the soundtrack of the wild and wacky 1950s, the play deals with the themes of friendship, passion and infidelity, and the scandals that occur when fools fall in love.
The show was originally produced under the title Two Rockin’ Gents at the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in 2001 and at Webster University in 2005. Writer and director James Saba brings the show to Coronado Playhouse as part of the FREE Classic Series. Saba and Steve Gunderson, who provides musical arrangements, are fixtures in the San Diego theatre community and beyond.
James Saba, a native San Diegan, is Executive Director of San Diego Junior Theatre. As a freelance director, he has worked at Webster University, Diversionary Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and was Craig Noel’s assistant on four productions at the Old Globe Theatre. Saba also has a long history as an actor in regional theatre and on many local stages.
Steve Gunderson is an actor, singer, composer, arranger, and playwright. Born in San Diego, he studied in London and spent 15 years in New York before settling back on the West Coast. Gunderson co-wrote, starred in, and was the musical arranger for Off Broadway’s Suds, which has gone on to have scores of productions worldwide and was produced at CPH in 2013.
This production is based on William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona. The exact composition date of Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona is unknown, but it is generally believed to have been one of Shakespeare’s earliest works, if not his first play.
Cast Bios:
HANNAH BOSWORTH (Sylvia) is thrilled to be a part of her first production with CPH! She grew up in Coronado and holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Mississippi. Some of her favorite collegiate roles include Hope in Urinetown, Gretchen in Boeing Boeing, Veronica in Heathers, and Lenny in Crimes of the Heart. All her love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Diane, and Eli.
RIA CAREY (Lucetta, Outlaw) After two years of theatrical darkness, Ria is happy to be “rockin’” with the Verona cast. Ria’s diverse talents have enabled her to perform locally, nationwide and internationally. She has a fun, bawdy nightclub act and has sung our national anthem in the U.S. and abroad. Dark chocolate, flowers and hugs are never refused. So, buckle-up, everyone, and enjoy this rockin’ ride to Verona.
SAM CASTILLO (Valentine) is excited to be performing in his first Shakespeare production ever. He is thankful for the opportunity to be in this show and practice his acting skills. He hopes you will enjoy the show and thanks you for coming tonight.
CAMELINA CEDILLO (Trio Girl, Eglamour, Outlaw, Sylvia Understudy) is honored to be making her musical debut with Coronado Playhouse’s Two Gentlemen Rock Verona. She received an Associate in Theater Arts from Grossmont College and is set to transfer to San Diego State University to continue her studies in theatre. Previous productions she has been in include This We’ll Defend at the American History Theatre and Pride and Prejudice at the Stagehouse Theatre. She’d like to thank the cast and creative team of Two Gentlemen Rock Verona for working hard to put together a wonderful show!
RUSSELL CLEMENT (Launce) is excited to be back at CPH! Recent credits include Clue (Colonel Mustard) Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry), Comedy of Errors (Dromeo of Ephesus)(CPH) Constellations (Roland)(CPH), The Winter’s Tale (Autolycus)(CPH), Old Man and the Old Moon (Matheson)(CPH), Bullshot Crummond (Character Actor)(Onstage Playhouse), Magic In This Soul (Achmed/Paige)(Blindspot Collective), Macbeth (Banquo)(CPH), Baskerville (Actor 1) (Scripps Ranch Theater), Untold (Pepper/Robert)(Blindspot Collective), The 39 Steps (Clown)(CPH),and others.
DANIEL EHRLICH (Thurio) is ecstatic to join Coronado Playhouse for the first time on stage after serving as Run Crew for SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical (2022) and House Manager for Clue. A Penn State Class of 2020 graduate, Danny appeared in multiple productions for The Penn State Thespian Society and No Refund Theatre prior to moving to San Diego in 2020.
RAYMOND EVANS (Proteus) first walked the boards in kindergarten and has channeled the art of storytelling through over 30 stage productions. His favorite roles include opportunistic Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, personable Tony Kirby in You Can’t Take It With you, and besotted Young Ebenezer in Scrooge: The Musical. Inspired by Children of a Lesser God he has learned sign language and waded into the beauty of Deaf culture.
LU GARCIA (Speed, Trio Guy, Outlaw) is excited to be working again with Coronado Playhouse after appearing as Head Waiter/Ensemble in Murder on the Orient Express and as Patchy the Pirate/Old Man Jenkins in The SpongeBob Musical. Both roles received Aubrey nominations. Growing up in Philadelphia, Lu majored in Classical Guitar at Eastern University and exercises his love for the arts through Musical Theater along with his three daughters Elaine, Grace, and Emilia.
MARCY LEDVINKA (Trio Girl) is excited to be making her Coronado Playhouse debut in Two Gentlemen Rock Verona. In San Diego, she has also appeared as Roller Babe in Finding Avi at the La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival. She recently graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre from Wilkes University, where she played Percy Talbott in The Spitfire Grill and Caius Cassius in Julius Caesar.
MAURA McMILLAN (Julia) is a senior in San Diego State’s Musical Theatre program. This is their first time working with Coronado Playhouse. Recent projects include one of KPBS’s Top Picks Body Talk (San Diego International Fringe Festival/Teatro San Diego), Postcard American Town (San Diego State University/New Works), and Steel Pier (San Diego State University). Outside of performing, they love to crochet, skate, and learn about Buddhism.
KARA TUCKFIELD (Antonia, Host, Outlaw) is glad to be back at the wonderful Coronado Playhouse. Recent credits: Princess Dragomiroff/ Murder on the Orient Express (CPH), Caesar / Julius Caesar (Vanguard), Geneva /1940’s Radio Hour (Lamplighters), Paulina / A Winter’s Tale (CPH), Miss Hannigan / Annie (Vanguard), Mrs. Boyle /Mousetrap (Lamplighters), as well as directing Godspell/ Vanguard. Other credits include Hippolyta/Tatiana /Midsummer Night’s Dream (Castle Theater), Sister Roberts /Nunsense (Atascadero Dinner Theater), Muriel /Woman in Mind (Margetts Theater).
GARY JOHN ZICCARDI (Duke of Milan, Pantino) is delighted to rock it home here with this marvelous cast under James Saba’s inspiring direction! Following 30 years of military service around the world, with choice roles in musicals Buddy Holly and Beauty & the Beast at the Town Theater in Columbia, SC, Rock-n-Roll Review at the Millbrook, AL Community Theater, and this year in Jordan Miller’s Stars of Tomorrow Musical Showcase at the Point Loma Community Theater, grazie mille to God, family & friends! As Duke puts it, “Let us tune discord now to harmony, with triumphs, mirth, and rare solemnity!”
Production Bios:
JAMES SABA (Director) is currently in his tenth year as Executive Director of San Diego Junior Theatre. Prior to that he spent 20 seasons at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (HSRT) in Holland, Michigan, where he was an actor, director, and Artistic Director of HSRT’s Children’s Stage. As a director, he has worked at Webster University, Diversionary Theatre, Lamb’s Players Theatre. As an actor in regional theatre, he has worked at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Cincinnati Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and Cleveland Playhouse and on many San Diego stages.
STEVE GUNDERSON (Musical Arranger) was a co-writer and the arranger for Suds, which played at this theatre as well as breaking box office records at the Old Globe Theatre and San Diego Rep, with dozens of productions worldwide including an Off Broadway run. He was co-creator and arranger for Off Broadway’s critically acclaimed Back To Bacharach & David. He co-wrote and composed the music for The Artificial Woman. www.TheArtificialWoman.com An award-winning actor, he has appeared at La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre, La Mirada Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Moonlight Stage and others.
IMAHNI KING-MURILLO (Musical Director) is pleased to make his Coronado Playhouse debut as Musical Director! In the past, Imahni has musically directed for his own theatre company (Teenage Youth Performing Arts Theatre Company: Tick, tick… BOOM! and Dogfight: the Musical) and for San Diego Junior Theatre (Peter and the Starcatcher). With Two Gentlemen of Rock Verona, Imahni is excited to experiment with the rock-n-roll sounds of the 50s and bring classic tunes to life with new energy and groove just as they did when they first hit the records!
ALYSSA HAYDEN (Stage Manager) is studying theatre at San Diego City College. Her past stage-managing credits at City College include Heathers: The Musical, She Kills Monsters, and Metamorphoses. She has recently done Spongebob: The Musical at Coronado Playhouse. She’d like to thank Dr. Katie Rodda for giving her the first big stage-managing project as well as her family and her boyfriend Alan for supporting her career!
BLAKE MCCARTY (Production Manager, Set Designer) is a writer, director, designer, and producer whose original work includes large-scale immersive projects, new musicals, devised theatre, and documentary plays. He is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Blindspot Collective and also serves as the Production Manager for Coronado Playhouse. His work has been developed or commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse, 3-Legged Dog, California Center for the Arts, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, New York Theatre Barn, and New York University. Upcoming: developing a new musical with composer Ian Brandon; producing a new immersive experience in collaboration with David Reynoso and Optika Moderna; and designing projections for Moonlight’s production of Ragtime.
Press images are not yet available for this production.
Ticket Pricing:
Coronado Playhouse can offer the Free Classics Series free to the public because of a grant from the City of Coronado. You can reserve up to 5 tickets free of charge. It’s important to release tickets if you are unable to attend to make available for other patrons.
Schools and organizations can contact our Box Office to reserve large groups. 619-435-4856.
For questions, call the Box Office (619) 435-4856 or email boxoffice@coronadoplayhouse.com
Special Events:
There are no special events currently scheduled for this production.
Community Spotlight:
Please join us as we raise money for Coronado Playhouse during our free classic series production.
Part of Coronado Playhouse’s mission is to give back to the community. For each show, we partner up with a local non-profit to raise awareness and funds in support of their work. For our free classic, we need to focus on raising funds for the Playhouse, as tickets sales during the year only cover a portion of our annual expenses.
In order to maintain the high standard our audiences have come to expect from us, we depend on your donations to meet our bottom line.
Community Theatre is made by, with and for the community in which it is performed. Coronado Playhouse is committed to pursuing community theatre in the truest sense of the words by giving back to the people of San Diego County and Coronado and using our public platform to help those in need.
Thank you for joining us for this free programming. Please consider giving back to CPH and those we reach by donating.
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