The Return of the Saddleback Civic Light Opera

Posted By CotoBlogzz 06-09-2010 06:30 PM

Mission Viejo, CA – After being benched for two years, the Saddleback Civic Light Opera (SCLO) is back at home plate and ready to hit a grand slam homerun with the production of Damn Yankees.   This endearing musical comedy, based on the novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, by Douglas Wallop, and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, hits the McKinney Theatre stage on July 16^th.   Directed by James R. Taulli, with Musical Direction by Diane King Vann and Choreography by William F. Lett, Damn Yankees is the return of a tradition at Saddleback College .    Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil (the charming but devious Mr. Applegate) for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. As young baseball sensation Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team but the devil still owns his soul.  Familiar songs in this rousing musical include Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo, Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,and Those Were the Good Old Days.

Photo Courtesy Saddleback College:  Craig Tyrl; Shauni Gerner

SCLO opened its doors in 1978 and instantly became a Saddleback community tradition.  SCLO is a musical theatre company that teams professional directors with college and college-prep students, bringing affordable, quality Broadway productions to the community.  South County theatre fans will be happy to know that SCLO is back this summer and if we don’t strike out, we hope to be back with a double header next year. 

The return of SCLO to the McKinney Theatre is not the only new player on the roster. At the top of the batting order is Bart McHenry, the new Dean of Fine Arts and Media Technology, effective May 24, 2010.  Mr. McHenry brings with him extensive experience in theatre having recently been a professor and department chair in the Department of Theater, Film and Television at Azusa Pacific University .  He also has a background in directing musical theatre and he taught a wide-range of classes including all levels of acting, introduction to theater, theater field study, great plays as literature, musical theatre history and directing musical theatre. With Mr. McHenry on our team, the ongoing future of the Saddleback College Civic Light Opera is on a winning streak.

Dates:  July 16^th, 17^th, 23rd, 24^th, 30^th and 31st at 7:30pm and  July 18^th, 25^th and August 1^st at 3pm.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (949) 582-4656 (noon-4 Tuesday through Friday) and online atwww.saddleback.edu/arts.  Prices are $36 general; $33 students/seniors/ Angels; $25 children 12 and under.   Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo , just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the third left to “ Theatre Circle ,” turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.