Sacramento Music Circus

For those of you who have been to a Music Circus production, how would you rate it overall? I've seen pictures of the stage and it looks interesting. Is it just actors peforming on the round stage with very few props? Aida will be playing in July sometime and I was wondering if it's worth the drive up there and the money. Do they announce the cast beforehand?
Thanks!

If you've never been to Music Circus go it's a fun experience. The show quality varies GREATLY. It really depends on the director. I try to see a few every summer and have seen some of the worst shows of my life there but have also seen my favorite productions of Ragtime and Jesus Christ Superstar there(both had the same director). I put alot on the director because some shows litteraly a person comes out sings a song facing one way turns sing another verse turns finishes it's awful!!! Other times they really use the stage and the soace to there advantage and create amazing 360 degree images that enhace and bring the audience into the show. As for Cast announcements I'm not sure I never check and the sets can vary as much as the quality of the show.

PS. It is no longer under an actual tent they built a theater and the stage sound/lighting sytems are all better than they used to be.

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Updated On: 4/14/06 at 07:52 PM

I've worked a Music Circus for the past few years as an intern and the put on great productions. (Some better then others) But their is no bad seat in the house and it's really interesting to see what new and different things they do with their round stage. But man this past year they were really pushing to the limits of the new theatre. they had these huge gigantic metal flys that surrounded the stage for WWS. (and trust me they were no fun to help put up and down). They have the same amount of props and set peices that any proscenium stage would use, just with out the big expensive back drops and two story sets. Recently with the new theatre they have been using their fly system to fly in doors and set peices to help show where the scene is. So come this summer and watch. You don't think you'll dissapointed. There is a sort of reality that theatre in the round brings to shows. and i just love it!
California Musicial Theatre

I've been to MC for several years, some years I subscribed, some years just picked the shows of my interest. As other have said, the productions varied greatly, but funny, I thought Ragtime was okay (not really suited for a round stage though) and JCS was horrible (it was like a HS production). Scarlet Pimpernel (Brad Little was Percy) was wonderful as well as the Pirates of Penzance (David Burnham was the lead!).

My complaints are that they tend to choose too many "classic" shows (b/c they sell tickets) and cast the same actors over and over again once they like them.

They used to announce the cast (principle) for each show before the single tickets went on sale, but I guess they are selling the subscription pretty good since last year, they may not have to depend on the single tickets, as they have not announced the cast. But I contacted them a few days ago and and was told that they would post/announce the cast soon.

I have tickets for AIDA (I've never seen this show) and Little Night (my favorite). Depending on the cast, I might see the Forum.

Since the tent now equips A/C, it's quite comfortable to see a show there. I think the ticket price could be lowered though, it's after all, summerstock musical!

Max von Essen will not be back this summer.

As for other casting, nothing fantastic to announce. I haven't heard a whole lot, mostly people who have been there before but no huge names yet that I know of.

:)

I just learned that Will Chase will be in AIDA for MUNY production. I hope he'll come to Sacramento too!!

Music Circus has to be one of the best summer stock companies, and is the only one I know of that can do theatre-in-the-round justice. I'm very picky in the shows I see, and haven't seen a bad one yet. It's just complete fun. I wait until the full cast is announced, usually a week before each production begins it's on their website, unless it's a show I really want to see.
Just be prepared for the running down the aisles with scenery and actors. It's also fun seeing actors and crew having a wonderful time.

Stephanie J. Block did Damn Yankees and Bye Bye Birdie there. Haven't seen a show there myself but since you're discussing the kind of talent they attract I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

Updated On: 7/27/06 at 03:00 PM

Just to add a few more notable names of the past to the list:

Douglas Sills in Show Boat and Secret Garden (pre-Scarlet Pimpernel)
Jennifer Cody as Ado Annie in Oklahoma.
Robert Cuccioli in Secret Garden
Gavin Creel as Hero in Forum... (pre-Millie)
Norm Lewis as El Gallo in The Fantasticks

Not to mention regional-theatre regulars like Paul Schoeffler, Judy McClane and Eric Kunze.

The most interesting casting this year (I think) is for A Little Night Music, with Paul Schoeffler as Frederick, Jim Poulos as Henrick, and Nancy Opel as Desiree.

There. How's that for a plug? :)

last time i was there i had a blast... i think i saw a GREAT production of CATS then Ragtime which was AMAZING!!!!

They never seem short of talented actors.. but I hear the productions themselves are pretty average.

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Updated On: 1/2/07 at 10:23 PM

Only thing I've seen there was PIMPERNEL during summer 2004. I went primarily on a whim to see William Paul Michals, who wowed me on the tour several years earlier. I really thought it was a fine production and I love the creative staging they have to employ for the theatre in the round. It worked very well for SP (they set up the guillotine at the back of the aisle I was sitting at) but I feel that the space might be limiting when staging a lot of shows.

The talent was fine, but I was bound to be disappointed having only ever seen Doug Sills as Percy. Brad Little was OK but was running out of voice by the end pretty badly. Leah Hocking made a lovely Marguerite, but most of them do. Really the worst thing about that day was getting to Sacramento (from San Jose) and being in Sacramento during their especially oppressive summer heat.

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I've always thought Chuck Cooper would be perfect as Javert. someday maybe

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