Theater

Tom Titus

The Orange Coast College summer musical was a tradition that spanned more

than 40 years, beginning in the mid-1950s. Each summer, usually in the

Robert B. Moore Theatre, the college and the community would go all out

to produce a musical classic.

Technically speaking, there’s no summer musical this year, but the

college drama department is getting a jump on the season with the

Revolutionary War precursor “1776,” which opened Thursday for a

two-weekend run in the Drama Lab Theater.

Directed by Alex Golson, the Sherman Edwards-Peter Stone musical features

founding fathers John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and

others as they struggle -- not in war, but in the Continental Congress --

to forge the Declaration of Independence over some stiff

opposition.

“1776” won five Tony Award nominations when it premiered in 1969 and was

named Broadway’s best musical for that season three decades ago. The show

ran for three years and featured 1,217 performances.

OCC’s version is ticketed for a more modest eight performances during the

usual two-weekend run. For ticket information, call (714) 432-5880.

Meanwhile, the summer at OCC will be tuneless, but no less active than in

the past. As usual, the college will put three summer productions on the

boards.

Director John Ferzacca -- who has a knack for finding interesting plays

that few patrons have heard of -- will be first up with “The Mineola

Twins” (June 22 to July 2).

The play is decribed as a “divinely funny romp” in which “good” and “bad”

twins battle each other through the Eisenhower, Nixon and Reagan White

House years over such issues as virginity, Vietnam and family values.

Then comes the annual presentation of the OCC Children’s Theater Company,

“The Little Prince,” which will run July 12 to 15 and 19 to 22 in the

900-seat Robert B. Moore Theatre.

The play is the story of an aviator stranded by a malfunctioning plane in

the Sahara Desert. His world is forever changed by a mysterious and regal

little

boy. Wednesday and Thursday performances are scheduled for 10 a.m.,

Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Rick Golson will

directing.

OCC’s Repertory Theater Company will close out the summer session with a

“One-on-One Festival” featuring monlogues and mono-dramas July 26 to Aug.

6 in the Drama Lab Studio.

The bill of fare includes “Talking With,” “Drinking in America’ and “All

Over the Place,” the latter a program of original and published

monologues and poems.

For summer ticket information on “Mineola” and “Prince,” call (714)

432-5880. Regarding the repertory production, call (714) 432-5640, Ext.

1.

Costa Mesa’s Trilogy Playhouse, currently staging Neil Simon’s “Fools,”

will offer a Mother’s Day performance Sunday, with an admission price of

$10 for mothers with each regular paid admission of $15.

It also will be the show’s closing performance. Ticket information is

available at (714) 957-3347.

Trilogy also will offer a pair of summer musical theater youth camps

conducted by professional drama directors, musical directors and

choreographers.

Camp 1, “Annie Jr.,” will run from June 26 to July 7 with four

performances July 8 and 9. Camp 2, “The Adventures of Mr. Toad,” is

slated from July 17 through 28 with four performances July 29 and 30.

Each camp will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enrollment is limited and additional information is available at the

above number, (714) 957-3347 Ext. 3.TOM TITUS reviews local theater for

the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays and Saturdays.