July 10 through 19
The Center for the Arts presents
Summer Teen Musical
Oliver
From the book by Charles Dickens
Music & Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Directed by Betsey Hayman
July 10th preview 7:00PM
July 11th - 12th 7:30PM
Sunday July 13th 2:00PM
July 18th - 19th 7:30PM

The Center for the Arts presents Tony award winning musical, Oliver, showcasing the unforgettable music and lyrics of Lionel Bart. Oliver is the moving tale of an orphan boy who escapes from the orphanage only to end up in the company of pick pockets. When Oliver has a chance to live a good life, love and hate battle as Sykes and his girlfriend, Nancy, have different ideas for the young boy. Dickens’ characters are always larger than life and this musical captures his unforgettable creations.

Lionel Bart's wonderful musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic was the first London stage musical to be transplanted to Broadway with the same kind of sensation it received in Britain-- something that is now common in these post-Cats/Les Miserables times. Although no one from this British cast ever became enormously famous (future Monkee Davy Jones was in the second Broadway cast)--and Sir Carol Reed's film version receives all the critical accolades.

The Center for the Arts production of Oliver is a new Youth Musical Theatre Program featuring the local talents of Devon Douros, Bennett Berardi, Josh Rice, Danny Heinz, Rachel Wellman, and many more youth ages 6 – 18. This program has been graciously sponsored by, The Grass Valley Kiwanis, SPD Markets and The Barker Family. With out their generous donation this program would not be available to the local children participating. The families of the cast are donating their time to build sets, supply costumes, work back stage and all the other elements it takes to put a show on at this level. The families’ time and talents is true community support and contribution to The Center for the Arts’ Youth Musical Theatre Program. Much of the creative staff, Betsey Hayman (Director) and Harry Kawa (Lighting Technician) are donating their time to the children and The Center for the Arts. This is truly a community based project.

Oliver promises to entertain and delight children and their parents with the high energy musical numbers and the incredible acting. Six performances only! Don’t miss it!