Whether you’re aware of it or not, chances are you’ve encountered the work of California Musical Theatre (CMT). The Organization oversees and organizes logistics for the wildly popular Music Circus, Broadway Sacramento, and Cosmopolitan Cabaret seasons. With a full-time staff, and a strong crew of temporary and seasonal staffing as needed, CMT is responsible for overseeing the elements of these three musical theatre seasons, all of which succeed in bringing top-notch musical theatre performances to the Sacramento region. In addition to producing and presenting high-quality theatrical shows, CMT runs educational programs through the California Musical Theatre Academy (CMT Academy).
CMT Academy
Countless children, youth, students, and adults gain top-notch theatrical instruction through the CMT Academy. Whether bringing in visiting artists from CMT's current productions or pulling from a pool of adept musical theatre professionals and performance-trained teaching artists, the Academy provides an array of theatre education programs and services including performing arts classes, internships, and musical theatre workshops.
Broadway Sacramento
CMT serves as presenter for the Broadway Sacramento series, bringing popular, high quality national touring Broadway shows to Sacramento’s Community Center Theater. While they hold less of a role in the behind-the-scenes work, CMT curates what comes through town and strives for a variety of shows that will be of most interest to patrons. Bringing these shows to Sacramento is no small feat, and the sets, costumes, music, and acting are all of the highest caliber. The 2011-2012 season just concluded with the Sacramento debut of Wicked, and the recently announced 2012-2013 season brings Billy Elliot, Peter Pan, and many more (see the season here).
Cosmopolitan Cabaret
At the Cosmopolitan Cabaret, an intimate theatre experience where you can dine and drink as you enjoy a play, CMT is responsible for producing the majority of the shows, though occasionally--as is the case for the current run of Triple Espresso--they sometimes serve as presenter.
Music Circus
For the summer series, Music Circus, (which kicks off Tuesday, June 26 with a production of Grease), CMT produces the shows completely, from auditioning actors to building sets and creating costumes. The Music Circus season is seeing some changes this year, based on feedback from patrons. To accommodate people’s often-full summer schedule the season has been reduced to five shows, with a week’s break between shows (rather than the previous seven show season that ran back-to-back). Plus, ticket packages have been simplified and you can now see a single show for as low as $30 (a steal for these productions!). In addition to Grease, The Little Mermaid, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, and Crazy for You can all be enjoyed in-the-round at the Wells Fargo Pavilion this summer.
Future Forecast
With a long history in Sacramento, CMT has witnessed the ebb, flow, and growth of the arts in the region. When asked what he envisions for the future of Sacramento, CMT’s Executive Producer Richard Lewis says, “The thing about show business...is that it really is funded by discretionary spending. Recently, discretionary spending has been a little too discretionary. However, the landscapes of the organizations around have been scrappy enough to continue...Small groups have continued to emerge. And I think we’re going to see more of that in the future.” In addition, Lewis says the continued development of downtown is crucial to the arts: “As development continues in downtown...there will be more space and more vitality. The arts are now being recognized not as a quality of life issue but as a civic amenity. And that's important."
Keep up with California Musical Theatre:
Official Website
Music Circus
Broadway Sacramento
Cosmopolitan Cabaret
CMT Academy
Facebook
Twitter
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This article is part of a monthly feature by Sacramento365.com on local arts organizations and businesses making a difference in the Sacramento community.
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Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz
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Photo credits: Image 1: California Musical Theatre series logos; Image 2: (L to R) Alli Mauzey & Nicole Parker as Glinda & Elphaba in the WICKED national touring company presented by Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center Theater May 23-June 17, 2012. Photo by Joan Marcus.; Image 3: (L to R) Michael Pearce Donley, Bill Arnold and Bob Stromberg in the Cosmopolitan Cabaret production of Triple Espresso running through July 22, 2012. Photo by Charr Crail.; Image 4: Wells Fargo Pavilion, home of the Music Circus.
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