After premiering Saturday, May 31, at the Sebastiani Theatre for a gala fundraising performance, “The Full Monty” joins the summer series of Sonoma Theatre Alliance shows.
“The Full Monty” continues June 7-29 at the Sonoma Community Center at Andrews Hall on the Rotary Stage.
Directed by Cat Austin, founder of the Experiential Theater Company, “The Full Monty” welcomes a stunning cast and crew including a Broadway star, a performer from the “Bye Bye Birdie” national tour, an actor who starred with Sally Struthers in “The Full Monty,” another award-winning Actors Equity performer reprising his “Full Monty” role, a musical director fresh from the Broadway production of “Motown the Musical” and “Wicked” and more.
“I’m so excited for the cast and crew we’ve assembled,” said Austin. “It’s the first time I’ve produced a show in which four of the actors have played their roles before and at such a high level. With this production, ETC! is taking a major step toward bringing regional theater to downtown Sonoma.”
“The actors have such a breath of knowledge about the show, which fits perfectly with my ‘think tank’ style of directing. I require my actors to bring their ideas forward, so we have all of this amazing creative input, and my job as director is not to harness it but somehow channel it so we end up with a show that is so much bigger than the sum of it's parts,” she continued.
The May 31 gala performance at the Sebastiani Theatre is a benefit for the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation, Inc., with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the foundation. “This is not about ETC!,” said Austin. “This is about supporting something else, supporting a theater space that is threatened, and if something isn’t done, it’s going to slip away.”
Tickets are $175 for VIP seats and $100 for floor seats. An opening night gala will be held and VIPs will enjoy a red carpet entrance, up-front seats and a wine and cheese party on stage with the cast after the show plus other surprises.
Based on the Oscar-winning film, the musical follows a group of unemployed steel workers who resort to a creative and soul-baring scheme to raise money. Overcoming their fears, these steel workers challenge each of us to take risks and follow our dreams.
“The Full Monty” incorporates national talent with some of the best local talent on stage and behind the scenes. Six Sonoma “Monty Men” (local celebrities) will take the stage with the actors for the anticipated final dance number at the opening night gala.
For tickets and information visit, svbo.org or experientialtc.com.
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