SCPA, San Diego Rep Partner for Second Show

For the second year in a row, student actors and musicians from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts will be joining professionals for a show at the San Diego Repertory Theater in downtown San Diego.

The musical "Tommy" will be performed at the Lyceum Theatre from July 16 through Aug 14. Sam Woodhouse, Artistic Director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre and Mitzi Lizárraga, Principal of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) have once again combined educational and theater resources. 

Nine supremely talented SCPA student singers, dancers, and actors -- along with a 17-member orchestra of SCPA student musicians -- will join a stellar cast of professional actors and singers directed by Woodhouse. Written by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, Tommy, is the world's first rock opera.

This production features B. Slade, a two-time Grammy-Award nominated singer as Tommy.

"This inter-generational mega-hit is the perfect show to open the REP's 36th season and to launch our second co-production with SCPA," said Woodhouse.

"Last year's award-winning production of Hairspray with the San Diego REP was so successful, we enthusiastically jumped into Tommy, another production with the REP," said Lizárraga. "Sixty percent of Tommy performers are SCPA students.  Our students are experiencing real world expectations in a professional theatre environment.  I am sure Tommy's transformation will speak to audiences of all ages."

A special Tommy Fundraising Gala will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 23, in the Lyceum Theater at Horton Plaza; the performance follows at 8 p.m. The fundraiser includes a reception with appetizers, beverages, desserts, auctioned items, opportunity drawings and reserved seating to the 8 p.m. performance of  Tommy. Tickets for this fundraiser are $45 for students, $55 for general seating, $65 for Silver Donors, including premium seating and recognition in the program, and $75 for Gold Donors including premium seating, prominent signage at the event, and recognition in the program. All proceeds from this event will benefit the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.
 
To obtain tickets, please visit the REP's website at www.sdrep.org or call (619) 541-1000.

SCPA is a college preparatory arts-focused San Diego Unified School District, magnet public school for students in grades 6-12 who have a strong interest, passion and talent in the arts.

SCPA alumni are an extensive and impressive group who have attended UCLA, Juilliard, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Boston University, the New England Conservatory, and numerous other prestigious universities, colleges and conservatories throughout the United States.  SCPA counts five Tony Award-winners among its alumni along with countless others who are working professionally in the artistic arena.

For more information about SCPA, please visit www.scpa.sandi.net