2009–2010 season sponsors - cerritoscenter.com · unforgettable tribute to nat king cole. cole...

YOUR FAVORITE ENTERTAINERS, YOUR FAVORITE THEATER

The City of Cerritos gratefully thanks

our 2009–2010 Season Sponsors

for their generous support of the

Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

2009–2010 Season Sponsors

If your company would like to become a Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts sponsor, please contact the CCPA Administrative Offices at (562) 916-8510.

Benefactor$50,001-$100,000José Iturbi Foundation

Patron$20,001-$50,000Bryan A. Stirrat & AssociatesNational Endowment for the ArtsEleanor and David St. Clair

Partner$5,001-$20,000Dr. Judy Akin-Palmer and Dr. Jacques PalmerThe Capital Group Companies Charitable FoundationChamber Music Society of DetroitLos Cerritos CenterNew England Foundation for the ArtsPreserved TreeScapes International, Dennis E. GabrickUnited Parcel ServiceWave BroadbandYamaha

Supporter$1,001-$5,000Nancy and Nick BakerIn Loving Memory of Carol M. BehanBev & George Ray Charitable FundSusie Edber and Allen GroganDr. Stuart L. FarberThe Gettys FamilyRosemary Escalera GutierrezRobert M. IritaniDr. and Mrs. Philip I. KressYolanda and Richard MartinezCelia and Clarence MasuoRobert and Mary Buell Family TrustAudrey and Rick RodriguezMarilynn and Art SegalCraig M. Springer, Ph.D.Masaye StaffordCharles Wong

THE CERRITOS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CCPA) thanks the following CCPA Associates who have contributed to the CCPA’s Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund was established in 1994 under the visionary leadership of the Cerritos City Council to ensure that the CCPA would remain a welcoming, accessible, and affordable venue in which patrons can experience the joy of entertainment and cultural enrichment. For more information about the Endowment Fund or to make a contribution, please contact the CCPA Administrative Offices at (562) 916-8510.

Friend$1-$1,000Maureen AhlerCheryl AlcornSharlene and Ronald AlliceSusan and Clifford AsaiLarry BaggsMarilyn BakerTerry BalesSallie BarnettAlan BarryCynthia BatesBarbara BehrensAldenise BelcerYvette BelcherPeggy BellMorris BernsteinNorman BlancoJames BlevinsMichael BleyKathleen BlomoKaren BloomMarilyn BogenschutzLinda and Sergio BonettiPatricia BongeornoIlana and Allen BrackettPaula BriggsDarrell BrookeMary BroughDr. and Mrs. Tony R. BrownCheryl and Kerry BryanG. BuhlerIna BurtonLinda and Larry BurtonSue and Tom ButteraRobert CampbellMichael CanupRichard E. CarlburgDavid CarverMichelle CaseyPhillip CastilloEileen CastleYvonne CattellRodolfo ChaconJoann and George ChambersRodolfo ChavezLiming ChenWanda Chen

Margie and Ned CherryDrs. Frances and Philip ChinnPatricia ChristieRichard ChristyRozanne and James ChurchillNeal ClydeMark CochraneMichael CohnClaire ColemanMr. and Mrs. Joseph Consani IIPatricia CookusNancy CorralejoVirginia CorreaRon CowanPatricia CozziniPamela and John CrawleyEugenia CreasonTab CrooksVirginia CzarneckiAngel De SevillaCharmaine and Nick De SimoneRobert DeanLee DeBordMr. and Mrs. Chuck DeckardBetty DeGarmoSusanne and John DeHartErin DelliquadriRosemarie and Joseph Di GuilioRosemarie diLorenzoSandra and Bruce DickinsonAmy and George DominguezLinda DowellRobert DressendorferGloria DumaisStanley DzieminskiMr. and Mrs. Curtis EakinDee EatonGary EdwardJill EdwardsCarla EllisRobert EllisEric EltingeTeri EspositoKim EvansRichard FalbRenee FallahaHeather M. FerberSteven Fischer

The Fish CompanyElizabeth and Terry FiskinLouise Fleming and Tak FujisakiJesus FojoAnne FormanDr. Susan Fox and Frank FrimodigSharon FrankTeresa FreebornRoberta and Wayne FujitaniElaine FultonSamuel GabrielTherese GalvanArthur GapasinGayle and Michael GarrityJan GaschenMichael GautreauFranz GerichAlan GoldinThe Goldsmith FamilyMargarita GomezRaejean GoodrichWilliam GoodwinShirelle Gordon-ThompsonBeryl and Graham GoslingTimothy GowerA. Graham and M. MarionNorma and Gary GreeneKenneth GreenleafRoger HaleJo and Paul HansonMark HardingLois and Thomas HarrisJulie and Costa HaseHoward HerdmanSaul HernandezCharles HessMolly HickmanCharles E. HirschPing HoJon HowertonChristina and Michael HughesMelvin HughesMarianne and Bob Hughlett, Ed.D.Jay HurtadoMark ItzkowitzGrace and Tom IzuharaSharon JacobyDavid Jaynes

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Cathy and James JulianiLuanne KamiyaBetty and George KatanjianRoland KerbyDr. Aaron KernFay and Lawrence KerneenJoanne KerrJoseph KienleCarol KindlerJames KingJacky and Jack KleyhShirley and Kenneth KlipperKaren KnechtLee M. Kochems and Vincent J. PattiJerry KohlDawn Marie KotsonisShirley KotsonisAnn KoughBette and Ken KuriharaLinda and Harry KusudaPatrice and Kevin KyleCathy LaBareCarl LaconicoNelson LaneDavid LatterEarnestine LavergneJune and Harold LeachEdward Le BlancPaolo LedesmaIn Loving Memory of Ethel LeePeter J. LeetsHelen LeonardJack LewisMarcia Lewis and John McGuirkVanessa LewisJudith and Dr. Henry LouriaNancy and Stephen LutzLaura and Sergio MadrigalJohnny MagsbyMary MajorsStephen MaoEleanor MarlowJanice Kay MatthewsPansy and Robert MattoxCecilia and Ronald MausJanet McCartyAliene McgrewFarley McKinneyDr. and Mrs. Donald McMillanDavid MedellinUrsula and Lawrence MelvinBarbara and Edwin MendenhallBecky MoralesToni and Tom MorganDavid MoromisatoKris Moskowitz

Cortland MyersChidori NakamuraStan NakamuraAlan NegosianA.J. NeimanRonald NicholsToby NishidaLinda NomuraMargene and Charles NortonCathryn O’Brien-SmithAnn and Clarence OharaKaren OhtaP. P. Mfg. Co. Inc., Ronald BurrGeorge PalominoBonnie Jo PanagosMary Ellen PascucciAngela and Devy PaulJohn PetersonFrancisco PhilibertFrances PianelliJudith PickupJackie and Joe PloenMerrill PlouForrest PoormanGwen and Gerald PruittSusan RagoneBijan RaminehDr. Marjorie and Frank RamirezKaren RandallRobin RaymondKathy ReidRosalie RelleveBetty and Nash RiveraSharon V. RobinsonLaura and Gary RoseLynne RosePatricia RoseJean RothaermelVivian and Tom RothwellShirley RundellTom SakiyamaSteve SalasDennis SaltsMonica SanchezSheri SandsJanet and Richard SaxRoberta and Gary SchaefferMary ScherbarthMildred ScholnickJerome SchultzMary SerlesWilliam ShakespeareOlivette ShannonKristi ShawDrs. Mary and Steven ShermanRon Shestokes

Sharon ShulbyKathleen SidarisSteven SiefertNeil SiegelDorothy SimmonsEric SimpsonLoren SlaferSylvia SligarCarol and Rob SmallwoodNancy Sur SmithKevin SpeaksKerry SpearsDan StangeKris and Robert SteedmanGale SteinDonna StevensMr. and Mrs. Dexter StrawtherRichard StrayerWilliam R. StringerA.J. TaenLawrence TakahashiNora and Winford TeasleyKen ThompsonKaren TilsonJoann TommySharon TouchstoneLilliane K. TriggsJean TuohinoMaria TupazAlex UrbachMr. and Mrs. L. Van PeltTim VanEckMaria Von SadovszkyDiane and Fred VunakCharles WadmanLaura WalkerRobert WaltersAngela and Sinclair WangKaren and Robert WebbCarol Webster and Chris EnterlineDarlene WeidnerAnita and David WeinsteinSandra WelshHelen WilliamsLee WilliamsonMerrillyn WilsonPornwit WipanuratCharles WongRobert WorleyJeanette YeeBasha YonisRuthann YuhasBarbara YunkerXavier ZavatskyJohn W. Zlatic

Giving level donations are based on the cumulative giving of the named contributor. Lists are updated twice a year, in July and January. To request a change to your listing, please call (562) 467-8806 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

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GEORGE BENSON-An UnforgettAble

tribUte to nAt king coleSaturday, September 12, 2009, 8:00 PM

this performance will not include an intermission.the taking of photographs or use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.

BIOGRAPHYTen-time Grammy-winning guitarist-vocalist

GEORGE BENSON, accompanied by an orchestra, celebrates the legacy of a musical icon in AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE. Cole conquered the Pop charts in the 1950s and 1960s with timeless ballads, including Mona Lisa, Route 66, Ramblin’ Rose, and his timeless signature hit Unforgettable. The one-of-a-kind acoustic evening also will showcase Benson’s own collection of award-winning R&B-Pop-Jazz hits, including Give Me the Night, Turn Your Love Around, Being With You, Mornin’, and Moody’s Mood.

Pianist Cole and guitarist Benson each earned his standing in show business as Jazz musicians. While each achieved great success and acclaim in multiple musical genres, Cole and Benson remained true to their Jazz roots, lending to their timeless appeal.

In the early 1960s, Benson began establishing his reputation as an adventurous guitarist. His warm, smooth tone and a funky edge to his music drew rave reviews from fans and the press. This paved the way for Benson’s illustrious career and his numerous awards, including three Grammys in 1976 alone – for the Pop instrumental Breezin’; The Masquerade, which won “Record of the Year”; and the R&B instrumental Theme From Good King Bad. As his influence grew in the music industry, more Grammy Awards followed,

including for On Broadway; Off Broadway; and God Bless the Child, his popular collaboration with fellow Grammy winners Al Jarreau and Jill Scott.

Benson’s crossover to various musical genres over the years has succeeded in large part due to his staunch loyalty

to his Jazz beginnings. While his popularity soared on the Pop and R&B charts, his albums Absolute Benson, Standing Together, That’s Right, Love Remembers, Tenderly, and Bad Benson all have dominated the top spot on the Jazz charts. His 2006 Givin’ It Up album collaboration with Jarreau catapulted to the No. One position on the Contemporary Jazz chart after earning glowing reviews from USA Today, National Public Radio, and Billboard magazine.

Billboard praised Benson as “an amazingly versatile musician. … He can play in just about any style … with supreme taste, a beautiful rounded tone, terrific speed, a marvelous sense of logic in building solos, and, always, an unquenchable urge to swing.”

The Los Angeles Times concurred: “Hearing George Benson in action is a bit like attending a nonstop triple-header: A gifted Jazz guitarist, an appealing singer, and a master of fusion, Funk and Rhythm and Blues, he is a multiple-threat performer, offering programs with a smidgen of something for virtually every Jazz and Jazz-related taste.” n

presents

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presents

KOOl & THE GANG

Friday, September 18, 2009, 8:00 PM


BIOGRAPHYIn 1964, Khalis Bayyan (originally Ronald Bell) and his

brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, teamed up with friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown to form The Jazziacs, which later was renamed KOOL & THE GANG. While the group had some Top 40 R&B successes, it was the band’s 1973 album Wild and Peaceful that earned Gold record status. The album propelled Kool & the Gang onto the music charts with its first No. One R&B hit Hollywood Swinging, the Top 10 Pop single Funky Stuff, and the nightclub favorite Jungle Boogie.

The danceable title track from the Ladies’ Night album rocked the music charts and paved the way for the band’s signature song: Celebration, an anthem with such an infectious rhythm that it became the theme song of the 1980 World Series, the 1981 Super Bowl, and the 1981 NBA Championship. The song rocked the Billboard R&B charts at No. One for six consecutive weeks and dominated the top spot on Billboard’s Pop chart.

With a current lineup that includes four of the original members (Bayyan, Bell, Thomas, and Brown), Kool &

the Gang is one of the longest-performing R&B groups in American music history, boasting a career that spans more than three decades, spawning 31 Gold and Platinum albums. The band’s Top 10 singles include Higher Plane and The Spirit of the Boogie.

The hits continued in the ’80s as Kool & the Gang dominated radio airwaves with Get Down On It, Take My Heart, Let’s Go Dancing, Joanna, and Tonight. The multi-Platinum album Emergency produced the Top 10 singles Cherish and Fresh.

In the 1990s, a new generation of musicians and singers drew inspiration from Kool & the Gang’s repertoire. Jungle Boogie was featured on blockbuster Pulp Fiction’s multi-Platinum-selling soundtrack, and several Hip Hop and Rap performers – including P. Diddy, Coolio, and Will Smith – added their own twists to the band’s biggest hits.

In 2004, The Hits Reloaded was released, showcasing today’s hottest singers performing Kool & the Gang classics such as Ladies Night (Atomic Kitten), Get Down On It (Blue and Lil’ Kim), and Too Hot (Lisa Stansfield). n

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presents

CREEDENCE ClEARWATER REVISITED

Saturday, September 19, 2009, 8:00 PM


Prompted by public demand, the reincarnated band released the two-disc album Recollection in 1998, which, according to Allmusic, greatly improves on Creedence Clear-water Revival’s timeless singles, including Heard It Through the Grapevine, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, and Fortunate Son. The album went Platinum in 2008.

With a lineup that includes lead singer/rhythm guitarist John Tristao, lead guitarist Tal Morris, and multi-instrumen-talist Steve Gunner, Cook and Clifford have revitalized classics like Lodi, Up Around the Bend, and Lookin’ Out My Back Door for enthusiastic fans throughout North America, South America, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. The Hol-lywood Reporter called a Creedence Clearwater Revisited con-cert “an amazing list of hit after hit” that celebrates “some of the best American Rock ever written and recorded.” n

BIOGRAPHYCreedence Clearwater Revival dominated the music

charts in the ’60s and ’70s with simple yet uncompromising hits such as Born on the Bayou, Travelin’ Band, Down on the Corner, and Green River. While the term “Roots Rock” had not yet been coined, the pioneering band defined the genre with lyrics that paid tribute to the working class. The group’s songs, said Billboard, “evoked enduring images of Americana and reflected burning social issues of the day.”

After Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded in 1972, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clif-ford formed CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED in 1995. Cook and Clifford initially planned only to play at private parties. However, audience reaction to the shows was so overwhelmingly positive, regular concerts soon followed. Today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo leads a group that performs about 100 shows a year.

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BIOGRAPHYLES BROWN’S BAND OF RENOWN delivers the

hits of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s – including songs by Glenn Miller and Bobby Darin – and keeps the Swing sensation alive for enthusiastic generations of music fans. Remembered for its 50-year partnership with the late Bob Hope on his ra-dio and television shows and tours to entertain U.S. soldiers around the world, the group is best known for its classic 1945 Sentimental Journey recording with Doris Day. The recording catapulted the songstress into international fame and became the unofficial anthem commemorating the poignant return of American troops at the end of World War II. The band, cred-ited with launching Tony Bennett’s stellar career, also worked with legendary radio and television personalities Steve Allen and Dean Martin.

The Les Brown orchestra produced high-energy shows and hits like 1946’s I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and

Joltin’ Joe, a novelty tune paying tribute to Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, which enthralled Ameri-cans during the summer of 1941. The band’s popularity paved the way for standing-room only concerts as fans swarmed ballrooms and college dances for favorites like Midnight Sun, Mexican Hat Dance, Ramona, and Leap Frog, which became the group’s signature song. The ensemble, which served as the house band for 10 seasons on the Dean Martin Variety Show, appeared at the presidential inauguration galas for Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and entertained Queen Elizabeth II at a ball arranged by Frank Sinatra.

Critics today continue to tout the group’s enduring ap-peal, with The New York Times noting that Les Brown’s Band of Renown “retained the style and sound of the Swing period and yet had a freshness that makes it seem quite up to date.” The band “defined an era,” hailed the Los Angeles Times. n

presents

lES BROWN’S BAND OF RENOWN

Sunday, September 20, 2009, 3:00 PM

there will be one 20-minute intermission.the taking of photographs or use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.

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presents

DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET

Thursday, September 24, 2009, 8:00 PM


BIOGRAPHYDave Brubeck has collected a long list of distinctions

in the course of his stellar career, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Smithsonian Medal, and honors from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Declared a “Jazz Master” in 2000 by the National Endowment for the Arts, Brubeck was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2003. The Jazz icon’s 2007 solo recording Indian Summer was designated “Album of the Year” by Bloomberg news service.

In the ’50s, the DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET redefined Jazz. The ensemble’s bold experimentation with unusual Jazz time signatures, evident in the singles I’m in a Dancing Mood and Take Five, injected the genre with an edgy twist that delighted a new generation of fans and sent Jazz tunes to the top of the Pop music charts. The group’s popularity skyrocketed with university tours that introduced the genre to thousands of young adults and produced successful albums, including Jazz at Oberlin, Jazz Goes to College, and Jazz Goes to Junior College. Exposure and wide acclaim followed as the ensemble played in “package tours”

that featured some of music’s powerhouses, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz.

The quartet’s 1959 Time Out album, which showcased the hits Blue Rondo à la Turk and Pick Up Sticks, climbed onto the Billboard charts and stayed there for three years. It quickly went Platinum, earning an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame for significantly changing the course of American music. The first Jazz album to sell more than 1 million copies, Time Out still ranks among the Top 10 best-selling albums of all time for the genre. The Dave Brubeck Quartet followed with more notable albums in the same vein, including Time Further Out; Countdown: Time in Outer Space; Time Changes; and Time in.

Along with Brubeck, the quartet currently consists of conductor Russell Gloyd; alto sax and flute player Bobby Militello; drummer Randy Jones; and Michael Moore, whom The New York Times has called “one of the most consistently brilliant bassists in recent history.” n

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presents

GlADYS KNIGHT

Friday, September 25, 2009, 8:00 PMSaturday, September 26, 2009, 8:00 PM


best.” The ensemble was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

After going solo, Knight’s achievements continued to multiply, with chart-topping albums like the No. One Good Woman, featuring the hit songs Men and Superwoman, and the Gold-certified Just for You, which earned a 1995 Grammy nomination for “Best R&B Album.” Named to VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll,” Knight cemented her Grammy-winning streak with the albums At Last and One Voice and the hits Heaven Help Us All and That’s What Friends Are For.

Musical praise has opened doors to more creative op-portunities for Knight, including Hollywood. She made her motion-picture debut in the romantic drama Pipe Dreams, a role that earned her a “Best New Actress” Golden Globe nomination. Knight also guest starred on the televised shows Benson, The Jeffersons, Living Single, and A Different World. n

BIOGRAPHYAn entertainer since age 7, GLADYS KNIGHT made

waves in the music world early on as part of Gladys Knight and the Pips, a family band that produced the hits Friendship Train, Letter Full of Tears, and I Heard It Through the Grape-vine. Honors and success came almost instantaneously as fans and critics were charmed by the catchy Gospel-driven, danceable tunes that rocked the charts, including Every Beat of My Heart and If I Were Your Woman.

The Washington Post hailed Knight’s ability to infuse “Soul, Gospel, and Pop traditions with enormous feeling and energy.” Rolling Stone said Knight “masterfully directs the ebb and flow” of melodies like Love Overboard. The overwhelm-ing critical acclaim sparked international exposure, leading to honors and Grammys for the No. One single Midnight Train to Georgia, I’ve Got to Use My Imagination, and You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me from the Imagination album, which Billboard described as “sophisticated Soul at its

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BIOGRAPHYOne of America’s most prolific comedians of all

time, BILL COSBY has dazzled generations of fans with his comedy routines, also captured on his iconic albums and best-selling books such as Fatherhood and the ground-breaking The Cosby Show. His comedy transcends age, gender, and cultural barriers.

Cosby broke television’s racial barrier with a role in I Spy, becoming the first African American to costar on a television series and win three consecutive Emmys for “Outstanding Lead Actor” in the dramatic series. The veteran comic hosted the Emmy-winning cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which began airing in the 1970s and was made into a film in 2004. The show, based on Cosby’s childhood in Philadelphia, was designed to educate and entertain.

The former Navy serviceman’s illustrious list of accomplishments includes roles on the children’s educational show Electric Company, and creating and producing the children’s program Little Bill, which is based on his best-

presents

BIll COSBY

Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM


selling book series.Perhaps Cosby’s greatest contribution to American

entertainment and culture is The Cosby Show, about a close-knit, upper-class black family. Cosby said his intent was to portray an American family. Time magazine called the show “an encouraging sign of maturity in matters of race.” The Cosby Show dominated the No. One spot for years, earning nearly unanimous critical praise. Life magazine described the program as “a gentle, whimsical, warmhearted” show whose “delicious ordinariness of its pleasures and tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective on their own domestic lives.”

For his philanthropic efforts and positive influence as a performer and author, Cosby was honored with a 1998 Kennedy Center Honors Award. In 2002, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. The Kennedy Center will award the 12th annual “Mark Twain Prize for American Humor” to Cosby on October 26, 2009. n

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presents

CHRISTINE BREWER, SOPRANO& CRAIG RUTENBERG, PIANO

Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 7:30 PM


Please hold your applause until after all movements of a work have been performed, and do not applaud between movements. Thank you for your cooperation.

As a courtesy to the performers and your fellow patrons, please mute all cellular phones, pagers, and watch alarms prior to the start of the performance.

PROGRAM Sieben frühe Lieder Alban Berg (1885-1935) Nacht Schilflied Die Nachtigall Traumgekrönt Im Zimmer Liebesode Sommertage

Ich liebe dich Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Breit’ uber mein Haupt Befreit

INTERMISSION Cabaret Songs Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Calypso Tell Me the Truth About Love Johnny Funeral Blues

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BIOGRAPHIESGrammy winner CHRISTINE BREWER possesses a

voice that soars “into the vocal stratosphere, flinging laser-like tones to the back of the theater with apparently limitless stamina,” exalted the Chicago Tribune. Her repertoire em-braces Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Giuseppe Verdi, and Gustav Mahler, but she is most celebrated for her interpretations of works by legendary composers Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, and Benjamin Britten.

Hailed by The New York Times for her “vocal rich-ness and clarion tone,” the soprano is best known for her unique timbre, her vibrant personality, and a career that is impressively highlighted by enviable achievements and performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera. Her portrayal of The Dyer’s Wife in Strauss’ Frau Ohne Schatten Opera elicited applause from The New York Times, which proclaimed: “She sang with full, rich sound, lovely legato phrasing and, when called for, chilling power.” The Dallas Morning News concurred, noting that Brewer’s performance provided “chills-down-the-back moments.” Brewer’s other notable appearances include the Lincoln Center’s Art of the Song series and a season-opening

performance with world-renowned British pianist Roger Vignoles for London’s Wigmore Hall.

Her prominent recordings consist of Strauss’ Four Last Songs, Wagner’s Liebestod, Mozart’s Requiem, and William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, which won a Grammy for “Best Choral Performance” and “Best Classical Album.”

Accompanying Brewer is pianist CRAIG RUTEN-BERG, whose playing ranges “from sterling directness to expansive beauty,” hailed the San Francisco Chronicle. One of the world’s most sought after vocal accompanists and coach-es, Rutenberg has worked with the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Festival d’Aix en Provence, and Opéra Comique of Paris.

Opera News praised Rutenberg for making “the piano sing with clean articulation and a palette of colors to coor-dinate with … every mood.” The pianist has worked with mezzo sopranos Denyce Graves, Angelika Kirchschlager, Frederica von Stade, and Susanne Mentzer; sopranos Harolyn Blackwell and Dawn Upshaw; baritones Thomas Hampson, Olaf Baer, and Simon Keenlyside; and tenors Ben Heppner and Stanford Olsen. n

Cantata John Carter (1932-1981) Prelude Rondo (Peter Go Ring Dem Bells) Recitative (Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child) Air (Let Us Break Bread Together) Toccata (Ride on King Jesus)

Echoes of Nightingales

Sing to Me, Sing Sidney Homer (1864-1953) Night Edwin MacArthur (1907-1987) Hickory Hill Paul Sargent (b. 1910) Love Went a-Riding Frank Bridge (1879-1941) If I Could Tell You Idabelle Firestone (1874-1954) Hills Frank LaForge (1879-1953)

Christine Brewer appears by arrangement with IMG Artists152 West 57th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10019

(212) 994-3500Brewer can be heard on EMI, Telarc, Naxos, Hyperion, Chandos, and Warner Classics Family of labels.

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BIOGRAPHYCalled a “superstar Brazilian keyboardist and bandleader

and longtime ambassador of Bossa Nova” by the Boston Globe, SERGIO MENDES studied music at the local conservatory as a boy, hoping to become a Classical pianist. He got caught up in the 1950s Bossa Nova craze that swept Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, eventually emerging as one of the genre’s pioneers. By the 1960s, Mendes and his band Brasil ’66 had mesmerized Americans with their own twist on Samba-based rhythms.

L.A. Weekly praised Mendes’ tunes Mas Que Nada and The Look of Love, describing them as “classic calling cards” spiced up with an exotic and edgy energy. This exciting recipe allowed Mendes and the band to merge old customs with a new beat – “the best of both worlds,” declared the newspaper. The Pop-inflected music sparked worldwide acclaim. The New York Post hailed: “With his musical curiosity and willingness to try new things from Bossa Nova to Hip-Hop,” Mendes “has been able to reach a younger generation with his music” and “stays true to his musical formula.”

Mendes’ ability to transcend continental boundaries and age groups has boosted his status in the universal music

presents

SERGIO MENDES

Friday, October 2, 2009, 8:00 PM


market, making him arguably one of the biggest and best-selling Brazilian performers in the world. He has performed to acclaim in venues as varied as stadium arenas to the White House, where he performed for Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. “Mendes can always be counted on to deliver an engaging set,” said the Los Angeles Times.

The pianist’s list of accomplishments is long and his honors are varied. Mendes garnered a “Best World Music Album” Grammy for Brasileiro, a showcase of Brazil’s Folk and urban tunes that All Music Guide called “a genuine, back-to-Brazil tour de force.” His Timeless album, Mendes’ first collaboration with The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am, featured traditional Jazz standards that were re-invigorated as Hip Hop and neo-Soul songs. Rolling Stone praised its “beautiful, boundary-breaking music.”

Billboard called the follow-up CD, Encanto, a “modern Brazilian Jazz-fusion with an array of excellent musicians” that includes songbirds Fergie and Natalie Cole. Encanto, Mendes’ second collaboration with Will.i.am, soared to No. One on the Jazz Albums chart. n

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BIOGRAPHYThe ABBA-endorsed BJÖRN AGAIN re-creates the

Swedish group’s signature style and sound with an acutely accurate reflection of the band’s music, dance steps, and humor.

In the 1970s and early ’80s, ABBA dominated radio play lists and music charts with a succession of hits, including The Winner Takes It All; Money, Money, Money; and Knowing Me, Knowing You. However, it was Dancing Queen – which skyrocketed to No. One in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and the United States in 1980 – that officially turned ABBA into an international Pop sensation.

Since its 1998 inception in Australia, Björn Again has attained worldwide cult status. Critical acclaim has spread like wildfire throughout the globe as sell-out crowds delight in the Disco era’s all-time greatest tunes, including Fernando; Take a Chance on Me; Super Trouper; and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).

presents

bJÖrn AgAin

Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8:00 PM


With first-class staging and production techniques, authentic costumes and makeup, accents and theatrics, Björn Again delivers the ultimate ABBA experience. Rolling Stone magazine hailed, “From the note-perfect vocals to the faux-Swedish accents and sequined duds, Björn Again [is] fabulously flawless.” New York’s Time Out magazine said the show “may be the most entertaining live Rock show in the world today.” ABBA’s original band members – Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – have all openly endorsed, supported, and praised Björn Again.

To date, Björn Again has performed in more than 70 countries and with a varied roster of performers such as Shania Twain, Cher, Spice Girls, Rod Stewart, and Kylie Minogue. The group has appeared in personal engagements for Bill Gates, Russell Crowe, and Sir Richard Branson. n

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presents

tHe beSt of Doo WoPFeaturing

THE BUCK RAM PlATTERS,CHARlIE THOMAS’ DRIFTERS,

ORIGINAl COASTER lEON HUGHES AND HIS GROUP,THE OlYMPICS,

THE VIBRATIONS,and

BRENDA HOllOWAYWith

COMEDY HOST SCOTT WOODand

THE AMERICAN GOlD BAND

Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3:00 PM


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BIOGRAPHIESTHE BEST OF DOO WOP is a rockin’ and a-boppin’

trip down memory lane with exciting performances by the genre’s best and brightest. The lineup is a Who’s Who of Doo Wop legends, including: The Buck Ram Platters, which surged to fame with the No. One single The Great Pretender and the Top 10 hit Only You; Charlie Thomas’ Drifters, which won acclaim for the tunes Save the Last Dance for Me and Under the Boardwalk; Original Coaster Leon Hughes and His Group, which delivered Poison Ivy and Charlie Brown; The Olympics, which climbed the Billboard charts with Hully Gully; The Vibrations, which sang the popular dance single The Watusi; and songbird Brenda Holloway, who won over fans and critics with Every Little Bit Hurts. Comedian Scott Wood hosts the show while The American Gold Band sup-plies the music.

One of the most successful Rock groups of the ’50s, THE PLATTERS was instrumental in putting black bands on the music map. The band’s smooth, stylized renditions of My Prayer; You’ll Never, Never Know; and Twilight Time put a soulful touch on Pop standards, earning the group acclaim and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree, THE DRIFTERS was known for its streetwise R&B blend, suf-fused with Gospel. The group was a mainstay on the music charts with the hit singles There Goes My Baby and On Broadway.

In one of the most formidable runs of the Rock era, THE COASTERS dominated radio airwaves and music charts with a string of successes, such as Searchin’, Young Blood, and Poison Ivy. With the timeless humor of Yakety Yak and Charlie Brown, the group established its reputation for funny Rock songs infused with an R&B undercurrent.

Doo Wop band THE OLYMPICS contributed to the Hully Gully line-dance craze that Americans fell in love with in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Some of the ensemble’s memo-rable Billboard-charting hits include Western Movies, Big Boy Pete, and The Bounce.

Soul group THE VIBRATIONS made its mark in music history with My Girl Sloopy, Stranded in the Jungle, and Peanut Butter.

In the ’60s, singer-songwriter BRENDA HOLLOWAY caught the eye and ear of Motown Records’ bigwig Berry

Gordy, who signed her and launched a legacy of successful songs like When I’m Gone, Just Look What You’ve Done, and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.

Comic-impressionist SCOTT WOOD’s funny but “clean” stand-up routines have garnered him awards, acclaim, and the nickname “Mr. Punchline.” Known for his rapid-fire one-liners and improv, Wood was named “Stand-Up Com-edy” champion after winning the Improv Comedy Club’s talent search for the funniest comedian.

Headed by musical conductor Bill Cormier, who has performed with Toto, Three Dog Night, and Little Anthony, THE AMERICAN GOLD BAND delivers the show’s musical accompaniment. n

On StageAdvertising Opportunity

The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) is now accepting advertising space reservations for the On Stage program.

Each issue of the program is distributed to approximately 15,000 patrons. Placing an advertisement in On Stage for the entire season provides an opportunity to reach more than 135,000 theater patrons.

The CCPA attracts patrons from throughout Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. Patrons have the discretionary income to enjoy dining and shopping excursions before and after attending performances.

For more information about advertising in On Stage, please call Account Executive Anna Jones at (562) 916-8510, extension 2520.

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presents

PETER TORK AND SHOE SUEDE BlUES

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 7:30 PM


scene. His proficiency with a wide range of instruments – including bass, piano, drums, ukulele, guitar, organ, keyboard, banjo, and French horn – presented numerous opportunities to perform with some of music’s heavy hitters, including Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Tork was the first Monkee to play an instrument on one of the group’s early albums, Papa Gene’s Blues. In 1994, he released his first solo project, Stranger Things Have Happened, which featured appearances by fellow Monkees members Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith. Besides The Monkees, Tork has appeared on the television shows Boy Meets World, 7th Heaven, King of Queens, and Wings. He also co-starred in 1995’s The Brady Bunch Movie.

Joining Tork are Shoe Suede Blues members Arnold Jacks (bass/vocals), Derek Lord (drums), and Joe Boyle (gui-tar/vocals). n

BIOGRAPHYPETER TORK AND SHOE SUEDE BLUES show-

case the allure of the Blues with a rollicking brew of heartfelt standards, original tunes, and popular bluesy cover versions of The Monkees’ songs, including I’m a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, For Pete’s Sake, and the No. One hit Daydream Believer. The group also often plays hits by Grammy legend Muddy Waters, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer known as the “Father of Chicago Blues.”

After a recent performance, The Liverpool Daily Post hailed Tork and his ensemble for its “mature and authentic sound.” The Connecticut Hartford Courant noted Tork’s “vitality,” “edge,” and a “taste for rebellion that has always been an undercurrent” of his repertoire.

Long before Tork became part of The Monkees sensa-tion and a household name in the 1960s, he was a well-respected musician in New York’s burgeoning Folk and Blues

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presents

tHe rAt PAck iS bAck!Starring

BRIAN DUPREY SANDY HACKETT KENNY JONES DREW ANTHONY

Executive ProducerARTHUR J. PETRIE

Produced by TRP ENTERTAINMENT, llC

Written by SANDY HACKETT and DICK FEENEY

Directed by

BEN lOKEY

Musical DirectorlON BRONSON

General ManagerRICHARD KANFER

Technical DirectorDONlEE CARDEJON

Tour Booking, Engagement Management, and Marketing BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE, NEW YORK CITY

Friday, October 9, 2009, 8:00 PMSaturday, October 10, 2009, 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM

Sunday, October 11, 2009, 3:00 PM


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CASTIn order of appearance

Voice of God .............................................................................................BUDDY HACKETTJoey Bishop ................................................................................................SANDY HACKETTDean Martin ...............................................................................................DREW ANTHONYSammy Davis, Jr. .............................................................................................. KENNY JONESFrank Sinatra ..................................................................................................BRIAN DUPREY

ORCHESTRAThe Rat Pack Is Back! is performed with a live 12-piece orchestra

DREW ANTHONY (Appearing as Dean Martin) received his bachelor of fine arts degree from Mannes College The New School for Music in New York City and has estab-lished himself as one of the finest Jazz singers in the area. He has performed on many stages from the Shubert Theatre to the Intermezzo nightclub at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. Anthony has recorded three live CDs, the first entitled You Don’t Know Me, which includes Blues pianist Junior Mance on the title song. Anthony’s vocal quality and sense of rhythm were a natural fit with many big bands. After much success, he created the Drew Anthony Orchestra, which made its debut performing Come Fly With Me. He has studied Jazz and Classical voice with internationally known Jazz recording singers Sheila Jordan, Jackie Paris, and tenor John Kuhn of Munich’s Bavarian State Opera.

KENNY JONES (Appearing as Sammy Davis, Jr.) grew up in Kansas and began performing at age 12 in Gospel ensembles. He joined R&B band Groove City and began touring the United States. His voice, stage persona, and dance talent make him a natural in the role of Sammy Davis, Jr. Jones pays true homage to one of his lifelong idols.

BRIAN DUPREY (Appearing as Frank Sinatra) performed in Performing As with FOX television. He won the $20,000 first-place prize portraying his idol Frank Sinatra. Talent judge Damon Elliott, music producer for Mya, Beyon-cé, and Jessica Simpson, was very impressed the first time he saw Duprey perform. Television viewers agreed and thou-sands flocked to FOX’s website to compliment his uncanny likeness to Sinatra’s voice. Singing since age 6 and becoming captivated with Sinatra’s voice by age 13, Duprey has always felt connected to the golden era of music. From his singing

BIOGRAPHIESBUDDY HACKETT (Voice of God) was born in

Brooklyn in 1924. With an extraordinary career in Broadway, television, and countless films, he reached legendary status as a nightclub performer at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas in the 1960s and 1970s. He was gifted with quick wit and improvisation.

SANDY HACKETT (Appearing as Joey Bishop/TRP Entertainment, LLC) has worked hard to follow in his father Buddy Hackett’s footsteps to become a great comedian. Bud-dy Hackett – who passed in 2003 – was Sandy Hackett’s best friend. Determined to be just like his father, Sandy Hackett took to performing at an early age. He made his debut on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In at age 11, and by age 15, Sandy Hackett was performing for 3,000 people at New York’s West-bury Fair. He honed his comedic skills at the Casbar Theater Lounge in the Sahara Hotel and Casino before touring with his father for 10 years as an opening act. It wasn’t long before Sandy Hackett was working the national comedy-club circuit and a casting director for CBS offered him a television pilot. This led to a series of comedic and dramatic movie roles and various jobs hosting weekly radio and television shows. Sandy Hackett’s nightly one-hour Las Vegas-based television talk show was an immediate success and became nationally syndicated. When HBO announced plans for a movie about the legendary Rat Pack, longtime family friend Joey Bishop called Sandy Hackett and told him that he would be perfect for Bishop’s role. Although the role went to someone else, Sandy Hackett decided to create his own show to honor Bishop and his famous buddies, drawing pieces from Bishop’s recorded performances and the performer’s memory. Before he knew it, The Rat Pack Is Back! was born.

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days in high school variety shows to doing stand-up comedy, it took Duprey until he was an undergraduate at Fairfield University to discover his passion for Jazz and Swing music.

DICK FEENEY (Writer and Producer/TRP Entertain-ment, LLC) produced his first critically acclaimed show Lul-laby of Swing in 1981 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and went on tour at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and the Bradford Theatre in Boston. In 1985, Feeney was associate producer of An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and produced Crazy Girls in 1987. After 20 years, both shows continue to play to enthusiastic audi-ences. In 1991, Feeney opened Viva Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel and Casino. Now in its 19th year at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, Viva Las Vegas remains the longest running and most successful afternoon show in Las Vegas history. Feeney has produced numerous shows worldwide from Japan to Spain, including Showgirls, The Great Gleason, Bottoms Up, and Forbidden Vegas. His television productions include The Entertainment Page, Las Vegas Tonite, and Karaoke Krazy. In 2003, Feeney produced the family-friendly Las Vegas act The World’s Greatest Magic Show and the flying Elvis skydiving team The Flying Elvi, which was featured in the movie Honey-moon in Vegas. The team consists of 10 Elvis Presley imper-sonators who skydive into events around the world from altitudes of 5,000 to 12,000 feet, freefalling at speeds of up to 160 miles an hour. The act combines a spine-tingling aerial skydiving performance of smoke trails, pyrotechnic fireworks, and precision maneuvers with an over-the-top entertaining stage show. In 2008, Feeney was awarded a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars for his outstanding contributions to the Las Vegas entertainment community.

ARTHUR J. PETRIE (Executive Producer/TRP En-tertainment, LLC) has been in the real estate development and investment business for the past 45 years. He is chairman of the board of Petrie Development Corporation, formed in 1976, and general manager of Asset Development Services, LLC, a real estate investment company in Las Vegas. Petrie’s experience in commercial real estate includes development for Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Kmart, and other retailers; apart-ment complexes; and an office and housing redevelopment on a university campus. Petrie Development Corporation was the leader in the United States in the development and construction of barrier-free housing for the disabled under a Housing and Urban Development program. Petrie has been active in the development, ownership, and management of

Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Radisson, and Hyatt Regency hotels. One of his projects includes the own-ership and renovation of the Federal Reserve Bank building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has participated in the acqui-sition, refinancing, and sale of two casino-related properties in Las Vegas, and is a founder of www.retired.com; Signal Sites, Inc.; and Longevity Nutraceutical Labs, LLC.

RICHARD KANFER (General Manager) has owned and operated Dynasty Productions (formerly Interactive Events) since 1979. His companies have been leaders in the special events industry, having pioneered several genres of entertainment, including the murder mystery and mock wed-ding concepts. Kanfer is a founding member of the Interna-tional Special Events Society and has been honored by his peers as a six-time Allie Award winner for events he created and produced, including the original shows Holiday Impres-sions and Frankie & Angie Get Married. He has created and produced many high-profile events during his career, includ-ing buying and managing concerts for Ruben Studdard, Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy, Steely Dan, Alabama, and Clint Black; the world premiere of Swatch’s first scuba diving watch; and the first corporate performance by the original Cirque du Soleil in Death Valley, California. In addition to his exten-sive special event career, Kanfer was entertainer Johnny Seaton’s personal manager from 1990 to 1997. In 1992, Kanfer negotiated and signed Seaton to a long-term contract starring opposite Donny Osmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Kanfer would like to thank Matthew Kanfer, Jacob Kanfer, and Rachael Walkup, who are the inspiration for his long and fun career.

BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE, NYC (Tour Booking, Engagement Management, and Marketing) is a leading theatrical tour booking, marketing, and press compa-ny that distributes musicals, plays, and attractions, including Jersey Boys; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific; Hair; Les Misérables; NETworks presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; The Rat Pack Is Back!; An Evening With Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking; Roger Rees in What You Will; Waistwatchers; Wonderland; My Fair Lady; The Light in the Piazza; and Mat-thew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands. For more information, visit www.bbonyc.com. n

THE TICKET OFFICE is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday and 12 Noon to 4 PM on Saturday. Hours are extended until one-half hour past curtain on performance days.

TICKETS can be charged to Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express by phoning (800) 300-4345 or (562) 916-8500, or online at www.cerritoscenter.com. Mail orders are processed as they are received. Tickets cannot be reserved without payment.

lOST TICKET AND TICKET EXCHANGE policies vary; however, there are no refunds. Call (800) 300-4345 for information.

GROUPS of 20 or more may purchase tickets at a 10% discount. Call (800) 300-4345.

CHIlDREN’S PRICES apply to children twelve (12) years of age and under. Regardless of age, everyone must have a ticket, sit in a seat, and be able to sit quietly throughout the performance. We do not recommend children under the age of six (6) attend unless an event is specifically described as suited to that age.

FREE PUBlIC TOURS are conducted by appointment only. Special tours can be arranged by calling (562) 916-8530.

PARKING is always free in the spacious lots adjacent to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

FUll-SERVICE BARS are located in the Grand Lobby on the Orchestra level and at the Gold Circle level. Refreshments are not allowed in the Auditorium.

SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED in any City facility.

EMERGENCY MEDICAl technicians are on duty at all performances. If you need first aid, contact an usher for assistance.

RESTROOMS are located behind the Grand Staircase on the Orchestra level and at the Grand Staircase Landing on the Gold Circle level.

Out of courtesy to the performers and fellow patrons, CEllUlAR PHONES, PAGERS, AND AlARM WATCHES should be disconnected before the start of the performance.

DOCTORS AND PARENTS should leave their seating locations with exchanges or sitters and have them call (562) 916-8508 in case of an emergency.

THE COAT ROOM is located behind the Grand Staircase.

CAMERAS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT ARE NOT PERMITTED in the Auditorium and must be checked at the Coat Room.

lOST ARTIClES can be claimed by calling (562) 916-8510.

ElEVATORS are located near the Grand Staircase and access each level of the Lobby.

PAY PHONES are located on the Orchestra level behind the Grand Staircase and near the restrooms on the Gold Circle level.

PHONIC EAR lIGHTWEIGHT WIRElESS HEADSETS for the hearing impaired are available in the Coat Room at no cost. To obtain a headset, a driver’s license or major credit card is required and is returned upon receipt of the equipment at the close of the performance.

WHEElCHAIR locations are available in various areas of the Auditorium. Please contact the Ticket Office at (800) 300-4345.

lATECOMERS will be seated at the discretion of the house staff at an appropriate pause in the program.

ClOSED-CIRCUIT TElEVISION VIEWING is available in the Lobby of each seating level and at the Lobby bar.

THE CERRITOS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS’ Auditorium and Sierra Room are available for special events on a rental basis. For more information, please call Special Event Services at (562) 916-8510, ext. 2827.

BE THE FIRSTLEARN about upcoming events and other important information about the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA). Don’t spend time looking for CCPA news; let it come right to you as it happens! To be in-the-know, just fill out this form and hand it to any of our ushers at intermission or following the performance.

NAME E-MAIL

ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

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Present a ticket stub AFTER the completion of any evening showto receive a 10% discount (food only, excludes alcohol).

Must be used same evening of the show.

Come in before the show and receive a 10% discount (food only,excludes alcohol) when you present a ticket for the show that day.







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