SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE RETURNS WITH ANOTHER SEASON OF GREAT MUSICAL THEATRE

Welcome back everyone, to another spectacular season at one of the nation’s premiere showcase for the best in high school musical theatre.  With the tremendous input from a creative team comprised of UCSB Director of Music Dr. Jon Nathan, UCSB Dance teacher and choreographer extrordinaire Christina McCarthy,  resident Costume Designer Bonnie Thor, long time lighting designer Mike Madden and the technical expertise of Jonathan Mitchell,  SBHS has garnered a national reputation for innovative approaches to the genre and the artistry and professionalism of their set and light designs.

I am so happy to announce our 2017-2018 season at Santa Barbara High School, leading off November 3, 2017 with CRY BABY, the “prequel” to HAIRSPRAY set in 1950’s Baltimore.  That will be followed in late January, 2018,18th with the presentation of the student produced and directed Broadway revue MUSIC OF THE NIGHT.  Inthe Spring SBHS is delighted to announce the production of GUYS AND DOLLS, the Frank Loesser/Abe Burrows masterpiece of musical theatre based on the stories of Damon Runyon. Noted critic Brooks Atkinson stated, "we might as well admit that Guys and Dolls is a work of art. It is spontaneous and has form, style, and spirit."[66] while John Chapman wrote of it, "In all departments, Guys and Dolls is a perfect musical comedy".

But we begin with a quirky, funny, raucous and rocking explosion called CRY BABY.

 This jumping, jiving Tony nominee is a rebellious teen comedy event! Based on the cult classic, 1990 John Waters film (featuring Johnny Depp), Cry-Baby features a delightfully demented book from the writers of Hairspray and a rockabilly score from the co-founder of Fountains of Wayne and the executive producer of "The Daily Show." 

It's 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He's a bad boy with a good cause – truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Cry-Baby and the square rich girl, Allison, are star-crossed lovers at the center of this world. Fueled by hormones and the new rhythms of rock and roll, she turns her back on her squeaky clean boyfriend, Baldwin, to become a "drape" (a Baltimore juvenile delinquent) and Cry-Baby's moll. At the other end of the topsy-turvy moral meritocracy of 1954 America, Baldwin is the king of the squares and leads his close-harmony pals against the juvenile delinquents, who are ultimately arrested for arson, sending the drapes all off to prison. It's Romeo and Juliet meets High School Hellcats.

Filled with unforgettable songs and a truly unique and fresh story, Cry-Baby is a perfect choice for any theatre looking to add a rockin' good time to their season. Cry-Baby, Allison and Baltimore's energetic juvenile delinquents will dance their way right into your audience's heart!

Terry Teachout in the Wall Street Journal wrote that "the new John Waters musical, is campy, cynical, totally insincere and fabulously well crafted. And funny. Madly, outrageously funny.”

So get ready for another rollicking, outrageous and bold ride with Santa Barbara High School Theatre—let’s do this!