El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation

Presents

“HAPPY 90th, El Campanil!” Celebrating 90 Years of Entertainment

In the Heart of Antioch

A Retrospective of Shows & Stars

From Then till Now…

Saturday November 17, 2018 7:00 pm

Including Show Highlights From

The World of Webber

The Broadway Divas

You’ve Got A Friend: The Carole King Songbook

This One’s For You:

The Songs of Barry Manilow

From Motown With Love

JOEL: The Band

And Much More…!

Bay Area Critics Award Winner

Tielle Baker

American Idol Semi-Finalist

Nicholas Crossen

Top Shelf Classics’

Wanda Diamond

Delta Blues Festival’s

Frankie G.

Theatre Bay Area Award Winner

Andrea J. Love

Broadway’s “Movin’ Out” Star

Kyle Martin

Bay Area Favorites

The Rhythm Method 4

2-Time Grammy Award Winner

Mads Tolling

Shellie Award winning Theatre Company

Vagabond Players

And A Special Appearance by

Star of “The Music of John Denver”

Jim Curry

With

Pianist, Kenji Higashihama

And

Master of Ceremonies

Antioch Classical Theatre Company’s Sean J. O’Neil

Produced & Staged by Esses Productions

Cast Bios

TIELLE BAKER is a Musical Theatre and Opera star who has appeared in over 50 productions with over 20 different companies, including her award-winning role of ‘Velma Kelly’ in Lucky Penny Productions’ of CHICAGO: The Musical. She has hit high notes in The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and in International Music Festivals in Italy and Germany. She graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor in Music. When not on stage she works with young performers as a Private Vocal Instructor and is a Wife and Mother of 2 awesome Boys! "Teaching is incredibly rewarding, and I enjoy helping others find their unique voice."

http://www.tiellebaker.com

NICHOLAS CROSSEN Nick began singing when he was only 11 years old performing in showcases and local musical theatre productions throughout the Bay Area. In 2013, he got his first taste of Hollywood when he was voted into the Top 100 Boys category of TV’s AMERICAN IDOL, Season 12. Currently pursuing his studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he is also continuing his performing interest as a member of the university’s A Cappella performance ensemble, TAKE IT SLO.

WANDA DIAMOND is the upfront Leading Lady of the Bay Area’s top entertainment troupe, Top Shelf Classics. Known for their unparalleled passion and enthusiasm for entertaining, they deliver their own diversified and dynamic musical mélange of Motown, Classic Soul, R&B, old school 70s, Retro 80s & 90s, as well as the Top Hits of today. They have been dazzling the Bay Area music scene for years with their soul-stirring vocals, sophisticated style, and ingratiating personalities. A show with Top Shelf, is a one-of-kind experience. www.topshelfclassics.com

FRANKIE G is the powerful guitar and vocal talent leading the popular high-energy blues and grooves band, Frankie G & the Conviction. He is also the producer and heart behind The Delta Blues Festival, which is an Annual Benefit Concert offering musical scholarships to deserving students throughout the East Contra Costa community. Each year, proceeds raised from the DBF Benefit Concert results in Grants of $10,000 (or more) which are awarded to an organization or program that assists and strengthens music programs that directly enrich kid's involvement with music.

http://FrankieG.org

KENJI HIGASHIHAMA is a Music Director and Vocal Coach. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working with a number of soloists, groups, and shows across the country including assistant music directing a national tour of The Music Man. Some of his vocal students have gone on to perform in regional and touring productions of such shows as Mamma Mia and PJ Masks Live. He recently music directed Allegiance at CCCT and has also worked with theatre companies including Transcendence Theatre Company, Town Hall Theatre, Berkeley Playhouse, Broadway By The Bay, and The New Conservatory Theatre Center. https://www.nctcsf.org/classes/teaching-artists

ANDREA J. LOVE is a professional actor, singer, and educator, who has been working around the Bay for the last three years, most recently with Davis Shakespeare Festival, Capital Stage Company, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Playhouse, and Sacramento Theatre Company, among others. She is also a composer/lyricist, and has been the featured musical artist for Bike City Theatre Company several times. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.

www.andreajlove.com

KYLE MARTIN is best known as the "Piano Man" from Broadway's Tony Award-Winning smash hit MOVIN' OUT, having performed the starring role in the Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp Broadway musical’s national tour throughout the country for over two years. He continues the Billy Joel legacy to this day in his own JOEL: The Band, which has received critical and professional acclaim as "The Best Billy Joel Tribute on the West Coast." In addition to maintaining his busy performance schedule, Kyle is the CEO / Founder of the Sacramento area’s Professional Voice vocal studios.

www.professionalvoiceonline.com

SEAN J. O’NEIL spent twenty years working at Antioch High School, teaching drama and creating their Media/Tech Academy. He's currently an Adjunct Dramatic Arts Professor at Los Medanos College and a high school principal in West Sacramento. From 2006-2009 he brought high school, college and professional artists together as Antioch Classical Theatre Company, producing four summer seasons of Shakespeare at El Campanil. An AHS grad, he earned his BA in Drama from UC Irvine and his MA in Theatre Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. www.seanjoneil.com

THE RHYTHM METHOD 4 is a

group of 4 distinctively talented

musicians who perform regularly

throughout the Bay Area to fans of

every genre and taste of

music. They debuted their Hit

Musical Tribute, YOU'VE GOT A

FRIEND: The Carole King

Songbook at El Campanil Theatre on April 29, 2018. Chris Holmes

performs Keyboard and Vocals, Rob Lopez is Bass and Vocals, Keith

Vaughn provides Drums and Percussion, and Ke’Lee Marie Bordeaux is

featured on Vocals. www.trm4.com

THE VAGABOND PLAYERS

All around the country an endearing phenomenon spearheaded by the senior community is taking root. It is the rise of Senior Theater as a vehicle to highlight the talents of creative folks over fifty.

Their mission is to contribute to the arts and the community by making theatre more accessible to older artists and audiences.

The Vagabond Players bring their talents to senior living facilities throughout the Bay Area. Founder and Executive Director is Sharon Redman. Performing tonight are: BARRY HANAU, BILL DIETZ, SHEILAH MORRISON

MADS TOLLING is an internationally renowned Jazz Violinist who has won two Grammy Awards for Best Classical Crossover albums, was nominated for a third Grammy this year, and is a featured Yamaha Silent Strings Artist. He is a former member of both Turtle Island Quartet and Stanley Clarke's band, and has recorded and performed with artists including Chick Corea, Stanley Holloway, Ann Hampton Calloway, and Teena Marie. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, he continues an active touring schedule playing some of the world’s most prestigious venues and music events, and having performed over 1,500 concerts around the globe. He is currently enjoying the success of his newest hit recording, MADS TOLLING & THE MADS MEN: Playing The 60s.

ESSES PRODUCTIONS is the culmination of the longstanding creative partnership between multi-award winning Cabaret & Theatre star SAMANTHA SAMUELS and 2-time Emmy Award winning Producer and Writer STEVEN SHORE. ESSES’ goals are to keep theatrical arts relevant and accessible by presenting world class entertainment while featuring distinctive local artists in new and innovative programming throughout the community, celebrating the art of intimate theatre and Cabaret. Past productions include the award-winning CABARET IN CONCERT Series; the annual THANKS FOR GIVING Food Bank fundraising Galas; and the theatrical run of WE’LL TAKE MANHATTAN, which garnered seven Shellie Award Nominations and a Dean Goodman Choice Award. Production

coordinator for this event is TIELLE BAKER HOUGH.

www.EssesProductions.com

SPECIAL GUEST: JIM CURRY has created the ultimate tribute experience, emerging as the top performer of John Denver’s music today. Often performing with John Denver’s former band members, Curry’s show is the first and only full-length John Denver tribute to headline in Las Vegas and has been celebrated nationally and internationally. Jim’s voice was heard in the CBS-TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story, and he has performed Denver’s music in sold out shows all throughout the country. Jim’s uncanny ability to mirror John’s voice and clean-cut look takes you back to the time when Rocky Mountain High, Sunshine, Calypso, and Annie’s Song were topping the charts, and his popular music had the heartfelt message of caring for the earth and caring for each other. www.jimcurrymusic.com

Cast Hospitality Provided By

www.lesleystilesfoods.com

Lodging Provided By

A Brief History Of El Campanil Theatre

On November 1, 1928, El Campanil Theatre opened its doors to the City of Antioch

and the Diablo Valley. At the time it was referred to in news reports as “the most pre-

tentious building in Contra Costa County.” Built, owned and operated by

Ferdinand Stamm and Ralph Beede, El Campanil (the tower of bells) is Spanish in

both name and architecture. As with many theatres of the era, El Campanil

originally offered an audience chamber of approximately 1,100 seats, as well as a

limited stage and “back of the house” areas to support vaudeville

entertainment. Folklore abounds to this day about the famous celebrities who

performed there, and who left their autographs on the dressing room walls. El

Campanil was also a single screen cinema, with what was “state-of-the-art”

projection capabilities in 1928.

Located in the heart of downtown Antioch, along the waterfront and in what is now

known as the Rivertown Business District, El Campanil was owned and operated by

the Stamm family for 75 Years, or until 2003.

In 2001, a small group of local citizens, including representatives of the Rivertown

Business District Association, approached the City of Antioch with their desire to find

a way to acquire and restore El Campanil, and to convert its use to one

supportive of the Rivertown Renaissance plan. The Rivertown Business District

Association took the lead in securing funding from Calpine for the development of a

comprehensive business plan for El Campanil Theatre. The business plan outlined

the best strategies for moving the project forward and VenueTech Management

Group, LLC, was retained to develop the plan.

In July 2002, El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation was incorporated as a

charitable, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

In early 2003, Calpine Corporation and the City of Antioch entered into an

agreement whereby the Foundation received a grant to acquire the theatre.

In July 2003 El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation purchased the theatre

and began the process of converting the building to a community performing arts

venue.

On July 4, 2004 the first phase of the rehabilitation was complete and the doors once

again opened to the public. El Campanil Theatre presents a wide variety of entertain-

ment opportunities including Foreign Classic Films, Live Theatre, Concerts,

Symphony, Ballet, Comedy and is host to numerous local dance and

community based organizations.

The rest of story continues today, and we hope to provide a chronicle of this success

story through our website.

Beswick Family Antioch Community Fund

Who Is El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation ?

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Ramsey - President

Ron Yarolimek - Treasurer

Marge Katin - Secretary

Bob Coakley - Director

Sharon Daniels - Director

Rick Lemyre - Director

John Slatten - Director

Rick Carraher - Executive Director

With special thanks to Johnny Hackenkamp

who has guided our technical and facilities progress since 2007

Our Staff

Karen Baker - Box Office Manager

Debbie Moore - Social Media and Advertising Manager

Steven Shore - Director of Programming

Sharon Redman - Children’s Theatre Artistic Director

House Managers

Janis Carraher Josi Sobel Kent Vosburg

Gail Kean Steve Rojek

Over 60 Wonderful Volunteer Ushers

Technical & Facilities Supervisors

Sunny Shergill, Technical Supervisor

Justin Burkeen, Facilities Supervisor

Technical Staff

Ariana Blades Morgan Gassman Justice Krugman

Thomas Lautenberger John Matt Jonathan Nottage

Brianna Peacock Corey Schaeffer Ethan Williams

And You—Our Amazing Patrons and Donors

THANK YOU ALL

El Campanil Theatre Welcomes

Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill

“A Perfect Pairing”

Enjoy a Show and Lunch, Dinner or Sunday Brunch