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VC Reporter: Where There’s a Will…: Conejo Players Theatre presents ‘The Book of Will’

The VC Reporter’s Tim Pompey attended The Book of Will and shared his thoughts.

“The Book of Will is about William Shakespeare. Or rather, the gathering posthumously of Shakespeare’s writings into the first official printed volume of his plays.

In The Book of Will, we have a play that is well acted and thoroughly professional, entertaining, dramatic and comedic… The highlight of the show is the dialogue between John and his just-departed wife, Rebecca. In their brief and final encounter, you get a sense of what real Shakespeare is like.

If you’re a Shakespeare buff, this play will appeal to you based on the performances of Shakespeare given in the show. If you’re unacquainted with Shakespeare, this might be a good place to start.”

The Book of Will is directed by Dana Marley-Kolb and produced by Priscilla Losey and Wendy Babb.

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Moorpark Reporter: Conejo Players Theater concludes local production of Broadway’s ‘Anastasia’

The Moorpark Reporter took a look at our run of Anastasia and talked with director Erin Fagundes and CPT president Dana Marley-Kolb.

“Directed by Erin Fagundes, the Conejo Players Theater production starred Maya Puterbaugh as Anya, Tony Cellucci as Dmirty and Benjamin Mitnick as Vladimir Popov. It also featured Kobe Burton as antagonist revolutionary Gleb, Amie Woolweber as Vladimir’s love interest; Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch and Deidre Parmenter as Anastasia’s Grandmother; the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Director Fagundes said her favorite part of the process was watching the cast come together. “[It’s] watching a group of people who mostly didn’t know each other at all evolve into the most incredible family who has each other’s backs, will do anything to support each other, bring each other laughter and joy, check their egos at the door, all while still beautifully accomplishing the number one goal – storytelling,” Fagundes said…

This “A-game” was brought in all respects, from the musical repertoire of the show to large ensemble dancing to en pointe ballet. Multi-part splits, smooth transitions and visual storytelling abounded, with clever humor throughout.”

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Broadway World: VELVETEEN RABBIT Comes to Thousand Oaks

Our upcoming youth play The Velveteen Rabbit: A Toy Story is featured on Broadway World Thousand Oaks. We are so excited to bring this classic story to life.

“Conejo Players Theatre has announced that their new youth play The Velveteen Rabbit: A Toy Story opens on Friday, May 2, 2025 in Thousand Oaks. Margery Williams’s classic toy story will be brought to life by some of the Conejo Valley’s most talented young thespians and will run until May 11, 2025. A special sensory-friendly performance will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 4pm. When the Child gets a Velveteen Rabbit for Christmas, she is disappointed in her gift, but after the two take a journey through her storybooks she realizes just how real her love is. Featuring a mix of your favorite vintage toys brought to life, including Timothy The Jointed Lion, the Wind-up Mouse, Dinosaur, and the Skin Horse, and historic figures such as Shakespeare & Mozart! This is the Velveteen Rabbit as you have never seen it before!”

The show opens on Friday, May 2, 2025!

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Broadway World: HOTBED HOTEL to Open Conejo Players 67th Season

Broadway World is featuring our upcoming comedy play Hotbed Hotel, which will open our 67th Season!

“Hotbed Hotel is a delightful, very fast-paced farce. Terri (Cassie Kelso-Bucey) and Brian Cody (Drew Orlando) are hoping to sell their “One Star Hotel” in the Florida Keys to the only man, Mr. Lewis (Don McGreevy), who has expressed interest in buying it. They are not expecting him for a couple of weeks, and are caught off-guard when they receive a phone call informing them that he will be arriving in the afternoon. Unfortunately, they have so few guests they are afraid that Mr. Lewis would feel that the hotel is a bad investment. So, Terri and Brian devise a plan to make the hotel appear busier and more prosperous than it actually is. Their staff will masquerade as paying guests, thereby giving Mr. Lewis the impression that the hotel is overflowing with loyal customers and vacationers. Their plan has one hitch, their entire staff consists of a maintenance man and a sexy housemaid. What could possibly go wrong?”

The show opens on Friday January 10, 2025!

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Ventura Breeze: Glass Menagerie Classic Endures

Shirley Lorraine from the Ventura Breeze gave The Glass Menagerie a glowing review!

“Director Elena Mills has assembled a quite capable cast to bring this classic to life. The setting is impeccable, employing clever scrims to highlight certain memories. All four of the actors are excellent in their roles. Pacing is rapid and dialogue is crisp. The tone of frustration, anger and impatience bubbles to the surface throughout. Even the gentleman caller, who is often seen as the most empathetic character in his gentle approach to Laura’s shy demeanor, is played with an abundance of bravado”

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Broadway World: The Conejo Improv Players Return Next Month

Broadway World featured an article about our upcoming Conejo Improv Players show.

“The performance is on Saturday, August 3 at 8pm. The Conejo Improv Players will present a hilarious night of improvisational comedy featuring skits, scenes, and music — made up entirely on the spot from audience suggestions. Enjoy an evening of interactive comedy that blends the comedic stylings of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Saturday Night Live in a hilarious show you won’t want to miss!”

 

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VC Star: Thousand Oaks theater company to perform ‘Rent,’ display AIDS project’s quilt panel

The VC Star talked to RENT director Shawn Adams-Lanz and actor Brennen Klitzner for an article about the show for both their print and online publications.

“Conejo Players Theatre’s production of Rent features an element not typically seen in the rock musical about AIDS. A 12-foot-by-12-foot panel from the nearly 40-year-old AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on stage as the cast sings “Seasons of Love.” Rent will be performed Friday through July 7 at the theatre at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks.”

 

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The Acorn: Viva la vie bohème

Thank you to The Acorn Thousand Oaks for covering RENT and our partnership with the National AIDS Memorial.

“In some 20,160 minutes from publication date—far fewer than the 525,600 mentioned in its iconic song—the classic musical “Rent” will take the stage at Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks. Set in the East Village of New York City in the early 1990s and based loosely on the classic Puccini opera “La Bohème,” “Rent” follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to create and survive in NYC’s Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.”

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Conejo Players on the Stage Playaz Podcast

We are thrilled that the Conejo Players Theatre and the cast of Sleeping Beauty were featured guests on the Stage Playaz Podcast.

Official Description: Join your favorite co-hosts, CC Adeva and Nate Eshaghpour as they feature a performing arts gem in the community. The Conejo Players Theatre is going on its 66th anniversary and it remains one of THE most popular venues people go for entertainment. Meet the Executive Producer Beth Eslick and learn what makes the experience at Conejo Players Theatre unique. Enjoy the perspective of three Sleeping Beauty cast members, Carmen Hortiales (Briar Rose), Evan Trafican (Prince Owain), and Alia Ashworth (Spider King) from their current production, Sleeping Beauty (Charles Way adaptation), as they give you a glimpse into their characters and express their gratitude and love for being a part of the Conejo Players Theatre family.