Tag: The Acorn

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Reviews of Lend Me A Tenor

Our 2026 season opening play, Lend Me A Tenor, is a hit with the critics! Check out these reviews:

The Joyous Living reviewed the show positively saying; “This is community theatre doing what it does best- bringing people together for shared laughter.”

Tim Pompey of the VC Reporter joined us on opening night; “Conejo Players Theatre presents a mashup of sex, identity confusion and clowns, all baked into a single night of hilarity… the chaos is well-timed and pretty darn funny.”

Cary Ginell of The Acorn praises Lend Me A Tenor, “It’s all about pace, timing and the actors’ ability to play their roles just short of overplaying them, and CPT’s production, under John Eslick’s skilled direction, does just that with a fine cast of talented actors… A great exclamation point to the evening is the post-curtain “megamix,” in which the cast pantomimes, at breakneck speed, the play’s key plot elements in a New York minute, set to the final galop from Jacques Ibert’s suite Divertissement.”

Ventura Breeze gives the play a very positive review; “Now on stage at the Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks is a barrel of laughs mixed with Italian opera, physical hijinks… The play is well directed by John Eslick who is also credited with the beautiful set design.”

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A Chorus Line in the Press!

Our production of this iconic musical is being spotlighted online and in local newspapers.


The Acorn: A Chorus Line marks 50 years of Broadway brilliance at Conejo Players Theatre

“Few musicals have captured the heart and hustle of Broadway quite like “A Chorus Line.” Now, 50 years after its groundbreaking debut, Conejo Players Theatre is bringing the iconic show to life for a new generation of theatergoers, now running through Nov. 30.”


Broadway World: A Chorus Line Begins In November At Conejo Players Theatre

“Conejo Players Theatre will mark the 50th anniversary of A Chorus Line with a new production of the groundbreaking musical, opening November 7, 2025, and running through November 30, 2025. Directed and choreographed by Mirian Durrie-Kirsch, this revival brings the enduring story of Broadway dancers’ hopes and heartbreaks to life for the Conejo Valley community.”


Thousand Oaks Acorn: Singular sensation takes the stage

“At its core, A Chorus Line follows a group of dancers auditioning for a spot in a new Broadway production. As each performer steps into the spotlight, they share their story, including their hopes, heartbreaks and sacrifices.”

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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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The Acorn: A song in his heart, poison in his pocket

The Thousand Oaks Acorn came to our opening night of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder and critic Cary Ginell gave the show high praise!

“The story is Gilbert and Sullivan meets-Monty Python, a delightful blend of comic patter songs and tragically funny “accidents” perpetrated by Monty on the members of the D’Ysquith family who stand between him and his ultimate goal…  This irresistible, delightfully mad musical is the cure for anyone’s ills.”

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The Acorn: ‘Outrageous’ play will have you in stiches

The Thousand Oaks Acorn visited ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ recently, and the critics are raving!

“The outrageous humor in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ isn’t as much in the pratfalls and missteps as in how the cast feebly tries to deal with them as they occur,” said theatre critic Cary Ginell. “Thinking (or hoping) the audience won’t notice, they gamely proceed with the story with straight faces all around, which results in them compounding their humiliation. The more deliberate the pacing, the funnier it gets, and the show is a laugh riot from start to finish.”

“’The Play That Goes Wrong’ is comic mayhem at its best and is not to be missed.”

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The Acorn: One Night Only, The Nameless Star “twinkles”

The Thousand Oaks Acorn sat down with the team from the upcoming free staged reading of The Nameless Star to get the scoop on this one-night-only event.

According to Elena Mills who translated and adapted the story for the stage, “This play always has been one of my favorites,” Mills said. “The story is about real people and real-life situations, without a fairy tale ending, which is nice, but usually untrue. ‘The Nameless Star’ is a romantic comedy with every character being created beautifully. We easily can guess about each one’s life story.”

Click below to RSVP and secure your free ticket, or to read the whole story.

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The Acorn: Laughs rain down in latest play

The Thousand Oaks Acorn came out to see Don’t Drink the Water, now through Feb. 4, and the reviews are in!

“Fortunately, CPT director John Eslick settled on the brilliant Kelly Green to play the part of harried American tourist Walter Hollander, who finds himself in a quagmire of trouble after he innocently takes photographs of an Iron Curtain missile site and takes refuge in an American embassy … The result is a comic tour de force as Green bumbles, blusters and bloviates while trying to come up with a way to escape the embassy while avoiding the encroaching police.”

“Character actor chameleon Raymond Mastrovito delivers one of his best performances ever as the lovable Father Drobney, a priest who has been hiding in the embassy for six years, trying out his magic act on anyone who will listen. Mastrovito, an amateur magician himself who delights in affecting foreign accents, steals every scene he is in, and even brought in some of his own magic props from home to use in the show.”

Tickets are now on sale, don’t miss it!

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Ventura Breeze: A View from House Seats

The reviews are in for 9 to 5, and it’s a hit!

Strong performances abound in CPT’ s leading quartet of characters, led by Dana Kolb in the Tomlin character of Violet,” said Cary Ginell in the Acorn. “As she did this past summer in CPT’s “The Sound of Music,” Katie McTyre makes everyone around her better through her superlative performance as Doralee. Mary Grace Zehnpfennig is equally excellent as Judy (played in the film by Fonda), a mousy housewife new to the workplace who shows the greatest growth of any character in the story.”

“Director Erin Fagundes has assembled a huge cast and has skillfully mounted a technically demanding production filled with engaging characterizations, familiar situations (sadly, many that are still in play even today) and high-spirited action,” said the Ventura Breeze’s Shirley Lorraine. “The less than PC boss, Franklin Hart, Jr., is played to the comedic hilt by Scott Quintard. He embodies fully the character everyone loves to hate. He is often backed up by a capable cadre of yes-men dancers who are a delight to watch as they move set pieces into place.”

Read the stories in the Thousand Oaks Acorn and the Ventura Breeze, and get your tickets today!

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The Acorn: Music Man Jr a family affair

The Thousand Oaks Acorn’s Cary Ginell got an advanced look at the Music Man Jr. and noticed an family connection right away.

“Darrin and Susan Ingram and their two children, Skyler and Kaelia, are all part of the production,” said Ginell. “For the Ingrams, ‘The Music Man’ has special personal memories since Darrin and Susan met while performing in the show at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York.”

Read the whole story in the Thousand Oaks Acorn, and get your tickets today!

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The Acorn: Live theater doesn’t get much better than this

Theatre critic Cary Ginell saw The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time last week and absolutely raved about it. Here are some highlights:

“Curious Incident is a tour de force of acting, directing and production values that takes us inside Christopher’s chaotic mind, assaulting the senses with visual and sonic elements ranging from heartwarming to nightmarish. Live theater doesn’t get much better than this.”

“Although Curious Incident is performed often in community theater, this particular production is to be singled out for its terrific production values, brilliantly guided by director Tanner Redman.”

“Rarely have sound and lighting design played such a large part in a show’s success.”

“[Brendan] Lynch’s characterization is nothing short of remarkable.”

“Avery Sierra-Valdes does a beautiful job in the role [of Judy].”

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs through Sept. 24, get your tickets now!