"Ride The Cyclone" the Monterey County Premiere by the Forest Theater Guild

The Monterey County premiere of "Ride the Cyclone" the musical, presented by Forest Theater Guild, is a PG13 production running from June 16, 2023 — July 9, 2023 Fri-Sun 8:00-10:00PM (approx/includes intermission). This musical is produced by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing LLC. Book, Music & Lyrics by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell.

About the show: In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived!

While not the family friendly musical that you are accustomed to seeing from the Guild, we are pleased to present something a bit different, a little more edgy, similar to last year’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, the Monterey County Weekly "Best of 2022" winner.

The Forest Theater Guild strives to uplift our young talent and provide opportunities for them to shine in all roles and this year is no different. First time major musical directors Laurel Lane Bowen and Hunter Hobson have hit it out of the park with their collaboration on "Ride the Cyclone". Doing double duty, Hobson is assisting with some specialty printing and Bowen the Choreography. Jacqueline Rangel assisted with the Tango on "Noel's lament" and Carla Alicia Jones choreographed "This Song is Awesome". The shows variety of musical styles is well orchestrated by vocal director Michael Blackburn who pulls out some unique, almost haunting at times, harmonies from our young cast which features theater veterans as well as a few first timers to the stage. Adriana Vargo was instrumental in production concept. Costumes are by Producer and Executive Director Yvonne Hildebrand-Bowen, Set Build/Paint/Decorate is by Steven Jacques & Hildebrand-Bowen.

NOTE: This show contains strong language and mature themes. We hope that you will have as much fun watching the show as we have had pulling it all together. Like it or hate it...it is definitely something you will not soon forget!

About the writers:

Brooke Maxwell is a freelance musician, composer and educator based in Victoria, BC, Canada. In addition to Ride the Cyclone, he has underscored and sound designed several local and national works: Gruff (Puente Theatre), And Slowly Beauty (Belfry Theatre, National Arts Centre, Tarragon Theatre), A Tender Thing (Belfry Theatre) The Glass Menagerie, Long Days’ Journey into Night (Bluebridge Theatre) Joan (Theatre SKAM), Busted Up (Open Pit Theatre). brookemaxwell.com

Jacob Richmond has written several plays, including: The Qualities of Zero (Dora Award nomination, Montreal MECCA Award winner for Best Text); Small Returns (Theatre Passe Muraille); Legoland (Summer Works Award for Best Text, Frigid Festival New York Favorite Production, Vancouver Fringe Favorite Award); From Canada to Canada (CBC Radio One Award, Best Comedy); and The Punch and Judy Show (Caravan Farm Theatre). Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he majored in history and performance at Concordia University (Montreal) and is co-founder of Atomic Vaudeville, a popular cabaret theater series in Victoria, BC.

About the Theater: This is an outdoor theater and seating is on wooden benches. Please be sure to dress appropriately, we suggest layers. Picnics are welcome and the house will open 30 minutes prior to show. Limited tickets will be available at the door on a first come first served basis. Concessions will be available. Parking is extremely limited, we suggest arriving early, parking in town and enjoying a meal or a drink before walking in to theater. When possible, we request carpooling and the few spaces that are available onsite for our elderly and less able bodied patrons.

Thank you for your continued support of the Forest Theater Guild and Films in the Forest!