Davis Gaines Makes LA Directorial Debut with MTW's OKLAHOMA!, Now thru 3/3

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, has announced that Davis Gaines (LA's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, MTW's MAN OF LA MANCHA & MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT) will make his Los Angeles-area directorial debut for the upcoming MTW production of OKLAHOMA!, which will preview tonight, February 15 and run for 12 performances through March 3, 2013. OKLAHOMA!, as with all Musical Theatre West productions, is created from the ground up at its rehearsal studios in Long Beach using a blend of both professional actors from Broadway, Hollywood and national tours, and the best in local talent.

Davis Gaines, currently nominated for an Ovation Award for his portrayal of Don Quixote (Cervantes) in MTW's smash-hit production of MAN OF LA MANCHA, also played the role of King Arthur in MTW's production of MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT. Mr. Gaines performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera more than 2,000 times for more than five million people during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, where he received the Bay Area Critics' Award for Best Actor.

"I'm so impressed with the quality of talent that MTW puts together, as well as the high quality production values that they give to each show they produce," stated Mr. Gaines. "Working at MTW feels like you're a part of a big family that gives an actor the chance to hone his craft in a warm, safe and fun environment. We are lucky to have such a theater company in Southern California. I'm very excited and honored to have just been asked to be a part of their 60th Anniversary season, by directing their next production, 'Oklahoma!.' I'm so looking forward to working with MTW in a different capacity and to help carry on the tradition of exciting, quality productions that they've been know for, for so many years."

OKLAHOMA! The musical that changed everything! 2013 will mark the 70th Anniversary of this, the first collaboration of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II. This tale of two cowboys who flirt and fight for the women they love just before Oklahoma is officially entered into the Union features the classic songs "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," and "People Will Say We're in Love."

Tickets for OKLAHOMA! are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, Calif., from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, Calif.

OKLAHOMA! is the second show of Musical Theatre West's 2012-2013 60th Anniversary Season. Musical Theatre West's 2011-2012 Season Sponsors are the Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation and Ken and Dottie Reiner.

Now in its 60th anniversary season, Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, the company has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its work presenting the entire spectrum of musical theatre (including 82 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award nominations over the past eleven seasons and the LADCC Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre).

Musical Theatre West mainstage performances are at the beautiful 1,070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. Season Tickets are available now and can be purchased through the MTW Box Office at (562) 856-1999 x4 or online at www.musical.org. Single Ticket prices start at $30.00, with low-priced last row seating available.

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