SIDETRACKED Opens at Macha Theatre, 2/3

Set in the Golden Age of Hollywood , Sharon Michaels' Hollywood whodunit SIDETRACKED, directed by Ray A. Rochelle, finds five passengers waiting to board the train at L.A.'s Union Station – and each of them has a motive for the murder that's just been discovered. 

The show, described by the theatre as "a gripping dramedy," pays homage to an earlier era "with nods to film noir, Bogart and Bergman, and Fred and Ginger, too." The Cast features Bix Barnaba, Michele Bernath, Carlos Ciurlizza, Sondra Currie, James Gleason, David P. Johnson, and Jamison Lingle.  February 3 – February 19, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm.  Tickets: $20-$25.  Buy Tickets/Info:www.plays411.com/sidetracked  or (323) 960-7724.  Macha Theatre, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood 90069. 

Production Team 

Sharon Michaels (Writer-Producer) started out as a ballet dancer, worked in Alicia Alonso's ballet company for three seasons, danced in several Broadway shows including Carnival, La Plume de Ma Tante, and numerous Off- Broadway shows as well.  Ms. Michaels performed  in musical films such as West Side Story, Dr. Dootlittle (the pushmi-pullyu), and Mame: and then began writing.  Her first produced script, In My Daughter's Name, was a courtroom drama produced on TV Movie on CBS.   A novel, CHASING A DREAM, a family saga, is currently on sale on Amazon.com. SIDETRACKED is her third play. 

Ray A. Rochelle (Director) Ray's began 25 years ago with his first professional musical production of "Music Man" for the former San Gabriel Civic Light Opera (now the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre). Over the years he has performed for major cruise lines and in over 40 professional musical productions with several different companies such as (East West Players, Music Theatre Guild, Stella Productions and San Bernardino Civic Light Opera to name a few). After touring nationally and internationally with Miss Saigon, Ray had the opportunity to associate direct and choreograph the first western regional production of Miss Saigon for Fullerton Civic Light Opera in 2005, which garnered him Ovation Awards for Best Musical and Best Direction.  He directed and executive produced Miss Saigon once again for his home theatre company (the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre) May 2010.  For the past two years, he has worked side by side with Producing Artistic Director Bobby Hundley, in every event and project promoted for SGVMT.  Directing is a new passion for him, and in addition to SIDETRACKED, Ray is currently directing SGVMT's An Intimate Evening of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber – A Concert of Love premiering February 4^th.

Rikki Lugo (Associate Producer) has been the Resident Choreographer and Director for the San Gabriel Music Theater for the past 25 years.  Recent shows include The King and I and Oliver, choreographed Palm Springs Follies, Disneyland and the American Girl Revue at the Grove in Los Angeles.  Staged night club acts in Aruba, Orlando and Nashville.  She is the recipient of several Drama Logue Awards and the Robby Award.   When not choreographing or directing, she teaches dance.  She will be directing a musical for San Gabriel this spring. 

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