If there's one thing Santee has been missing, it's a good place to bring a date for a drink and a show! A new venue, Off Broadway Live, is opening soon that will bring the musical theater arts to town.
Signs went up for the new venue just before Christmas at the old Blockbuster Video on Cuyamaca Street in the Town Center shopping area. The interior of the storefront has been gutted and is being renovated into a Cabaret style theater (the only in East County), an "intimate setting of tables and chairs" facing a stage. Drinks will be available, but it's not clear if alcohol or food will be on the menu.
The first production, "Boys of Summer," opens February 15 and will be followed by the Broadway Live Summer Review (a Vegas style show) in May and "The Dance" in September.
The theater is the creation of the artistic duo Bob Schulze and Steve Rolf, local playwrights in their fourth season together.
A press release from the Coronado Playhouse sheds some light on the history of the pair:
"A Southern California music convention brought them together in 1999 and gave birth to what these local performers call a 'perfect storm.' Over the years their original four-man collaboration dwindled, to which a friend declared, 'the stage was just barely big enough for you two knuckle heads!'"
Other descriptions of the duo's artistic style include:
- "Bob Schulze & Steve Rolf bring a unique blend of singing and acting styles rarely seen on a stage together."
- "You will laugh.. you may cry... but you will be entertained by these two guys with their original stories of love, freindship and the often times hilarious, but sometimes tragic lessons of life and love."
"Boys of Summer," described as an "original, romantic, musical comedy," will run from February 15 to April 6 with shows Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are priced at $27 ($24 for senior, military, groups) with a few dollar price break for the grand opening.
Off Broadway Live
9490 Cuyamaca Street
Phone (tix): 619-988-LIVE (5483)
Website: www.OffBroadwayLive.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Off-Broadway-Live
COMMENT: What do you think about musical theater arts coming to Santee? Will you check out the venue when it opens?
