BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
PIP POCKET PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
THE BRAND NEW MUSICAL BASED ON THE
TIMELESS NOVEL BY CHARLES DICKENS!

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Adapted by Margaret Hoorneman
Music by Richard Winzeler
Book by Brian VanDerWilt and Steve Lozier
Lyrics by Steve Lane
Directed by Jules Aaron

Limited Engagement opens Saturday, July 19 at their NEW LOCATION, a guest production of
the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles!

July 2, 2008…Los Angeles … Back by popular demand, Pip Pocket Productions is proud to present, the brand new musical based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, a guest production at their NEW LOCATION, the Odyssey Theatre. GREAT EXPECTATIONS is adapted by Margaret Hoorneman, music by Richard Winzeler, book by Brian VanDerWilt and Steve Lozier, lyrics by Steve Lane and is directed by Jules Aaron. GREAT EXPECTATIONS will preview on Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, July 19 and run through Sunday, August 31, 2008 at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles.

The classic novel GREAT EXPECTATIONS has been transformed into this developmental production and is now a passionate and vibrant new musical!  The rich score brings to life the story of a prodigal young man named Pip and his journey of obsession, disillusionment, and redemption. Dickens’ colorful characters, the scheming Miss Havisham, the nurturing Joe, the abusive Mrs. Joe, and the mysterious convict, Magwitch, all spring to life and influence Pip’s pursuit of his humanity, and the quest for the illusive love of his life, the beautiful Estella.                                                                                                                     
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

JULES AARON (Director) has directed more than 250 productions for stage and television and is the recipient of 18 Drama-Logue Awards, three Backstage Garland Awards, four Bay Area Theatre Awards, three LA Drama Critics Circle nominations and one LADCC Award for director.  He has directed frequently at the Public Theater in New York, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival), South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, New Mexico Repertory, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Falcon Theatre, TheatreWorks and La Mirada Theatre of the Performing Arts.  Jules has directed Bruce Davison, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, Joan Van Ark, Billy Zane, and Mercedes Ruehl, among others.  Most recently he was the recipient of the Granada Chair at UC Davis where he directed Noises Off. He directed a benefit of Last Night Of Ballyhoo at the Wilshire Theatre and an acclaimed production of Cabaret at ITC. Jules will also be directing Last Night of Ballyhoo for McCoy/Rigby at La Mirada this spring. He teaches at American Academy of Dramatic Art.

MARGARET HOORNEMAN (Adaptor) The lifeblood and brainchild behind this Herculean endeavor, Margaret's background and experience as a playwright is rooted in teaching literature in the Iowa Public School System for over 40 years. Having taught Dickens, and particularly Great Expectations, each of those years, she became as familiar with his writing as if it were her own. Always the theatre maven, Margaret has always contended that Great Expectations, perhaps more so than other Dickens works that had been produced into musicals, really lent itself to the classic American musical in its story and structure. At 92 Margaret is a testament to age really being a state of mind and that we are never too young to go for our dreams.

BRIAN VANDERWILT (Co-Writer) Having completed his B.S. in theatre and M.F.A. in television at Northwestern University in Chicago, Brian began his career at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California as a story editor for Touchstone President Donald Deline. Working his way up the creative executive ranks as a programming and development assistant for Julia Franz, Brian started to make his mark on some of the most significant shows in television's history - serving on the creative teams of such shows as Ellen, Unhappily Ever After, and Home Improvement. His tenure at Disney caught the attention of 20th Century Fox where Brian was named Director of Current Programming for David Nutter's venerable production company Genrebend Entertainment. Among his primary responsibilities was overseeing the daily creative production of the then new series, Roswell. Two years later as the company's Vice President of Creative Affairs, Brian found himself collaborating with none other than 'king of the world' James Cameron in the development of Cameron's only television endeavor, “Dark Angel.” Combined with a strong affinity for the stage and an educational background very much grounded in the theatre, Brian continues to devote his energies in both professional worlds. As a programming and development consultant for the current 2006 television season at ABC Entertainment and the ABC Cable Networks Group, Brian's creative spirit and drive is no doubt fueled by his grandmother's passion & her unequivocal proactive commitment to making the world a better place.

STEVE LOZIER (Co-Writer) As a high school freshman in the Boston area, Steve Lozier was assigned to read the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations." He was so moved by the story of a young boy with large dreams; he refused to return the book at the end of the year. To this day, that book is his only and beloved copy of Dickens' masterpiece.  Since that fateful theft, he went on to study film and writing at Emerson College and after graduating moved to Los Angeles.  Lozier has worked in various areas of television and he ran the successful monthly nightclub/cabaret “The Freak Show.” Recently, he produced and directed a documentary, SEASON OF DREAMS, which follows a group of teen actors during the whirlwind of pilot season.  This year he was fortunate to be the General Manager for the award winning musical “The Beastly Bombing” which he helped deliver to the 2007 New York Musical Theater Festival. Currently, Lozier is the Managing Director of MOVING ARTS, a Los Angeles theater company with a 15-year history of excellence.

RICHARD WINZELER (Composer) started his association with musical theatre performing in a regional summerstock production of The King And I at the age of 5 in Peoria, Illinois (yes, it played in Peoria!) and he went on to enjoy performing through high school and college. Performing ignited his love of theatre music and a natural progression to be involved as a composer for musical projects like Great Expectations. His first professional gigs were working as a rehearsal pianist for a variety of television specials before moving on to arranging and conducting in Vegas, Tahoe and Atlantic City for such performers as Suzanne Somers and Cathy Rigby. As a songwriter, Richard has had a Billboard Top 10 R&B single, and had songs recorded by Diane Schuur, Lou Rawls, Michael Johnson, Terry Steele, Gladys Knight, and Phil Perry.

STEVE LANE (Lyricist) Having been in performance much of his life, Steve began his career in Washington, D.C., singing in rock bands in local clubs while in high school and college. He was selected to perform with a group of singers and dancers for a US State Department tour of the former Soviet Union for five weeks. He moved to Nashville where he landed a regular gig singing at the famous Grand Ole Opry. Moving west, he then joined Debbie Reynolds' Las Vegas Show singing and dancing with her for nearly 15 years, eventually being asked to arrange and produce. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show with his band Uptown Country who also performed with Bob Hope, Perry Como, and Shirley McClaine. He has since written songs that have been sung or recorded by Jasmine Guy, Aretha Franklin, Peabo Bryson, & Diane Schuur. His song, Lead Me Into Love, recorded by Anita Baker and released as a single, earned him a multi-platinum record. The song, You Don’t Remember Me, recorded by Diane Schuur and co-written with Richard Winzeler, was on her Grammy nominated album. Steve and Richard also collaborated on two Phil Perry songs. Working on Great Expectations has allowed Steve to broaden his craft to include the challenging genre of the musical theater where much of the story telling is done in song.

The cast of GREAT EXPECTATIONS features (in alphabetical order): Annie Abrams, Robert Arbogast, Dave Barrus, LJ Benet, Ellen Crawford , Britt Flatmo, Asunta Fleming, David Kirk Grant, Christie Herring, Kevin High, Troy Hussmann, Tricia Kelly, Matthew Koehler, Hap Lawrence, Zarah Mahler, Garrett Marshall, Steve Marvel, Brian Maslow, Steve Masurek, Terren Mueller, Fred Pinto, Adam Simmons, Anthony Skillman, Kelsey Smith, Kailey Swanson, Karen Volpe, and Dan Woren.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS features an award-winning design team.  The set and lighting design is by Adam Blumenthal.  The costume design is by Shon LeBlanc.  Property Design is by Patty and Gordon Briles.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING

GREAT EXPECTATIONS will preview on Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, July 19 and continue through Sunday, August31 at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $20 Thursdays; 30$ Friday, Saturday, and Sunday matinee. Odyssey subscribers get $5 off.  Previews are $15.   For ticket reservations, please call 310.477.2055 or visit www.odysseytheatre.com or www.greatexpecationsmusical.com.