Moonlight Amphitheatre

The trouble with staging corn-pone musicals such as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is that the play itself is extraordinarily mundane. Even if the production is top-notch, even if the singing is glorious and the acting is sublime, the result of watching this musical comedy is still: "So what?" Frustratingly, the Moonlight Amphitheatre's production is top-notch, forcing one to wonder what this ensemble could have done with worthier material.

It began by accident, with a stroll in the park. In 1980, high school drama teacher Kathy Brombacher was hiking through a community greenbelt when she noticed a concrete slab at the foot of a grassy slope. Suddenly, she could visualize performers on that slab, belting out great musical scores. She could see lights and hear the applause from the natural grassy amphitheater.

Stephen Sondheim's fairy tale musical, "Into The Woods," will be performed today through Sept. 9 at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista's Brengle Terrace Park. The run marks the first in the San Diego area since the play's preview at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986. "Into the Woods," based on the book by James Lapine, weaves the stories of 15 characters into a single, multi-sided tale that tells what happens after the characters' "happily ever after" endings.

The special excitement of watching minor-league teams comes from spotting tomorrow's talent. One of the treats at Moonlight Amphitheatre, the big, outdoor community theater in Vista, is watching young stars begin to shine. The company's last show of the season, "A Chorus Line," is designed to allow several performers to show their stuff, which they do to advantage here. Michael Bennett created and choreographed the show in 1975 to honor the individuals who make up a Broadway chorus line.

A musical variety show performed by stage, screen and television celebrities, a raffle and buffet dinner as well as a celebrity tennis tournament are planned this weekend in Vista to raise funds for the Moonlight Amphitheatre. Personalities featured in the Las Vegas-type revue and the tennis tournament include Master of Ceremonies Frank Bonner (Herb on "WKRP in Cincinnati"), Richard Kline (Larry on "Three's Company"), Ilene Graff (Marcia Owens on "Mr.

It began by accident, with a stroll in the park. In 1980, high school drama teacher Kathy Brombacher was hiking through a community greenbelt when she noticed a concrete slab at the foot of a grassy slope. Suddenly, she could visualize performers on that slab, belting out great musical scores. She could see lights and hear the applause from the natural grassy amphitheater.

Moonlight Amphitheatre, more than most theaters in town, is as much about atmosphere as it is about the show on stage: families with babies stretch out on the ample grassy seating area between rows of chairs. Elaborate picnic baskets and rattling bags of Kentucky Fried Chicken are common, as are popping corks, the snap of flip-top cans, and surreptitious glances at the stars coming out overhead as the show kicks into gear.

Promoter Michael Goldman's Music Futures company officially entered the local market Friday when he announced his first area concert. In keeping with his penchant for producing outdoor events, Goldman has booked the traveling show, "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles," into Vista's Moonlight Amphitheatre for April 4. The opening act will be Dwight Adams, former vocalist with San Diego's Dr. Feelgood and the Interns of Love, who will perform a tribute to Otis Redding.

The trouble with staging corn-pone musicals such as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is that the play itself is extraordinarily mundane. Even if the production is top-notch, even if the singing is glorious and the acting is sublime, the result of watching this musical comedy is still: "So what?" Frustratingly, the Moonlight Amphitheatre's production is top-notch, forcing one to wonder what this ensemble could have done with worthier material.

The following is the story of how a city can instill in its citizens a tendency toward apathy and resentment, and an example of why the saying "you can't fight City Hall" is so commonly heard. There was a very discouraging council meeting July 7 in Burbank when three council members refused to place the Burbank Fine Arts Federation development fee for the arts proposal on the November ballot. However, we are not giving up. We will begin to circulate a petition for the February ballot next month.

A musical variety show performed by stage, screen and television celebrities, a raffle and buffet dinner as well as a celebrity tennis tournament are planned this weekend in Vista to raise funds for the Moonlight Amphitheatre. Personalities featured in the Las Vegas-type revue and the tennis tournament include Master of Ceremonies Frank Bonner (Herb on "WKRP in Cincinnati"), Richard Kline (Larry on "Three's Company"), Ilene Graff (Marcia Owens on "Mr.

Promoter Michael Goldman's Music Futures company officially entered the local market Friday when he announced his first area concert. In keeping with his penchant for producing outdoor events, Goldman has booked the traveling show, "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles," into Vista's Moonlight Amphitheatre for April 4. The opening act will be Dwight Adams, former vocalist with San Diego's Dr. Feelgood and the Interns of Love, who will perform a tribute to Otis Redding.

Some are frightened by failure--still more by success. The 1988 movie "Dangerous Liaisons," in an Oscar-winning adaptation by Christopher Hampton from his 1985 London play, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," made such an indelible impression on the imagination that many theater companies have been fearful of following in its shadow.

The trouble with staging corn-pone musicals such as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is that the play itself is extraordinarily mundane. Even if the production is top-notch, even if the singing is glorious and the acting is sublime, the result of watching this musical comedy is still: "So what?" Frustratingly, the Moonlight Amphitheatre's production is top-notch, forcing one to wonder what this ensemble could have done with worthier material.

The trouble with staging corn-pone musicals such as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is that the play itself is extraordinarily mundane. Even if the production is top-notch, even if the singing is glorious and the acting is sublime, the result of watching this musical comedy is still: "So what?" Frustratingly, the Moonlight Amphitheatre's production is top-notch, forcing one to wonder what this ensemble could have done with worthier material.

While several San Diego theaters are struggling to keep the lights on, two North County theater troupes are completely in the black--financially. The Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista and the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach are enjoying a degree of fiscal stability despite a financially disastrous 1990 for San Diego theater in general.

Some are frightened by failure--still more by success. The 1988 movie "Dangerous Liaisons," in an Oscar-winning adaptation by Christopher Hampton from his 1985 London play, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," made such an indelible impression on the imagination that many theater companies have been fearful of following in its shadow.

Stephen Sondheim's fairy tale musical, "Into The Woods," will be performed today through Sept. 9 at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista's Brengle Terrace Park. The run marks the first in the San Diego area since the play's preview at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986. "Into the Woods," based on the book by James Lapine, weaves the stories of 15 characters into a single, multi-sided tale that tells what happens after the characters' "happily ever after" endings.