Two Piedmont residents, Charlotte Ragones (junior at Head Royce, above left) and Dahlia Saffouri (junior at Piedmont High School, below right) will perform as Ellie and Dakota in YMTC’s production of Don’t Stop Me with performances February 9-11 and 16-18 at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts in Oakland.
A shot at college, internet fame, attention from the one they like. The stakes are high at Plain Springs High’s first ever Dance-a-thon. As the demonic DJ transports them to dance crazes throughout history, each contestant must face their deepest desires and greatest weaknesses. Only one couple will walk out with “The Prize.” The rest won’t make it out alive. Commissioned by YMTC in 2014, Don’t Stop Me is a musical dance-a-thon to the death from Tony Award-nominated composer/lyricist Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Octet, Ghost Quartet) and award-winning playwright and former Julliard School fellow Krista Knight (Crush, Lipstick Lobotomy).
The show features a cast of 21 student performers and 5 student creative apprentices (ages 14–19) from cities all over the Bay Area, as well as one adult professional actor, local favorite Kevin Singer, as The DJ. They are led by a team of professional directors, designers, and musicians, including Director Jennifer Boesing, Music Director David Möschler, and Choreographer Janet Collard. The production features a 7-piece pop/techno band playing Dave Malloy’s orchestrations.
tickets
February 9 – 18
Masked Matinee: Sunday, February 11
Tickets are available online at www.ymtcbayarea.org or at the door one hour before curtain. Ticket prices are $17–$38, with discounts for students, seniors, military, teachers, and groups. YMTC offers one “pay what you will” performance to provide affordable musical theater to all in the community. This performance will be on Friday 2/16, when seats will be offered for cash-only at the box office. Reserved seats can still be purchased online. YMTC will also offer one “masked matinee” on Sunday 2/11 where audience members will be required to wear a mask, as well as one ASL- interpreted performance on Saturday 2/10.
Purchase online HERE.
ABOUT YMTC
YMTC is the Bay Area’s premiere pre-professional musical theater training. YMTC brings together the Bay Area’s most talented and dedicated young performers – as well as students of technical theater and student instrumentalists – with professional directors, designers, choreographers and musicians. We take on challenging and sophisticated musical and dramatic themes, and productions are always accompanied by a full, live orchestra. By providing exceptional musical theater training through exceptional productions, YMTC takes young artists on adventures that will inspire them for the rest of their lives. Learn more HERE.
