Billy Elliot At Woodminster Amphitheater
Where: Woodminster Amphitheater, 3540 Sanborn Drive, Oakland
Admission: $33.00-$55.00 ($2.00 Senior Discount 62+)
Leader: Tom Gleason 510.508.5169
Information: http://www.woodminster.com/
High in the Oakland hills, overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the cities on both shores, Woodminster Amphitheater is at the heart of historic Joaquin Miller Park. The Amphitheater and the pools and cascades below it were built as a WPA project and dedicated in 1940 in honor of California writers. Today, the city-owned facility has had some improvements to make it safer and more comfortable for modern audiences, but it is still a charming, rustic, outdoor performance space.
Some of the best weather in the Bay Area can be found in the Oakland Hills, making it an ideal setting for outdoor musical theatre in the summer months. But remember that it can get chilly in the evenings, and sometimes foggy or breezy, so dress warmly or bring a jacket and blankets. Also, wear shoes that are appropriate for walking on dirt paths from the parking lot and on stairs within the amphitheater.
Three musicals are presented each summer, one each in July, August, and September. Each musical is accompanied by a live professional orchestra and cast includes about 8 members of Actors’ Equity Association, along with dozens of talented local performers.
With music by Sir Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, the winner of ten Tony and ten Drama Desk Awards (including in each case Best Musical), this great show, set in a northern English mining town, is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and community and changes his life forever.