The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 1pm & 5pm

Presented by The City of Irvine and Irvine Barclay Theatre

This performance is presented without an intermission.

The Magic School Bus and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered marks of Scholastic Inc.

A TheaterWorksUSA Production

Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson

Book by Marshall Pailet

Original Direction and Choreography by Connor Gallagher

Scenic Design by Jason Sherwood

Costume Design by Sarah Cubbage

Orchestrations by Frank Galgano & Matt Castle 

Kendall Jennings: Stage Manager

Andrew Coopman: Tour Director/ Choreographer (They/He+)

Bruce Degen: Illustrator, The Magic School Bus

Joanna Cole: Author, The Magic School Bus

Back on The Magic School Bus ....... Company

Blast Off ................. Ms. Frizzle, Company

Working Time (Mercury) ...........Students

Lost in Space! ...................Students

Take the Heat (Venus)..............Arnold, Janet, Company 

Lost in Space! #2 .................Students

Isn’t it Lovely? (Earth).................Ralphie, Company

Know it When I See It (Mars)............Wanda, Carlos, Company

Lost in Space! Fakeout ....................Students

Flying Through the Asteroid Belt .................Epic Underscore

Lost in Space! #3 ...................Students

Pull Together (Outer Planets) ...................Ralphie, Company

Blast Off Reprise! ..................Ms. Frizzle, Company

Back on The Magic School Bus Reprise (Bows) .....Company

When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic.

Millions of young people grew up loving The Magic School Bus. What child doesn’t dream of having a teacher like Ms. Frizzle? Marshall Pailet, who wrote the script, was also a super-fan of the books and the television series and couldn’t wait to adapt one of the books for the stage. He knew each plot and each character inside and out, and could quote dialogue from every episode! His collaborator Matthew Lee Robinson, an Australian composer/lyricist, was also a fan of this bestselling series. As you can imagine, bringing the book to life presented many challenges, but one of the biggest was creating a new Magic School Bus theme song to replace the series’ iconic theme song. We hope the musical will inspire you to go on your own science adventure!

Enjoy the show,

Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director

NATE FRISON (Arnold) is so excited to be making his national tour debut as Arnold! He is a recent grad of Kent State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance. Favorite credits include Prince Herbert in Spamalot (Woodstock Playhouse), Buddy U/S in Elf (Weathervane Playhouse), and Fyedka U/S in Fiddler on the Roof (Porthouse Theatre), among others. Nate wants to thank his friends, family, and past teachers for supporting his theatrical endeavors. @natefrison

CHRISTIAN CORDOVA (Carlos) born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, earned his BFA in Theatre Performance at the Kean University Theatre Conservatory. Chris’s credits include Godspell (John/Judas), Into the Woods (Jack), The Tempest (Sebastian), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Chuck / Spokesman / Dave/ ensemble), Sister Act (Ernie / Fantasy Dancer), and Sunday in the Park with George (Man with Horn / Photographer #2). In 2021, he collaborated with New Plays for Young Audiences at New York University Steinhardt in developing Keys: A New Musical (Narrator). Christian can’t wait to get lost in the solar system with you! @christiancord0va 

ALEXIS GARDINER (Janet) Alexis is excited to be exploring the country on her first national tour! Favorite credits include TheaterWorks Hartford (Fun Home), Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Musicals, and you can find her performing jazzy renditions of pop songs in cabaret spaces across NYC. Love to her parents, friends, and Dan, and big thanks to the incredible team at TheaterWorksUSA! @alexisjgardiner 
 
OLIVIA BRICE (Ms. Frizzle) is a performer from Bellingham, WA, who has been involved in theatre since childhood. She pursued classical vocal training and earned a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, while continuing to participate in musical theatre workshops and productions. Olivia recently completed her Master’s degree in Voice at the Boston Conservatory, focusing on contemporary opera. With experience as a soloist, ensemble member, and storyteller across different styles, she focuses on comedic roles that allow her to bring energy and character to the stage. She is thrilled to make her debut with TheaterWorksUSA in The Magic School Bus.

TIMOTHY JACOB BROWN (Ralphie) is a NYC based performer, writer, lyricist, and a graduate of Boston Conservatory (BFA Musical Theater) who loves to expand his artistic world. After many small film credits and original shows in NYC, visiting the North Pole in the Polar Express (Rail Events Productions), and touring internationally in Italy (Bell Beyond, Italian Branch), Timothy is thrilled to bring his career to the cosmos with The Magic School Bus! Thank you to TheaterWorksUSA for this opportunity. Up next, he will continue sound-engineering/producing, songwriting, acting of course, and his own musical,“Where the Sun Sets.” 

YUMEKO STERN (Wanda)   is excited to make her TheaterWorksUSA tour debut in the role of Wanda in The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System! Yumeko recently received her BM in Vocal Performance Musical Theatre from NYU Steinhardt. Previous credits include Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel (Ohio Light Opera), Marcy Park in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Lucy in Heartbreakers in Hell: A Staged Workshop (NYU Steinhardt), and Sheila Franklin in Hair (Hawaii Performing Arts Festival). Gratitude to About Artists Agency, Justin John Moniz, and TheaterWorksUSA!

KENDALL JENNINGS (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making her tour stage management debut with TheaterWorksUSA on The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. A passionate advocate for arts education and live theatre, Kendall is excited to bring this beloved story to audiences across the country. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented team and looks forward to the adventure ahead. Her recent stage management credits include The Wizard of Oz with Ramsey Theatre Company, as well as Frozen, The Addams Family, and White Christmas with Gateway Playhouse in Long Island.                                      

ANDREW COOPMAN (Tour Direction & Choreography) (they/he+) is thrilled to be returning to TWUSA again! A Directors Project FutureNow Directing Fellowship alumnus and current Drama League Artistic Associate, their work as a director and choreographer has been seen on stages in Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Ithaca, New York City, and more. Credits include: The Apollo of Bellac (Hangar Theatre), Cinderella Eats Rice & Beats (Hangar Theatre), Head Over Heels (Lakewood Playhouse), Bryony Lavery’s Frozen: A Play (Cabaret Theater), Body Awareness (Jones Playhouse), The Wizard of Oz (Tacoma Little Theater), Little Women (Seattle Musical Theater), Cinderella (Village Theatre), Orfeo y Euridice (Seattle Opera), Georgia & The Butch (World Premier, The Tank, NYC) and Alan Turing & The Queen of the Night (World Premier, Players Theater, NYC). Upcoming: HOLIDAY: An Immersive Crafternoon (Judson Memorial Theater). MFA Directing, University of Washington and MA, Educational Theatre, New York University – Steinhardt. Proud SDC member.

MATTHEW LEE ROBINSON (Music & Lyrics/ Tour Music Direction) New York based Australian composer/lyricist. Robinson is the composer/lyricist of ATLANTIS (Virginia Repertory Theatre), The Magic School Bus (TheaterWorksUSA national tour), the five-time Helpmann nominated musical Metro Street, and creator of a recently acquired DreamWorks Animation musical feature film. He has contributed songs to the Emmy-nominated television series Dance Academy, to live events for Coca-Cola, Nintendo and the Australian Open Tennis Championships, and his original works have been presented in concert at Carnegie Hall, Broadway’s Future Songbook Series, and the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Robinson is a Churchill Fellow, recipient of the Australia Council Music Fellowship, and winner of the UTAS Stephen Schwartz Songwriting Award. As Co-Founder of New York-based performing arts training company, EQ Endeavours, he has led vocal workshops for the Arthur Miller Foundation Fellows Program, Broadway Dreams, Voice Academy NYC, FOX 8 TV’s The Singing Office, and Musical Theatre programs throughout the globe. 

MARSHALL PAILET (Book) loves reading, writing, and embarrassing his son. To all the teachers and parents who brought their kids to the show today: thank you for helping to keep theater alive! And to all the kids out there: if you think watching this play is cool, you should try making one! 

FRANK GALGANO & MATT CASTLE (Orchestrations) are multi-faceted theater artists who are partners in creativity and partners in life. Recent projects include Madame Clicquot: A Revolutionary Musical (Studio Cast Recording), Disney The Little Mermaid and Disney Seas The Adventure (Disney Cruise Line), Scotland, Pa (Roundabout), Found (Atlantic, Philadelphia, IAMA), Into The Woods (Roundabout/Fiasco), String (Village Theatre), Chick Flick, The Musical (off-Broadway), Once Upon A Mattress (Transport Group), A Dog Story (off-Broadway), Disney Beauty And The Beast (Disney Cruise Line), The Elf On The Shelf and American Girl Live! (Mills Entertainment), Up And Away (Pittsburgh CLO), Kris Kringle (Town Hall, Proctors), The Donner Party and A Little Princess (Sacramento); and many new works for TheaterWorksUSA, Kennedy Center, and George Street Playhouse. Browse their work at brainstormtheatrics.com. 

CONNOR GALLAGHER (Original Direction and Choreography) Broadway: Beetlejuice. Other: The Big Gay Jamboree (Lortel Award); Moana (Disney Live Entertainment); The Robber Bridegroom (Roundabout, Astaire Award); Beauty and the Beast (Disney Dream, Brass Ring Award); Walter Paisley (La Mirada, world premiere); Found (Philadelphia Theatre Company); Elf (Kennedy Center); The Twelve (Denver Center); Tangled (Disney Magic, world premiere); and productions at The Public Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, ACT, Two River, Westport Country Playhouse, TheatreWorks and Northern Stage. Connor is a graduate of CCM, where in 2021 he received the Young Alumni Award, and right after college spent a year on Broadway as a dancing rug.www.connorgallagher.com @connorga 

BRUCE DEGEN (Illustrator, The Magic School Bus), is a children’s literature author and illustrator, with over forty books to his credit. He is probably best known as the illustrator of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series of books, by Joanna Cole. He has collaborated with Nancy White Charstrom on the popular series by Jane Yolen. Degen has authored Jamberry, Daddy Is a Doodlebug, and Shirley’s Wonderful Baby. He was encouraged by an elementary school teacher to become an illustrator, and pursue his primary love for art found in children’s books. Humor is one of his key values, as expressed by a quote comparing children’s illustration to traditional fine arts: “You don’t see many people walking around a gallery are chuckling. And I realized that I wanted a chuckle.” His career has included such diverse activities as advertising design, teaching art, teaching children’s book illustration to adults, painting scenery for opera productions, and running a lithography studio in Israel. Mr. Degen currently lives in Connecticut. 

JOANNA COLE (Author, The Magic School Bus), who also writes under the pseudonym B.J. Barnet, is an author of children’s books who teaches science. She is most famous as the author of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series of children’s books. Joanna Cole has written over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS. Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She love science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers. 

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the U.S.   Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans.   Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society.  www.actorsequity.org.

THEATERWORKSUSA (Barbara Pasternack, Producing Artistic Director; Tegan Meyer, Managing Director) has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement in New York City and across North America for over half a century. TWUSA believes that access to art—and theater, in particular—is vital. Since 1967, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit has captured the imaginations of 100 million new and veteran theatergoers with an award- winning repertoire of over 140 original plays and musicals. Acclaimed alumni include Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America), Miguel Cervantes (Hamilton); Tony Award nominees Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde: The Musical), Robert O’Hara (Slave Play); Tony Award winners Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary!), Will Aronson (Maybe Happy Ending), Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Tony award-winning writers, Ragtime, Once on This Island), Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls), Chuck Cooper (The Life); Grammy Award winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Disney’s Frozen); EGOT recipients Robert Lopez (Disney’s Frozen), Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land). TheaterWorksUSA is the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Special Award, Drama Desk Special Award, Medal of Honor from The Actors Fund (Entertainment Community Fund), and a variety of awards highlighting the quality productions produced throughout its history. WWW.TWUSA.ORG

Bob Romney, Chairman
Community Leader

Gary Fabian, Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer
Kind Lending

William Parker, Secretary
Professor Emeritus Physics and Astronomy
University of California, Irvine

DIRECTORS

Eugene Choi
Betty Martinez Franco
Harason Horowitz
Terry Jones
Mike Kerr
Jennifer Klein
Dr. Tiffany Ana López
Bonnie Lubock
James Mai
Sherry L. K. Main
Jerry Mandel, Ph.D.
Christopher Ramsey
Richard and Cheryll Ruszat
Kathleen Treseder, Ph.D.
Stuart Winston
Anu Worah

HONORARY

Larry Agran
Mayor, City of Irvine
 
Howard Gillman, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of California, Irvine

Public Partners
City of Irvine and UC Irvine

Official Health Care Partner
UCI Health

Corporate Sponsor
Haskell & White LLP

$50, 000+

Tom and Mayumi Adams

Paul and Bonnie Lubock

Thomas Rogers and Sally Anderson

Worah Family Foundation

$25, 000-$49, 999

Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation

The Hiland Foundation

Bill and Carolyn Klein

The Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund

Judy and Wes Whitmore

$10, 000 -$24,999

Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby

Clifford and Jennifer Cheng

Eugene and Carol Choi

Paul and Anne Devore

Farhang Foundation

David and Trudi Gartley

Mike Gordon

Haskell & White LLP

Harason Horowitz

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

Terry and Judy Jones

Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus

Liza Krassner

Jerry and Whitney Mandel

Goran Matijasevic

Dot and Rick Nelson

Mary Watson-Bruce

William and Janice Parker Family Fund

William and Pat Podlich

Robert E. Romney

Richard and Cheryll Ruszat – Montessori Schools of Irvine

Al Spector and Tatjana Soli

Greg Zaret

Charlie and Ling Zhang

$5, 000 - $9, 999

Stephen and Mary Auerbach

Robert and Lillyan Cendejas

Rohit Deshpande and Anita Watumull

Gary Fabian and Deb Solon

Chuck and Janet Henze

Eleanor Jaffy and Andrew Vollero

Jack and Joy Kayajanian

Robert Kazer and Jill Richter

Ken and Chantelle Labowe - Labowe Family Foundation

Josh Martin, Emerald Real Estate Partners, and Tom Politowski

James McGaugh

Natalie Miles

Tom Newmeyer

Andrei Olenicoff Memorial Foundation

James and Lynn Payne

Christopher and Lynne Ramsey

Salwa Rizkalla

Adreana Souleles

Craig and Kirsten Springer

Alexander and Sachiyo Stimpson

Ms. Renee Walter

Brian and Beth West

$2,500 - $4, 999

Terri Beber and Terry McDonald

Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker

Terry Causey

Albert and Anne Encinias

Arlene and Steven Fienberg

Douglas and Kathleen Forde

Greg and Sumie Haase

Michael and Charisse Lyseight

Patricia M. McIntyre Foundation Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation

Mark J. Nielsen

Marcia Novegrod

Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun

Bill and Joyce Perrone

Ron and Jan Redmond

Bob and Jo Anne Simon

Eric and Donna Stovner

Kurt and Ellen Youngs

Robert Zasa and Judy Amiano

$1,000 -$2,499

Beth and Michael Adler

Charlotte W. and Richard D. Alexander Charitable Foundation

Scott and Katherine Arbuckle

Diane and Dennis Baker

James Carter

Alice and Dennis Creighton

Brad Crosley

Gail Doe

Jeanne Egasse and Boyd Philpot

Francis and Ruby Foo

David and Judy Fukuda

Stanford Gertler

Gary Good and Jackie Charnley

Roger and Patt Grable

Geeta and Sanjiv Grover

Loren Hansen and Lorraine Caukin

Karen Kewell Jacoby

Dr. Elliott Kornhauser and Mr. Joe Baker

Rachel Levin

Lutz Moeckel

Janis and Dave Murray

James Pick and Rosalyn Laudati

Jill M. Prentice

Diana Putz

Joel B. Rothman

Debbie and Frank Rugani

Phil and Joy Ruggiero

Arkady and Ella Serebryannik

Sally Anne and Don Sheridan

Walter and Masami Stahr

Robert and Veronica Start

CarolAnn Tassios

$500 -$999

Dana and Angelika Aswad

John W. Ballantyne

Michelle Bentcliff and Ann Litke

Judy Bloomingdale

Wayne and Nancy Broadhag

Robert Cassidy

Esther Cervantes and Steve Rivero

Denise B. Chilcote

Michael and Melanie Cooper

Joan Donahue

Ann Donat

Nancy Eisenberg

Christine Fluor and Walter Scacchi

Margaret Gates, with gratitude for your education commitment

S. Glass Family

Gleicher / Chen Family Foundation

Marcus Hickerson

Melvin and Hazel Hoshiko

Kathleen Koch

Sally Kurnick

Holly Larsen

John LaRue

John Long and Tamara Taylor

Han Dinh and Martin Le

Patti Martinez

Dr. & Mrs. John Middlebrooks

Susan M. Mason

Kenneth Niedziela

Rey O'Day

Mike Peak

Arnold and Nancy Raymon

Bebe and Otto Reyer

Karen Rook

Kent Sentinella

Joe Simrell

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Sutton

Dr. Anthony Vasek

Fred and Patricia Viele

Emily Crean Vogler

Chuck and Marilyn Wright

$250 - $499

The Aber Group Inc

Mark Achong

Fredric and Lisa Albert

Mike Baginski and Kim Ling

Mrs. Kaui Balderston

Pat and Kate

George and Linda Bauer

Ms. Suzanne M. Becker

Bruce Beckman

Sally Bender

William and Annette Blaney

Ms. Nancy Braden

Peter and Kari Bretschger

Mr. Jelle Brons

David and Lisa Butler

Robert and Valerie Carter

Michael Casey

Luisa Cano

Eileen and Henry Cohen

Anahid Crecelius

Mike Davis

Myrtle Deakins

Mary Susan Denley

Don and Debra Drysdale

Kent and Irene Dunlap

Doug Elliott

Kelly YuehChun Feng

Joanne Fernbach

Ilone and Darin Gibson

Aimee Gromfin

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Hollingsworth

Haylee Homs

Harason Horowitz and Mark Chapin Johnson

Korey Jorgensen

Jessica Kaltman

Judy Kaufman

Kerry Krisher

Bruce Larson

Michael Lawler

Vicki and Richard Lee

Edward Luedke

Ramon Lugo

Capt. Kevin M. Mac Donnell

Dr. Frank and Mrs. Linda Meyskens

William D. Miller and Florence E. Miller

Daniel Morrison

Mr. Ramon Munoz

Ms. Maryellen Musgrave

Susan O'Brien

Cyrus Parker-Jeannette

Jorge Perez Valdes

Mr. and Mrs. Rivadeneyra

Josh and Carolyn Roberts

Dr. Stephen Rochford

Gary and Melanie Singer Charitable Fund

Kris and Geraldine Shah

Kim Smith

Dorothy J. Solinger

Tina Sommers-Bernhardt

Michael and Marilyn Staffieri

Daniel and Jeanne Stokols

Ingrid Strayer

Sullivan Family

Kim Tang

Cindy Tyan

Alvin Umeda

Jeanne Villacorte

Beth Waterman

Nella Webster

Carl and Deborah Weinert

Mark and Lou-Ann Weltman

Hemantha and Sophie Wickramasinghe

Jim and Sandra Williams

Dexter and Gisele Winzey

Gary and Cathy Wyatt

Kelley Yasbek

Andy and Wendy Yurcho

$100-$249

Brian and Gloria Abrams

Susan Adleman

Hoku and Kalani Aichele

Lillian Aranda

Theresa Battel

Rosanne and William Beam

Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh

Chris Blank and Josie Badeaux

Paul Blank

Carol Boot-Storie

Kerry and Paul Boulian

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer

William and Lindsay Brennan

Mr. Steven Brenneis

Gary and Wendy Bryan

Dawn Burdick

Mr. & Mr. Christopher Cabrera

Peggy Campbell

Patrick J. Chambers

Chara Orthodontics

Grace Chen

Jeff Corp

David Coscia and Mark Armstrong

Donna Cox

Vivian Daniel

Charles Davison

Matt and Jane Delorenzo

RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama

Rhea Dorn

Ernest Duarte

Ron and May Duff

Eduardo and Elise Espinosa

Jim and Diane Ewing

Aviva and Fred Forster

Ms. Ellen Fujikawa

Eileen Garbutt

Charles Gates

Mr. John Gibbs

Ian and Kari Gibson

Ben and Sandie Goelman

Michael and Kristina Golden

Kevin and Candice Gomez

Anna Gonosova

Ms. Judith Guffey

Patricia Hansen

Gayle and Phil Harp

Jennifer Hart

Fred and Cheryl Heinecke

Edwin Henderson

Richard and Jacqueline Heyendal

Julie Hill

Peter Holden and Angela Howley-Holden

Holmes Family

Rita B Hopper

Dr. Dena Hulbert

W. Itoga & Sons

Gary Jackson and Linda Globerman Jackson

Laurie Jacobs

Judy Jones

Audrey Kapelinski

John Keating

Angela Kraus

Arlene Kato and Mike Kurihara

Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami

Kenneth Keller

Lynne Koffler

Colin and Joan Koransky

Karen Kotake

Mr. Richard Krey

Jennifer and Robert Langer

Lorna Larson-Paugh

Robert and Karen Lechich

Paul E. Len

Cheryl and James Lewis

Amy Li

Anne Llewellyn

Willard and Bettina Loomis

Mr. Robert Lopez

Lorena Mague

Dr. Sari Mahon

Ms. Amira Mansour

Christine A. Marx

Robert Mashihara

Thomas and Glynett Mcteer

Erica Morikawa

Dr. and Mrs. John Mull

Elaine and Cameron Mummery

Tasha and Owen Naccarato

Richard Nakai and Cindy Wederich

Virginia Olson

Lisa Osako

Judy Oswald

Hon. Julie Owen

Lauren and Richard Packard

Tom and Diane Pardue

Gerald Parham

Thomas and Davida Parham

Ms. Julie Patterson

Karin S. Paul

Dr. Dolly Platt

Brian Paegel and Jeremy Pyle

Lois Rake

Paul Ramey

Elaine Ramsay

Brad Rawlins

Kenneth Reinhard and Julia Reinhard Lupton

Anita and Bruce Reisman

Dennis and Marie Richman

In Memory of Irene DeNoia

Paul Schmidhauser and Cindy Hughes

Paul and Kristen Schmidt

Jack and Katharine Schoellerman

Jill Sekiguchi, DDS

Michael Sheffield

George Sidorakis

Tom Slickelman

John L. Smith and Mary Anne Anthony-Smith

Karen R. Speros

Jack and Molly Spiegel

D. Stroebel

James and Nadine Turner

Joanne Vargas

Linda Venezia

Kathy Vickers and Jeremy Freimund

Elliot Vogelfanger

Michele and Irwin Walot

David and Renee Warren

Bruce and Susie White

Steven and Elizabeth White

Roxanne Wong

Henry and Yen Yang Wu

Susan Yee

$150+

Mark Achong
Nancy and Wayne Broadhag
Hoku and Mark Aichele
Mrs. Kaui Balderston
Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby
Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh
Paul Blank
Christopher Blank and Josie Badeaux
Laura Brandlin
David Coscia and Mark Armstrong
Charles and Maureen Davison
Susan Lindquist de la Parra
RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama
Mark and Kathi Denny
John Elwood
Eduardo and Elsie Espinosa
James Evans
Ian and Kari Gibson
Kevin and Candice Gomez
Roger and Patt Grable
Judith Guffey
Patricia Hansen
Gayle and Phil Harp
Arlene and Mike Kato
Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami
Kathleen Koch
Duane and Kathie Mauzey
Janis and Dave Murray
Hon. Julie A. C. Owen
Julie Patterson
Christopher and Lynne Ramsey
Brad and Susie Rawlins
Jill Sekiguchi
Tom Slickelman
T. Sommers-Bernhardt
Michael and Marilyn Staffieri
Cindy Thomas
Fred and Patricia Viele
David and Renee Warren
Roxanne Wong
Andrew and Wendy Yurcho

$10 monthly

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer
Vivian Daniel
Karen Kotake
Traci Shirachi and Cory Chhiap

$75 month

As a partner in the annual National Choreographers Initiative, Irvine Barclay Theatre is also pleased to acknowledge all those who support this important contribution to American dance.

National Choreographers Initiative 2026
Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Honorary Producer 

Bobbi Cox

Joanne and Dennis Keith

Barbara Roberts

Michelle Rohé

Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund

Choreographer Sponsor

Terry Causey

Sophie and Larry Cripe

Judi Gorski

Diane Silber

Dancer Sponsor

Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker

James Carter

Croul Family Foundation

Janet and Henry Eggers

Mary and Andrew Franklin

Artistic Sponsor

Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch

Betsy Andrews and Alex Moad

Diane Diefenderfer and David Hanlon

Gale Edelberg and Bob Butnik

Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree

Carol Hamilton

Nancy and Ned Kriz

Dr. Rosalyn Laudati and Dr. James Pick

Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell

Rachelle Menaker and Eddie Schuller

Marica Pendjer and John Miller

Andrew Rose

Sally Anne and Don Sheridan

Paula Tomei and David Emmes

Lynn Weiser and Mike Tompkins

Patron Sponsor

Dr. Michael Bear

Stacie Brandt

Laurie and Bart Brown

Gail and Denis Kalscheur

David Carmichael

Joseph Herron and Dana Klein

Chuck Johnston

Margi and John Murray

Diana Putz

Kim Smith

Jenny Szabo

Karen and Gary Thorne

Barbara and Jack Tingley

Dance Shoe Sponsor

Diane and Dennis Baker

Darci Bodin

Bronny Daniels

Roberta Fox

Sharon McNalley

Ivar Roth, Concierge Podiatry & Spa

Katy and Jack Schoellerman

Ann and Richard Sim

Linda and Steve Weitz

Dance Partner

Ellen Fujikawa

Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus

Maurice and Alexandra Mandel

Edward McPherson

Rita Mitchell

Mitsuhiko and Reiko Nakano

Dr. Janice Gudde Plastino

Rosalind Russell

Joseph Sheridan

Dan & Jeanne Stokols

Robert Strang

Mary Vensel White

Update as of 7/14/26

DONATE TODAY

Please consider making a donation to support the work of the National Choreographers Initiative. We need your contributions to support the dancers and choreographers involved in the project. Be an angel to the arts-dance! Thank you!

Send your donation to: NCI 3334 E. Coast Hwy #276, Corona del Mar CA 92625