David Ralphe

Leo Frank led a comfortable life as a Jewish American in New York City who transferred to Marietta, Georgia to manage his wife’s uncle’s pencil factory. In 1912, he was accused of raping and murdering one of the young factory girls during the town’s July 4th parade, and was brought to trial where he was unjustly convicted. I decided to speak with actor Aaron Ellis on what it means to him to be taking on the role of Leo Frank, especially since the resurgence of racism and antisemitism are running rampant in the world today.

Come spend an afternoon at the beach while staying cool in our air conditioned theater as the Santa Paula Theater Center presents Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning comedy SEASCAPE from August 30 - October 6, 2019 on Friday and Saturday evening at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 South 7th Street in Santa Paula. Tickets are $24 Adults, $22 Seniors & Students and are available at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or sptcbox@gmail.com .

Come spend an afternoon at the beach while staying cool in our air conditioned theater as the Santa Paula Theater Center presents Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning comedy SEASCAPE from August 30 a?" October 6, 2019 on Friday and Saturday evening at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 South 7th Street in Santa Paula.  Tickets are $24 Adults, $22 Seniors & Students and are available at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or sptcbox@gmail.com .

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation will honor Pegasus Transit and David Ralphe with this year's Pillar of the Arts Awards at the Spotlight Awards Ceremony during a dinner and auction event to be held Saturday, May 11 at the Wood Ranch Country Club. Ralphe and Pegasus Transit are being honored for their extraordinary support of the arts in our community. Joining them will be Artists of the Year Keenon Hooks and Andrew Allen, Young Artist of the Year Lucas Panczel, Volunteer of the Year Sharon Gibson, and Educator of the Year Melissa Albertson. Tickets are available to the public by visiting www.simispotlight.com.

After a 23 year stint as the General Manager of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, David Ralphe retired at the end of December, 2018. The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center opened its doors on Los Angeles Avenue in November of 1995 with David Ralphe as the founding General Manager. Under Ralphe's leadership, the Center has been host to over 8, 500 events and seen more than 75,000 patrons pass through the doors.

The Santa Paula Theater Center will present Nick Payne's time-bending CONSTELLATIONS from June 22 through July 29 on its Main Stage at 125. South 7th Street, in historic downtown Santa Paula. Performances are Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 4 pm. Tickets are $24.00 for adults, Seniors/Students $22.00. Reservations may be made online at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or by calling our Box Office at 805.525.4645

The Santa Paula Theater Center will present Nick Payne's time-bending  CONSTELLATIONS from June 22 through July 29 on its Main Stage at 125. South 7th Street, in historic downtown Santa Paula. Performances are Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 4 pm. Tickets are $24.00 for adults, Seniors/Students $22.00. Reservations may be made online at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or by calling our Box Office at 805.525.4645

The Santa Paula Theater Center will present John Patrick Shanley's beloved Irish romantic comedy, OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, April 21 through May 28 on its Main Stage at 125. So. 7th St. on the corner of Main St. and 7th in historic downtown Santa Paula. Performances are Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $24.00 for adults, Seniors/Students $22.00, Children $18.00. Reservations may be made online at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or by calling our Box Office at 805.525.4645

RAGTIME: The Musical, currently being presented brilliantly by Actors' Repertory Theatre of Simi at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center through December 4, 2016, is set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York. Based on the classic E. L. Doctorow novel, featuring a Tony Award-winning book by Terrence McNally, RAGTIME weaves together three distinctly American tales -- that of a stifled suburban mother represented by Mother, the matriarch of a white upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; Tateh, an inventive Jewish immigrant from Latvia; and Coalhouse Walker Jr., a daring young Harlem musician - all united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future in America at the turn of the 20th Century.

Everyone knows that the director is the person responsible for the look and content of a musical or play, but once the cast has been selected, sets and props are delivered, and all the technical elements are in place, who puts it all together? The week prior to a show's opening is called 'Tech Week,' a four or five-day period during which all the elements of a production are assembled on stage for the first time. Tech Week marks the transition period between the rehearsal stage and the performance stage of a production. Once the show is underway, it is the job of the stage manager to supervise, coordinate, and maintain all of the sundry elements that make up a production, from lighting, sound, and sets to costume changes, blocking, and all the performers' backstage activity. As we found out, it takes a particular kind of person to become a stage manager. He or she has to be detail oriented, disciplined, unflappable, and resourceful. Kimberly Kiley, who is currently serving as stage manager for the Actors' Repertory Theatre of Simi's production of Ragtime, has all of these attributes and more. We visited her before a performance last weekend and were introduced to the new staging area at the theater where Kiley is stationed during a show.

3000 Miles Off Broadway Productions, in association with the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, brings the critically acclaimed beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof to the historic El Portal Theatre for 5 performances only, February 3 - 7, 2016. El Portal Theatre is located in the NoHo Arts District at 5269 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, California.

In celebration of their 20th Anniversary Season, the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center brings back the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof from September 12 - October 18, 2015. With performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm as well as Thursdays at 8 pm on October 8 and 15, Fiddler on the Roof will make a third run at the Cultural Arts Center, having previously played in May of 2004 and September of 2006.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in association with the Santa Paula Theater Center presents HEROES by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard on its more intimate black box space The DownStage tonight, January 28, 29, 31 and February 1. Performances are today & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and Sunday at 7:30 pm.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in association with the Santa Paula Theater Center presents HEROES by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard on its more intimate black box space The DownStage January 28, 29, 31 and February 1. Performances are on Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and Sunday at 7:30 pm.

The Santa Paula Theater Center presents HEROES by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard on its Main Stage running now through Oct. 12. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The Santa Paula Theater Center presents HEROES by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard on its Main Stage running from tonight, Sept. 5 through Oct. 12. Regular performances are on Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8pm and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm.

The Santa Paula Theater Center presents HEROES by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard on its Main Stage running from Sept. 5 through Oct. 12. Regular performances are on Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8pm and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's production of Mel Brooks' hilarious musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will play April 19 - May 25 with performances on Friday and Today at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. There is no show today, May 9th but a special performance has been added on Thursday, May 15th at 8 pm. Tickets for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN are $24 for Adults, $20 for Seniors & Students. Due to adult humor, this production is recommended for audiences 14 and above. To purchase tickets for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, call the box office at (805) 583-7900.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's production of Mel Brooks' hilarious musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will play April 19 - May 25 with performances on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. There is no show on Friday, May 9th but a special performance has been added on Thursday, May 15th at 8 pm. Tickets for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN are $24 for Adults, $20 for Seniors & Students. Due to adult humor, this production is recommended for audiences 14 and above. To purchase tickets for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, call the box office at (805) 583-7900.