Curtain rises on Calabasas theater fest

Live theater is coming to Calabasas.

The 2009 California International Theatre Festival, featuring four international productions, kicks off Aug. 20 in several Calabasas locations.

The fourday festival will feature “A Tale of a Lonely Man,” a fairy tale-type play from an Israeli theater group.

“An Evening with Sir Donald Sinden” allows audience members into the life of a Royal Shakespeare Company veteran who was knighted for his distinguished career as an actor. “Moby Dick—Ishmael’s Tale” and a cabaret show with London cabaret artist Giselle Wolf will also be performed.

The weekend will close with A Taste of Calabasas meets Cafe BurlesqO! at the Riviera restaurant in Calabasas, featuring international cuisine and several performances.

Linda Purl, an award-winning stage and television actress, is the festival director. Purl is perhaps best known as Charlene Matlock from the series “Matlock” or as Ashley Pfister, Fonzie’s fiancee on “Happy Days.”

M. Edgar Rosenblum, the executive director of the Long Wharf Theatre from 1970 to 1996, is the event’s executive director.

“Last year the city of Calabasas allowed the festival to present the first live performance in their newly built amphitheater,” Purl said. “We all realized what a perfect pairing Calabasas and the CITF would be. The City Council took a proactive role and became the title sponsor, which allowed us to move forward in this economy.”

Purl said because of the sponsorship, tickets are affordable.

“Other theaters don’t have that luxury,” she said. Calabasas City Councilmember Dennis Washburn said the city is lucky to have the festival locally.

“With beautiful facilities that the city of Calabasas has to offer in both the Civic Center, and in its beautiful schools were the perfect place to bring live theater and international performances to the people of our region,” Washburn said. “And you couldn’t ask for a better impresaria than the very actress Linda Purl. Her team will bring to Calabasas top flight talent from around the world and the production capabilities to create a world class theater festival.

“We’re hoping it makes everyone’s lives richer.”

The festival features productions from the United Kingdom, Israel and Ireland. Purl said the event “builds bridges of understanding” between different countries.

“Our mission is to produce an annual theater festival in California, offering a distinguished array of international presentations and committed to broadening cultural understanding by means of community outreach, student training and cultural exchange through the performing arts,” Purl said.

“A Tale of a Lonely Man” will be presented at 8 p.m. Sat., Aug. 22 and at 3 p.m. Sun., Aug. 23 at the Carlson Family Theater at Viewpoint School, 23620 Mulholland Hwy. “Moby Dick— Ishmael’s Tale” will also be performed at The Carlson Family Theater at 8 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 20.

“An Evening with Sir Donald Sinden” will be presented at 7 p.m. Fri., Aug. 21 at the City of Calabasas Outdoor Amphitheatre, 100 Civic Center Way.

Giselle Wolf will perform at Founders Hall, 100 Civic Center Way, Aug. 22; doors open at 9:30 p.m.

The festival’s closing event— A Taste of Calabasas meets Cafe Burlesq-O!—is at 5 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Riviera Restaurant and Lounge, 23683 Calabasas Road.

Tickets are $20 to $35 per person and can be purchased at www.citfestival.org or by calling (800) 341-2766. Tickets for the closing event at Riviera restaurant are $100.

VIP festival passports can be purchased for $240, which includes premium seating at all festival performances as well as the closing gala event. Super-Saturday passports can be purchased for all shows on Sat., Aug. 22 for $90.

Washburn said the city is looking for participants and sponsors to have a 10day festival next year.