On June 26, 1959, a group of ten East Bay theatre enthusiasts met in Danville, California, intent on finding a way to fulfill their vision of bringing musical theatre excellence to the Bay Area. Now, 49 years later, the mission of these men and women “to enrich the community by producing quality theatre and providing educational opportunities in the arts” has grown into one of the premier theatre companies in the region. DLOC continues to have a strong commitment to arts education and introducing children to the magic of musical theatre. Over the years, DLOC’s professional staff has guided over 1,000 students in the techniques of theatre, including character development, vocal stamina, dance-choreography, audition techniques, and theatrical production, as well as enhancing team building and leadership skills.

Programs:

Firehouse Rocks! at DLOC – Youth Program

DLOC is pleased to introduce Firehouse Rocks! at DLOC, the most recent addition of educational programs offered through DLOC. Firehouse Rocks! provides an exciting variety of summer, after school, and Saturday programs for participants ranging in age from elementary school to pre-high school (ages 7-12). This program provides students with a professional rehearsal experience, and each session ends with a full scale, original production. No experience is necessary and participation within the production is guaranteed.

Firehouse Rocks! at DLOC – Teen Program

The Firehouse Rocks! teen workshops are both creative and practical, designed specifically for the young actor (ages 13-18) who wants to begin honing skills for high school theatre and beyond. Classes may include elements in playwriting, audition techniques, hip-hop performance, acting for the camera, and stagecraft.

Coming up next for Firehouse Rocks! at DLOC

Mixed Up Musical Mania!

What happens when the magic of Broadway meets the original wit of our zany new writers? You get mixed-up musical mania! Presenting Never Say Neverland, Again…and Kid of the Lunch Hour. In our half-day, three week sessions, students learn the theatrical basics, including improve, vocal training, choreography, props, costumes, and more! Students are involved in a professional rehearsal experience, and as always, each session ends with a full-scale production of one of our original shows. No experience is necessary and participation in the production is guaranteed.

Session I: June 16 – July 3
Session II: July 7 – July 25
Session III: July 28 – August 15

Times: 9am – noon, Monday – Friday
Ages: 7 – 12
Location: DLOC Firehouse, Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill

Performance Dates: Third Thursday evening at 7pm, Venue TBA

Never Say Neverland, Again…

For as long as anybody can remember, life in Neverland has been a kid's paradise: no rules, bedtimes, or book reports. But when Peter Pan wakes up with a full goatee and discovers that all of his powers are gone,  Peter and Tinkerbell are instantly taken by Evil Captain Hook and his gnarly gang of Pirates. Suddenly the tables are turned in Neverland as Captain Hook forces the Lost Boyz and the Indigenous Girlz to go to pirate school seven days a week and do humiliating jobs aboard the pirate ship. Only by joining forces can the Lost Boyz and Indigenous Girlz take a stand, save Peter Pan, and restore chaos to Neverland!"

Kid of the Lunch Hour…

In this spoof of Man of La Mancha, unpopular kid Sara Vantes and her best (only) friend Sanjaya Panza are cornered by the kids at their school who demand to know why they aren't like everybody else. Using their imaginations, Sara and Sanjaya enlist their tormentors to play the parts in a pop-culture mish-mash re-enactment of Don Quixote in the school basement. This is the REAL high school musical.

Every Student will receive:

• A Firehouse Rocks! At DLOC 2008 T-shirt
• An opportunity to perform on stage
• A special award
• Theatre Training/Individualized Attention

Download Brochure and Signup Form

Summerteen Extravaganza

These half-day, three-week session are specifically designed for the young actor who wants to begin building skills for high school theatre and beyond. Students can choose from classes specially tailored for the young adult including scene study, Hip-Hop, and playwriting. Each session will include the basics of performance and presentation, as well as continued development of the skills needed to reach a pre-professional level.

Session I: June 16 – July 3
Session II: July 7 – July 25
Session III: July 28 – August 15

Times: 1pm – 4pm, Monday – Friday
Ages: 13 - 18
Location: DLOC Firehouse, Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill

Session I: Monologue Technique

This studio style class will focus on developing and strengthening the young actor’s monologue both for performance and audition. Skills learned will include character development, delivery and timing, and location of thought, amongst the instructed techniques. Students come to class prepared with a monologue of choice to be work-shopped amongst peers under the guidance of skilled director, Taron C. Hensley.

Session II: Crunksical

Crunk: noun; a unique experience, students will work closely with Hip Hop choreographers and Oakland DJ Brian Moss, developing an original Hip Hop musical. With a strong focus in Hip Hop dance, this class will also include elements of plot structure/playwriting, harmony and verse, as well as character development. This class will end in a final performance, location TBA.

Session III: Children’s Theatre Lab

In this skill building class for the innovative and educationally minded young adult, students will identify the social issues of a target audience (7 – 12 year olds) and script original dialogues to address the unique challenges that every kid faces, such as homework, bullying, and the monster hiding under the bed.

Every Student will receive:

• A Firehouse Rocks! At DLOC 2008 T-shirt
• Theatre Training
• Individualized Attention

Download Brochure and Signup Form

History of DLOC Educational Programming

Former Productions

My Fur Lady is a tribute to the Lerner and Lowe musical Classic, My Fair Lady. Only this time instead of choosing a cockney flower-seller for his experiment, Professor Higgins chooses a mutt. After teaching the dog, (Eliza) the basics such as talking and walking, he introduces her to High Society at Ascot and then at the Grand Ball and passes her off for royalty. Filled with great songs and wacky characters, My Fur Lady is a musical romp guaranteed to please!

Peter Non-Stick Pan is a wacky spoof of the Classic James Barrie Fairy Tale. Start with a Teflon-coated Peter, then add in Captain Hook and his sidekick, “Mini Hook,” a crocodile who watches way too much “Discovery Channel,” a Nanny who thinks she’s a goat, an Indian Princess who’s auditioning for the next Disney movie, and a band of Pirates looking for a name for their fast-food franchise, and you have the wacky musical adventure, Peter Non-Stick Pan.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Barrett Lindsay-Steiner

The Emperors Gnu Clothes is a fresh take on the Hans Christian Anderson Classic. Set in 18th Century France just a few weeks prior to The Revolution, it follows the story of vain King Louis and some shifty “Tailors” who design for him an outfit of rarest Gnu fur. So rare, in fact, that only those with exquisite taste and breeding can even see the Gnu costume. The Tailors hoodwink Louis, his wife Marie, the entire Royal Court and even the town until one boy has the courage to tell the Truth. With toe-tapping songs, beautiful costumes, big powdered wigs, waltzes and minuets, and a moral “Be True To Yourself” The Emperors Gnu Clothes is an original musical that promise to be fun for the entire family!

Johnny Rocket: Space Cadet is a spoof of all those wonderful 1950’s black and white B movies. Set in the future in the year 2707, in a galaxy far, far, away, it follows the adventures of Johnny Rocket: Space Cadet, who (while on a training mission for the InterGalaxian Space Academy) crash lands his spaceship on the Planet Zorkblatt. Aided by his trusty robot, he uncovers a plot by the Evil Lord Mung to replace the beautiful Princess Xenobia with a look-alike android. Lord Mung’s nefarious are plans to take over the planet, and after securing a foothold in the Snickers Galaxy (like the Milky Way, but better) the Universe! With lots of great songs, a smart-aleck robot, and an army of silver space suits, Johnny Rocket: Space Cadet is a theatrical adventure that is out-of-this-world!

The Wizard of Oz Gulch (by students ages 7 – 15) is a spoof of the classic The Wizard of Oz. Set in the Wild West, it follows the adventures of Dorothy and her dog Tonto as they cross the prairies in search of the great Wizard and the way home. Along the way the meet a bevy of western types, including Woody from Toy Story, Rin Tin Tin M’Annie, and the Liardly Cow. After Dorothy mends the ways of the Evil Wicked Witch Of The West (with the aid of some self-help books), Dorothy then has the power to return home to Hidden Valley Ranch and her Aunts Em and Em.

Past Productions

2007 The Princess and The Pizza
2006 The Winter That Almost Wasn't
2006 My Fur Lady
2006 Peter Non-Stick Pan
2005 The Emperors Gnu Clothes
2005 Johnny Rocket Space Cadet
2004 The Wizard of Oz Gulch
2004 Aladdin and the Magic Lava Lamp
2003 Nancy Trew and the Mystery of the Secret Code
2003 The Half Back of Notre Dame
2002 Cindirrelevant
2002 Adventures of Sheer Luck Holmes
2001 Home Sweet Homer
2001 Fifty Million Broadway Golddiggers on 42nd Street
2000 Gone With the Wind in the Willows
2000 Pollywallyanna
1999 Beauty and the beat
1999 Spam Spade, Pig Detective
1998 The Not-Very-Secret Garden