Ray Buffer Stars in The Sound of Music at El Segundo's Broadway In The Park

July 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Ray Buffer, Founder, Artistic and Managing Director of The Relevant Stage Theatre Company at Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California will be appearing in the inaugural production by El Segundo's Broadway In The Park:  "The Sound of Music" as Captain Georg Von Trapp.

Ray is an actor, director, vocalist, composer, filmmaker and producer residing in San Pedro, CA. Ray spent most of his life in Florida, where he studied musical theatre and music, gaining his BFA before moving to Southern California in 1999. He has worked for various professional theatres and entertainment attractions as an actor, director and stage manager.

Equity stage Credits include, Uncle Chris in "I Remember Mama," Jud Fry in "Oklahoma!," Tevye and Lazar Wolf in "Fiddler on the Roof," Bill Sikes in "Oliver!," Stanley Sanders in "Smoke On the Mountain," Lank Hawkins in "Crazy For You," and Fudge in "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,"

Directing credits include but are not limited to: "Noises Off!," "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Over There/Over Here," "Singing Jailbirds," "Urinetown The Musical," The Christmas Carol, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and "Pajama Game."

PHOTO CAPTION: RAY BUFFER SEEN HERE AS LAWRENCE JAMESON IN "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS," AND JAMES WELLERSTEIN IN "THE LAST FIVE YEARS."

As an Equity stage manager of over 350 performances, he has worked with such greats as Phyllis Diller, Jayne Meadows and the late, Steve Allen.

Buffer was most recently seen at Warner Grand Theatre in Jason Robert Brown's, "The Last Five Years" as Jamie Wellerstein, in "The Christmas Carol" as Ebenezer Scrooge and in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" as Lawrence Jameson.

He is also a keyboardist and has composed music for the film, Dangerous Perspectives and for the theatre productions, Parade of Fairy-tales and Coffee & Cabaret. He is currently in the studio recording the cast album for his work as librettist and writer with the award-winning composer, Robert Gross and their new musical titled, "The One & Only."

He has appeared on various television shows and in films, such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Hulk, Surviving Christmas and She Spies and Eyes, to name a few. In 2004, Ray produced the documentary film Rats & Bullies: The Dawn Marie Wesley Story

He has also worked in Marketing and Development for non-profit theaters such as Spotlite Players, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Jan McArt's Royal Palm Dinner Theatre and The Laguna Playhouse. Ray also served as General Manager for the Long Beach Opera. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Modjeska Playhouse in Mission
Viejo, CA.

He is the Chorus Master for a series of concerts called Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra and Singers, and performs with Variety Artists Group's The Caroling Company. He recently performed in a series of acapella arrangements and videos for Cherytree Records/Universal Studios.

He continues to travel to schools and cinemas through R&R Media Production's Filmmaker Appearance Series. This program, which includes a post screening discussion with the filmmakers, brings the documentary about bullying and suicide, - Rats & Bullies: The Dawn-Marie Wesley Story to students, parents and teachers at schools and youth groups around the world.

You can next see Ray as Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" opening Jul. 28 in El Segundo; and he is currently producing "Forever Plaid" which opens Aug. 13 and is writing "6th Street Burlesque" opening Sept. 17 at Warner Grand Theatre.  You may also see Ray on the stage in Harbor City as Lord Montague in Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" opening September 24.

Ray is also programming an auxiliary season of TRS cabaret performances for the Muckenthaller Cultural Center in Fullerton, CA and will serve as director of events at this year's Taste in San Pedro's, second stage.

Broadway In The Park is the South Bay's brand-new summer theatre festival featuring a Broadway musical, community performances, and cotton candy. This summer's feature presentation is THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC tells the story of the Von Trapp family's flight across the mountains and works it's magic once again, for young and old alike. With an unforgettable score that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd, and of course the glorious title song The Sound of Music. It's the perfect family treat!

PERFORMANCE DATES
July 28, 29, 30, 31 & August 1 @ 7:00pm

GETTING TICKETS
Tickets are $20 General / $40 VIP and are for sale at select El Segundo retail locations including Britt's BBQ, Cooke's Market, and Curves. Tickets are also available online.

BUY TICKETS ONLINE
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/101336

TIMES & STUFF TO BRING
Gates open at 6:00pm, with the Community Pre-Show starting at 7:00 and the feature presentation of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at approx. 7:30pm. Guests bring their own seating to the festival: blankets, beach chairs, or regular folding chairs - and are placed in the section that matches their seating. Be sure that your family or group brings the same type of seating so that you can sit together!

Box dinners and themed snacks will be available for purchase and home-made picnic dinners are encouraged as well. For more information, please visit us at www.esbroadway.com

See you at the park!

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SOUND OF MUSIC CAST
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MARIA RAINER: Pamela Maclean
CAPTAIN VON TRAPP: Ray Buffer
MOTHER ABBESS: Shirley Hatton
SISTER MARGARETTA: Abby Bolin
SISTER BERTHE: Kendall Lewis
SISTER SOPHIA: Nicole Stier
MAX DETWEILLER: Darren Giglio
ELSA SCHRAEDER: Kendall Lewis
FRANZ THE BUTLER: Stam Hill
FRAU SCHMIDT: Heidi Stager
ROLF GRUBER: Chris Tiernan
HERR ZELLER: Jack Molisani
BARON ELBERFELD: Mike O'Meara

LIESL: Kelsea Maynard
FRIEDRICH: Creed Stager
LOUISA: Hannah Provisor
KURT: Jay Froebe
BRIGITTA: Emma Hatton
MARTA: Maggie McDougall
GRETL: Fiona Okida

CHORUS/NUNS/GUARDS: Nancy Peters, Daniel Doty, Ashley Radke, Mike O'Meara

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The Relevant Stage Theatre Company performs in residence at The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, CA. TRS' mission is to challenge hearts, engage minds and expose truths. TRS tells relevant stories about the contemporary world we share.