(1) Santa Monica College Theatre Student, Frida Appelkvist, 26, performs Spamalot's "Diva's Lament" during the Santa Monica Kiwanis clubs Luncheon on Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at the Santa Monica Family YMCA. (2) SMC Theatre Student Jordan Segal, 21, performs the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee's, "I'm Not That Smart," during the luncheon. (3) SMC Theatre Students (left to right) Sara Slocum, 19, Kristina Darrow, 18, and Nathalie Touboul, 19, perform A...My Name Is Alice's "All the Pretty Young Men," on Wednesday. The musical pieces are  part of SMC's musical theatre workshop "How We Got Where We Are ," that is scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Theatre Arts Studio Stage, located on the SMC main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd. Tickets are $10. The musical theatre workshop is a revue of numbers from a wide range of musicals that have been influenced by genres ranging from opera to vaudeville and from film to comic strips."We will be performing a wide range of numbers with an eye on the roots of the modern American musical," said Janie Jones, director. "Over the years, musicals have been influenced by opera and operetta, vaudeville, films, novels, comic strips, cartoon films, women's theater and more." Jones noted that the influence of opera - specifically, Puccini's "La Bohème" - is seen in "Rent," while vaudeville was a source material for "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Films, novels, comic strips, cartoon films and more were adapted for such musicals as "Spamalot," "Jekyll and Hyde," "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." Current trends have been influenced by theater of diversity ("Avenue Q"), women's theater ("A. . . My Name is Alice"), and more, she said."All in all, the show should be a lot of fun," Jones said. The music director is Gary Gray and the pianist is Leigh Anne Gillespie. The cast is made up of 15 students. The SMC Musical Theatre Workshop performances.

Santa Monica College Theatre Arts Professor, Dr. Janie Jones, directs her students while rehearsing "Life Upon The Wicked Stage" at the SMC Studio Stage on Monday, November 17, 2008, in preparation for their upcoming Musical Theatre Workshop, "How We Got Where We Are ."The musical theatre workshop is a revue of numbers from a wide range of musicals that have been influenced by genres ranging from opera to vaudeville and from film to comic strips."We will be performing a wide range of numbers with an eye on the roots of the modern American musical," said Janie Jones, director. "Over the years, musicals have been influenced by opera and operetta, vaudeville, films, novels, comic strips, cartoon films, women's theater and more." Jones noted that the influence of opera - specifically, Puccini's "La Bohème" - is seen in "Rent," while vaudeville was a source material for "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Films, novels, comic strips, cartoon films and more were adapted for such musicals as "Spamalot," "Jekyll and Hyde," "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin." Current trends have been influenced by theater of diversity ("Avenue Q"), women's theater ("A. . . My Name is Alice"), and more, she said."All in all, the show should be a lot of fun," Jones said. The music director is Gary Gray and the pianist is Leigh Anne Gillespie. The cast is made up of 15 students. The SMC Musical Theatre Workshop performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Theatre Arts Studio Stage, located on the SMC main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd. Tickets are $10.

(top) Santa Monica College Theatre Students, Tom Jermain (standing) and Joseff Stevenson run through dress rehearsal of the World Premiere, "Butterfly Wings" on Wednesday, October 29, 2008. (above) Aric Martin (left) and Joseph Stevenson rehearse a scene on Wednesday.--- As they prepare for graduation, three college students in wartime America struggle to find a way to live their dreams. But each learns that life has a way of changing in stunning ways. Blending reality and fantasy through words and movement, this play is a story of love, the search for identify and the interconnectedness of us all. The play is written by Bruce Smith and directed by Perviz Sawoski.

(1) Legendary actor Dustin Hoffman narrates 'American Voices: Spirit of Revolution' at the new $45 million Eli and Broad Stage at Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center during its soft opening on Sunday, August 10, 2008. The original work explores the drive for innovation behind our Constitution and for a maverick conception of music that could have only happened in America. (2) James Cromwell portraying James Madison in  a scene with Dustin Hoffman on the  Broad Stage. The stage reading included some of Hollywood's finest actors such as: Dustin Hoffman, James Cromwell, Annette Bening, Rosario Dawson, Abdoulaye N'Gom, Richard Schiff, Elisa Bocanegra, Nate Parker, Teal Sherer, Ben Acland, Michele B. Chan, Wade Contreras and Vanessa Villanueva. The Broad Stage combines the intimacy of a small theater with the acoustics and staging of a grand hall. Built with a variable proscenium and a stage comparable to theaters four times the size, The Broad Stage was designed by Santa Monica architect Renzo Zecchetto.  Inspired by the intimacy of Italy's "horseshoe" opera houses, the new theater allows eye contact with the actors, musicians and dancers from any seat in the house. The Broad is planning an ambitious season, including theatre, film, music and dance, as well as a comprehensive arts education program.  Local residents can experience master classes, workshops,  a lecture demonstration, and open, rehearsals with internationally renowne artists.  An inaugural gala featuring Barbara Cook is scheduled for September 20. For more information visit thebroadstage.com