Ojai Valley News
Willy Russell’s Tony Award-winning play, “Shirley Valentine,” opens tonight, Friday Jan. 24, at 7:30 at the Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St. Order tickets online at OjaiACT.org or by phone at 805-640-8797.
The opening performance will be followed by a Gala Opening Party at the theater, with raffle prizes and refreshments, and everyone is invited. Buy season tickets before the “Shirley Valentine” opening night party on Jan. 24 and receive a chance to win one of three prizes:
- An oil pet portrait by Ojai artist Sharon Butler, value $600.
- Two VIP Tickets to the Ojai Film Festival, value $300.
- Dinner for two at Ca’ Marco, value $100.
This heartwarming comedy, filled with laughs and inspiration, explores the courage it takes to achieve independence. As a celebration of the empowerment of women, it comes at an appropriate time – the 100th anniversary of the constitutional amendment that granted American women the right to vote.
Many of the marvelous women of Ojai have joined this celebration and are featured in the play’s program. Among the participating organizations are the Ojai Valley Garden Club, Ojai Cares, Help of Ojai, The C.R.E.W. (Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers), Bravo/Music Festival, Ojai Women’s Fund, Ojai Education Foundation, Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation, The Townies, OAC Theater Branch, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Bookends Bookstore, Ojai Unified School District, OAC Literary Branch, Ojai Raptor Center and more.
The play features Anna Kotula and was directed by Steve Grumette, produced by Kotula and Richard Sven Shelgren, with set design by Bianca Rice. This and all other OACT productions would not be possible without the Ojai Art Center Theater’s team of volunteers and dedicated supporters. New volunteers, whether on stage or behind the scenes, are always welcome to join the team as actors, producers, ushers, greeters, stagehands or technical personnel.
“Shirley Valentine” runs for 12 weekend performances from Jan. 24 to Feb. 16 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.) — a great launch for the 2020 OACT season series.