LOS ANGELES, CA (July 21, 2026) — The Musical Theatre Guild (MTG) proudly announces its 30th Anniversary Season, celebrating three decades of preserving and presenting rarely produced musical theatre works through its acclaimed concert-style productions. Since its founding in 1996, MTG has introduced Southern California audiences to more than 125 musicals, from beloved classics to overlooked gems, performed by many of the region’s most accomplished musical theatre artists. The landmark season honors the organization’s rich artistic legacy while looking toward its next chapter with a season of celebration, music, and community.
The anniversary season features two mainstage shows: Here’s to Us!—The Musical Theatre Guild Celebrates 30 Years, a one-night-only concert highlighting memorable songs from past MTG signature productions, and Side Show, in Concert, the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell. The mainstage concerts will be performed at Musical Theatre’s Guild’s mainstage venue, the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center Eli & Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA.
In addition, MTG will present two exciting fundraiser cabaret concerts to be announced at a later date. Throughout the season, Musical Theatre Guild will continue its commitment to arts education and community engagement through its youth education initiatives.
“Musical Theatre Guild has presented over 125 concert readings over the last 30 years,” said Board Chair and President of Musical Theatre Guild Les Traub. “Audiences have come to expect the unexpected from our surprising and entertaining performances, and each of our one-night concerts has been an event for the theatre-loving community. It’s time for a celebration for Musical Theatre Guild’s 30th birthday—that’s 30 so far, and many more to come!”
Traub added, “Our members represent the very best of Southern California musical theatre, many with Broadway and national tours on their résumés. Our 30th Anniversary Season will celebrate productions and Guild members past and present, while signaling the start of the next chapter of Musical Theatre Guild.”
THE MUSICAL THEATRE GUILD 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON INCLUDES:
MAINSTAGE CONCERTS
Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM
The Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center
Eli & Edythe Broad Stage
Santa Monica, California
Here’s to Us!—The Musical Theatre Guild Celebrates 30 Years,
A One-Night-Only Concert
Conceived and created by Kim Huber and Michael Kostroff
Directed by Kim Huber
Musical Director Brad Ellis
Written by Michael Kostroff
Production Coordinator Tal Fox
Cast and creative team members to be announced at a later date.
Featuring memorable songs from productions including Titanic, Fanny, The Pajama Game, Sunday in the Park with George, and many more, the concert offers audiences a rare behind-the-scenes look at the artistry that has defined more than 125 Musical Theatre Guild concert readings. Inspired by Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated lyric, “Here’s to us! Who’s like us? Damn few!,” the evening celebrates the performers, directors, musicians, volunteers, patrons, and supporters who have shaped Musical Theatre Guild over the past three decades.
The concert will also offer audiences an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the Guild’s creative process, with directors, musical directors, writers, and longtime collaborators reflecting on the artistry behind nearly three decades of acclaimed concert presentations.
A VIP pre-concert reception add-on option is available at the time of ticket purchase, and season subscribers will be given first priority. The pre-show celebration will bring together musical theatre lovers to raise funds for MTG and for its youth education program with a matching grant doubling the impact of every reception ticket sold.
Sunday, February 7, 2027, at 7:00 PM
The Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center
Eli & Edythe Broad Stage
Santa Monica, California
Side Show, in Concert
Music by Henry Krieger
Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell
Cast and creative team members to be announced at a later date.
Based on the remarkable true story of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, Side Show is a moving portrait of two women whose extraordinary bond brings them fame while denying them the ordinary lives they long for. Told almost entirely through song, the acclaimed Broadway musical follows the sisters from England to America, across the vaudeville circuit, and ultimately to Hollywood on the eve of their appearance in the 1932 film Freaks.
Featuring a soaring score by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls) and a book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Pageant, Lucky Duck), Side Show premiered on Broadway in 1997, where its leading actresses made Tony Award history as the only performers ever jointly nominated for Best Actress in a Musical. This concert presentation is based on the original Broadway version of the beloved musical.
FUNDRAISER CABARET CONCERTS
Two MTG fundraiser cabaret concerts to be announced
MTG’s putting the finishing touches on two exciting fundraiser cabaret concerts for the 30th Anniversary Season. If you enjoyed It’s Complicated, Broadway Time Capsule 1996 or The Holidays On Stage & Screen, then you won’t want to miss these two thrilling performances!
Tickets for Musical Theatre Guild’s 30th Anniversary Season are currently available by renewing existing subscriptions. New subscriptions and single tickets go on sale August 18, with two-mainstage concert packages starting at $100. For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit MusicalTheatreGuild.com.
ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE GUILD:
MUSICAL THEATRE GUILD is comprised of the finest musical theatre artists in the Los Angeles area, producing staged concert readings (book in hand) of Broadway’s forgotten gems and undiscovered treasures. Members represent over 60 Broadway shows, 79 Broadway National Tours, countless regional productions, cast recordings, solo albums, voice-overs, commercials, film & television appearances, plus dozens of Ovation, Drama Desk, and Tony Award Nominations.
Musical Theatre Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization.
LES TRAUB (MTG Chairman of the Board) has served on the Musical Theatre Guild Board of Directors for 25 years, including 10 years as its Chairman, and has been a production coordinator for several MTG productions. Mr. Traub is the Chief Financial Officer of First Credit Bank and has worked in the banking industry for 40 years. Prior to his banking career, he spent 12 years at Capitol Records in the Finance and Marketing divisions after earning his MBA from UCLA.
Mr. Traub currently serves on the Board of Art Division, a nonprofit organization providing art classes and college preparation for underserved young adults in the Rampart District of Los Angeles. He also serves on the Board of Friends of Greystone, which is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, where he has produced numerous cabaret fundraising events.
Mr. Traub is the co‑founder—along with Cameron Silver and Karen Morrow—of Cabaret West, a professional association supporting cabaret in Southern California. He has produced a variety of cabaret evenings at the Cinegrill, the Gardenia, and other Los Angeles venues. In addition, he wrote, co‑produced, and co‑hosted a cabaret tribute show at the El Portal Theatre, and wrote and co‑produced, with Corky Hale, an evening of Sammy Cahn songs at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. He has lectured on cabaret in San Francisco and at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. Mr.Traub is also a staff writer for Cabaret Scenes Magazine in New York, where he contributes reviews and a monthly column covering the Southern California cabaret scene.
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