A staged reading of the Broadway/West End-bound musical, Twice Upon a Time will be presented in Los Angeles on Monday, November 5, 2007. Written and directed by Ray Cooney, with lyrics by Mary Stewart-David and music by Chris Walker, the by-invitation-only reading is produced by James A. Blackman III, the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities.  Both Ms. Stewart -David and Chris Walker have joined Mr. Cooney in Los Angeles to work on the project. After the February 13th, 2008 run of the musical as first show of the Civic Light Opera 16th Season there are plans afoot to take the musical to both Broadway and back to its origins on the West End.
 
The cast includes Broadway and television veterans Millicent Martin (42nd Street, King of Hearts, Side by Side by Sondheim), Brad Blaisdell (I Love My Wife), Sam Zeller (Peter Pan), Misty Cotton (Miss Saigon) and Jennifer Malenke (Into the Woods).  The company also features Brandon Michael Perkins, Kevin Symons, Monica Smith, Carly Nyjanen and Benjamin Perez.  Musical Director for the reading is Dennis Castellano.
 
Director/writer Ray Cooney is one of Britain’s most successful playwrights and has been touted as “The Master of Farce.” To date he has had 17 plays staged in the West End, including Run For Your Wife and Funny Money.  His work has been translated into more than 40 languages and countless productions have been staged all around the world. He was recognized with an O.B.E. (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), in the New Years Honors (2005).  His biggest success, Run For Your Wife, lasted nine years in London's West End and is its longest-running comedy.  Funny Money was made into a movie in 2006 starring Chevy Chase, Penelope Ann Miller, Armand Assante and Robert Loggia.  Coincidentally, currently playing in Southern California prominent regional theatres are two of Mr. Cooney's comedies Tom, Dick and Harry and Funny Money.
 
Lyricist Mary Stewart-David collaborated previously with Chris Walker on Around the World in Eighty Days.  She also writes with British composer Denis King and their shows include Baby on Board directed by Alan Ayckborn, Stepping Out the Musical directed by Julia McKenzie and Afterwards directed by Chris Walker and due to showcase in New York early 2008.
 
Composer Chris Walker has been associated with many West End and Broadway shows including Godspell, Oliver, Side by Side by Sondheim, My Fair Lady, Tomfoolery, Me and My Girl (Drama Desk Award nomination), Cabaret, Putting It Together (Drama Desk Award nomination), The Secret Garden, Privates On Parade, Ragtime and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as either Musical Director or Orchestrator.  He has provided orchestrations for the movies Shirley Valentine and Impromptu.  He is also a prolific composer and record producer.

Executive Producer James A. Blackman, III said in a statement, “We are extremely honored to debut a much-anticipated musical and even more so that a theatre legend like Ray Cooney and his new work will be an integral part our 2008 season, it is the perfect way to celebrate our 16th anniversary and to kick off our 2008 season of musicals at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.”.