History

Watching talented actors inhabit the world of the stage; sharing picnics on the grass and family gatherings under the stars; hearing glorious music on soft summer evenings; introducing your children to the wonders of live theater; meeting "summer friends" year after year in the magnificent natural setting of the Amphitheatre; and eagerly applauding every performance...

These are memories to celebrate!

2007

This year is a time of looking forward.  Planning has started for construction of the new Moonlight Stagehouse, so it is a very exciting time in the history of the Moonlight.  We look forward to seeing this dream come true in June of 2009.

The shows on tap for this summer are Annie Get Your Gun, Me and My Girl, West Side Story, and Little Shop of Horrors.

The 2006 summer productions included Seussical, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Dream Girls. The winter season brought us Bedroom Farce, Hay Fever, and I Do! I Do!

2005

This 25th Anniversary Season is dedicated to the "first lady" of the Moonlight- Kathy Brombacher-whose artistic vision, abundant talent, and boundless energy have taken Moonlight audiences through a grand buffet of musical and other diverse theatre.

The Moonlight celebrates with a new ADA accessible grand entrance. The walkway features decorative pavers generously donated by Ray Raub of Modern Builders Supply and three decorative concrete medallions with lighted trellis arches paid for by the Moonlight Cultural Foundation. Construction of the walkway was paid for with State Park Bond funds. Design work is underway for a new ADA accessible ticket booth, parking lot, and passenger drop-off area. Construction should begin at the end of this season. This project is the next step in preparing the amphitheatre for a new stage-house.

The San Diego Symphony's Summer Pops performed at the Moonlight in a joint venture between the City of Vista and the Sunrise Vista Kiwanis Club.

2005 Corporate Season Sponsors included: Modern Builders Supply, Inc.; Issa Family Foundation; Adelphia; BioFilm, Inc.; Cox Communications; North County Times; Denso Wireless Systems America, Inc.; Sempra Energy; Southwest Community Bank. 2005 summer show sponsors included:  Carl Pinamonti, Sr; Sam's Club; Moonlight Angels' Auxiliary; Polito Eppich Associates LLP; San Diego National Bank; Robert C. Brombacher, DDS; LeTip International, Inc.; SAIC; Community National Bank; California Bank and Trust.

Summer Productions: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Pirates of Penzance, The Will Roger's Follies-A Life in Revue, and Big River, the Adventures of  

Huckleberry Finn.

Winter Productions:  On Golden Pond, The Most Happy Fella, and Room Service.

2004

In 2004, the Vista Foundation changed their name to Moonlight Cultural Foundation, to better represent the cultural arts focus of the organization. An accessible walkway for patrons with disability was constructed on the south side of the amphitheatre. The children's show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was contracted to Premiere for Kids and Encore Youth Theatre.

2004 Corporate Season Sponsors included:  Modern Builders Supply, Inc.; Issa Family Foundation; Adelphia; BioFilm, Inc.; Cox Communications; North County Times; Denso Wireless Systems America, Inc.; Sempra Energy. 2004 summer show sponsors included:  California Bank and Trust; Sam's Club; Southwest Community Bank; Robert Brombacher, D.D.S.; LeTip International, Inc.; Community National Bank; Polito Eppich Associates LLP; Moonlight Angels Auxilary.

Winter Productions:  The Goodbye Girl, Radio Gals, and Arms and the Man.

Summer Productions: My One and Only, Ain't Misbehavin', Kiss Me, Kate, and Cabaret.

Youth Production: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Awards: A National Endowment for the Arts grant was received for the production of Arms and the Man.

"The Game of Love and Chance"

2003-2004 Winter Season

At the Avo Playhouse

Photo by Ken Jacques

2003

2003 Corporate Sponsors included: Modern Builders Supply, Inc; Del Mar Pacific General Contractors; Issa Family Foundation; Adelphia; Bio Film, Inc; Grand Pacific Resorts; Cox Communications; Target Greatland; North County Times; and Denso Wireless Systems America, Inc, Sempra Energy, Carl Pinamonti, Sr.

2003 Show Sponsors included Curtis Management Company; San Diego Union Tribune; Sam's Club; Southwest Community Bank; Robert Brombacher, D.D.S.; Community National Bank; Paul Polito & Donald Eppich, CPA; California Back and Trust.

Winter Productions:  The Game of Love and Chance, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Lucky Stiff.

Summer Productions: Smokey Joe's Café, Singin' In the Rain, Children of Eden, and Sweet Charity.

Youth Theatre Production: Annie.

Awards: Patte' Award for Outstanding Mike Buckley - Scenic Design, The Game of Love and Chance. Patte' Award for Outstanding Production, Children of Eden. Patte' Award for Don and Bonnie Ward - Outstanding Direction, Singin' in the Rain.

Robby Awards for Musical Production and Director of a Musical, Children of Eden , Robby for MaryJo Mecca, Supporting Actress in a Musical, Sweet Charity.

2002

2002 Corporate Season Sponsors included: Modern Builders Supply, Inc; Del Mar Pacific General Contractors; Eckert's Moving & Storage; North County Times; Time Warner Cable; Adelphia Communications; Cox Communications; Westfield Shoppingtown-Plaza Camino Real; Target Greatland; and SDGE - A Sempra Energy Utility.

2002 summer show sponsors included: Curtis Management; Southwest Community Bank; Robert Brombacher, D.D.S; Community National Bank; Epsten Grinnell & Howell, APC; Bank of America; EDCO; Sam's Club; Polito, Musico Associates, LLP.

Winter Productions: The Boys Next Door, The Spitfire Grill, and The Good Doctor.

Summer Productions: Hello, Dolly!, Dames at Sea, Ragtime, and Footloose.

Youth Theatre Production: Bye Bye Birdie.

Awards: San Diego Theatre Critic Circle awards for Outstanding Performance in a Musical and Outstanding Resident Musical, Ragtime.

Patte' for Outstanding Production, Ragtime. Billie Awards for: Elan McMahan - Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actress,

Ragtime.

Robby award for Musical Direction, Ragtime.

Billie Award-Youth for Artist of the Year, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Ensemble, Bye Bye Birdie.

2001

2001 Corporate Season Sponsors included: Cox@Home, Daniel's Cablevision, North County Times, Modern Builders Supply, Inc., Jensen Meat Co., Inc., Sharp Mission Park Medical Group, Westfield Shoppingtown-Plaza Camino Real, and Target Greatland. 2001 summer show sponsors included Curtis Management, Southwest Community Bank, Todd Nalley, D.D.S., Robert Brombacher, D.D.S, Community National Bank, Bank of America, The San Diego Union Tribune, Polito, Muscio Associates, LLP, US Bank, Pinamonti Family.

Winter Productions: The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Forever Plaid, and Scapino!

Summer Productions: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Crazy for You, Evita, and Into the Woods.

Youth Theatre Production: Li'l Abner.

Awards: Billie for Outstanding Choreography Crazy for You, Two Billie Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a musical, Into the Woods.

2000

The Moonlight celebrated its 20th Anniversary Season, opening with a Jubilee Ball on the stage amid scenery for Peter Pan , Grace-Ann Etcheberria-Jacobs' 15th and final Youth Theatre production.   The Jubilee corporate sponsor was North County Square. The corporate sponsors remained the same as the previous year with US Bank joining in. The Summer Season was the most successful ever with audience numbering 53,310 and ticket sales of $711,905.71. The Vista City Council designated $700,000 in State Park Grant   funds to be set aside for a future stage-house.

Maureen Macdonald hired as Executive Director of The Vista Foundation. The Broadway at the Moonlight Gala was a 1940s Big Band event, SWINGTIME G.I. JIVE. 1200 people attended and the event raised $48,000.

Winter Productions: Sylvia, Romance/Romance, and See How They Run.

Summer Productions: The Music Man, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The King & I, and Grease.

Youth Theatre Production: Peter Pan

1999

More stadium seats were added to increase the number of permanent seating to 889. The summer season saw the return of Equity actors to the Moonlight stage, with two Equity contracts per show. Concert Series, titled MOONLIGHT SWINGS!, was successful for second year in a row, playing on three selected Monday nights. The corporate sponsors included Cox Communications, Daniel's Cablevision, Directed Electronics Inc, Modern Builders Supply, North County Square, North County Times, Sharp Mission Park Medical Group, Bank of America Foundation, Bank of Commerce, Robert Brombacher D.D.S., Curtis Management Co., Fallbrook National Bank, Pennysaver, and Target Greatland.

Winter Productions: Stepping Out, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and Born.

Summer Productions: Gypsy, Carousal, Anything Goes, and Chess.

Youth Theatre Production: Cinderella, (Rodgers & Hammerstein musical).

1998

Major sponsors remain the same with Sharp Mission Park Medical Group stepping in for Kaiser Permanente and Glendale Federal Bank. Ray Raub of Modern Builders Supply once again coordinated a volunteer corps of local contracting businesses to build an extension to the Moonlight Amphitheatre off-stage right floor to accommodate quicker set changes and providing more space backstage. South Pacific became the highest revenue generating show the Moonlight has ever produced. Big Band and Jazz Concert Series was successfully presented on three selected Monday nights during the summer.

Winter Productions: Lend Me a Tenor, The Fantasticks, and To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday.

Summer Productions: Damn Yankees, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, South Pacific, and Man of La Mancha.

Youth Theatre Production: The Wizard of Oz.

Award: Robby for Best Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

1997

Glendale Federal Bank, Directed Electronics, and Newport National are joined by Modern Builders Supply and Kaiser Permanente to sponsor the summer season. Ray Raub of Modern Builders Supply coordinated a volunteer corps of ten local contracting businesses to install a concrete backstage floor. Broadway at the Moonlight features "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber," and generates net proceeds of over $40,000 for The Vista Foundation. Over 200 hundred permanent seats added to the amphitheatre to raise the reserved seat number to 776. Winter Season attendance exceeds 10,000.

Winter Productions: Jerry's Girls, Noises Off!, Lost in Yonkers.

Summer Productions: Barnum, My Fair Lady, 42nd Street, and The Secret Garden.

Youth Theatre Production: Annie Warbucks.

Award: Robby for Outstanding Ensemble, Noises Off!

1996

Glendale Federal Bank creates a promotional sponsorship with the Moonlight to inaugurate new Shadowridge branch, which targets $10,000 to Moonlight's summer & winter seasons. Directed Electronics and Newport National continue to sponsor the summer season as well. Modern Builders Supply sponsors the winter season. Steel truss gives Moonlight the flexibility to have actors fly and perform stage illusions. "Broadway at the Moonlight...Goes Country" raises $45,000 for the Moonlight under guidance of Janice Ephron, committee chair. In May, Moonlight co-produces Nunsense at the Avo with Limon/Carr Productions, to sell out houses. The Moonlight worked closely with The Vista Foundation's Latino Task Force to present La Pastorela Navidena at the Avo.

Winter Productions: She Loves Me, A Grand Night for Singing, and The Foreigner.

Summer Productions: The Will Rogers Follies, Peter Pan, Oklahoma!, and Phantom.

Youth Theatre Production: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

1995

Avo Playhouse renovations are completed and the Grand Opening takes place in September with a revue featuring two Broadway stars, called "Direct From Broadway." Friends of the Avo Playhouse is formed. Directed Electronics, Inc. and Newport National Corp. sponsor the 15th Anniversary Summer Season. West Side Story sets the record for attendance for the run of a production at 15,265. Stage features new   steel truss. Jim Strait named new Managing Director to replace Marie Hemenez who moved on to the Disney Corporation.

Winter Productions: The 1940's Radio Hour, and Steel Magnolias.

Summer Productions: Guys & Dolls, Big River, West Side Story, and A Little Night Music.

Youth Theatre Production: Oliver!

1994

Directed Electronics, Inc. joins Newport National Corp. as sponsors for the 1994 summer season. Summer attendance sets a new record of over 50,000. City of Vista announces plans to renovate the Avo Theatre in Vista's downtown to create the Avo Playhouse, which will house future Winter Seasons for the Moonlight Amphitheatre.

Summer Productions: Me and My Girl, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Sweeney Todd.

Youth Theatre Production: The Music Man.

1993

The Billingsley Foundation donates $10,000 towards the theatre's technical needs. Newport National Corp. returns to sponsor the 1993 summer season and new production sponsors include Rancho Vista National Bank and Bank of America Foundation. The Capital Campaign announces its fund-raising event for the summer, "Broadway at the Moonlight," a one-night only extravaganza featuring past and current stars of the Moonlight Amphitheatre in a musical revue of current Broadway hits. Featured is Eric Kunze, star of Broadway's "Miss Saigon" and "Les Miserables." Kunze received his initial theatre experience and training at the Moonlight. Other special events include "Concerts by Moonlight," featuring headlining comedy and musical artists. Eric Davy and Associates complete the Amphitheatre Stage House master plan. Summer attendance reaches 43,000.

Summer Productions: Singin' In the Rain, 1776, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Youth Theatre Production: Annie .

1992

Moonlight begins to work with serious promoters in the booking of outside entertainment at the Amphitheatre. In April, "Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles" was hosted, as well as a comedy concert by Paul Rodriguez produced by Comedy Night. "Up With People" also performed at the Amphitheatre. The Capital Campaign holds its first major event: "Hollywood at the Moonlight," a two-day event featuring a musical revue by Hollywood celebrities and a celebrity tennis tournament. The Moonlight also hosts its first performance to benefit local AIDS organizations. Capital Campaign launches Seat Sales program with the addition of 208 new reserved seats. First purchaser is Ed Estes, Sr., Chairman of the Vista Foundation. North County Square and Newport National Corporation are corporate sponsors for the summer season. Angels Auxiliary is founded. The Moonlight organizes its education programs under the Moonlight Youth Conservatory, and workshops in acting, voice and dance are held, as well as production workshops for young people. City hired Eric Davy and Associates to design Amphitheatre Stage House as the primary goal of the Capital Campaign.

Winter Productions: Little Shop of Horrors, Charlotte's Web, Dangerous Liaisons, and You Can't Take it with You.

Summer Productions: Mame, The Pirates of Penzance, The Sound of Music, and A Chorus Line.

Youth Theatre production: The Wiz.

1991

Indoor Winter Season moved to the Brengle Terrace Park Recreation Center. Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was nominated for Best Musical by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. Marie Hemenez named Managing Director. "Stage 2 Stage" Capital Campaign is launched under the leadership of the Vista Foundation.

Winter Productions: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and A Man for all Seasons.

Summer Productions: Brigadoon, Anything Goes, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Evita.

1990

First indoor Winter Season inaugurated at Rancho Buena Vista High School's Performing Arts Center. Summer season attendance topped 41,000. Security Pacific Bank becomes corporate sponsor.

Winter Productions: Taming of the Shrew and The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.

Summer Productions: 42nd Street, Grease, Annie Get Your Gun, and Into the Woods.

Youth Theatre Production: Cinderella.

1989

More improvements to the Amphitheatre include new landscaping, stage improvements, new stairs, and an additional 295 fixed seats. Kathy Brombacher is hired on a full-time basis as Artistic Director. Marie Hemenez hired as General Manager.

Productions: Hello Dolly!, Damn Yankees, and Camelot.

Youth Theatre Production: Li'l Abner.

1988

A "Drama Support Facility" is constructed near the Amphitheatre's stage. This building houses the concessionaire's kitchen, costume/properties storage, the "video suite" of the City of Vista's Video Services Department, a meeting/rehearsal room, production offices, and most importantly restrooms. Attendance in 1988 doubles from that of 1985 to reach 22,500.

Productions: Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie and The King and I.

Youth Theatre production: Wizard of Oz.

1987

Attendance grows to over 16,000.

Productions: Annie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and West Side Story.

Youth Theatre Production: Tom Sawyer.

1986

The Amphitheatre's stage is expanded and a sound and lighting control booth is constructed. Increased parking with better lighting. A third production is added to the summer's line-up, and the Moonlight's Youth Theatre program is founded.

Productions: My Fair Lady, Dames at Sea, and Carousel.

Youth Theatre Production: Cinderella.

1985

Attendance grows to 10,000 for the season. First year to show a substantial profit.

Productions: Guys & Dolls and The Sound of Music.

1984

A pivotal year in the development of the Moonlight, the City of Vista officially assumes operation of the theatre festival. The facility is re-named from Vista Summer Theatre Festival to the Moonlight Amphitheatre. 77 reserved seats are installed. Southwest Bank becomes the Moonlight's first corporate sponsor. "The Moonlight Players," a touring performance group to promote the Moonlight, is formed. Jazz and band concerts are held in the summer.

Production: Fiddler on the Roof.

1983

Productions: The Music Man and South Pacific.

1982

Technical improvements in sound and lighting enhanced the appeal of the shows. Additional parking was added.

Productions: Oklahoma! and Camelot.

1981

Vista Summer Theatre Festival founded by Jack Price, Jim Porter, Cathy Brendel, John Downey, and Kathy Brombacher as a joint program between the City of Vista and the Vista Unified School District. First-year budget: $13,000.

Attendance: 1500

Productions: Oliver! and The Boyfriend.

1979

Bluegrass concerts held in Amphitheatre.

1976

Amphitheatre dedicated on July 4.

1975

Non-profit Vista Foundation formed under the leadership of Frank Tiesen to do a bicentennial project: the construction of an amphitheatre, consisting only of a small stage and grass seating tiers, was built in Brengle Terrace Park as a gift to the citizens of Vista.