(l-r) Kaitlin Gates, Lauren Alexander, Deanna Bitterly, and trophy holder Caris Kozak.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Audiences are about to find out the story of Cinderella’s long-lost twin brother Bob when Young Artists Ensemble’s Hillcrest Players present TWINDERELLA. Four performances only will be held on March 17 & 24 at 1:00 and 3:00 PM in the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.

The Hillcrest Players is an opportunity for young people ages 7 to 14 to perform one-act plays for a short run. “About a year ago, I read Twinderella for the first time and loved the ridiculous mix of fairy tale and modern living,” says Director Barbara Wegher-Thompson. “I always look forward to the energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and talent that the casts bring to these ridiculously funny scripts. The process is always a joy and the product is always something the kids can be proud of.”

Generally Hillcrest Players perform on another company’s set; this time sharing the stage with GILBERT & SULLIVANS’ UTOPIA, LIMITED, a show that takes place on an island. They looked into tropical titles, but the selection was slim so they chose to go for a really strong and fun title and work out the set design later. “Hillcrest Players shows are fun and silly anyway; our excited audiences suspend reality enough to believe unabashedly in enchanted guinea pigs and running bases in glass footwear, what’s adding a pair of thrones to some sand dunes?” says Assistant Director Victoria Sayeg.

Twinderella, by Charlie Lovett, is the winner of the 2004 Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest. Who knew that Cinderella and Bob have been living in the same kingdom and with different wicked stepfamilies! While Cinderella is being made to rotate tires and polish bowling trophies, Bob's evil stepfather and cruel stepbrothers force him to make dried herb wreaths and organize their sock drawers. Thank goodness that Linda the UPS Lady arrives with invitations from the Kingdom of Wychwood-under-Ooze; however, Cinderella and Bob are both forbidden to attend the festivities. What fairytale would be complete without both a Fairy Godmother and Godfather, two enchanted guinea pigs and a lot of luck? Audience members will also be surprised with a kingdom-wide baseball game, a princess’ birthday ball and find out who hits the game-winning home run!

TWINDERELLA is produced by Scott Buchanan. “We have an incredible parent volunteer, Karen Togno, who is beginning to turn two pretty young ladies into New Jersey guinea pigs,” says Buchanan. “If you’re wondering what, exactly, that looks like… so am I.”

The cast of 26 is comprised of young performers from the greater Conejo Valley. Hillcrest Players gives young people an opportunity to flex their artistic muscles in a less demanding arena than a full-length production. The one-act plays provide young performers with a positive experience to increase self-esteem, self-awareness and self-discipline.

Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased by calling 805-381-2747 or at www.yaeonline.com. There is a 10% discount for groups of ten or more.

The Young Artists Ensemble will complete its 31st Family Theatre Season, with THE NEVERENDING STORY, May 4 – 20, 2012. The company has received many accolades in the past 31 years including the Encore Statue Award from the City of Thousand Oaks for Excellence in the Arts. Most recently, it received Best Innovative Program 2011, Large District from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts. Its annual Teen Summer Musical is held at the Janet & Ray Scherr Forum, at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

WHAT: TWINDERELLA – We've all heard the story of Cinderella a thousand times, but we've never heard about Bob, her long lost twin brother! On the night that Cinderella crashes Princess Petunia's birthday ball, Bob has similar designs on Prince Percy's kingdom-wide baseball game. When the two strangers disappear at midnight, the search is on to find the feet that fit the glass slipper and the muddy cleat!

WHEN: Performances: March 17 & 24, 2012:
Saturday, March 17 at 1:00pm and 3:00 pm
Saturday, March 24 at 1:00pm and 3:00 pm

WHERE: Hillcrest Center for the Arts
403 W. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA

HOW: (805) 381-1246 or www.yaeonline.com

TICKETS: Reserved: $10

Groups of ten or more receive a discount of 10% if purchased in a single transaction

OTHER: Free parking is always available. Accessible seating available by calling (805) 381-1246. Assisted Listening devices available in the Box Office.