Dear Travelers:

Musical Theatre West is planning some exciting trips for 2008!  In May and June we will host our annual New York Theatre Trip with exciting Broadway shows, wonderful sights and culinary delights!  At this point we have two separate trips scheduled:

The first trip departs Wednesday, May 28th and returns Tuesday, June 3rd.  This is for our return travelers and will include some highlights from places we’ve visited during the last 10 years: The Culinary Institute in the Hudson Valley, One If By Land restaurant in Greenwich Village, The Players Club, and Carnegie Hall to name a few.  It will feature 5 new Broadway shows including; Mel Brooks’ new hit Young Frankenstein, Patti LuPone starring in Gypsy, the new Alfred Hitchcock thriller The 39 Steps, and others.

The second trip is designed for first time travelers, especially our new Orange County patrons, and will depart Thursday, June 5th and return Wednesday, June 11th.  It will be a repeat of earlier trips with many of the same sights and restaurants.  The shows will also be a repeat of some of our favorites including; Spamalot, Legally Blonde, and the new hit Young Frankenstein.

Both New York trips are now accepting the non-refundable $500 deposit and will be filled as the depositscome in.  Because the spring is extremely popular in NYC, we must pay for hotel, air, and theatre tickets by February 15th and can only guarantee your reservation if received by that date.  You may mail the enclosed card or call the office with your credit card, (562) 856-1999.

The tours are led by Musical Theatre West Board President Linda Knohl and her husband Howie, Board member Nina Rattner, and Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman.  We will fly Jet Blue out of Long Beach, and you may choose to do your own air only if you indicate so on your response card.  Otherwise, we are booking your trip including air.  You may also extend your stay in NYC and again notify us when reserving.

Total trip cost will be $3000 - $3400; exact figures will be available as soon as we finish the itinerary.  (The trip last fall was $2995, and we’re trying to keep it as close as possible.)  After the initial non-refundable $500 deposit, you will be billed for your 2nd payment which will be due March 1st, with the final payment due April 15th.  These trips sell out fast so we encourage you to send in your deposit ASAP.  We also encourage you to purchase travelers insurance for your protection should you have an emergency or need to cancel.

Our fall trip will be to Italy and occur in October-November.  Exact dates and itinerary are being worked out, as well as cost, but we know the trip will be limited to 50 people.  A $100 deposit (non-refundable after March 15th) will secure your place and should be sent in as soon as possible.  The trip is being coordinated by Pinnacle Luxury Tours and will be lead by the Knohls and Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman.  This is the first time Musical Theatre West travelers will have the chance to travel to Italy, and it is sure to sell out fast!

The Travel Club has been a very successful fundraiser for Musical Theatre West, raising $50,000 each year to help underwrite our productions and outreach to youth.  Each trip has a $400 tax-deductible donation to Musical Theatre West, and we have found this to be one of the more popular forms of fundraising for our patrons!  We hope you will consider joining us in 2008.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call Paul at the office: (562) 856-1999 x228.

Sincerely,

Linda Knohl                            Nina Rattner                             Paul Garman

President                                Board Member                  Executive Director/Producer

            New York-2007                National Theater, England-2004        Rockefeller Estate-NY 2007

           New York-2004                                  Scotland-2004                                         Salzberg-2005