NOW EXTENDED TIL OCT 27TH!!
Hilarious l Eccentric l Hopeful
Reaching for the skies takes on a whole new meaning when six members of a Canadian chamber choir take a fateful rollercoaster ride to the great beyond. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. Both madly hilarious and surprisingly introspective, this award-winning musical poses the question of what makes a life well-lived, or in some cases, worth saving.
To Buy Tickets:
- Click a show date in the calendar to select your seats
- Become a subscriber for the best prices and perks
- For groups of 10+ people, contact the NCTC Box Office at 415.861.8972 or boxoffice@nctcsf.org
Show length is 90 minutes with no intermission.
Read the show program l Regional Premiere in the Decker Theatre
More time = more fun! Our lobby and bar will open 90 min before curtain for all evening performances with an offering of carnival games to play. Enjoy Thirsty Thirty the first 30 min after the lobby opens with $2 off drink specials for evening performances.
From the current production at NCTC:
“Soars and crackles with imagination, humor, and pure joy. It’s a solid hit and must-see theatre” – Broadway World
“Ride the Cyclone is as thrilling as the title suggests … it’s a ride you don’t want to miss” – Talkin’ Broadway
“Thoroughly enjoyable, no matter if you’re 13 or 59” – KQED
“It’s weird and funny, with a strong ensemble in fine voice. Whatever your age, I recommend this thrilling ride” – Theatrius
From previous productions:
“Delightfully weird and just plain delightful” – The New York Times
“Chillingly dark and wittily funny” – Playbill
“Zany, zingy and macabre musical” – The Seattle Times
“Emotionally hefty and generally rather tantalizing musical” – The Chicago Tribune
“A musical that is unexpectedly charming and entertaining” – Curtain Up
- Every night: Enjoy a selection of carnival games in the lobby pre-show and thirsty thirty drink specials for the first 30 minutes the bar is open
- Sept 20 – 27: Preview performances.
- Pay-what-you-wish preview tickets will go live two weeks before the first performance
- Sept 25, Oct 2, 9, 16 are Whimsical Wednesdays: Have your fortune told via Tarot cards or MahJong Tiles/Card readings. Ask about the next year, a burning question, or whatever your heart’s desire!
- Sept 27: Pre-show conversation with NCTC Founding Artistic Director, Ed Decker, and Ride the Cyclone Director, Stephanie Temple
- Sept 28: Opening Night
- Oct 3: Enhanced Safety Performance
- Oct 6: Post-Show Discussion
Jacob Richmond (Book, Music, and Lyrics, pronouns: he/him) is the co-founder of Atomic Vaudeville, a popular cabaret theater series in Victoria, BC. He’s won a CBC Radio One Award for Best Comedy (From Canada to Canada) and a Vancouver Fringe Favorite Award (Legoland) among others. Richmond has written several plays, including: The Qualities of Zero (Dora Award nomination, Montreal MECCA Award winner for Best Text); Small Returns (Theatre Passe Muraille); Legoland (SummerWorks Award for Best Text, Frigid Festival New York Favorite Production, Vancouver Fringe Favorite Award); From Canada to Canada (CBC Radio One Award, Best Comedy); and The Punch and Judy Show (Caravan Farm Theatre). Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he majored in history and performance at Concordia University (Montreal).
Brooke Maxwell (Book, Music, and Lyrics, pronouns: he/him) is a freelance musician, composer, and educator based in Victoria, BC, Canada. He has scored as well as created the sound design for multiple works, his most recent being Gruff for Puente Theatre. A prominent artist in Canada, Maxwell has underscored and sound designed several local Canadian and national works: Gruff (Puente Theatre), And Slowly Beauty (Belfry Theatre, National Arts Centre, Tarragon Theatre), A Tender Thing (Belfry Theatre) The Glass Menagerie, Long Day’s Journey into Night (Bluebridge Theatre), Joan (Theatre SKAM), Busted Up (Open Pit Theatre).
Stephanie Temple (Director, pronouns: she/her) has proudly worked with NCTC for over 20 years as an actor, director, and choreographer. You may have seen her onstage at NCTC in Head Over Heels, Boys Will Be Boys, Dirty Blonde, Rhinestone Cowgirl, and a 3-season run as Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q. Recent directing/choreo credits include The Giver, The Canterville Ghost, Musketeers, Avenue Q, Xanadu, and The Marvelous Wonderettes. Ms. Temple is NCTC’s Education Director and runs the drama program at Live Oak School. Additionally, she’s worked for SF Opera, PCPA Theatrefest, Sierra Repertory Theatre, CSU Stanislaus, and 42nd Street Moon. Ms. Temple is a graduate of USC’s School of Dramatic Arts and earned her Master’s in Drama at SFSU.
Ben Prince (Musical Director, pronouns: he/him) is excited to return to NCTC, having previously music-directed tick, tick…BOOM! and Avenue Q. He is probably most known for his work with Ray of Light Theatre (Jesus Christ Superstar, American Psycho, Kinky Boots) but he has also music directed for many other Bay Area companies including SF Playhouse (Dogfight), 42nd Street Moon (DuBarry Was a Lady), and CenterREP (Altar Boyz). A longtime house pianist at the venerable Martuni’s piano bar, he has also traveled the world playing piano on Holland America and other cruise lines. By day he is a research attorney at the Alameda County Superior Court.
Creative Team
Props Designer: Jenna Forder (pronouns: she/her)
Costume Designer: Jorge R. Hernandez (pronouns: he/him)
Stage Manager: Anthony Lopez (pronouns: he/him)
Lighting Designer: Christian V. Mejia (pronouns: he/they)
Set Designer: Matt Owens (pronouns: he/him)
Projection Designer: Lana Palmer (pronouns: she/her)
Production Assistant: Chris Russell (pronouns: he/him)
Run Crew: Charlie Taumoepeau (pronouns: he/him)
Sound Designer: Kalon Thibodeaux (pronouns: he/him)
Cast
Season Producers: Robert Holgate, Lowell Kimble, Ed Mireault (1941-2023), Ted Tucker
Executive Producers: Andrew Leas & Juancho “Bong” Villa-Leas, Frank Yellin & Mark Showalter
Producers: Ken Prag & Steve Collins
Check out the official Ride the Cyclone website here or click here to buy any show swag.