CENTER STAGE THEATER RESENTS
AMERICA UNCENSORED
Featuring RICH HOAG as WILL ROGERS
A cabaret benefit for Center Stage Theater

BOX OFFICE

On Will Rogers

Will Rogers never met a man he didn't like. That was his creed. He possessed a genuine love of people from presidents to laborers, the wealthy and the downtrodden. Even Al Capone, whom Rogers interviewed for the New York Times, made a positive impression. "I couldn't write about him, though," Rogers later said, "without makin' him out to be a hero. What's the matter with a country that has a gangster as its greatest national?" Gangster aside, he liked the man.

I never read a line of Rogers I didn't like. As a young teenager he inspired me simply because he was a cowboy. Not a fabricated, celluloid cowboy, the genuine article. Years later, while researching his life for a multi-media production, I came to know Will Rogers the man; pundit, trick roper, columnist, Broadway star, screen actor and political satirist.

Will Rogers used to say, "Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects," but Rogers himself was ignorant on very few of them. Yes, he played the gum-chewing, good old boy role his entire life, but he was smarter, wiser and funnier than most men could ever hope to be. He never ran for political office, never broke a batting record or charged the enemy in battle, but Will Rogers was unquestionably an American hero. During some of the darkest years in our nation's history, he made Americans look at themselves in a way few had done before or since. And when they did, it made them laugh.

--Rich Hoag

Richard Hoag (Will Rogers)

A native Santa Barbaran, Rich grew up in local schools and attended UCSB. He has over 75 theatrical productions to his credit dating back to his early youth. Rich has a varied background in entertainment both as a performer, writer and producer, and has likewise taught musical comedy workshops and choreographed numerous productions both amateur and professional.

Rich is a well-known face in the Santa Barbara area, having performed extensively over the years with SBCCTG in productions like To Kill a Mockingbird, Terra Nova, Cabaret, Celebration, The Mad Woman of Chailot, Prelude to a Kiss, Emma's Child and Private Eyes. His favorite roles include Walter Langer in Five Finger Exercise, Lt.jg.Roberts in Mr. Roberts, Major Arnold in Taking Sides, Mordred in Camelot, Ben Franklin in 1776, Will Parker in Oklahoma! and Michael Evans in Dancing at Lughnasa. At Center Stage He was featured in I Do I Do and Neville's Island. Rich is the recipient of five Independent Awards, recently winning an "Indy" for his portrayal of Will Rogers in Will Rogers' America.

Rich is also an advocate for visual and performing arts and is married to Ruth Ellen Hoag, a well-known Santa Barbara watercolorist. In his spare time he serves on the Advisory Board of the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, and is a newly-elected board member of the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance.

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(805) 963-0408 (V / TDD)

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
The Center Stage Theater Box Office is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 P.M., and one hour before each performance. See below for location.

Tickets may also be purchased by telephone using Visa, Master Card, and American Express. Phone (805) 963-0408 (V / TDD).

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
Center Stage Theater is located in the Paseo Nuevo Center, upstairs at the intersection of Chapala and De la Guerra Streets, Santa Barbara, California.

Take Highway 101 to Carrillo Street, exit and turn toward the mountains (northbound turns right, southbound turns left). Proceed to Chapala Street (fourth light) and turn right. Proceed 1-1/2 blocks and turn left into either of two entrances to Paseo Nuevo. Park near the elevator, or proceed to roof-level parking.