PRESS RELEASE: Head Over Heels Dances into 6th Street Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2026
Contact: Kira Catanzaro, Marcom Manager
kira@6thstreetplayhouse.com
Head Over Heels Dances Into 6th Street Playhouse
A Joyful Pop Musical Featuring the Songs of The Go-Go’s
SANTA ROSA, CA (March 24, 2026) — 6th Street Playhouse invites audiences to Head Over Heels, the glittering, laugh-out-loud musical powered by the hit songs of The Go-Go’s. Bursting with infectious energy, outrageous comedy, and big-hearted romance, it is a wildly entertaining mash-up of Renaissance court drama and 1980s pop. Veteran actor Jeff Coté makes his direcctorial debut with music directed by Christina Howell (LIZZIE, Hadestown: Teen Edition), and choreographed by Joseph Favalora (Kinky Boots). Featuring Jonathen Blue (Kinky Boots) and Shannon Rider (Always, Patsy Cline), the show runs April 10 through May 3, 2026, on the GK Hardt Stage.
“…enjoy the wit, chaos, and heart that make Arcadia so enduring.”
Jeff Coté, Director.
Set in the mythical kingdom of Arcadia, the story begins when an oracle predicts the fall of the royal house. Determined to outwit fate, the king and his family embark on a whirlwind journey filled with mistaken identities, daring disguises, unexpected romances, and a healthy dose of chaos. Along the way, the royal court discovers that the path to happiness might be less about destiny—and more about embracing who you truly are.
The show is driven by the irresistible pop catalog of The Go-Go’s, the groundbreaking all-female band whose hits helped define the sound of the 1980s. Songs like “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Mad About You,” and “Our Lips Are Sealed” propel the story forward with infectious energy, transforming the stage into a vibrant pop concert packed with humor, heart, and dance-floor joy.
Head Over Heels is based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney and was conceived with an original book by Jeff Whitty, the Tony Award–winning writer of Avenue Q. The musical was later adapted by playwright James Magruder, blending Renaissance romance, contemporary comedy, and modern ideas about identity and love into a dazzling theatrical mashup.
The musical premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015 before moving to Broadway in 2018, where it quickly gained a devoted following for its exuberant style, inclusive storytelling, and high-energy celebration of individuality. Since then, Head Over Heels has become a favorite for theatres around the country, beloved for its fearless fun and infectious spirit.
The cast features a large cast of Sonoma County peoformers, including Santa Rosa singer Shannon Rider, Petaluma dancer Hanna Woolfenden, and a number of Napa Valley College students.
The Cast of Head Over Heels is as follows:
Basilius – Jonathen Blue
Gynecia – Shannon Rider
Pamela – HarriettePearl Fugitt
Philoclea – Lila Howell
Mopsa – Malia Abayon
Musidorus – Samuel J. Gleason
Dametas – Anthony Martin
Pythio – De Angelo Nodado Cipriano
Ensemble, Dance & Fight Captain – Nora Summers
Ensemble, Gynecia U/S – Bethany Cox
Ensemble, Musidorus U/S – Gabriel Logan Reyes
Ensemble, Pamela U/S – Felizia Rubio
Ensemble, Mopsa U/S – Hannah Passanisi
Ensemble, Philoclea U/S – Sophia Passaris
Ensemble, Basilius U/S – Nick Kealy
Ensemble, Pythio U/S – Giovonni Wilson
Ensemble, Dametas U/S – Harrie Schaufel
Ensemble – Mason Hunt
Ensemble Swing – Hannah Woolfenden
Ensemble Swing – August Begay-Volz
Showing: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm, from April 10 through May 3, 2026.
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Content Warning: Head over Heels contains inferred strong language, crude sexual references, and adult themes. It is not recommended for patrons under 13.
Tickets cost $31.95 – $55.95 (including all applicable fees) and are available online at 6thStreetPlayhouse.com or by calling the Box Office at (707) 523-4185.
boxoffice@6thstreetplayhouse.com