"Damn Yankees", Thousand Oaks

American Idol isn't the only platform that helped launch the careers of Adam Lambert and Katherine McPhee. Cabrillo Music Theatre shone an early spotlight on the young stars, providing a space for them to build their confidence and performance skills. Supporting youth is a role Cabrillo plays well. In addition to staging renowned Broadway musicals, the volunteer-based, nonprofit theater offers up Beyond The Footlights. This outreach program transports musical productions to underserved communities, phantoms and all, and invites audiences to view shows free of charge. Cabrillo's work has paid off—not only has it reached 31,000 seniors, military personnel, and children in the past 10 years, the organization has earned the Ovation Award for its excellence in local theater.