Our Story

The Beginning…

House of Dreams, by Jonathan Rosenberg and Brad Ross, is the story behind the most prolific and successful independent recording studio in history and the visionary who helped create it, Stan Ross.

Gold Star Recording Studios served as a “mecca” for the West Coast music scene from 1950 to 1984—a period of tremendous social and political change in our country. Over 120 Billboard Top 40 hits and hundreds of other memorable songs were produced in this small Hollywood studio on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Vine Street, including the number one most frequently played song in the history of radio, The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” This unparalleled success was due to the efforts of Stan and his dedicated team of employees including Grammy Award-winning engineer, Larry Levine.

The innovations of Ross’s creative engineering methods and his unabashed charisma put Gold Star on the musical map as the studio where hits were made.. So, it wasn’t surprising when in 1958, a young producer by the name of Phil Spector came to their studio to record his first hit, “To Know Him is to Love Him” and never looked back. Gold Star's one-of-a-kind custom-designed echo chamber, combined with the genius of Spector and the creativity of Ross and Levine, brought to the world the now-famous “Wall of Sound.”

Gold Star’s existence spanned the four most important decades in American pop music, which included the turbulent 60’s, psychedelic 70’s, and into the 80’s when punk rockers paid homage to the studio that helped put “Rock and Roll” on the main stage.

When Stan opened his doors in 1950, Los Angeles was still very much an underdeveloped “cow town” dominated by country music. The major labels like Columbia, RCA, and Decca all had studios in town but they were not considered to be in the same league as their sister studios in New York City. By 1984, L.A. became the number one music recording city in the world and Gold Star was a driving force in this shift.

The creation of House of Dreams is the culmination of efforts to share the story of what happened within the walls of Gold Star Recording Studios.

Our musical is a way for us to honor the hit music and achievements via one of its co-owners, Stan Ross. He was the personality, lead engineer and mentor. His creative pioneering along with his partner's technical knowledge and studio design led them to develop Phil Spector's famous Wall of Sound productions. Stan's story is our story.

…On The Big stage

House of Dreams made its onstage debut on August 1st, 2019 in San Diego, California as the 2019 season-opener for the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

House of Dreams tells the story of the legendary Gold Star Recording Studios and its co-founder, lead engineer and hit maker Stan Ross.  In Hollywood for 33 1/3 years, Gold Star was the home of some of the greatest pop and rock hits of all time. Imagine a story featuring the music of a young Phil Spector and his Wall of Sound, The Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers, Ritchie Valens and many, many more. You won’t believe the 30 song playlist, which includes rock n’ roll classics such as “Summertime Blues,” “La Bamba,” “Good Vibrations,” “Be My Baby,” “Unchained Melody,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and, yes, even “In A Gadda Da Vida.” Thirty actors, dancers and a live band will raise the roof of the Lyceum this summer!

Written by Jonathan Rosenberg and Brad Ross
With additional contributions by Steve Gunderson and Javier Velasco
Directed and Choreographed by Javier Velasco
Musical Direction and Arrangements by Steve Gunderson
Produced in association with R&R Productions, LLC -- Brad Ross, Jonathan Rosenberg, Michael Kruke, 33 1/3 HOD SD, LLC -- Jerri-Ann and Gary Jacobs, Ramesh Narasimhan, Leesa and George Weisz, and The San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts
Showing: August 1 - August 25, 2019
Where: Lyceum Stage