Press

The reviews are in for the world premiere run of 33 1/3 - House of Dreams!

This is not another jukebox musical. The story is true, the relationships are thoroughly believable, and the musical history is significant, instructive and exciting.
— Pat Launer, The Times of San Diego & KSDS-FM, San Diego
I can see this show heading for the bright lights of Broadway.
— E.H Reiter, Broadway World
An exhilarating rush of sound and spectacle...dazzling show-stopping entertainment.
— Sandra Castillo, RG Magazine
Gold Star was a cauldron of creativity...earning a place in musical history.
— Mimi Pollack, L’Chaim Magazine
33 ⅓ - House of Dreams is...a delightful musical trip down memory lane.
— Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News
Fascinating, blazing story! The music in ‘House of Dreams’ is rock solid.
— Pam Kragen, SD Union Tribune

San Diego-born musical ‘House of Dreams’ heads to New York with Broadway dreams

Pam Kragen | San Diego Union-Tribune | January 12, 2021

Eighteen months ago, “33 1/3 - House of Dreams” became the little musical that could.

Penned and mostly self-funded by a San Diego dentist and one of his friends — and produced at San Diego Repertory Theatre with a cast that included 25 high school students — “House of Dreams” became a surprise box office smash and a critical darling in its 2019 world premiere. Now, the jukebox musical about L.A.'s famed Gold Star Studios is heading to New York City, with an eye toward a possible Broadway run.

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Premiere of New Rock Musical ’33 1/3′ Sets Revenue Record for San Diego Rep

Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego | August 23, 2019

San Diego Repertory Theatre said its world premiere musical “33 1/3 House of Dreams” has set a revenue record for musicals produced at the downtown theater. The musical about legendary Gold Star Recording Studios in Los Angeles has now eclipsed the 2017 production of “Evita” and 2013 run of “In the Heights.” All three musicals were produced in partnership with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, which gives local high school students the opportunity to work on a professional production.

“We’re proud to be the birthplace of this spectacular new musical,” Matt Graber, director of marketing and communications for the theater. “Clearly ’33 1/3 House of Dreams’ has resonated with San Diegans and we know it has a great future ahead of it.”

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Tribute and Triumph: World Premiere of ’33 1/3 House of Dreams’ at the San Diego Rep

By Pat Launer | Times of San Diego | August 9, 2019

Ever heard of the Wall of Sound? How about “Da Doo Ron Ron”? Do you know what a 33 1/3 rpm vinyl record is? Well, whether you do or don’t, you’re gonna love the ebullient world premiere musical at the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

You’ll not only love it, you’ll learn something — about the early days of pop/rock, and the small, wildly successful independent Hollywood recording studio that created the West Coast sound and churned out over 100 Top 40 hits from the 1950s-1970s. You’ll also learn what it is to have a dream, and pursue it against all odds (and often, against the needs of your family).

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L.A. recording studio chief inspires musical to be staged by San Diego Rep

By Michael J. Williams | Del Mar Times | July 15, 2019

Brad Ross, a Point Loma resident with a dental practice in San Carlos, wanted to pay tribute to his father by compiling his history. That effort led to the idea of doing a documentary, an idea that evolved into something markedly different — a musical.

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Musical About Legendary Recording Studios Premieres At San Diego Rep

By Maureen Cavanaugh, Megan Burke | KPBS Midday Edition | August 7, 2019

Recording music is a whole lot easier now than it used to be. A quiet room, some good software and editing apps and you’re on your way. That’s not the way it was back in the day of Gold Star Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Technicians worked with some of the biggest names in music to roll out hit after hit, creating each performer's unique sound.

Brad Ross, the son of Gold Star co-founder Stan Ross, and his friend Jon Rosenberg, the two San Diegans behind, “33 1/3 - House of Dreams,” joined Midday Edition Wednesday to talk about the musical and its inspiration.

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REVIEW: SD REP’s new show is a delightful look at music history

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak | San Diego Union-Tribune | August 14, 2019

The San Diego Repertory Theatre’s newest production, “33 1/3 - House of Dreams,” is as much a delightful musical trip down memory lane, for many, as it is a cultural history lesson on an iconic recording studio that changed the sound of music and established vocal legends’ careers.

While its focus is to tell the story of Gold Star Recording Studios, it is just as much a story about the love and friendship of studio founders Stan Ross (Brad Ross’ father) and Dave Gold, and their supportive wives, Vera Ross and Mitzi Gold.

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A ‘dream’ musical born in a dentist chair

By Joyell Nevins | Mission Times Courier | July 12, 2019

It started as an interview project in a late father’s memory, sidestepped as a jukebox musical revue, and emerged as a celebration of both a man and the musical era his studio helped usher in. Meet “33 1/3 – House of Dreams,” the world premiere musical performed by the San Diego Repertory Theatre, in partnership with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and R&R Productions, LLC. 

Although “33 1/3 – House of Dreams” features many of the storylines and songs in Gold Star’s history, what it doesn’t do is become a musical revue. This was Brad and Jon’s vision from the start, and Javier picked up the charge.

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HOUSE OF DREAMS Breaks San Diego REP Revenue Record

Broadway World | August 22, 2019

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) announced today that its world premiere musical, 33 1/3 - House of Dreams, currently held over until September 1st, set a new revenue record among all musicals in the theatre's recorded history. The musical beats out The REP's two previous revenue record holders, Evita (2017) and In the Heights (2013).

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“33 1/3: House of Dreams” at the San Diego Repertory Theatre

By Pat Launer | San Diego Jewish Journal | August 13, 2019

Shiny vinyl. Remember the excitement of bringing home a new album and racing it onto your phonograph? “33 1/3 – House of Dreams” pays homage to those feelings–and to the early days of rock ‘n roll.

The title has several layers of meaning. 33 1/3 was the rpm (revolutions per minute = speed of rotation) of 12” records (as opposed to 45 rpm, the small ones, or the old 78s). The House of Dreams was the legendary Gold Star Recording Studios in Los Angeles. 33 1/3 is also the number of years that Gold Star, and its two founders, Stan Ross and David S. Gold, were in business (1950-1984).

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San Diego Rep’s world-premiere musical ‘House of Dreams’ tells the story of a legendary L.A. hit factory

San Diego Union Tribune | July 20, 2019

The number 33 1/3 tallies how many times a long-playing record spins every minute. It also defines the life span, in years, of an L.A. studio that turned out many of the most cherished LPs in pop-music history.

Probably no single number, though, can really sum up the lasting impact of Gold Star Recording Studio, the onetime record-biz mecca whose legacy is about to be celebrated in San Diego Rep’s world-premiere musical “33 1/3: House of Dreams.”

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