More than 25 years after NBC California dreams after the stars went their separate ways, the cast reunited for the highly anticipated live concert. The nine-piece lineup is scheduled to perform Friday at Manhattan’s Stitch Bar & Blues and participate in a panel discussion, autograph signing and photo opportunities with loyal fans. Original cast Michael Cade (Sylvester “Sly” Winkle), Brentley Gore (Matt Garrison), Jay Anthony Franke (Jake Sommers), Aaron Jackson (Mark Winkle), William James Jones (Tony Wicks), Jennie Kwan (Samantha “Sam” Woo ), Kelly Packard (Tiffani Smith), Heidi Saban (Jenny Garrison) and Diana Uribe (Lorena Costa) are scheduled to attend.
While the cast has begun promoting the event on social media in recent months, Packard and Kwan expressed their excitement for the event together in a short video on Instagram on October 3.
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The cast began arriving in New York City on Monday ahead of Thursday’s rehearsal, bringing back a “flood” of memories for Franke, who “almost cried with joyous nostalgia” during the band’s performance. At least for some of them, it seemed as if no time had passed.
“It’s like nothing has changed,” Kwan tells PEOPLE. “We’re like a big crazy family. But with just a few more wrinkles.”
Jones was nostalgic, adding, “It felt like a high school reunion the moment I saw everything. A love and connection that remains timeless.”
‘California Dreams’ cast Aaron Jackson, Diana Uribe, Michael Cade, Kelly Packard, Jay Anthony Franke, Jennie Kwan and William James Jones.
Gary Null/TV Guide/NBC/Everett
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California dreams it ran from 1992 to 1996 as part of NBC’s Saturday morning lineup. The show focused on a fictional West Coast band and the antics of its teenage members, with a host of catchy original songs (many composed by Grammy-winning producer Steve Tyrell), including “Castles on Quicksand,” “One World,” “If You Only Knew .”
From California dreams ceased broadcasting, various combinations of the cast participated in smaller gatherings, with a particularly memorable performance in 2010. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when they performed the show’s theme song. They also appeared at the Saved by Max pop-up restaurant in LA in 2019 (whose name fans will recognize from the nod to California dreams‘ Saturday program Saved by the bell).
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7 of the 9 members of the cast of ‘California Dreams’ were back in front of the camera for ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ in March 2010.
Tracy Leeds/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Several of the show’s stars went on to work on other TV and film projects. Packard appeared in Baywatch and served as field correspondent for Ripley’s Believe it or not. Kwan graced the stage in productions Avenue Q and Aladdinappeared in Escort and New girl and voice roles in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Meanwhile, Uribe was cast in Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 crime drama. Jackie Brown and appeared in the music video for the song “I Got You” by Johnny Gill.
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As positive as the reunion has been for many cast members so far, Uribe — who hasn’t seen the cast since the series ended — admitted she had trepidation about reuniting with her former co-stars.
“I was so nervous to reopen the last chapter of my life,” she admits. “The moment I saw everything, there was an instant reconnection like we ended a week ago. I can’t wait to meet the fans who supported this reunion.”
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90s Dreams Fan Fest takes place Friday at 10am ET at Stitch Bar & Blues in New York City.
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Source: HIS Education