Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Broadway's Brightest Join Cast of Funny Girl Benefit

ReVision Announces Broadway Cast for Benefit Performance of
Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand in
Funny Girl
at the Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park

Asbury Park, New Jersey – ReVision Theatre announces star studded cast for benefit performance of Funny Girl starring Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand with very special guest Lainie Kazan. The one night only event will be at the Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park on Saturday, July 11th, at 8 pm. The show will be directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher and music directed by John Fischer. Tickets are available online now at www.ReVisionTheatre.org or by calling 732-455-3059. Premium Seats are still available and tickets are priced at $100, $50, and $25.

For the first time in history, Fanny Brice will be played by a male, a complete “revision” of Funny Girl. Steven Brinberg is the premier Barbra Streisand Impressionist, having performed his show, Simply Barbra, both on stage & screen. Steven accurately portrays Streisand physically and vocally. Joining Mr. Brinberg on stage will be Grant Norman (Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast) as Nicky Arnstein, Loni Ackerman (Evita, Cats) as Mrs. Brice, Nicola Blackman (West End’s Mutiny!, Destry Rides Again) as Mrs. Strakosh, Ivy Austin as Mrs. Meeker, Laura Jordan (Cry-Baby) as Mrs. O’Malley, Claybourne Elder (Road Show) as Eddie Ryan, Harvey Evans (Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma) as Florenz Ziegfeld, Gene Castle (Original Broadway Productions of Gypsy and George M) as Mr. Keeney, and Bill Coyne as the Ziegfeld Tenor. ReVision’s Funny Girl will also feature a Broadway ensemble of dancers and singers. The creative team includes Dawn von Suskil (Scenic Design), Brian Tovar (Lighting Design), and David Withrow (Costume Design)

Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Nominee Lainie Kazan will open the show with a few of her stories based on her experience with the original Broadway production of Funny Girl. Kazan at the time served as understudy to Barbra Streisand, finally getting to go on eighteen months into the run when the star became ill with a serious throat problem. On the Paramount Theatre stage, Ms. Kazan will perform “His is the Only Music that Makes Me Dance”.

With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, Funny Girl has some of the most popular songs in the history of musical theatre including “I’m the Greatest Star”, “People”, “You are Woman, I am Man”, and “Don’t Rain on my Parade”. Funny Girl follows the career of Fanny Brice, one of the funniest women of early American musical theatre. Fanny Brice made her first appearance in Vaudeville in 1910 and became “The Greatest Star” when she was discovered by Florenz Ziegfield and performed as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies for the next 25 years. Funny Girl is the story of Fanny Brice’s rise to fame and her overcoming a variety of obstacles including her heart wrenching relationship with her husband, Nicky Arnstein.

The Broadway musical Funny Girl, starring Barbra Streisand, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in March of 1964, and ran until July of 1967. Barbra Streisand went on to star, making her debut, in the 1968 film of Funny Girl opposite Omar Sharif. She was nominated and won an "Oscar" her first time out. The song "People", sung by Barbra Streisand, became a standard around the world. The score to Funny Girl and the song "People" both won Grammy Awards in 1965.

ReVision Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre’s Producing Artistic Directors, Thomas Morrissey, David E. Leidholdt, and Stephen Bishop Seely, produce reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions. ReVision Theatre’s 2008-2009 Season will end with the blockbuster musical, The Full Monty (August 12-September 6) at the Carousel Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park.

Visit www.RevisionTheatre.org or call 732-455-3059 for show calendars and more information.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Hello, Dolly! Benefit Cast Announced with Broadway Stars

June 3, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Broadway Stars among the Full Cast of
Richard Skipper as CAROL CHANNING IN
HELLO, DOLLY! Benefit

Saturday, June 14th at 8:00 PM
A Special One Night Benefit Performance at the Paramount Theatre


Asbury Park, NJ – The full cast and crew has been announced for ReVision Theatre’s one night only benefit production of Richard Skipper as Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly! at the Paramount Theatre on the evening of Saturday, June 14th at 8 pm. The production will be directed by Thomas Morrissey, choreographed by Connor Gallagher, and musical directed by John Fischer.

Richard Skipper, a tribute artist, will play Carol Channing in the title role of Dolly Levi Gallagher. This is the first time in the United States a man will be playing the lead role. Charles Karel (Milk and Honey, Dear World, & Zorba), who was in the original Broadway cast of Hello, Dolly!, will be playing Horace Vandergelder. Kristy Cates (Wicked, Jerry Springer) will be playing Irene Malloy. Jim Weitzer (Little Women, Phantom) and Chris Gunn (Little Women, Jerry Springer) will be taking on the roles of Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, respectively. Minnie Fay will be played by Jenna Coker-Jones (Evil Dead The Musical). Anne Kissel (Ernestina), Jack Hallett (Rudolph), Hernando Umana (Ambrose), Brooke Wallace (Ermengarde), and Gary Mottola (Judge) round out the supporting roles.

The show will feature ten professional dancers and a singing ensemble of twenty-two. Hello, Dolly! will also feature a chorus of local talent from the Arcadian Chorale under the direction of Marina Alexander.

The production designers include Dawn von Suskil (Set Designer), George Hansel (Lighting Designer), and Linda Delaney (Costume Coordinator).

Tickets are available online now at http://www.revisiontheatre.org/ or by calling 732-455-3059. Tickets for Premium Seats are priced at $50.00. $25.00 and $15.00 seats are also available.

With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Michael Stewart, Hello Dolly! is one of the most popular musicals of all time. This touching musical is based on Thorton Wilder’s The Matchmaker and is about Dolly Levi who puts herself up as a candidate for marriage when she falls in love with a wealthy businessman, Horace Vandergelder. With unforgettable songs (Before the Parade Passes By, Put on Your Sunday Clothes, and Hello, Dolly!) and unforgettable dancing, this musical will be fun for the entire family. It ran on Broadway for 2,844 performances at the St. James Theatre with Carol Channing in the title role. Carol Channing went on to perform Dolly Levi for the next 30 years becoming a staple in American Musical Theatre.

Richard Skipper for more than a decade he has been paying tribute to Ms. Channing in a host of original shows which have been performed in New York and all over the world. Richard Skipper is a two-time winner of the MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs) Award, a winner of the Back Stage Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement in Impersonation, and the 2006 recipient of The IGCITA (International Guild of Celebrity and Tribute Artists) Clony Award for Outstanding Tribute to a Legend in Las Vegas. Other career highlights have included appearances at Carnegie Hall, long running engagements at Trump's Taj Mahal and The Hilton Hotel in Atlantic City, engagements at Casino Windsor and The Windsor Hilton Hotel in Windsor, Ontario, The Friars Club, the Russian Tea Room, Tavern on the Green, Le Cirque, and an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Richard Skipper's work has been endorsed and supported by Carol Channing herself. Carol Channing wrote, “. . . the first time ever I have been shown with so much love, respect, and polish. Richard Skipper is a true musical comedy star! He is fabulous as me!”

This performance will benefit ReVision Theatre’s summer mainstage musical (which will be announced at the event).

ReVision Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions.

Visit http://www.revisiontheatre.org/ or http://www.richardskipper.com/ for tickets or for more information.

CONTACT: Stephen Bishop Seely
Stephen@ReVisionTheatre.org
732-455-3059

Fast Facts:

Who: ReVision Theatre
David E. Leidholdt, Thomas Morrissey, and Stephen Bishop Seely
Producing Artistic Directors
PO BOX 973
Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712

What: A One Night Only Benefit Performance of
Richard Skipper as
Carol Channing in
Hello, Dolly!
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Book by Michael Stewart
Directed by Thomas Morrissey
Choreographed by Connor Gallagher
Cast to includes Charles Karel, Kristy Cates, Jim Weitzer, Chris Gunn, Jenna Coker-Jones, Anne Kissel, Brooke Wallace, Hernando Umana, Jack Hallett, and Gary Mottola

Where: The Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park
1300 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712

When: Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 8:00 PM

How: Buy tickets ($50, $25, and $15) online at http://www.revisiontheatre.org/
Or call 732-455-3059