Press Release: Lincoln Center’s 2018 American Songbook Season
Lincoln Center Press Release
Lincoln Center’s 2018 American Songbook Season
January–March 2018
Musical legendsRandy Newman and Rosanne Cash Bring Series Back to the
Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center for First Time Since 2005
Composers & Lyricists Spotlights Include Stew & The Negro Problem, Scott Frankel & Michael Korie with Kelli O’Hara and Julian Ovenden, Matt Ray performing Hoagy Carmichael, and Justin Vivian Bondpresenting the music of The Carpenters
The Blind Boys of Alabama, Rachel Bloom&Adam Schlesinger, Cloud Cult,
Jackie Hoffman,Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer, Aaron Tveit, John Paul White,
and Lizz Wrightround out Appel Room Concerts
Jalen N’Gonda to perform free show in the David Rubenstein Atrium
October 31, 2017—The 19th season of Lincoln Center’s acclaimed American Songbook series opens this January, presenting the voices and stories of singers, songwriters, and musicians across a range of genres. From musical theater to Americana to R&B and gospel, these performers will chronicle personal journeys, pay tribute to legendary artists, and showcase the breadth of creativity, emotion, and expression found throughout American song.
The season opens in the iconic Appel Room on January 24, 2018, with Grammy Award winner John Paul White (The Civil Wars) performing his lyric-driven Southern gothic folk. And in March, the series will return to the Rose Theater for the first time since 2005 for a pair of special evenings with Oscar-, Emmy-, and Grammy Award–winning songwriter Randy Newman(March 26) and Rosanne Cash(March 27), a four-time Grammy Award winner, best-selling author, and activist.
Composers and lyricists are a centerpiece of this season, as Tony winners Stew & Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange¸ The Total Bent) reflect on two decades of music-making through the prism of their self-described “Afro-Baroque cabaret” (Feb. 7); Matt Ray pays homage to Hoagy Carmichael with singer Kat Edmonson(Jan. 27); composers Scott Frankel&Michael Korie (Grey Gardens, War Paint) are joined by stars Kelli O’Hara and Julian Ovenden (Feb. 17); and downtown legend Justin Vivian Bond weaves the trials of Karen Carpenter’s complicated life into a modern context using her music (Feb. 15).
Additional featured musicians ranging from icons to iconoclasts include comedian Jackie Hoffman, coming off her Emmy-nominated performance as Mamacita in Feud: Bette and Joan (Jan. 25); indie band Cloud Cult, which mixes swelling harmonies and orchestrated arrangements with an environmentalist message (Jan. 26); sisters ShelbyLynne & Allison Moorer, each a groundbreaking artist of Americana in her own right (Feb. 8); Broadway star Aaron Tveit, who headlined Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can (Feb. 9); the team behind Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom&Adam Schlesinger (Feb. 10); vocalist Lizz Wright, whose 2017 album Grace melds the spirituality and sensuality of the American South (Feb. 14); and gospel legends The Blind Boys of Alabama, who are celebrating their more than 70-year legacy with a new album inspired by the memories of founding members James Carter and Clarence Fountain (Feb. 16).
The rising Maryland-born, Liverpool-based soul and R&B singer-songwriter Jalen N’Gonda will also perform a free show on February 1 in the David Rubenstein Atrium.
“Each season of American Songbook juxtaposes the popular music of our time while honoring that of the past and anticipating the voices of the future. From the world of Broadway to television to the backroads of Alabama to Duluth, Minnesota, this year we are covering considerable ground,” said Jane Moss, Lincoln Center’s Ehrenkranz Artistic Director. “Each of these artists moves us with their creativity, personal stories, and, for many of them, their much-needed humor.”
Hailed for its expansive embrace of American songwriting spanning centuries and geography, American Songbook is based at three venues at Lincoln Center. The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle, hosts cabaret-style performances that include table seating, close proximity to the performers, and an incomparable view of the Manhattan skyline. In addition, the series will return to the Rose Theater, which maintains an intimate atmosphere as the largest of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s performance spaces, and the David Rubenstein Atrium, a vibrant indoor public commons offering hundreds of free programs each year.
“PGIM, the global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, is proud to be the lead supporter of such an innovative concert series as Lincoln Center’s 2018 American Songbook,” said David Hunt, President and CEO of PGIM.“The array of performances allows Lincoln Center audiences to celebrate the diverse aspects of the American experience through music, and we are honored to be a part of it for the fifth year in a row.”
Tickets for Friends of Lincoln Center go on sale November 6 and to the general public beginning November 13. They may be purchased online at AmericanSongbook.org, via CenterCharge at 212.721.6500, and at the Alice Tully Hall and David Geffen Hall Box Offices. Premium packages, which include red wine, dinner, and the best seats in the house, are available for purchase for Appel Room performances; find more information at AmericanSongbook.org, and learn about our Friends of Lincoln Center program at Support.LincolnCenter.org.
© 2017 Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
PRESS RELEASE: IN & OF ITSELF Magically Extends a 3rd Time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Vivacity Media Group, 212-812-1483
Leslie Papa, Leslie@VivacityNY.com
Whitney Holden Gore, Whitney@VivacityNY.com
Ailsa Hoke, Ailsa@VivacityNY.com
DEREK DELGAUDIO’S
ANNOUNCES THIRD EXTENSION
OF ITS SMASH-HIT NEW YORK PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT
NOW PLAYING THROUGH MAY 6, 2018
AT UNION SQUARE’S DARYL ROTH THEATRE
NEW BLOCK OF TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM
(New York, NY)IN & OF ITSELF, the smash-hit show created and performed by three-time Academy of Magical Arts Award winner Derek DelGaudio (Nothing to Hide) and directed by four-time Emmy Award winner Frank Oz (Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Star Wars), has announced a third extension to the show’s New York Premiere engagement at the Daryl Roth Theatre in Union Square. IN & OF ITSELF, which opened to resounding critical acclaim on April 12, 2017,will now play an additional eighteen weeks, through May 6, 2018.
Produced by Werner Entertainment, Tony Award winners Gary Goddard & Forbes Candlish, Prediction Productions and five-time Emmy & Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, IN & OF ITSELF began previews on April 5, setting a box office record for the highest advance sales in the history of the Daryl Roth Theatre. Even amidst the most crowded theater season in over twenty years, IN & OF ITSELF has grossed over $3 million (in a 150-seat theater) and continually sold-out performances—prompting three extensions to the original ten-week run, now taking the show to fifty-seven weeks.
A mysterious story is deciphered and the illusion of one’s own identity is revealed in Derek DelGaudio’sIN & OF ITSELF. A modern allegory, IN & OF ITSELF explores new ways of seeing the unseeable, as memories from yesterday, inexplicable events witnessed today and secrets imagined for tomorrow are blended together, creating a perpetual paradox of a show. Glenn Kaino (2004 Whitney Biennial, U.S. Representative to the 13th Cairo Biennale) serves as Artistic Producer of the production, which also features Original Music by Devo frontmanMark Mothersbaugh, and Production Design by A.BANDIT.
“Wonder is a rare commodity these days,” raved The New York Times, which declared the show a Critic’s Pick. “Derek DelGaudio, the phenomenally talented creator and star of the stealthily entrancing IN & OF ITSELF, is a magician, a raconteur, a conceptual artist and conceivably a mind reader… And his show works. Beautifully. Tenderly. Astonishingly. The finale allows Mr. DelGaudio a momentary connection to any audience member who proves willing. To watch is to see audience members each receive a private benediction and leave the theater, heads aswirl.” Time Out New York gives the show “Four Stars!”; Vogue says, “In the astonishing IN & OF ITSELF, Derek DelGaudio performs some of the most heart-stoppingly wondrous pieces of magic I’ve ever seen;” and The NewYorker calls it, “a thoughtful piece of theatre that makes inspired use of DelGaudio’s skills…it will linger in the mind and leave ample room for wonder.” The Huffington Post hails the show as “nothing short of remarkable,” and Entertainment Weekly describes DelGaudio as an “undeniably compelling storyteller” with “jaw-dropping” talent. TheaterManiadeclared IN & OF ITSELF a “wildly impressive” show that “elevates magic to a fine art.”
DelGaudio is a writer, performance artist, and three-time Academy of Magical Arts Award-winning magician. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed show Nothing to Hide, which played sold-out engagements in LA and NYC. He was selected to be the Artist in Residence for Walt Disney Imagineering and co-founded, along with Kaino, the performance-art collective, A.BANDIT. In April 2017, DelGaudio became one of the youngest artists to receive the Academy of Magical Arts’ “Magician of the Year” award, joining the ranks of such luminaries as David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, David Blaine and Ricky Jay.
Frank Oz is a four-time Emmy Award winner, whose directing work includes such feature films as Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, In & Out, The Score and Death at a Funeral. As a performer, he has voiced such iconic characters as Yoda in the Star Wars franchise, Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear on “The Muppet Show,” and Grover and Cookie Monster on“Sesame Street.” Oz is a recipient of The Art Director’s Guild Award, The Comedy Award, Saturn Lifetime Achievement Award and George Foster Peabody Award, among others.
IN & OF ITSELF played a limited engagement at Geffen Playhouse in the spring and summer of 2016, where it extended an unprecedented five times, and became their highest grossing show to date.
Tickets to IN & OF ITSELF are on sale at Ticketmaster.com. The performance schedule is Tuesday–Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm & 7pm. There are no shows on Tuesday October 31, Thursday November 23, Sunday December 31 or Tuesday, January 2. There are added shows on Monday October 30 at 8pm, Monday November 20 at 8pm, and Wednesday January 3 at 3PM. On Wednesday December 27, Friday December 29, and Saturday December 30, performances are at 5PM and 9PM.
@InandOfItself
Click here for: PRODUCTIONPHOTOS
BIOGRAPHIES
DEREK DELGAUDIO (Creator and Performer) is a writer, performance artist, and three-time Academy of Magical Arts Award-winning magician. He wrote and starred in the show, Nothing To Hide. He was selected to be the Artist in Residence for Walt Disney Imagineering. Derek co-founded, along with Glenn Kaino, the performance-art collective, A.BANDIT. He has staged works at LA><ART, Art L.A. Contemporary, SoHo House Hollywood, Art Basel Miami, The Broad Art Museum at MSU, and The Kitchen in New York City, as well as, site-specific performances for Grand Arts, The Ball of Artists, LACMA and The Storefront for Art & Architecture.
FRANK OZ (Director) is a four-time Emmy winner, recipient of The Art Director’s Guild Award, The Comedy Award, Saturn Lifetime Achievement Award, George Foster Peabody award, and others. He’s performed with The Muppets and on the Star Wars Films. The dozen feature films he’s directed include Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, In & Out, The Score, and Death at a Funeral.
GLENN KAINO (Artistic Producer) is a conceptual artist based in Los Angeles. In 2012 he was selected by the U.S. Department of State to represent the country in the 13th International Cairo Biennale, and he has had additional solo exhibitions at The Andy Warhol Museum, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Grand Arts, The Modern Ft. Worth, The Whitney Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, and REDCAT among others. He has also been included in numerous group exhibitions such as the 12th Lyon Biennial, Whitney Biennial, Performa 09, and Prospect.3. With Derek he co-founded A.BANDIT and the group has its first artist monograph coming out later this year.
MARK MOTHERSBAUGH (Original Music) is a founding member and frontman of the popular band DEVO. He has been a prolific visual and musical artist since before the band’s inception, with a diverse body of work that includes albums, soundtracks, drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, prints, eyewear and rugs. Mothersbaugh created the often-imitated sound of Wes Anderson’s beloved films with his scores to Rushmore, Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. He also composed the musical scores for “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” the “Rugrats” series and films, The Lego Movie, Hotel Transylvania, both 21 and 22 Jump Street and hundreds of other films, television series and advertisements.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (Executive Producer) can currently be seen as Count Olaf in Netflix’s series adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Television: “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris,” “American Horror Story,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Glee,” “Sesame Street,” “Stark Raving Mad,” “Joan of Arc,” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” among others. Online: “Neil’s Puppet Dreams,” “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” and “Prop 8: The Musical.” Film: Gone Girl, A Million Ways to Die in the West, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 1 & 2, The Smurfs 1 & 2, the Harold & Kumar films, Starship Troopers, and Clara’s Heart, among others. Broadway: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Assassins, Cabaret, Proof. Off-Broadway/Regional: Company (New York Philharmonic), All My Sons (Geffen Theater), The Paris Letter (Kirk Douglas Theater), Sweeney Todd (NY Phil, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra), Romeo and Juliet (Old Globe Theater), Rent (Los Angeles/2nd National Tour), and Luck, Pluck and Virtue (Atlantic Theater Co.). London: tick, tick…BOOM! (Menier Chocolate Factory). Directing: Nothing to Hide (Pershing Square Signature Center & Geffen Theater), Rent (Hollywood Bowl), The Expert at the Card Table (Ediburgh Fringe Festival & Broad Stage Theater) and I Am Grock (El Portal Theater). Harris is a five-time Emmy Award winner for his guest-starring role on “Glee,” and as host of the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. Additionally, Harris served as the host of the 87th Annual Academy Awards in February 2015.
WERNER ENTERTAINMENT/ TOM WERNER (Producer). In addition to his membership in the Television Academy Hall of Fame, Tom Werner has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America. That is why he has such a strong respect for illusionists. The Carsey Werner Company, which Marcy Carsey and he cofounded, has produced over 2000 hours of quality half-hour television, and it has won numerous Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and Peabody Awards. In the last fifteen years, Werner has also been the Chairman of the Boston Red Sox, and the club has won 3 World Series after a drought of 86 years. Werner is extremely proud of his association with Derek DelGaudio and he helped produced the critically acclaimed Nothing to Hide when it traveled to N.Y.C. after its record-breaking run at the Geffen Playhouse.
GARY GODDARD ENTERTAINMENT/ GARY GODDARD & FORBES CANDLISH (Producer). Tony Award-Winning Producers Gary Goddard & Forbes Candlish are celebrating their 40th year working together in the legitimate theater. On Broadway they have produced The Encounter, HAIR, reasons to be pretty, Jekyll & Hyde, The Big Love, Tru and Sherlock’s Last Case. Other NYC Theater Credits include The Wiz for New York City Center Encores, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theater, Shida at Ars Nova and Runt of the Litter at 37 Arts.
PREDICTION PRODUCTIONS (Producer) is a New York-based production company dedicated to developing and creating structurally inventive content for film, television, theater and new media formats. Launched in 2015 by award-winning actor, producer and director Neil Patrick Harris, Prediction Productions holds a first-look television production deal with NBC, with whom they produced the live variety series, “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris,” and with whom they are producing the upcoming “Genius Junior,” in association with Shed Media. Shea Martin serves as Vice President, with Zoë Chapin as the company’s Head of Productions.
# # # #
Leslie Papa
Vivacity Media Group
1650 Broadway │Suite 609 |NYC, 10019
212-812-1483
Leslie@VivacityNY.com
PRESS RELEASE: ROCKTOPIA TO PLAY BROADWAY!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Vivacity Media Group
212-812-1483
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SENSATION
TO PLAY BROADWAY
6 EPIC WEEKS ONLY
AT THE BROADWAY THEATRE
MARCH 20 – APRIL 29, 2018
AMERICAN EXPRESS® CARD MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE TICKETS BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 AT 10AM THROUGH MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 AT 9:59AM
**
TICKETS ON SALE TO AUDIENCE REWARDS MEMBERS
BEGINNING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 AT 10AM
**
GENERAL ON-SALE BEGINS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2017 AT 10AM
“Rocktopia creates a world where Mozart and Led Zeppelin coexist”
– Chicago Tribune
(NEW YORK – October 11, 2017)This spring, the international music sensation ROCKTOPIA will rock Broadway for six epic weeks, March 20 – April 29, 2018 at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). ROCKTOPIA is a musical revolution that celebrates the fusion of the best rock songs of the past century with some of the greatest classical music ever written. ROCKTOPIA showcases the works of musical innovators including Mozart, Queen, Beethoven, Journey, Handel, U2, Tchaikovsky, Pink Floyd, Heart, Rachmaninoff, Foreigner, Copland, The Who and more.
Created through the unique vision of vocalist and recording artist Rob Evan and Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, a pioneer in the fusion of symphonic rock and world music, ROCKTOPIA delivers one-of-a-kind, spine-tingling musical arrangements with insanely talented lead vocalists, a 5-piece rock band, a choir of 40, and an orchestra of 20.
Developed over eight years, ROCKTOPIA is inspired by the idea that if Beethoven or Mozart were alive today, they would be modern-day rock stars. With extensive knowledge of both genres, Evan and Fleisher looked for common themes, potency, and emotional resonance in the songs before fusing them together to create explosive and moving new musical arrangements.
“We love both classical music and classic rock. There are so many parallels between the genres and between the “rock stars” who composed and performed them,” says Evan. “With Rocktopia, we want to break down barriers and any preconceived notion of what either genre is about – and electrify and inspire lovers of either musical styles with these completely original new pieces.”
The groundbreaking live concert will be performed by a celebrated, diverse array of rock, Broadway, and opera vocalists: Rob Evan (Broadway: Les Miserables, Jekyll & Hyde and more, multi-platinum recording artist); Chloe Lowery (Chris Botti, Yanni’sVoices); Tony Vincent (Broadway: American Idiot, RENT, NBC’s “The Voice”); Kimberly Nichole (NBC’s “The Voice,” performs with Janelle Monae, Slash, Joe Walsh, The Heavy); and featuring Alyson Cambridge (The Merry Widow atThe Met, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, Show Boat). The world-class musicians featured in the ROCKTOPIA band include Grammy and Emmy Award nominated violinist Máiréad Nesbitt (Celtic Woman, Lord of the Dance); acclaimed guitarist Tony Bruno (MD & guitar for Enrique Iglesias & Rihanna, “America’s Got Talent”); pianist Henry Aronson (MD/Conductor/keys for entire Broadway run of Rock of Ages, The Who’s Tommy); bass player Mat Fieldes (Joe Jackson’s Grammy winning album Symphony No. 1, the Gorillaz, Book of Mormon); and drummer Alex Alexander (David Bowie, Jimmy Cliff, Ritchie Blackmore). An additional 40-person choir and a 20-person orchestra enhance every performance of ROCKTOPIA.
An inaugural performance of the show, “Rocktopia: Live from Budapest” produced by Two Hands Entertainment/Jeff Rowland, was recorded in front of a live audience in June 2016 at the 19th century Hungarian State Opera House for PBS. It was performed with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra with six vocalists, a five-piece rock band, the Hungarian State Opera Chorus, and the Jazz and More Choir. ROCKTOPIA has since toured over twenty cities in the United States, featuring local symphonies and choirs across the country.
ROCKTOPIA is produced by ROCKTOPIA Broadway LLC (William Franzblau, Executive Producer and Maggie Seidel-Laws, Associate Producer) in association with HUGHES WALL LLC. Additional cast, creative team, and the New York orchestra and choirs that will join each performance, will be announced at a later date.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, October 30 at 10am (EST) through Monday, November 6 at 9:59am. Beginning on Monday, November 6 at 10AM, tickets will be available exclusively to Audience Rewards Members via AudienceRewards.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, November 13 at 10AM via Telecharge.com. Special student pricing, beginning at $39, will be available for the duration of the run.
Performance schedule, complete creative team, and opening night will be announced shortly.
For Performance Photos, visit: http://bit.ly/2yeP6PJ
For Video, visit:http://bit.ly/2g8tFpI
BIOGRAPHIES:
ROB EVAN (Co-Creator, Vocalist) is a highly accomplished actor, singer, and producer with more than 20 years of professional experience in the entertainment industry. He has performed in seven leading roles on New York stages including the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde, playing the title roles more than 1,000 times over three years. His rendition of “This Is the Moment” was performed at numerous prestigious events, including the 2001 Inaugural Gala for President George W. Bush, the Millennium Independence Day US Naval Revue aboard the USS JFK for President Clinton, the Millennium World Forum Conference with speaker Mikhail Gorbachev, and the New York City Mayor’s Inaugural Gala. Rob also appeared on Broadway as Jean Valjean in Les Miserable, Kerchak in Disney’s Tarzan, The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, and Count von Krolock in Jim Steinman’s Dance of the Vampires. Off-Broadway, Rob created the roles of The Dancin’ Kid in Johnny Guitar and the hero Miles Hendon in The Prince and the Pauper. Rob is a member of the multi-platinum-selling band, Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He can be heard on TSO’s The Lost Christmas Eve and Night Castle, which debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Top 100. He was also the lead vocalist for Jim Steinman’s The Dream Engine, and recently released the debut album from his progressive rock band, Menrva Realm. Rob has also been a regularly featured soloist for over 40 symphonies around the world, including appearances in San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Chicago, Hong Kong, and the Czech Republic.
RANDALL CRAIG FLEISCHER (Co-Creator) Active as a composer and arranger, Mr. Fleischer is a national leader in the fields of symphonic rock and world music fusion. His works and arrangements have been played by many world-renowned orchestras including the Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, China Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, the National Symphony, and many others. Fleischer has also worked with artists such as John Densmore (The Doors), Natalie Merchant, Blondie, Ani DiFranco, John Cale (Velvet Underground) Garth Hudson (The Band), Kenny Rogers, Chris Baron (Spin Doctors), and Native American artists R. Carlos Nakai, Burning Sky, The Hawk Project, The Benaly Family, and others. Mr. Fleischer’s operatic repertoire includes productions of La Boheme, Turandot, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, La Traviata, and others. Fleischer received his Bachelor of Music Education from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and has studied conducting with Leonard Bernstein, Otto Werner Mueller, Seiji Ozawa, Riccardo Muti, Gustav Meier, and others. He first came to international attention when, at the National Symphony Orchestra, he conducted Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto” with Mstislav Rostropovich as soloist. In December of 1992, Mr. Fleischer conducted an ensemble of more than 70 cellos, including YoYo Ma, and a 190 voice chorus in a tribute to Rostropovich, broadcast on CBS with then-President and Mrs. Bush in attendance. In 1993, Mr. Fleischer conducted a private concert for Pope John-Paul at the Vatican. The Pontiff awarded Mr. Fleischer a medal for his achievements in music. A passionate educator, Fleischer has co-authored several instructional pieces for children in collaboration with his wife, comedian Heidi Joyce, which were premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra, including three rap pieces for orchestra. Mr. Fleischer lives in Los Angeles with his wife Heidi and daughter Michaela.
CHLOE LOWERY (Vocalist) is an American singer, dancer, actress, and songwriter born in Largo, Florida. At age12 she was signed to RCA Records, and soon after being signed was featured on two movie soundtracks, Boys and Girl and Joe Somebody. She went on to tour with Big Brother and the Holding Company and work with world-renowned producer Ric Wake, which then led to a collaboration with Yanni on the 2009 Yanni Voices Project. After tours of the U.S. and Mexico with Yanni, she signed to Disney/Hollywood Records as a solo artist. Chloe has since been featured on three Yanni records: 2013’s Truth of Touch, 2014’s Inspirato, and 2016’s Sensuous Chill. Chloe joined multi-platinum selling rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra performing as Theresa on their Beethoven’s Last Night Tours and continues to work with the band both in the studio and live on stage. Lowery has also toured with Chris Botti, performed with the New York City Ballet as a featured vocalist, and contributed her talents to collaborations with artists like Everclear. Chloe will independently release a solo project in early 2018.
ALYSON CAMBRIDGE (Vocalist) is one of the most diverse and compelling vocal artists on the scene today. Her rich, warm soprano, combined with her strikingly beautiful stage presence and affecting musical and dramatic interpretation, have brought her over a decade of successes on the world’s leading opera and concert stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Vienna Konzerthaus, among others, as well as recent debuts Paris , Warsaw, Beijing, and other musical capitals throughout Europe and Asia. Her repertoire includes the beloved heroines of Puccini, Verdi, and Mozart (Mimi, Madama Butterfly, Donna Elvira, Violetta, and Micaëla among them) as well as successful forays into the crossover, Broadway and jazz repertoire, most notably with award-winning and critically-acclaimed performances of Julie in Show Boat and Vi in Gershwin’s rarely performed jazz-opera Blue Monday. Alyson’s debut album, “From the Diary of Sally Hemings,” a song-cycle by acclaimed American composer William Bolcom, premiered at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall to rave reviews, and her newest album, Until Now, a mix of jazz, pop, and musical theater standards was released in January 2016 on the Naxos imprint Suite 28 Records, and is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
TONY VINCENT (Vocalist) Best known for his appearance on NBC’s “The Voice”, Tony Vincent is a recording artist, actor and producer. In 1993 Vincent started his own record company, Adobe Flats, writing and producing the EP Love Falling Down that led to a recording contract with EMI records. The two solo albums that followed, Tony Vincent & One Deed, produced six #1 Billboard radio singles. Soon after, Vincent took a detour into rock-based theater, starring on Broadway in RENT (Mark, Roger), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas Iscariot) and Green Day’s American Idiot (St. Jimmy). He played Simon Zealotes in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s film remake of Jesus Christ Superstar, and is also featured in the film Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece. Vincent originated the role of Galileo Figaro in the rock band Queen’s We Will Rock You in London’s West End, and opened the U.S. production. He also fronted the band itself, performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Queen Elizabeth II, with a live audience of over 1 million people at Buckingham Palace. Vincent independently released two more albums, A Better Way, produced by Adam Anders (“Glee”), and the self-produced In My Head, following his appearance on NBC’s “The Voice”. He is currently headlining the North American symphony tour of The Music of David Bowie, and working as a record producer at his New York recording studio, Soundshop 370.
KIMBERLY NICHOLE (Vocalist) exploded onto the national scene on season 8 of “The Voice”, earning praise from Pharrell Williams, Christina Aguilera, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson and Reba McEntire, with her show-stopping performances, stylish presence and vocal power. Her covers ranked on iTunes’ Top 20 three weeks in a row and made the Billboard 100 Charts. Over the course of her career, Nichole has share the stage with Slash (Guns N Roses), Living Colour, Alice Smith, Janelle Monae, Nona Hendryx (Labelle), Aloe Blacc, Bilal, Joe Walsh (The Eagles) and Jon Bon Jovi. Her mesmerizing performance style has captured the attention and support of Quincy Jones, songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson and fashion savant Andre Leon Talley, who featured her in an issue of Vogue. Her original music has been featured on MTV, VH1, BET, LOGO, Lifetime and Showtime, and Tony award winning director George C. Wolfe personally selected her to be the featured rock performer in his film You Are Not You, which stars Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. She’s been crowned ‘Mistress of Ceremonies’ at New York City’s wildly popular private night club ‘The Box’, and has received ASCAP Foundation’s “Reach Out and Touch” Award, given to promising songwriters. She most recently was featured in the NETFLIX, Ezra Koeing-created (Vampire Weekend) anime series “Neo Yokio” (starring Jaden Smith, Jude Law, Susan Sarandon and more).
TONY BRUNO (Guitar) became the music director and guitarist for Enrique Iglesias in 1999. Since then, he has put together six of Iglesias’s tours and done countless TV performances. In 2005, he partnered with choreographer Tina Landon to create the show for artist Anastacia’s Live at Last tour. He has also worked with artists such as Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, K’naan, Karmin, Delta Goodrem, and many others. TV production credits include “America’s Got Talent”, “X-Factor”, “American Music Awards,” “Top Of The Pops”, “MTV Music Awards”, TRL, “Wetten Das”, and others. His song “Daylight in Your Eyes” for German artists No Angels was the second best-selling German single of all time. Tony has worked on writing songs with the world’s top songwriters including Shelly Peiken, Lindy Robbins, Kara DioGuardi, and Ty Lacy. In the studio, Tony has lent his extraordinary guitar skills to numerous hit records with top producers like Ted Templeman, Bob Rock, and Desmond Child.
MÁIRÉAD NESBITT (Violin) For more than a decade, Máiréad Nesbitt has enchanted millions of fans around the world as the Celtic violinist and founding member of the globetrotting music phenomenon Celtic Woman. Loyal fans of all ages, across geographical and cultural boundaries far beyond the musical heritage of Ireland, have adored her beguiling stage presence and versatile instrumental talents. As the featured violin soloist on all 11 Celtic Woman albums, each title achieved the coveted #1 slot on the Billboard World Music Chart, an Emmy-nomination for one of her companion television specials and her most recent album with the group, “Destiny”, received a 2017 Grammy Nomination for Best World Music Album. Máiréad is also an accomplished solo artist who released her newest album Hibernia at the end of 2016. Upon its release, Hibernia charted on four different Billboard charts, including the World Music, Classical Crossover, Heatseekers, and Classical charts. Máiréad also released a special album, reaching back to her family roots called “ The Nesbitt Family – Devils Bit Sessions”. In 2017 the “Máiréad Nesbitt Celtic Violin Collection” was launched and is available exclusively online and in specialty shops in North America and Ireland. Máiréad has appeared with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, Berne Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and more.
HENRY ARONSON (Piano) is among the most in-demand music directors in the Broadway theatre. He was the music director/conductor/keyboardist for the Broadway run of Rock of Ages. Also on Broadway, he was music director for Grease, The Times They Are A-Changin’, In My Life, Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, Rocky Horror Show and Starmites; associate conductor of Cry Baby, Good Vibrations, Parade, Saturday Night Fever, Mail and Prince of Central Park; and conducted The Who’s Tommy and On Your Feet; he also conducted and played many seasons of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Off-Broadway, he conducted at Cagney, was music director of Once Around the Sun (Zipper), King Lear (Public Theater, starring Kevin Kline), The Wind in the Willows (New Victory), 3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down (Minetta Lane), and numerous productions at Playwrights Horizons and Naked Angels. He studied piano at Mannes College of Music, and received his Music degree from Columbia University. His musical Loveless Texas, which he wrote with his wife Cailín Heffernan, was produced this year by Boomerang Theatre Company at the Sheen Center in New York City.
MAT FIELDES (Bass) is a very active bass player on the New York freelance scene. He has collaborated with artists such as Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Joe Jackson, Ornette Coleman, John Cale, Peter Erskine, Jim Steinman, Sufjan Stevens, Steve Vai, PaquitoD’Rivera, Kristjan Jarvi, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandaval, Toni Tennille, Kelli O’Hara, and many others. Mr. Fieldes tours extensively as the solo bassist for Absolute Ensemble, an electro-acoustic crossover chamber orchestra, which performs at major venues worldwide. Broadway credits include: Mamma Mia, The Book of Mormon, Next to Normal, Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Mary Poppins, Kiss Me Kate, The Full Monty, Legally Blonde, and Saturday Night Fever,and Matilda. He has played with the New Zealand Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Key West Symphony (Principal), Long Island Philharmonic, Westchester Symphony, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, New Zealand String Quartet, New Zealand Trio, Continuum, Bronx Arts Ensemble, and has recently appeared in major festivals in Mexico City, Bremen, El Paso, Adelaide, and Montpellier.
ALEX ALEXANDER (Drums, Percussion) is a “first call” session drummer/percussionist residing in New York. He has performed and recorded with artists such as David Bowie, Dido, Eminem, Ritchie Blackmore, Rickie Lee Jones, Jimmy Cliff, YoussouN’Dour, Joy Askew, Bernie Worrell from P-Funk, Bruce Springsteen, The Association, Toots and the Maytalls, Sophie B. Hawkins, J.C. Chasez from NSYNC, Montell Jordan, Willie Nile, Dougie Fresh, Bebel Gilberto, Julia Fordham, The Barrio Boyzz, Eljuri, Chaka Kahn, Buddy Miles, and more. Alex has also performed on many soundtracks for films, including the cult classic, The Search For One-Eye Jimmy, the multi-award winning HBO film, Liberty Kid, the HBO film, Forged, as well as the soundtrack to the Academy Award winning documentary, Born Into Brothels. Alex has invented an instrument called the Electric Djembe. Using African djembes, ethnic percussion, Shure wireless microphones, and custom Guitar F-X pedals and loop boxes, Alex creates sounds that range from drum machine emulation to ambient keyboard pads and washes. His unique blend of hand percussion and guitar effects pedals can be heard on television and film soundtracks, which he composes through his production company, Perpetual Motion Productions.
__________________________________________
Whitney Holden Gore
Vivacity Media Group
1650 Broadway, Suite 609, New York, NY 10019
212-812-1483
PRESS RELEASE: PRECIOUS Little TALENT
P R E C I O U S Little T A L E N T
BY ELLA HICKSON
DIRECTED BY GEORGE C. HESLIN
GREG MULLAVEY, CONNOR DELVES & ELIZA SHEA TO STAR IN NY PREMIERE OF “PRECIOUS LITTLE TALENT” DIRECTED BY GEORGE C. HESLIN.
FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTIONS AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL AND IN LONDON’S WEST END, WHICH GARNERED FOUR STAR REVIEWS ACROSS THE BOARD, “PRECIOUS LITTLE TALENT” BY ELLA HICKSON IS PRESENTED IN A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT OFF-OFF-BROADWAY RUNNING SEPTEMBER 20-30.
The critically acclaimed British sensation, Precious Little Talent, will make its NY Premiere in a limited two-week engagement, beginning September 20.Award-winning playwright, Ella Hickson (Eight, Boys, Oil) marks herreturns to NYC, with this production directed by Origin Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, George C. Heslin. The play starsAmerican film and TV legend, Greg Mullavey, whose credits include, Rumors (Broadway, with Veronica Hamel), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman & iCarly.The play also starsConnor Delves(Endangered, Off-Broadway) and British actress, Eliza Shea(Blithe Spirit, Chenango River Theatre).
Taking place in New York City and London, between 2008-11, Precious Little Talent explores the culture clash of American optimism with British cynicism, and how a tangled love story sits somewhere in between. Hicksonpits the struggles of young peoplein the midst of an economic downturn, against those faced by an aging man, desperate to retain his independence whilst suffering from dementia.
It plays 12 performances at The West End Theatre, 263 W86th St. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10024, (1 train to 86th St.) from Wednesday September 20-30, with an official opening on Wednesday September 20 at 8pm.
Shea Delves Productions, in association with Co-Producer Joseph Lavezzo, present this NY premiere. The creative team includes Drama Desk Award-Winner,Maruti Evans (Set Design), Michael O’Connor (Lighting Design), Sam LaFrage (Sound Design), Jenny Green (Costume Design). Alaska Caleois the production stage manager. George C. Heslin, is the Artistic Director of Origin Theatre and founder of the 1st Irish Theatre Festival. Having worked extensively on Broadway and in the West End, Heslin was invited to meet President Obama in 2011, for his services to arts and culture.
Critical acclaim in London includes:
- ‘A little gem…it bursts with unmistakable freshness’ (The Telegraph, 4 stars)
- ‘Precious Little Talent’ wins battle for hearts and minds’ (The Daily Mail, 4 stars)
- ‘Full of spluttering energy and has a real fire in its belly’ (The Guardian, 4 stars)
- ‘A rising star of British theatre, she has a gorgeous way with words’ (The Independent, 4 stars)
Precious Little Talent performs at The West End Theatre, 263 W 86th St. 2nd Floor. Performances (12 in total) are Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.
For tickets, which are $30, call 866-811-4111 or visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34943?sitePreference=normal
Please see www.PreciousLittleTalentNYC.com for further information.
(Running time: 80 minutes.)
Sincerely,
Shea Delves Productions
Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset
Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset
Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset
Processed with VSCO with e3 preset
Processed with VSCO with e3 preset
PRESS RELEASE: STARS IN THE ALLEY®PERFORMERS & SOCIAL MEDIA HOST ANNOUNCED!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STARS IN THE ALLEY®PERFORMERS
& SOCIAL MEDIA HOST ANNOUNCED!
BRANDON URANOWITZ
2017 Tony Award® Nominee for Falsettos
@BranUran on Instagram
TO BE STARS IN THE ALLEY
SOCIAL MEDIA CORRESPONDENT
#StarsInTheAlley
RAIN OR SHINE!
Free Outdoor Broadway Concert
In Legendary Shubert Alley
Featuring Musical Performances and Appearances
From Over 20 Broadway Shows!
PRODUCED BY THE BROADWAY LEAGUE
SPONSORED BY UNITED AIRLINES
New York, NY – May 25, 2017 – STARS IN THE ALLEY® is proud to announce that 2017 Tony Award® Nominee for Falsettos Brandon Uranowitz will serve as social media correspondent for the 2017 concert. He will be on hand to cover the event live on Twitter and on Instagram bringing fans both exclusive backstage access and a unique perspective on all that’s happening on stage and in the audience this year.
The end of season celebration will also include scheduled appearances by even more 2017 Tony Award nominated performers including:Jenn Colella (Come From Away), Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen), Dave Malloy(Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812),John Douglas Thompson and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson’s Jitney), Richard Thomas (The Little Foxes), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon), Corey Hawkins (Six Degrees of Separation), Johanna Day and Michelle Wilson (Sweat) as well as performances from 2017 Tony Award-nominated musicals including: Anastasia,Bandstand, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Groundhog Day the Musical, Miss Saigon, and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
STARS IN THE ALLEY will take place on Friday, June 2nd at 1:00pm in Broadway’s legendary Shubert Alley, west of Seventh Avenue between 44th & 45th streets. The free outdoor concert with live music, produced by the Broadway League and sponsored by United Airlines, celebrates the end of the 2016-2017 Broadway season and adds to the festivities leading up to the 2017 Tony Awards. The event will consist of performances from over 20 musicals, including shows from this past season as well as numbers from current long-running shows, all accompanied by a 12-piece live orchestra.
PARTICIPATING MUSICALS* INCLUDE:
Aladdin, Anastasia, Bandstand, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, A Bronx Tale,Cats,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chicago,Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen,
Groundhog Day the Musical, Kinky Boots,Miss Saigon, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,
On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, The Phantom of the Opera,
School of Rock – The Musical, Sunset Boulevard, Waitress, Wicked
WITH ADDITIONAL APPEARANCES* FROM:
August Wilson’s Jitney, The Little Foxes,The Play That Goes Wrong,
Present Laughter, Six Degrees of Separation, Sweat, War Paint
INCLUDING PERFORMANCES OR APPEARANCES BY*:
Christy Altomare, Alistair Brammer, Nick Cordero, Trista Dollison, Barrett Doss, John Dossett,
Ali Ewoldt, Christopher Fitzgerald, Alyssa Fox, J. Harrsion Ghee, Alan H. Green, Ellen Harvey,
John Benjamin Hickey, Caitlin Houlahan, Rodney Ingram, Allison Janney, Telly Leung,
Kristolyn Lloyd, Bianca MarroquÍn, Tedra Millan, Sean Montgomery, Abby Mueller,
Laura Osnes, Mamie Parris, Will Roland, Charlie Russell, AthanSporek, Douglas Sills,
Ana Villafañe, Michelle Wilson, Michael Xavier, Nancy Zamit
*(subject to change)
For more details about STARS IN THE ALLEY or for Broadway information in NYC as well as for shows on tour across North America and internationally, visit Broadway.org.
The concert will come just nine days before the American Theatre Wing’s 71st Annual Tony Awards. The ceremony will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 11, 2017 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, hosted by Tony Award-winner Kevin Spacey. The Tony Awards, which honor theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, have been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
For more information on the Tony Awards, visitTonyAwards.com andFacebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram and Twitter.
The event is produced by The Broadway League. United Airlines is the title sponsor of Stars in the Alley® and is the official airline of The Broadway League and the Tony Awards. Live music sponsored by The Recording Industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund and The Film Funds. The official hospitality partner is Junior’s Restaurant. The official media partner is The New York Times. Additional support is provided by The Shubert Organization and SL Green Realty Corporation.
# # #
UNITED AIRLINES and UNITED EXPRESS operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 337 airports across five continents. In 2016, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 143 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 743 mainline aircraft and the airline’s United Express partners operate 478 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 190 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “UAL”.
THE MUSIC PERFORMANCE TRUST FUND (MPTF) was established in 1948 as a nonprofit independent public service organization whose mission includes contributing to the public knowledge and appreciation of music, as well as making music a part of every child’s life experience. Headquartered in New York City, the tax-exempt MPTF, operating under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, evolved from a landmark collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the major recording companies of the day. Today the MPTF is a vital organization that brings music to the public and supplements the income of musicians, all at no cost to those receiving this precious gift of music.
THE BROADWAY LEAGUE (Charlotte St. Martin, President), founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League’s 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers who present in nearly 200 markets in North America. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. The Broadway League has recently added a new category for International membership to collaborate with professionals from around the world who produce and present Broadway quality theatre. The Broadway League annually co-presents the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards®, one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry.
Key League programs and resources include: Kids’ Night on Broadway®, The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™ (The Jimmys®), Stars in the Alley®, Internet Broadway Database® (ibdb.com), Broadway.org, SpotlightonBroadway.com, BwayZone.com, Commercial Theater Institute (with Theatre Development Fund), as well as numerous conferences and forums for our members. TheatreAccessNYC (co-produced with TDF) is the one-stop website of accessible Broadway performances for theatregoers with disabilities. Broadway.org is the League’s official on-line headquarters for Broadway in NYC, on tour, and internationally.
For more information visit BroadwayLeague.com, or follow @TheBwayLeague on Twitter and visit us at Facebook.com/BroadwayLeague. Download the free Broadway.org and IBDB mobile apps from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.
Broadway theatres are filled with an exciting array of new and classic musicals and plays, providing the perfect experience for every audience. Great seats are available at every price point and are easy to buy online, by phone, or in person at theatre box offices. It’s always the perfect time to see a show. Broadway performs every day of the week at multiple curtain times to accommodate every schedule.
PHOTOS: Download Link
Contact:
Martine Sainvil, msainvil@broadway.org, 212-703-0231
BIG APPLE CIRCUS ANNOUNCES NEW RINGMASTER AND THE RETURN OF GRANDMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Vivacity Media Group, 212-812-1483 Leslie Papa, Leslie@VivacityNY.com
Whitney Holden Gore, Whitney@VivacityNY.com
Ailsa Hoke, Ailsa@VivacityNY.com
BIG APPLE CIRCUS
ANNOUNCES NEW RINGMASTER
AND THE RETURN OF GRANDMA
40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
BEGINS OCTOBER 26, 2017
AT LINCOLN CENTER
(NEW YORK – May 18, 2017) The search is over! Producers Big Top Works are thrilled to announce that Ty McFarlan will be the new ringmaster for the 40th Anniversary season of the BIG APPLE CIRCUS. It was also announced that McFarlan, who has extensive experience as a ringmaster including several years with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, will be joined by fan favorite Grandma (performed by Barry Lubin), who makes her triumphant return after a five-year absence. McFarlan and Grandma join the previously announced headliner Nik Wallenda, the legendary high wire walker and ten-time world record-holding daredevil, who will perform the seven-man pyramid with his family – a feat never before seen under the big top. BIG APPLE CIRCUS proudly returns to its long-time home at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park from October 26, 2017 – January 7, 2018 and will be followed by a national tour.
No stranger to the big top, McFarlan served as ringmaster with Ringling Brothers for four years. He credits his thirteen-year tenure as an officer in the Army National Guard and a strict ‘‘military brat” upbringing with preparing him for the job of the evanescent emcee of the big top. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in criminal justice, McFarlan followed his heart into a theatrical career that included theatre, TV, films, and eventually a stint with a national theater group that lead him to where he truly belongs – the circus.
“There’s nothing quite like the rich history and family atmosphere that comes with a circus,” says Ringmaster Mcfarlan. “When you think about it, few things in America have more tradition than the circus, which predates baseball, apple pie and Coca Cola! I’m so honored to be able to join one of New York’s greatest traditions and to share this experience with my new BIG APPLE CIRCUS family.”
For 25 seasons, Grandma was an iconic staple of BIG APPLE CIRCUS. A member of the Clown Hall of Fame and the Sarasota Ring of Fame (the highest honor in American Circus), Lubin could not be more ecstatic to be returning to the Big Top after performing across Europe and the US. Aside from being widely known as the face of Big Apple Circus, Lubin has enjoyed a career performing and directing with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, numerous top circuses in the European market, and has developed shows for Nickelodeon, MTV, CBS, Sea World, Disneyland and Disneyworld.
“I’m over the moon to be re-joining one of New York’s most beloved organizations,” Lubin says. “There’s nothing like the BIG APPLE CIRCUS, and I can’t wait to bring Grandma’s old tricks – along with some fresh new material – to the shiny new BIG APPLE CIRCUS and their fantastic audience that I know and love.”
Big Top Works, an affiliate of Compass Partners LLC, became the new owners of BIG APPLE CIRCUS on February 14, 2017 following a live auction and approval from the Board of Directors. Big Top Works is comprised of Compass Partners managing partners Richard Perlman, Jim Price and Barry Salzman (who is the lead partner on the Big Apple Circus venture), as well as industry veteran Larry Solheim – who has a 30-plus year career working on and general managing circuses including BIG APPLE CIRCUS’s 2015-16 season – and Neil Kahanovitz, a renowned spine surgeon, theatrical producer, and former circus performer. The new producers share a passion for, and history with, the circus arts and are building a sustainable business plan that will revitalize the BIG APPLE CIRCUS while also honoring the legacy of its 40-year history. In addition to exceptional programing, Big Top Works is committed to maintaining BIG APPLE CIRCUS’s established community outreach programs including the Circus of the Senses, Autism performances and Circus for All – in New York City and on tour in the 2017-18 Season.
The BIG APPLE CIRCUS was founded in the summer of 1977 by circus performers Paul Binder and Michael Christensen, with a mission to present authentic and thrilling circus arts, in the intimacy of the one-ring Big Top, for audiences of all incomes.By 1979 the Circus was generating enough money to fund two Circus Arts Schools and in 1983, launched its first tour. Throughout its 40-year run, BIG APPLE CIRCUS distinguished themselves by offering many community outreach programs including providing free tickets to underprivileged children and underserved schools.
@BigAppleCircus
www.BigAppleCircus.com
BIOGRAPHIES
ABOUT TY MCFARLAN
Tyron ‘‘Ty” McFarlan credits his 13-year tenure as an officer in the Army National Guard and a strict ‘‘military brat” upbringing with preparing him to be a ringmaster with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the emcee of the Greatest Show on Earth. He graduated from University of South Carolina with a degree in criminal justice and then followed his heart into a theatrical career that included local theatre, TV, films and finally a stint with a national theater group, ultimately leading to his dream job as he became the 34th ringmaster in Ringling Bros.’ 138-year history.
Ty says that besides the thrill of performing live, the things he likes most about circus life are its family atmosphere and rich history. ‘‘When you think about, few things in America have more tradition than the circus which predates baseball, apple pie and Coca Cola.”
Ty has also tried his hand at acting as he can be seen as a recurring actor on Warner Bros.’ long running television series “One Tree Hill” where he plays a character named Charlie. He also has landed an episode on one of America’s favorite shows “Army Wives” on the Lifetime network where he can be seen playing the character known as Paul Broman.
Although Ty enjoys and plans to continue acting on the silver screen and performing under the big top, he also plans to pursue his passion for pattern-making and clothing design. He hopes that his fresh spin on cutting edge fashion and movable fabrics will appeal to the “on the move” athlete and modern day dare devil the world over.
ABOUT BARRY LUBIN
Barry Mark Lubin was born at Atlantic City Hospital in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 3, 1952. His alter ego, Grandma was born on January 1, 1975 in Venice, Florida. Barry lived in Ventnor, New Jersey until attending Emerson College in Boston from 1970 to 1973, completing three years before taking a year off to try to figure out what to do with his life. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College auditions in Boston in the spring of 1974 changed his direction entirely.
Barry has enjoyed a professional relationship with Nickelodeon Networks co-creating, starring in, and executive producing two television pilots while partnering with renowned director, Yvette Kaplan. Barry developed and directed comedy segments for MTV, CBS’s Circus of the Stars, and many other projects both live and in television. Barry directed many routines for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s touring units, for BIG APPLE CIRCUS, Sea World of Florida, Disneyland and Disneyworld, Clown College, and many others. Barry was recently featured in the PBS mini-series, “Circus,” which chronicled a year on the road with the BIG APPLE CIRCUS (www.pbs.org/circus) Barry has directed numerous shows for BIG APPLE CIRCUS outside the Big Top Touring Unit.
Barry enjoyed 5 seasons traveling with Ringling, a three year stand-up comedy stint in San Diego, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, 25 seasons with New York’s famed one ring circus, BIG APPLE CIRCUS where he became the “Face of the Big Apple Circus,” and numerous other appearances around the world. Barry has continued to bring Grandma to audiences in theaters, on television, in Festivals, and in other circuses in America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. He starred in “Stars en Der Manege” which was broadcast in 8 European markets, Circo Massimo in Italy two times, and numerous other international television appearances. In the US he has appeared on “Prime Time Live,” on the national broadcasts of the morning programs on NBC, CBS, and ABC, on PBS’s “Evening at Pops,” on “Late Night with David Letterman” 4 times, was featured on PBS’s mini-series, “Circus” produced by Show of Force, and many others.
Barry was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Sarasota Ring of Fame in 2012, the highest honor in American Circus. He received the Lou Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. He has appeared in the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo twice, the only American clown to have received this honor. He has also appeared in the International Circus Festivals in Hungary, in Izhevsk and Moscow, Russia. He is one of only two American clowns to appear in the 80 year history of prestigious Wintercirckus of Circus Krone in Munich where he was named, “The World’s Funniest Grandma.” He was named only the 5th Legend of the Parade Award in the 75 year history of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where he was a featured character in 15 appearances both live and on NBC.
Barry is presently writing his memoirs about his remarkable life both in and outside the magical world of the circus.
ABOUT COMPASS PARTNERS LLC AND BIG TOP WORKS, LLC
Compass Partners LLC (“Compass Partners”), is a Sarasota-based merchant banking and advisory firm that specializes in middle market companies and corporate restructuring. Founded by Richard Perlman in 1995, Compass Partners has had a successful track record revitalizing and growing a number of businesses across a wide range of sectors, from food equipment to healthcare services. In addition to Perlman, Compass Partners includes Jim Price and Barry Salzman, who is the lead partner on the BIG APPLE CIRCUS Big Apple Circus venture. Big Top Works, LLC (“Big Top”), is the latest affiliate of Compass Partners and is the official owner of the BIG APPLE CIRCUS. In addition to Compass, Big Top is comprised of a team of investors who share a common passion for the circus arts including Neil Kahanovitz, an orthopedic surgeon, theatrical producer and former circus performer, and Larry Solheim, a 30-year circus veteran.
ABOUT NEIL KAHANOVITZ
As a child, when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, the answer never changed, “an orthopedic surgeon and a circus performer.” He achieved both dreams. While attending medical school, Kahanovitz took a leave of absence to perform in the comedy trampoline act and later as an aerialist in circuses across the country. Once he graduated, Kahanovitz went on to a distinguished career in the medical field. He has been published in over 50 articles in scientific journals, written about spinal disorders in eleven medical textbooks and published a book on the care and treatment of low back pain. He has served as President of the North American Spine Society and has received the prestigious Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research, as well as a Commendation from The United States House Physician’s Office for his care and surgery performed on members of the United States Supreme Court and Congress. He was also awarded one of the Soviet Union’s most prestigious civilian honors, The Order of The Supreme Soviet Medal of Personal Courage, for organizing relief efforts following a devastating earthquake in Armenia. Despite the success of his medical career, his show business interests resurfaced in the late 1990’s. He has since produced plays and musicals on Broadway, in London’s West End, Chicago, Los Angeles and Off-Broadway. He is thrilled to bring the BIG APPLE CIRCUS to its rightful place among the most cherished New York City cultural icons. And for a chance to run away with the circus. Not once, but twice!
ABOUT LARRY SOLHEIM
A proud veteran, Solheim has worked in the travelling entertainment field – as a performing artist, composer/arranger, conductor, educator and, most notably, a production manager – for over 35 years. Most recently, he was the Vice President and General Manager for BIG APPLE CIRCUS, brought in to oversee the touring unit and identify the issues responsible for its declining financial situation. As General Manager, Solheim oversaw the circus’ 17-million-dollar operational budget, managed and optimized all elements of the touring operations, including its 150+ team members, and coordinated research and communications with all corporate departments and directors. Prior to the BIG APPLE CIRCUS,Solheim worked for TZ Productions as Musical Director and General Manager for 26 years, where he coordinated and managed performances in up to 70 cities per year (45 building venues and 25 tent venues).
# # # #
__________________________________________
Ailsa Hoke
Vivacity Media Group
1650 Broadway, Suite 609, New York, NY 10019
212-812-1483
PRESS RELEASE: UPSTAIRS INFERNO DOCUMENTARY
Note: There are no showings currently in NYC. Click this link http://www.caminaentertainment.com/Upstairs_Inferno/Screenings.htmlto get info on where you can see this life-changing film.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACCLAIMED GAY MASS MURDER DOCUMENTARY
UPSTAIRS INFERNO
From award winning director, Robert L. Camina and Executive Producers behind “Back on Board: Greg Louganis”, “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge” and “Southern Baptist Sissies”, comes UPSTAIRS INFERNO, a poignant and timely documentary chronicling the deadly 1973 New Orleans gay bar arson: an event that remained the Largest Gay Mass Murder in U.S. History for 43 years.
On June 24, 1973, an arsonist set fire to the Up Stairs Lounge, a gay bar located on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. For 43 years, it was the deadliest single event to affect the gay community in U.S. history. Despite the staggering historical significance, few people know about the tragedy. Thirty-two people were killed and some bodies were never identified. One-third of the New Orleans chapter of the Metropolitan Community Church were killed in the blaze, including two clergy. The primary suspect was never charged with the crime. 
The tragedy did not stop at the loss of lives. There were also the delayed injuries: lost jobs, fear, public ridicule and severed families. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic reactions and utter lack of concern by the general public, government and religious leaders. The fire permanently altered lives and was the root of many lifelong struggles.
I think UPSTAIRS INFERNO (96 minutes) is the most comprehensive and authoritative film about the fire and its aftermath. However, I didn’t want to create a stagnant documentary, with only an exposition of facts. Through very honest and intimate interviews, I wanted to humanize the story and show the real impact the fire had on the victims’ friends, families and the LGBT movement. It’s easy to trivialize a situation when you gloss over a headline in a newspaper (or a Facebook post). There is something about SEEING and HEARING the story from those who experienced an event, that truly makes it “real.” That’s what possesses the potential to create change.
However, UPSTAIRS INFERNO isn’t simply a stagnant exposition of facts. UPSTAIRS INFERNO brings humanity to the headlines by shining a light on the very painful effect the tragedy had on survivors, witnesses and loved ones. Their interviews are gut wrenching, yet insightful. Some of the people interviewed in the film haven’t publicly discussed the fire until now, especially on camera. The film is narrated by New Orleans’ own New York Times Best Selling Author, CHRISTOPHER RICE.
Featuring over 20 powerful interviews, it’s specifically noteworthy to mention that the film includes a rare, heartbreaking interview of a survivor who lost her lover, Reggie Adams in the blaze. As part of her long healing process, she legally changed her name to “Regina Adams” in honor of her “one true love”. In addition, the film includes Ricky Everett and Francis Dufrene (two survivors who barely escaped the inferno), a son of one of the victims, Reverend Elder Troy Perry (Founder of the Metropolitan Community Church), Johnny Townsend (Author, “Let the Faggots Burn”), Clayton-Delery Edwards (Author, “The Up Stairs Arson”), Clancy DuBos and Ronnie LeBouef (Two former employees of the Times-Picayune newspaper) and many more.
UPSTAIRS INFERNO is different than any other project the public has ever seen about the fire! UPSTAIRS INFERNO features exclusive interviews, reveals facts audiences have never heard and uncovers long lost artifacts, archival interviews and footage few people have ever heard or seen.
Audiences should expect to see a balance between investigative reporting and very intimate profiles of people lost or affected by the tragedy. The victims are more than statistics, more then names in a newspaper clipping or even names on a plaque. These were unfinished lives, tragically cut short by a senseless act. The victims and their families and friends left to cope with the aftermath deserved better treatment than what they got.
“This is a gruesome story, there is no way around it and in light of June’s mass shooting at a gay bar in Florida, the parallels strike a painful chord”, acknowledges Director Robert L. Camina. “Hopefully, now, more than ever, audiences walk away from the film with a renewed call for compassion: Compassion for those unlike us. Compassion for those who are hurting. Compassion for those in need. Because there definitely wasn’t a lot of compassion when the deadly arson occurred. In addition, I hope the film acts as a stark reminder that we need to seize the day. We need to make sure we tell our loved ones every day that we love them, because we don’t know what lies ahead. Life is fickle and unpredictable. Today may be our last chance.”
UPSTAIRS INFERNO recently received the JURY AWARD: HONORABLE MENTION at Frameline: the San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, citing its “Special Contribution to Queer History“, the JURY AWARD: BEST MEN’S DOCUMENTARY FEATURE and AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST MEN’S FEATURE at the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD at the Long Beach QFilm Festival, the JURY AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, the AUDIENCE AWARD: FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY at the North Louisiana Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the JURY & AUDIENCE AWARDS: BEST DOCUMENTARY at FilmOut San Diego. In February 2017, UPSTAIRS INFERNO was honored to receive an invitation to screen at the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
This is an incredibly important story in LGBT history and its underlying message will resonate across the globe, not just in the U.S.. Especially in the wake of the Orlando tragedy, we must continue to educate and enlighten people. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” UPSTAIRS INFERNO can open the door to a cathartic and constructive global conversation.
Some of the images in UPSTAIRS INFERNO are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
OFFICIAL TRAILER:
UPSTAIRS INFERNO – Trailer 1 [HD] (www.UpstairsInferno.com) from Camina Entertainment on Vimeo.
https://vimeo.com/94900386 or www.UpstairsInferno.com
CHRISTOPHER RICE (narrator) is a New York Times best selling author. His debut, “A Density of Souls”, was an overnight best seller, and was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due to the fact that Christopher is the son of legendary vampire chronicler, Anne Rice. Much of his writing is heavily influenced by the years he and his Mom lived in New Orleans. Rice considers New Orleans his “hometown”. Christopher currently co-hosts his own Internet radio show, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW, with fellow New York Times best selling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn. Rice recently published the novel, “The Vines”, which is set in the outskirts of New Orleans. Christopher Rice also wrote the adapted screenplay for Anne Rice’s novel, “The Tale of the Body Thief”, which was acquired by Universal Pictures in November 2014, according to Variety Magazine.
ROBERT L. CAMINA (director) wrote, directed and produced several short films before premiering his first full length documentary, RAID OF THE RAINBOW LOUNGE (2012) to sold out audiences, rave reviews and a media frenzy. RAID OF THE RAINBOW LOUNGE recounts the widely publicized and controversial June 28, 2009 police raid of a Fort Worth, Texas gay bar that resulted in multiple arrests and serious injuries. The raid occurred on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Inn raid. The film, narrated by TV icon Meredith Baxter, screened during 33 mainstream and LGBT film festivals across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The film won several awards including 5 “Best” Film and 3 “Audience Choice” Awards. The film also received attention from the Office of the White House, Department of Justice and a division of the U.S. State Department. At their invitation, the Library of Congress hosted a screening in October 2014.
(www.RaidoftheRainbowLounge.com)
For more information:
www.UpstairsInferno.com
Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/UpstairsInferno
Twitter: @UPSTAIRSINFERNO
###
PRESS RELEASE: THE VIEW UPSTAIRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Dan Fortune / dan@fortunecreative.com
INVISIBLE WALL PRODUCTIONS
PRESENTS THE NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
“THE VIEW UPSTAIRS”
WRITTEN BY MAX VERNON
DIRECTED BY SCOTT EBERSOLD
CHOREOGRAPHED BY AL BLACKSTONE
PREVIEWS BEGIN FEBRUARY 15, OPENING FEBRUARY 28
THE LYNN REDGRAVE THEATER AT CULTURE PROJECT
FEATURING
JEREMY POPE, TAYLOR FREY,
NATHAN LEE GRAHAM,
FRENCHIE DAVIS, BENJAMIN HOWES,
MICHAEL LONGORIA,
BEN MAYNE, NANCY TICOTIN & RANDY REDD
New York, NY (2/15/2017) – Invisible Wall Productions has announced that The View UpStairs –theprovocative new musical written by Max Vernon, directed by Scott Ebersoldand choreographed by Al Blackstone – will start previews tonight, Wednesday, February 15, for its an Off-Broadway run at The Lynn Redgrave Theater at Culture Project (45 Bleecker Street). James Dobinson serves as Music Supervisor and Orchestrator. Opening night is Tuesday, February 28 and the production runs through Sunday, May 21. Tickets are now on sale atwww.TheViewUpStairs.com.
The View UpStairspulls you inside the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant ‘70s gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. This forgotten community comes to life in all its gritty, glam rock glory when a young fashion designer from 2017 buys the abandoned space, setting off an exhilarating journey of seduction and self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history. Inspired by one of the most significant yet all-but-ignored attacks against the LGBTQ community, The View UpStairsexamines what has been gained and lost in the fight for equality, and how the past can help guide all of us through an uncertain future.
The cast of The View UpStairsfeatures Jeremy Pope (Invisible Thread, Choir Boy) as Wes, Taylor Frey (How to Succeed…,South Pacific) as Patrick, Nathan Lee Graham (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Zoolander) as Willie, Frenchie Davis (Rent, “The Voice”) as Henri, Benjamin Howes (Scandalous, Mary Poppins) as Richard, Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys, Hairspray) as Freddy, Ben Mayne as Dale, Nancy Ticotin(Gotta Dance, Bernarda Alba) as Inez, Randy Redd (Million Dollar Quartet, Ring of Fire) as Buddy, in addition to Richard E. Waits, Anthony Alfaro and April Ortiz.
Through its developmental history, selections from The View UpStairshave been performed at New York Stage and Film, Joe’s Pub, Goodspeed Opera House, NYU, The Living Room, Two River Theater, The Dramatist Guild, Pride Films and Plays and the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. A concert version was presented at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in July to raise money for Equality Florida to benefit the victims of Pulse Orlando.
The View UpStairswill be performed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM, Friday at 6:30 PM and 10:00 PM, Saturday at 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM and Sunday at 6:00 PM. The show is at TheLynn Redgrave Theater at Culture Project (45 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012). Tickets, which are available at www.TheViewUpStairs.com, are $45-90. Student Rush tickets are available at the Box Office one our prior to curtain for $35 (cash only).
MAX VERNON (Composer/Lyricist/Playwright) is a composer/lyricist, playwright and performer. His work has been performed and developed at Ars Nova, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Wondrous Strange, Humana Festival 2016), Lincoln Center (LC Originals), Keen Company, Disney Creative Entertainment, Berkeley Rep, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Naked Angels, New Dramatists, Two River Theater (NJ), Goodspeed Opera House, and Pride Films and Plays (Chicago) among others. He has received the Jonathan Larson Grant and JFund Award from the Jerome Foundation, NYFA Fellowship for Music, as well as New York Stage and Film’s Founders Award. He is a former Dramatist Guild Theatre Fellow, member of Ars Nova’s Uncharted and the Civilians’ R&D Group. Other residencies include Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat, the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony, and Berkeley Rep’s Groundfloor. His musicals include The View UpStairs, KPOP, WIRED, 30 Million, Co-Op, Show & Tell, and Nincest (book and lyrics by Jen Silverman) MFA: NYU, Musical Theatre Writing. www.maxvernon.com
SCOTT EBERSOLD (Director) is a theatre director and was recently Artistic Associate of Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company where he directed Charles L. Mee’s trilogy Imperial Dreams as part of the First Look Festival. Other credits include: Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day (Columbia Stages), The Gifts of the Magi (Tilles Center for the Performing Arts), Children at Play by Jordan Seavey (The Advocate’s “Top 10 Gay Plays”), Elevation (Vineyard Arts Project), The Calmative based on the writings of Beckett and Nancy Cunard, Nerve by Adam Szymkowicz, Three Sisters and Baal and Orestes (Columbia University), NYMF’s Explorers concert (Signature Center), America, You Kill Me by Joshua Conkel, Paper Cranes by Kari Bentley-Quinn, Edgar and Patrick by Ken Urban, as well as the silent concerto (Outstanding Director, FringeNYC), the october crisis, marea (HERE), and expat/inferno (Best Production, FringeNYC) by Alejandro Morales. He assisted directors Tina Landau at Steppenwolf Theatre and John Doyle on the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Allegro at Classic Stage Company. He holds a BFA from NYU and an MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University. www.scottebersold.com
AL BLACKSTONE (Choreography) is a New York City based director, choreographer, and educator and the recipient of the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence. Dance Magazine has called his work “sweet, silly, sly… infectious.” While working mostly in musical theatre, his passion for contemporary and jazz dance enriches his unique approach to storytelling. In June of 2016 he directed, choreographed, and wrote the original dance narrative Freddie Falls In Love at the Signature Theater (NYC). It was his second full-length work since Happy We’ll Be premiered at the legendary Roseland Ballroom in July 2012. Al has created new work for “So You Think You Can Dance” (Season 12), The Fire Island Dance Festival, Broadway Bares, Dancers Responding to Aids, BC BEAT, Pace University, University of the Arts, Juilliard, and Marymount Manhattan College. Additional credits include Oklahoma! (Music Theater of Wichita), Crazy In Love (a new musical by Kooman and Dimond), Born To Dance (Princess Cruise Lines), and the opening numbers for BCEFA’s Easter Bonnet(2013/14) and Gypsy of the Year (2015). As an Associate Choreographer Al has worked alongside the great Sonya Tayeh on The Last Goodbye (The Old Globe), Kung Fu (Signature Theatre, NYC), Head Over Heels (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), and The Wild Party (City Center). He is the director of Marquee at Dancerpalooza and is currently on faculty at the Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway in NYC. He tours with JUMP Dance Convention and loves coffee and old-fashioned jukeboxes.
JAMES DOBINSON (Music Supervisor and Orchestrator) is a New York-based, Australian-born musical director and performer. New York: Clinton (MD/Arrangements), Gods & Kings (Music Supervisor), Fancy Nancy (MD), ‘Til Divorce Do Us Part (Keyboards), Mann…and Wife in Concert (MD). National Tour: Guys And Dolls 2015 Tour (Orchestrations). Australia: Moonshadow (Associate Conductor, original company), Dumped (MD, original company), Carols In The City (Orchestrations, Assistant MD, 2011-2013 TV Broadcasts), Often I Find That I Am Naked (MD/Arrangements, original company) and many more. Regional: Mann… and Wife (MD, original company), Shrek, Hairspray, Spring Awakening, White Christmas. Cast Recordings: Clinton, Fancy Nancy.
INVISIBLE WALL PRODUCTIONS is the Tony-nominated production company. It was a co-producer on the recent Spring Awakening revival (Tony nom.), an associate producer for The Visit (Tony nom.), and a co- producer on Clinton, The Musical.
www.invisiblewallproductions.com
——————————
Dan Fortune
FORTUNE CREATIVE
214 West 50th Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10019
917.608.1309
PRESS RELEASE: THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF HARAM! IRAN!
For immediate release, please
Contact:
Richard Kornberg & Associates (212) 944-9444
Richard Kornberg / Thomas Raynor
Richard@kornbergpr.com / Thomas@kornbergpr.com
CREATIVE CONCEPT PRODUCTIONS & RED SPEAR
PRESENT
THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF
HARAM! IRAN!
A Hard Look at Homosexuality & Islam
A New Play by Jay Paul Deratany
Directed by Rick Leidenfrost-Wilson
PLAYING A STRICTLY LIMITED
NINE PERFORMANCE ENGAGEMENT
TADA!
(15 West 28th Street)
After successful engagements in London and at Los Angeles’s Celebration Theater, Creative Concept Productions is pleased to announce that Haram!Iran!, a new play by Jay Paul Deratany, will make its New York premiere in a strictly limited nine performance engagement at TADA! (15 West 28th Street) beginning March 3, 2017.
Nominated for a GLAAD Award for its Los Angeles engagement, Haram! Iran!is based on the true story of the trial of two Iranian teenagers in Mashad, Iran in 2005. Fifteen and coming of age, Mahmoud Asgari and AyazMarhounitruggle with their identities –not only as minority Arab Iranians, but as typical teenagers longing to discover their place in the world.When an innocent moment between two friends is misconstrued, the hardline Iranian justice system takes over.
The cast of Haram! Iran! is led by NaamaPotok, whose credits include My Name is Asher Lev, based on her father, Chaim Potok’s best-selling book of the same title. Playing her son is Roberto Tolentino, a California born actor who is currently an MFA candidate at Columbia University. Completing the circle is Rahul Rai, best known for the filmWhen Harry Ties to Marry, and who attained his martial arts black-belt at age 13. They are joined on stage by Sahar Bibiyan, KalMansoor, Colin Mulligan, Russel Jordan and ThamerJendoubi, all under the direction of Rick Leidenfrost-Wilson.
Performances of Haram! Iran! will take place at TADA! (located at 15 West 28th Street) according to the following schedule: Friday, March 3, 10 & 17 at 9pm; Saturday, March 4, 11 & 18 at 7pm; and Sunday, March 5, 12 & 19 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2828302
For more information about Haram! Iran! please visit www.haramiran.org
BIOGRAPHIES
Jay Paul Deratany (Playwright) is a writer and actor (SAG) who recently obtained his MFA from the University of California Riverside for Screenwriting. He has written several plays including “Haram Iran” which has been produced in Chicago, Los Angeles, and soon London. Haram Iran was nominated for a GLAAD award for best theatrical play of 2011, and Jay Paul received a grant from the London Arts Counsel to further develop the play for London audiences. In addition, Jay Paul has written “Lincolns Dilemma” a novel; multiple articles advocating for human rights and is a well-known human rights lawyer in Chicago. In 2008,Permoveo Productions was incorporated to serve as Jay Paul’s production company
Sahar Bibiyan is thrilled to be making her debut with Emerging Artist Theatre. Sahar’s recent credits include “Chicago Justice,” “ Mr Robot,” “ Price For Freedom” and “A Persian Affair.” Sahar is honored to be a part of Haram Iran and hopes that it will raise awareness for the rights of all people in her beautiful country of Iran.
ThamerJendoubiis a (native) New York based actor, making his off-Broadway debut in Haram! Iran! He’s thrilled to be back working on this exciting and important project after taking part in the staged reading last October. He received his training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio and earned his MA in Acting from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the United Kingdom.
Russell Jordan is a New York Innovative Theatre Awards nominee and a two-time Planet Connections Theatre Festivity outstanding actor award recipient. He is an adjunct lecturer at York College of The City University of New York, where he teaches PERFORMANCE FOR TELEVISION.
KalMansoorhas worked extensively in television and theatre in London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York, primarily in comedy. He also has a degree in French language and European politics and turned down a career with the European Union to focus on acting. Most of his work can be seen on his Funny Or Die channel
Colin Mulligan was born in St Louis, where he performed regularly in youth productions. After earning his MA, Colin moved east to begin a twelve-year teaching career. In 2011, as he entered the world of professional modeling, Colin also returned to the stage in Shirin Nashat’s off-Broadway show, ‘Overruled.’ Colin is represented by Wilhelmina models. He and his wife Masha live in NYC and Los Angeles.
NaamaPotok. Credits include Rivkeh Lev in My Name is Asher Lev (FST, Penguin Rep, Westside Theatre), Christine in Two Mothers at A Roadside Cafe (Schreiber Shorts), Eileen Rafferty in Slides (WTF dir. Geraldine Fitzgerald), Scheherazade in Arabian Nights (dir. Mary Zimmerman), Greek Princess in Mirror of the Invisible World (Goodman Theatre), Katherine in Henry IV, and Manke in God of Vengeance (A Contemporary Theatre). Film credits: Christie, Waiting for Marilon Cotillard(Mediane-Art &Communication); The Chosen (20th Century Fox); Carol, Reindeer Games.
Rahul Rai is an actor that spends his time between NY and LA. While Rahul spends most of his time honing his craft in acting and dance, he also finds time for his other passions, martial arts and philosophy. He trained in Tang Soo Do, a Korean-based martial arts made famous by Chuck Norris, and at the age of 13 attained his black belt. Most recently he started training in JeetKune Do, a martial art created by the one and only Bruce Lee.
Roberto Tolentino is a California born actor who recently moved to NYC after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Biology and a BFA in acting. He is currently an MFA candidate at Columbia University. He is thrilled to have the chance to work on this wonderful play with extraordinary people. He’d like to thank his mother, his professors and classmates, and the girl in his life with the cold toes.
# # #