Category Archives: Clients

Carol Kassie’s clients.

Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of the musical BONNIE & CLYDE is a South Florida Premiere!

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients, Slow Burn Theatre Company

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

SlowBurnLogopresents the
South Florida Premiere of

BonnieClydeLogo“Armed and Amorous, Committing Cold-Blooded Musical”
~The New York Times

 

December 30, 2014:
BOCA RATON, FL – Continuing their sixth season, the award-winning Slow Burn Theatre Company will present the South Florida premiere of the musical Bonnie & Clyde. The production will run from January 22nd through February 8th at the West Boca Performing Arts Theater on the campus of West Boca Raton Community High School on Glades Road, in Boca Raton, and from February 12th through February 15th at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Aventura.

Bonnieclyde_f

Clyde Barrow & Bonnie Parker c1933

Bonnie & Clyde recounts the storied ‘careers’ of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow – who went from being two small-town nobodies in West Texas to becoming America’s most renowned folk heroes – and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmare. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, their dangerous, daring, and deadly escapades captured the excited attention of an entire country. The Tony nominated Bonnie & Clyde, with music composed by the legendary Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, Civil War, Dracula) is an electrifying story of love, adventure, and crime. Bonnie & Clyde’s book is by Ivan Menchell and the show’s lyrics are by Don Black.

“Bonnie & Clyde is the kind of show Slow Burn Theatre Company is in existence to produce,” says Patrick Fitzwater, Slow Burn’s Artistic Director. “It’s a musical that didn’t get a fair shake on Broadway – one that deserves to be seen – and we’re incredibly excited to bring this show to our audiences.”

The cast of Slow Burn Theatre’s Bonnie & Clyde includes: Bruno Faria (Clyde), Jessica Brooke Sanford (Bonnie), Kaela Antolino (Blanche), Christian Vandepas (Buck), Patrick Rodriguez (Ted), David Cohn (Preacher), David Michael Sirois (Sheriff Schmid), Kaitlyn O’Neill (Emma Parker), Meredith Bartmon (Cumie Barrow), and an ensemble featuring Matthew Korinko, Rick Peña, Erin Pittleman, Idalmy Carcache, Conor Walton, Janelle Sango, Bradley Mack, and Dan Carter. Also featured are Juliette Valle and Nicholas Ismailoff as Young Bonnie & Clyde.

The Creative Team for Bonnie & Clyde includes: Patrick Fitzwater (Director), Manny Schvartzman (Music Director), Sean McClelland (Scenic Designer), Lance Blank (Lighting Designer), Danny Butler (Sound Designer), and Rick Peña (Costume Designer).

Slow Burn Theatre Company is an award winning locally based professional theatre group providing South Florida’s diverse population with opportunities to experience high quality, daring, contemporary and intelligent works of musical theatre. Shows are selected that educate and provoke thought as well as entertain.

Bonnie & Clyde will run for a total of sixteen performances – twelve at the West Boca Performing Arts Theater on the campus of West Boca Raton High School on Glades Road in Boca Raton, and four at the Aventura Arts & Culture Center in Aventura.

Performances in West Boca are January 22 – February 8, 2015: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm; performances in Aventura are Thursday – Saturday, February 12 – 14 at 8pm and Sunday, February 15 at 2pm

Tickets for the West Boca dates are available at  http://slowburntheatre.org ,or by calling 866-811-4111. Tickets for the Aventura dates are available at www.aventuracenter.org or by calling 877-311-7469.
~*~

Bonnie and Clyde
Music: Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics: Don Black
Book: Ivan Menchell

January 22-February 8, 2015
West Boca High School
12811 Glades Road
Boca Raton, 33498
Thurs-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets: $25 – $40
For Tickets: 866-811-4111 / http://slowburntheatre.org

February 12-14, 2015
Aventura Arts & Cultural Center
3385 NE 188th Street
Aventura, FL 33180
Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm
Tickets: $40 & $45
For Tickets: 877-311-7469 / www.aventuracenter.org

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Kevin Black’s BALLROOM: SOUTH BEACH STYLE! At the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton – January 9 – 11 Only!

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients, Kevin Black Productions

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kevin Black Productions
presents
Ballroom poster 1Ballroom: South Beach Style
January 9-11

Straight from the streets of Miami comes the hottest party in town!

December, 23, 2014:
BOCA RATON, FL: The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park will resonate with the sounds of music in January. No… not ‘those’ sounds of music, but sounds unique to South Florida… fast paced, exciting, and exotic.

51462f62be1b8Renowned producer/director/choreographer Kevin Black’s Ballroom: South Beach Style will run at the Willow for four performances only, from January 9th through January 11th. Stylish and sexy, full of the Miami beat and heat, the show features intricate ballroom dancing, along with Salsa, Merengue, Rhumba, Mambo, and Jive, all accompanied by carefully selected popular music appropriate to each style and era.

Beginning 1940s, the heyday of South Beach night life when stars like Frank, Dean, and Sammy graced the stages of large showrooms at The Fontainebleau Hotel and other popular tourist attractions, Ballroom: South Beach Style progresses chronologically, featuring music by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, KC and The Sunshine Band, Madonna, Phil Collins, Gloria Estefan, and Santana. Evoking the sounds of Miami Vice, Whitney Houston (who filmed The Bodyguard at The Fountainebleau), Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, into the 90s when Latin music crossed over to the pop chart, led by The Miami Sound Machine – the entire production is rooted in South Beach and Miami.

Singers Mimi J. and Shelley Keelor, and dancers Rome Saladino and Marina Putane, along with Teddy Talbot, Luke Stockton, Kelly Pryor, Jenny Hegarty, Andreas Lutzner, and Craig Strang are slated to participate in the production.

Ballroom: South Beach Style has toured and thrilled audiences throughout the United States for the past three years. These four performances are the show’s first at the Willow – invited there because of its well known artistry and popularity.

“Audiences love this show,” says producer/choreographer Black. “With the continued popularity of Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, more and more people are aware of how difficult, yet how very entertaining this kind of production is. Our cast is immensely talented, the music is amazing, and our costumes are gorgeous,” he continues. “We’ve had nothing but the most positive feedback and reviews since we began.”

kevin_blackKevin Black is the owner and artistic director of Kevin Black Productions. His expertise, experience, and creativity in directing and choreography, as well as in set, costume, and lighting design have built him a solid reputation as one of the top ‘go-to guys’ in South Florida. Kevin’s most recent work includes 8 Track, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Rags at The Plaza Theatre in Manalapan. He directed and choreographed Spamalot, Tommy, and The Rocky Horror Show for Entr’Acte Theatrix performing at The Crest Theatre in Delray Beach.  Kevin has also produced South Florida tours of La Cage Aux Folles, The Jazz Singer, Smokey Joe’s Café, Funny Girl, Victor/Victoria, Cabaret,  and Dreamgirls. And his recent creations for Stage Door Theatre, On the Radio, starring Ballroom’s Mimi J. and What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era, were extremely successful and well reviewed. Kevin’s work can currently be seen at the Villa de Palmar Resorts in Cabo, Mexico; Kevin is also the Artistic Director for CAST (Career in the Arts, School of Talent) located in Cooper City, Florida.

Mimi J. was born and raised in Miami. She is a professional singer currently performing in the South Florida tri-county area, and has been the recipient of numerous awards in vocal performance. She received her degrees in Musical Theater from the University of Central Florida Conservatory Theater in Orlando, where she attended on the Walt Disney Scholarship. Mimi has been a member of the gospel recording group, Revelation S.E.E.D. founded and led by Margaret Reynolds of KC and the Sunshine Band, and has sung background for a number of award-winning artists including Gloria Estefan, Bobby McFerrin, Betty Wright, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill of the R&B group New Edition, and Quan Howell of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness. Some of her regional theatre and Broadway National and International Tour credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’, Smokey Joe’s Café, Fame, Nunsense, and Rent. Mimi was the first woman of color to play Teen Angel in the classic 70’s hit, Grease during the show’s Pan-Asian tour. She recently starred in On the Radio at the Broward Stage Door Theatre.

11Rome Saladino has performed with a number of prestigious companies including the Sacramento Ballet, Icelandic Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He has worked with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fernando Bujones, Jürgen Schneider, Alonzo King, Jon Engstrom, Ann Reinking, and Sonja Haney (Bob Fosse’s Assistant).

Marina Putane trained as a rhythmic gymnast; she was a member of the Latvian National Team, which competed in many cities all over the former USSR. Her dancing career began as a show ballet dancer with Latvian magician, Palchevsky, at the National Latvian Opera House. She has performed all over the world for many cruise lines as an Adagio and show dancer. She starred, along with her husband, Rome Saladino, in the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, Song and Dance.

shelleykeelor-119Shelley Keelor has been entertaining audiences regionally and internationally, on stage and in concert for nearly two decades. She has performed in more than a dozen countries including Italy and Turkey, and performed with the Istanbul State Symphony in both Istanbul and the famed Aspendos Amphitheater in Antalya,Turkey touring as a soloist in the revue show, Broadway Nights. Shelley’s musical theatre roles include that of Cindy in Waist Watchers, and Penelope in Rock Odyssey – a rock musical by Emmy-winning composer Billy Straus and writer Stephen Cole. She was nominated for a Cabonell award for her performance in Kurt Weill’s Berlin to Broadway at Palm Beach Dramaworks, and was the recipient of glowing reviews in Slow Burn Theatre Company’s recent production of Carrie the Musical.

Ballroom: South Beach Style will run at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park from January 9th through January 11th, 2015. The theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road. Tickets are $30, and are available at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948 or on line at www.willowtheatre.org.

Ballroom: South Beach Style
Friday, January 9 – 8 pm
Saturday, January 10 – 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, January 11 – 2 pm
Tickets: $30
For Tickets: www.willowtheatre.org/ 561-347-3948
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 S Military Trail
Boca Raton FL 33496
http://kevinblackproductions.com/ballroom

 

 

James Sherman’s FROM DOOR TO DOOR is the Premiere Production of the Theatre Arts Series at B’nai Torah & Producer/Director Shari Upbin

22 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients, The Theatre Arts Series at B'nai Torah

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

The Theatre Arts Series at B’nai Torah
& Shari Upbin
present
archives_doortodoorFrom Door to Door
January 18th

 

When a woman reflects on her past as a daughter, a wife, and a mother,
who does she see?

December 22, 2014
BOCA RATON, FL: The B’nai Torah Theatre Arts Series and producer/director Shari Upbin will bring James Sherman’s gentle comedy From Door to Door to the B’nai Torah stage for one performance only on January 18th 2015.   A heartfelt tribute to American women of three generations, From Door to Door explores the influence culture and religion have in shaping life options.

Even as Mary Goodman, a woman of the ‘greatest generation’ is mourning the loss of her husband, her daughter Deborah is encouraging her to end her period of mourning and move on with a new independence. In a series of scenes between Mary, Deborah, and Mary’s mother, Bessie, Mary reflects back on her life as a daughter, wife and mother. Three actresses play the three women over the course of sixty-five years, and as we see Mary’s life progress from childhood to matrimony to motherhood, we begin to understand how each successive generation of women lives up to the expectations of the past and makes brave new choices about the future.

From Door to Door resonates deeply for producer/director Shari Upbin:“In May of 2010 my mother, who was almost 100 years old, passed away,” she explains. “There are so many things I still want to share with her on a daily basis, and one of them is that I’m directing this play where she is quoted in almost every scene! I was at one time, the young one in the cycle of three generations of mothers, and now with my mother and grandmother gone, there are my daughters and their daughters and I have come to wonderful terms with the idea that I am now the grandmother!”

Playwright James Sherman, who has penned a number of hit plays including Beau Jest, God of Isaac, Half and Half, and Jacob and Jack, has also acknowledged the play is deeply personal: “There’s no secret this play is inspired by my mother,” he has said. “I think all plays are autobiographical, the more I think about it. Edward Albee wrote Three Tall Women and those women were New England upper-class, like his family was. The women in my play are Jewish in Chicago because that’s where I was from.”

“But it also must be said that although the three characters are Jewish, this is indeed a most universal story,” Shari Upbin explains. “The sorrows, the laughter, the judgments and resolve are characteristic of women all over the world. We have a story to tell and our children must remember our stories.”

Actresses Renee Rogoff, Phyllis Spear, and Peggy Linker will take on the roles of Bessie, Mary, and Deborah.

From Door to Door is the first in the Theatre Arts Series at B’nai Torah. Carol Fox Prescott’s In the Voice of our Mothers will be presented on February 15, 2015. That production, co-produced by Shari Upbin and GFour Productions, will be directed by the playwright,

From Door to Door will run for one performance, only – on January 18th, 2015, at 1 pm – at Congregation B’nai Torah in Boca Raton. Tickets are $36 ($25 for congregational members), and may be purchased by calling 561-392-8566 or on line at www.bnai-torah.org. Group rates are available.

For more information about From Door to Door, or Shari Upbin, please contact Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244.

The Premiere Theatre Arts Series at B’nai Torah
& Shari Upbin present
From Door to Door
By: James Sherman
Directed by Shari Upbin
Sunday, January 18th at 1 pm
Tickets: $36 ($25 for congregational members)
Phone: 561-392-8566 / http://www.bnai-torah.org/theaterseries2015
B’nai Torah Congregation
6261 SW 18th Street
Boca Raton, FL 33433
www.bnai-torah.org

Shari Upbin:
Shari2Shari Upbin (Producer/Director) has been a theatre professional since the age of 13 when she became a member of Actors Equity. (Her father was a writer for Jack Benny). She has been a professional tap dancer and choreographer and is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers; she was the president of the League of Professional Theatre Women/New York for seven years, and is currently President of the South Florida chapter of the National Society Of Arts And Letters.
Shari has produced and directed over 50 productions in New York and around the country. Her directing Credits include Vincent, The Passions Of The Artist Van Gogh, Danny And Sylvia at the Forum Theatre in New Jersey. Other credits include Life With Father, Fiddler On The Roof, Cabaret, Jacques Brel, The Roar Of The Greasepaint; she was awarded Best Director for her production of Side By Side By Sondheim..
Florida credits include Broadway Live! and Hollywood Live!, Confessions Of A Jewish Shiksa Dancing On Hitler’s Grave at the Kravis Center, Dames In Divaland, and Womens Minyan by Naomi Regan.
Shari served as assistant director to the world renowned British Director Michael Langham for the first Black/Hispanic Julius Caesar and Coriolanus at the New York Shakespeare Festival with Joe Papp starring Morgan Freeman.
Shari Upbin and Sandi Durell have been long time producing partners in Hollywood Live! and Broadway Live! as well as the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Award nominated Timeless Divas! series with hosts Ben Verreen, Tony Randall, Karen Mason, Tovah Feldshuh , Phyllis Newman, and Leslie Uggams.

James Sherman:
ShermanJames Sherman (Playwright) is the aut​hor of the plays Magic Time, The God of Isaac, Mr. 80%, The Escape Artist, Beau Jest, This Old Man Came Rolling Home, Jest A Second!, Romance in D, From Door to Door, The Old Man’s Friend,  Affluenza!, Half and Half, Relatively Close, and Jacob and Jack.  Many of these plays are regularly produced by theatres throughout the United States and have also been seen in Canada, Mexico, South America, England, Germany, Austria, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, China, and Korea.
James currently teaches Playwriting and Improvisation at Columbia College of Chicago and The Theatre School at DePaul University.  He has been a teacher of playwriting and acting on the faculties of The Second City Training Center, Chicago Dramatists Workshop, and Victory Gardens Theater. He was a visiting professor for the Spring ’01 semester in Seoul, South Korea, at the Korean National University of the Arts.  He has led workshops in improvisation at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.
James Sherman has been the recipient of fellowships from The MacDowell Colony, the Ragdale Foundation, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Yaddo.  He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.

Congregation B’nai Torah is the largest conservative synagogue in South Palm Beach County and has a long and history of being the premier destination for a meaningful Jewish community made rich through prayer, education and social programming.

​​​ Critical Praise for From Door to Door:

“Hilarious and deeply moving” – New York Daily News

“A bittersweet comedy about the blessings and compromises that three generations of women encounter in their pursuit of love, faith and marriage.” – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Because Sherman has all the details right, they hit home hard, and they touch us with their gentle, tried and true sentiment.” – Chicago Tribune

“Sherman’s women are Jews, but their trial and trails are universal.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Steve Solomon’s CANNOLI, LATKES, & GUILT… THE THERAPY CONTINUES… in Delray Beach & Stuart in January!

11 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients, Steve Solomon's 'Canoli, Latkes, & Guild! The Therapy Continues...

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Steve Solomon
stars in
Cannoli, Latkes, and Guilt…The Therapy Continues…
CANNOLI-LATKIS LOGOG HI REZ w new spelling on blackat the Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre
January 3rd & 4th, 2015
and The Lyric Theatre in Stuart
January 6th, 2015

South Florida favorite Steve Solomon’s shows are Politically Incorrect –
and he’s proud of it!

Delray Beach, December 2014:
Steve SolomonSteve Solomon will bring his new hit show, Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt…The Therapy Continues… to The Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre on January 3rd and 4th, 2015, and to the Lyric Theatre in Stuart on January 6th, 2015. Cannoli… is a perfect showcase for Solomon’s impressive comedic talent, his inimitable story-telling ability, and his funny and clever facility with words, accents, and sounds. The show is full of new stories – those familiar with Solomon’s earlier productions know his family consistently provides him with a goldmine of humor and humorous situations – as well as a compilation of some of the best of his earlier work. His previous shows include My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy, My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m STILL in Therapy, and Steve’s Holiday Show (and his personal favorite) My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish …. & I’m Home For the Holidays.

Steve Solomon’s humor is universal, and universally loved.  Enhanced by his talent for impersonation and his mastery of different dialects – he does approximately 20 different characters and voices in his shows – his stories about his mixed heritage Italian/Jewish family resonate with everyone, no matter what their ethnicity, and have delighted and entertained audiences for over 4000 performances.

Steve SolomonAnd as Solomon will tell you himself – he’s politically incorrect:
“Of course I am!  My entire family is politically incorrect; and that’s what helps make the shows so funny.  The very fact that we can go out to the theatre and spend an evening laughing at ourselves—and the antics of others – without fear of repercussion helps make this the great country it is!”

He will also tell you his shows are full of stereotypes:
“Yep,” he says, in answer to his ‘politically correct’ critics “That was my life; stereotypical Italian and Jewish aunts who spent the entire day in house dresses stirring sauces and soup.  Maybe they were stereotypes, but they were – they are – my family, and I’m only describing what I know… and love!

“In fact,” he continues, “Not once, in the 12 years my plays have been touring, have I ever received a complaint from a patron about how offended they were – indeed it’s usually the opposite.  I get dozens of e-mails and letters thanking me for the show and saying, ‘….that was my uncle….’  Or, ‘you nailed my Mom….’”  Or “…I think we grew up in the same house…”

Steve Solomon epitomizes the word ‘multifaceted’.  He is an accomplished pianist, composer, and lyricist; a member of MENSA, a painter and cartoonist (all his show logos are his own creations); a teacher – he has two Master’s degrees and an SDA and ABD degree in education and taught physics in Long Island, New York (where he eventually became Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools); and according to his wife he can fix anything except, according to Solomon, the way certain seniors drive in South Florida!

Tickets for Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt! The Therapy Continues…  are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling the Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre at 561-243-7922 or on line at www.delrayarts.org . Tickets for the Lyric Theatre production are available at www.lyrictheatre.com or by calling 772-286-7827.

For more information about Steve Solomon, please visit www.stevesolomon.net or www.carolkassie.com, or contact Carol Kassie (ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244).

~*~

Steve Solomon’s Cannoli, Latkes, & Guilt! The Therapy Continues…
January 3 & 4, 2015
Saturday, January 3: 8 pm
Sunday, January 4: 2 pm
Ticket prices: $45
For Tickets: 561-243-7922 / On Line Ticketing Link
The Delray Beach Center for the Arts/Crest Theatre
51 N. Swinton Avenue
Delray Beach FL 33444

Steve Solomon’s Cannoli, Latkes, & Guilt! The Therapy Continues…
January 6, 2015
Time: 7 pm
Ticket prices: $40
For Tickets: 772-286-7827 / On Line Ticketing Link
The Lyric Theatre
59 SW Flagler Avenue
Stuart, FL 34994

Recent Praise for Steve Solomon’s Comedy:

“After the first time seeing Solomon and his work, I’d be happy to see him in anything.”
Shapiro on Theatre – December 10, 2014

“…the crowd is in the palm of his hands, where they stay all through this hilarious evening. Literally, people were falling out of their seats with laughter.”
Gail Obenreder – Delaware Online – December 8, 2014

“Judging from the riotous response at a recent performance, it is obvious that
Solomon has it right.”
Caryn Robbins—Broadway World

About the Delray Beach Center for the Arts:
Now celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season, Delray Beach Center for the Arts offers “a total arts experience(tm)” through events, theater, exhibits and learning opportunities.  The historic campus includes the intimate Crest Theatre (in the restored 1925 Delray High School building) the Cornell Museum of Art (in the 1913 Delray Elementary building), and the Vintage Gymnasium (c. 1925).  The Pavilion, which opened in 2002, hosts outdoor concerts and festivals.  The School of Creative Arts (located on the second floor of the Crest Theatre) offers art, photography and writing classes and workshops.  The Center also serves as a venue for community, corporate, private and media events.  For information on performances, exhibits, classes or facility rentals, call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

This project is sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Slow Burn Theatre Company presents EDGES – December 18 & 19

05 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients, Slow Burn Theatre Company

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Slow Burn Theatre Company
presents
EDGES
greenedgespictureDecember 18th & 19th
The energetic contemporary musical to be presented as a
Year End Benefit
for Slow Burn Theatre Company
and the West Boca High School Drama Department

December 4, 2014

BOCA RATON, FL– One show into their sixth season, and heading towards their final production at West Boca High, Slow Burn Theatre Company will present Edges, a musical, for a special two-night run December 18th and 19th, 2014 as a joint fundraiser with the West Boca Drama Department. Tickets are $20.

“We’ve always been grateful to West Boca for taking a chance on us way back when and giving us a start.” says Matthew Korinko, Executive Director of Slow Burn Theatre Company. “And though it’s a collective effort between us with every show we do, we thought it would be great to end this year with an event that can benefit us both.”

Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul in the form of a contemporary song cycle, Edges is a charming and witty examination of some of the many and varied trials of adulthood – touching on such universal issues as love, commitment, identity, and meaning. The musical explores the questions four young adults face as they come of age and seek simple truths in a complex world: how many other people also spend Friday nights at home on Facebook; or what to do when your boyfriend likes theatre and flower arranging a little bit too much! With warmth and humor, the musical vignettes follow them on a journey of confronting emotions, escaping expectation, and deciphering complicated relationships.

The cast of Edges includes: Abby Perkins, Nicole Piro, Carbonell Award nominee Bruno Vida, and Alexander Zenoz. It will be directed by Carbonell and Silver Palm Award winner Patrick Fitzwater, with musical direction by Carbonell Award winner Eric Alsford.

Slow Burn Theatre Company is an award winning locally based professional theatre group providing the South Florida community the opportunity to see daring, contemporary and intelligent works of musical theater.

Edges will run for only TWO performances only – Thursday and Friday December 18 & 19, 2014 at 8 PM at the West Boca Performing Arts Theater on the campus of West Boca Raton High School on Glades Road. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door each night, at http://slowburntheatre.org or by calling 866-811-4111.

For more information about Edges and/or Slow Burn Theatre Company, please visit http://slowburntheatre.org , or contact Matthew Korinko of Patrick Fitzwater at 954-323-7884 or Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244.

Photographs and graphics available on request.

Edges
A Song Cycle by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
December 18 – 19
8 pm
Tickets: $20
For tickets: 866-811-4111/ http://slowburntheatre.org
Slowburn Theatre Company
12811 West Glades Rd.
Boca Raton, Florida 33498
(3.5 Miles West of 441) On the campus of West Boca High

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE at the Broward Stage Door Theatre December 10 – January 18

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Clients

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Stage Door LogoFive Guys Named Moe
at the Broward Stage Door Theatre
December 10 – January 18
Moe logo 1A jazzy, sexy tribute to legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan

December 1, 2014,
Coral Springs, Florida
Rolling Stone Magazine ranked pioneering musician, songwriter and bandleader Louis Jordan number 59 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Known as ‘The King of Jukebox’, and ‘The Grandfather of Rock ‘n Roll’, Jordan’s music appealed to everyone – regularly topping music charts – mainstream, top ten, and pop – from the 1930s swing era into the 1950’s rock and roll revolution In Five Guys Named Moe playwright Clarke Peters has fashioned an exciting, exhilarating, and exuberantly loving tribute to Jordan and his music.   The production will run at the Broward Stage Door Theatre from December 10th through January 18th.

Nomax, has run out of money and his girlfriend has left him. He needs comfort, support, and advice. Emerging from his 1930s-style radio are Five Guys Named Moe: Big Moe, Four-Eyed Moe, Eat Moe, No Moe, and Little Moe, who harmonize, croon, wail, tap, and joke… and provide Nomax with just what he needs, all in the form of Louis Jordan’s hit songs and music.

Five Guys Named Moe is based on a 1943 musical short of the same name by Louis Jordan himself. It had its UK debut in 1990 at Theatre Royal Stratford East, running for over four years in the West End, and then premiering on Broadway in 1992, where it was nominated for two Tony Awards. It was revived in 2010 at the Edinburgh Festival, starring the show’s playwright Clarke Peters and returned later in 2010 to the theatre in which it originally premiered. The musical won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.

Director Christopher Patterson will play No Moe in the production. Also starring are Brandon Hanks as Nomax, Daryl Stewart as Little Moe, Philip Bolton as Big Moe, Micah Mims as 4 Eyed Moe, and Don Seward as Eat Moe.

02-27-2008-mc-born-louis-jordanAs a bandleader in the 1940’s, Louis Jordan (Music and Lyrics) pioneered a wildly popular blend of jazz and blues. The swinging shuffle rhythms played by singer/saxophonist Jordan and his Tympany Five got called “jump blues” or “jumpin’ jive,” and it served as a forerunner of rhythm and blues and rock ‘n’ roll. At the height of his career he scored 18 number-one hit records and four of his songs are in the Grammy Hall of Fame which honors recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Jordan performed songs that appealed to millions of black and white listeners. Able to “straddle the fence” between these two audiences, Jordan emerged as one of the first successful crossover artists of American popular music.

img-clarke-peters02Clarke Peters (Playwright) is an actor, singer and writer. He earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical for Five Guys Named Moe. As an actor, he has appeared on Broadway in The Iceman Cometh (Theatre World Award) and as Billy Flynn in the revival of Chicago. Clarke’s London credits include Guys and Dolls, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Passion and Dispatches at the Royal National Theatre. His West End credits include Blues in the Night, Porgy and Bess, The Witches of Eastwick, and Chicago. In regional theater he has appeared in Driving Miss Daisy, The Wiz, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Carmen Jones and The Amen Corner. Clarke is familiar to television viewers for his roles on The Wire, Treme and The Divide. His film credits include Mona Lisa, Notting Hill, Marley & Me, K-Pax and Freedomland. As a director, his credits include Blues for Mr. Charlie, Fascinating Aida, King and Martin Luther.

Five Guys Named Moe will run from December 10 – January 18 at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for Five Guys Named Moe are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available. Tickets may be purchased at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at www.stagedoortheatre.com

For more information about Five Guys Named Moe and/or The Broward Stage Door Theatre, please visit www.stagedoortheatre.com.

Five Guys Named Moe
December 10 – January 18
Tickets: $38 – $44
Phone: 954-344-7765
   Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday at 2 pm,
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
December 31st – 4 pm & 9 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
Facebook link

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Five Gus Named Moe
Song List:

Act I
  • “Early in the Morning” (Music and Lyrics by Jordan, Leo Hickman, and Dallas Bartley)
  • “Five Guys Named Moe” (Music and Lyrics by Larry Wynn and Jerry Bresler)
  • “Beware Brother Beware” (Music and Lyrics by Morry Lasco, Dick Adams, and Fleecie Moore)
  • “I Like ’em Fat Like That” (Music and Lyrics by Claude Demetrius and Jordan)
  • “Messy Bessy” (Music and Lyrics by Jon Hendricks)
  • “Pettin’ and Pokin'” (Music and Lyrics by Lora Lee)
  • “Life Is So Peculiar” (Music and Lyrics by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen)
  • “I Know What I’ve Got” (Music and Lyrics by Sid Robin and Jordan)
  • “Azure Te” (Music and Lyrics by Bill Davis and Don Wolf)
  • “Safe, Sane and Single” (Music and Lyrics by Jordan, Johnny Lange, and Hy Heath)
  • “Push Ka Pi Shi Pie” (Music and Lyrics by Jordan, Joe Willoughby, Walt Merrick)
Act II
  • “Saturday Night Fish Fry” (Music and Lyrics by Ellis Walsh and Jordan)
  • “What’s the Use of Getting Sober” (Music and lyrics by Busby Meyers)
  • “If I Had Any Sense (I’d Go Back Home)” (Music and Lyrics by R. McCoy)
  • “Dad Gum Your Hide Boy” (Music and Lyrics by Browley Bri)
  • “Let the Good Times Roll” (Music and Lyrics by Fleecie Moore and Sam Theard)
  • “Reet, Petite and Gone” (Music and Lyrics by Spencer Lee and Jordan)
  • “Caldonia” (Music and Lyrics by Fleecie Moore)
  • “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” (Music and Lyrics by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer)
  • “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” (Music and Lyrics by Jo Greene)
  • “Choo, Choo, Ch’boogie” (Music and Lyrics by Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling, and Milton Gabler)
  • “Look Out Sister” (Music and Lyrics by Sid Robin and Jordan)
  • “Hurry Home” (Music and Lyrics by Joseph Meyer, Buddy Bernier, and Robert Emmerich)
  • “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t Ma’ Baby” (Music and Lyrics by Billy Austin and Jordan)
  • “Five Guys Named Moe” (Reprise)

Dudu Fisher Headlines in COMMUNITY PERFORMING ARTS’ 2015 Concert Season

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Clients

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

CPA Logo_color_hi-res
World-Renowned Performer
Dudu Fisher
Headlines in Community Performing Arts’ 2015 Concert Season

The unique concert series 12th season promises something for everyone!
2015 Composite PictureBoca Raton, Florida, November 20, 2014

A soldier, turned cantor, then turned Broadway lead in Les Miserables? Yes! Dudu Fisher joins Community Performing Arts (CPA) for its 2015 concert series! The Israeli-born performer, with a diverse musical resume, comes to CPA stages this season in a newly-produced concert, featuring his amazing voice accompanied by a very talented ensemble of instrumentalists.

Fisher took a very unusual path to Broadway. At the age of only 22, after three years of service in the Israel Defense Forces, he was invited to become the cantor of the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv. In addition to his cantorial duties in Tel Aviv, Fisher also traveled the world, exposing new audiences to Hasidic, Yiddish, and cantorial music. On one such trip in 1986, he happened to see a live performance of Les Miserables. Although Fisher had no theater experience whatsoever, when he heard that a Hebrew production of Les Miserables was in the works, he knew that he must audition. He landed the role of Jean Valjean, and was quickly catapulted to stardom. Not only was he a hit in the Israeli production, but after participating in a command performance hosted by the Queen of England in 1988, he was asked by the show’s producer to play the Jean Valjean role on Broadway and London’s west end.

In addition to his extensive theatrical career, Fisher has also recorded more than twenty albums, performed with orchestras around the world, appeared on numerous television shows and even played the role of Moses in the Hebrew version of Steven Spielberg’s film “The Prince of Egypt”. Of course, through all of these engagements, Fisher never performs on the Sabbath, a practice to which the title of his first off-Broadway, one-man show – “Never on Friday” alludes.

Individual tickets for Dudu Fisher’s performances are $49, plus tax and $2 service charge.

Additional performers this year include Juilliard violinist Hahnsol Kim, legendary producer/composer Neil Berg, audience favorite Dallas Brass with vocal guest Kol Esperanza (direct from Israel), and Tony- and Grammy-nominated singer Michael Cavanaugh.

Hahnsol Kim, a Korean-born violinist and Juilliard student was voted “top performer” by audience and expert panelists in the DreamArts Competition, hosted by CPA aboard its 2013 Caribbean Cruise. Kim returns to CPA this season, performing along with the Symphony of the Americas, conducted by Maestro James Brooks-Bruzesse. Narrator Harvey Widell will add to this unique production by offering live concert notes and commentary, creating a beautifully engaging and educational evening of live classical music. Individual tickets for Hahnsol Kim are $41, plus tax and $2 service charge.

Composer/Producer Neil Berg brings another wonderful cast of singers straight from the stages of the Great White Way. These stars will perform hits from their own Broadway roles, as well as other great songs from the Broadway songbook, accompanied by Berg and his fabulous ensemble. This production is currently the number-one touring Broadway concert in the United States, and for good reason. Individual tickets for Neil Berg’s performances are $41, plus tax and $2 service charge.

The Dallas Brass returns to CPA’s stages this season with their diverse repertoire, including percussionist accompaniment. These virtuoso musicians play a wide variety of styles, including popular, swing, Dixieland, classical, Hollywood, Broadway, and patriotic. CPA works closely with Dallas Brass’ musical director Michael Levine to tailor the Dallas Brass’ fresh and exciting repertoire specifically to CPA audiences. Adding to the excitement, Dallas Brass is joined this year by Kol Esperanza, making its U.S. debut. Kol Esperanza is a vibrant trio of Israeli tenors, produced through a collaboration between CPA and world-class composer and music director Tomer Adaddi. Individual tickets for Dallas Brass with Kol Esperanza are $41, plus tax and $2 service charge.

Tony and Grammy-nominated singer Michael Cavanaugh rounds out the season with the help of a full orchestra. Cavanaugh was named “Corporate Entertainer of the Year” by Reuters. The New York Times calls this multi-talented musician “Amazing”. The Chicago Sun Times says he’s “Phenomenal”, and Variety describes him as “Brilliant”. Cavanaugh was hand-picked by Billy Joel to star in Joel’s hit Broadway musical “Movin’ Out”.

Mr. Cavanaugh’s “Singers and Songwriters” concert will feature his five-piece band, along with a full orchestra and the music of Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Neil Diamond, and others. Tickets for Michael Cavanaugh are on sale now for $46, plus tax.

ConstantContact_SidebarAbout Community Performing Arts
Community Performing Arts (CPA) exceeds expectations each season with the superior musical performances it brings to South Florida. Please see www.SpanishRiverConcerts.com, or call 561-536-4697 for listings and ticket ordering information for CPA’s upcoming 2015 season.

Patrons can save by purchasing the series!
Series tickets (all concerts described above, exclusive of Michael Cavanaugh, which is sold separately) are on sale now for $149, plus tax and $5 service charge. Michael Cavanaugh tickets are also available now for $46, plus tax. Individual concerts from the series are priced as listed above, and will go on sale December 1, 2014. Please note: some dates have limited availability. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1.800.716.6975 or by visiting CPA’s website at www.SpanishRiverConcerts.com . All concerts will take place at either Spanish River Church, at 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, 33431, or Kings Point Theatre, 7000 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, 33446. (See schedule below for dates, times, and locations).

For more information, interviews, or photos, please contact Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com/561-445-9244.

Community Performing Arts Concert Schedule:

Violinist Hahnsol Kim:
Jan. 5, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 6, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 12, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 13, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 14, 2015 (Wednesday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Jan. 15, 2015 (Thursday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Jan. 17, 2015 (Saturday), 2PM, Kings Point Theatre
Jan. 19, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 20, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church

Neil Berg’s 102 Years of Broadway:
Jan. 26, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 27, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Jan. 28, 2015 (Wednesday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Jan. 29, 3015 (Thursday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Feb. 2, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 3, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 7, 2015 (Saturday), 2PM, Kings Point Theatre
Feb. 9, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 10, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church

Dudu Fisher:
Feb. 16, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 17, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 18, 2015 (Wednesday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Feb. 23, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 24, 2015 (Tuesday, 8PM, Spanish River Church
Feb. 26, 2015 (Thursday), 2PM, Kings Point Theatre
Feb. 26, 2015 (Thursday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Mar 2, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar 3, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church

Dallas Brass, Featuring Kol Esperanza:
Mar. 9, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar. 10, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar. 16, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar. 17, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar. 18, 2015 (Wednesday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Mar. 19, 2015 (Thursday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Mar. 21, 2015 (Saturday), 2PM, Kings Point Theatre
Mar. 23, 2015 (Monday), 8PM, Spanish River Church
Mar. 24, 2015 (Tuesday), 8PM, Spanish River Church

Optional Concert – Michael Cavanaugh:
Mar. 4, 2015 (Wednesday), 8PM, Kings Point
Mar. 5, 2015 (Thursday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre
Mar. 7, 2015 (Saturday), 8PM, Kings Point Theatre

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sol Children Theatre to present A CHRISTMAS CAROL – A Musical to Raise the Spirits – December 5th – 21st

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in Clients, Sol Children Theatre

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Sol-logoSol Children Theatre
to present
Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol
A Musical to Raise the Spirits
December 5th – 21st

Perfect entertainment for the entire family…

Boca Raton, November 2014
The well-loved tale of the penny-pinching miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the awakening of his long-forgotten festive spirit is a seasonal tradition for many. Sol Children Theatre will revisit Charles Dickens’ ghostly tale of the Past, Present, and Future in an exciting new musical adaptation of the timeless classic. Staying true to the original text, this version of A Christmas Carol – A Musical to Raise the Spirits, with book and lyrics by Chris Blackwell and music by Piers Chater Robinson, draws upon Dickens’ themes of time, family, and society’s ills. The production will open on December 5th and run through December 21st at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton.

Boca Raton’s Sol Children Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre organization founded by veteran director and actor Rosalie Grant twelve years ago. The company’s mission is to provide children with a safe, secure, and highly professional theatre experience. Those children in then in turn provide quality theatre experiences for audiences. In this production of A Christmas Carol – A Musical to Raise the Spirits, Sol students will have the opportunity to work with adult professional actors as well as with their contemporaries.

“I fell in love with both Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol as a young girl spending Christmas Eves watching the Noel Langley black and white movie starring Alistair Sim,” says Grant, who is directing the production. ““Bah humbug” and hot chocolate go hand in hand in my memories of Christmas!  I have had the pleasure of directing A Christmas Carol twice as a Sol Children Theatre production, both times straight play versions … and I am super excited to direct the Chris Blackwood and Piers Chater Robinson musical this time around.  But what is even more incredible for me is the mix of adults and children we have cast … the magic of watching the children’s faces as they interact with these professional adults is a daily gift!  I can’t wait for opening night to share this experience with Sol audiences!”

DSCN4682aGrant’s adult cast includes Gisbert Heuer as Ebenezer Scrooge, Murphy Hayes as Jacob Marley and Fezziwig, and Jim Gibbons as Charles Dickens.  Gibbons recently received glowing reviews for his performance in Outré Theatre Company’s Back of the Throat.  Younger cast members include Austin Stein as Tiny Tim, KJ Hoffman as Fred and Young Ebenezer Scrooge, and Denise Michelle in several roles including Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Dilbur and Mrs. Fezziwig.

With a cavalcade of colorful Dickensian characters and a ghostly quartet of guardians,  A Christmas Carol – A Musical to Raise the Spirits is filled with joy, laughter and heartbreaking moments.  This new version of the classic and beloved tale has something for everyone – young and old – and promises to be perfect entertainment for the entire family!

Tickets for A Christmas Carol – A Musical to Raise the Spirits are on sale now and can be purchased on line at www.solchildren.org or by calling 561-447-8829. Tickets are $15; $10 for children aged 11 or younger. Sol Children Theatre is located at 3333 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton (33431).

For more information about Sol Children Theatre, as well as the company’s popular summer camp program, and a complete list of upcoming productions, visit http://www.solchildren.org, or contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447-8829 / solchildtroupe@aol.com or Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / ckassie@gmail.com

A Christmas Carol – A Musical to Raise the Spirits
Book and Lyrics by Chris Blackwood
December 5 – December 21, 2014
Music by Piers Chater Robinson
Tickets: $15 ($10 for juniors)
For tickets: 561-447-8829 / www.solchildren.org
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 2 pm
All performances at
Sol Theatre
3333 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33431
www.solchildren.org
Like Sol Children Theatre on Facebook!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The South Florida Theatre League Announces the 2014 Remy Awards

30 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Clients, The South Florida Theatre League

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Theatre League Logo - Use thisThe South Florida Theatre League Announces the 2014 Remy Awards

The South Florida Theatre League
celebrates the theatrical community’s
Unsung Theatrical Heroes

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2014

The South Florida Theatre League’s Remy awards, named in honor of Remberto Cabrera, the former Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Senior Cultural Administrator and Chief of Cultural Development, are given annually for Outstanding Service, and for Pioneering in South Florida regional theatre.

This year the League has announced that the number of Remy Awards to be presented will increase from six to eight. (Last year, in honor of the League’s 20th anniversary, the number of awards given was increased from two to six.)The two added categories will once again honor those members of the South Florida theatrical community who are not usually recognized by more traditional artistic awards. The Remy Awards will be handed out at the League’s annual holiday celebration on December 1st at Stache in Ft. Lauderdale.

“We are honored to be able to present these awards to people who are such important members or our community,” says League president Christopher Jahn. “These are individuals whose contributions are absolutely key to the success of our theatres and productions, yet they often go unrecognized. This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’.”

Along with the Service and Pioneer Awards, Remys will be presented for Outstanding Theatre Company Board Member, Outstanding Contributor to Community Theatre, Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Theatre, and Outstanding Behind the Scenes Theatre Professional. The two newest awards to be presented will be the Civic Arts Leadership Award, and the Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award.

Theatres and theatre producers were asked to nominate individuals they felt were deserving of recognition, and a Theatre League committee was tasked with choosing the winners.

This year’s Remy Award recipients are:

The Pioneer Award – Paul Tei – Mad Cat Theatre Company

The Pioneer Award is bestowed upon individuals who have, over the years, taken the lead and contributed substantially to the health, growth and development of the South Florida theatre community.

Paul Tei is a playwright, actor, director, designer, and the founder of Mad Cat Theatre Company.   As he has stated, “To be safe and create art is a lie. There should be no separation from the art and the artist as well as the action on stage and the spectator. Theatre is a dialogue of deconstruction and within its limitlessness lie the key to a wide spectrum of illuminations.”  Under his leadership, Mad Cat has earned a reputation for exceptional and unique theatre, and has received countless awards (in every year of the company’s existence) and innumerable accolades. He has directed almost every one of Mad Cat’s productions; he wrote or co-wrote many plays for the company; he added design elements to all; and even acted in a few.  He has also directed in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nevada, New Hampshire, Vermont, Manchester, U.K. and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland where he has always spread the word about Mad Cat Theatre Company and South Florida theatre scene.  He has guest directed at many other South Florida theatre companies, including Mosaic Theatre, The Naked Stage, GableStage, and City Theatre.   His theatre acting credits in South Florida (with the most recent being in MTC’s Hedda Gabbler) are numerous; he has received 5 acting Carbonell awards.  As a member of SAG/AFTRA Paul has appeared in a number of television shows including: American Horror Story, Franklin & Bash, CSI Miami, Disney’s Zeke & Luther. His most notable role was as Barry the money launderer on Burn Notice.

The Service Award – Christine Dolen – Miami Herald

The Service Award is given to either individuals or organizations in recognition of their invaluable and outstanding contributions made through time, talent, service, and expertise by taking the initiative and actively participating and contributing to the growth and development of the South Florida Theatre League.

Christine Dolen’s contribution to the South Florida Theatre community has been ongoing and constant since she became Miami Herald’s theatre critic in 1979. She has earned the respect of the entire theatrical community, not to mention her peers – 1997, she was a member of the Pulitzer Prize drama jury; in 1999 she was a senior fellow in the National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University.  Chrstine is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, and she was recently named as one of the top 12 influential theatre critics in the nation. Her reviews, articles, and blog posts are highly anticipated; a pre-show article, a selection as a ‘Pick of the Week’, or even a mention in one of her columns can do wonders for a production.   Christine’s reviews are thoughtful and thought-provoking, and have consistently inspired theatres, companies, and performers to strive to meet the standards she expects from them.  Her genuine passion and love for theatre is evident in all she does; her dedication to the South Florida Theatrical community is deep – and deeply appreciated.

The Civic Arts Leadership Award – Lois Frankel

The Civic Arts Leadership Award is a new award given to individuals in public service who have significantly supported the arts.

Lois Frankel has been a lifelong patron of the arts. As mayor of West Palm Beach, she recruited the Palm Beach International Photographic Museum, and brought the Ann & Don Brown Theatre, where Dramaworks now performs, to the city. She was a key participant in the revitalization of the downtown district – fueled by cultural events and the addition of performance and exhibition space at the Waterfront Pavilion.
Lois Frankel is a strong supporter of the NEA, and as mayor of West Palm Beach, she invested in the arts and sought out opportunities to bring the arts to the city. The 70 new businesses she recruited to downtown added a new vitality to the city, and that vitality is due at least in part to the positive impact of the arts in the area. She is a firm believer in arts education, and has long been a strong supporter of the Bak Middle School of the Arts in Palm Beach County.

The Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award – Kathy and Joe Savarese – Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Named in memory of one of South Florida’s most dedicated arts patrons, the Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award honors those who have made a substantial contribution to the theatrical community in the ways that Jay Harris did – through leadership, on-going volunteerism, and financial support.

Kathy and Joe Savarese have played an integral role in the success of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Not only have they generously supported the theatre since 2006, but they have also touched the hearts of many, and contributed to the awareness of the magic and charm the theatre brings to the local community. Their commitment has helped shape artistic excellence in our community for generations to come.
The Savarese’s love of sharing the arts has inspired them to sponsor a major production each year for the past five years. They consistently support all major events, not only financially, but enthusiastically. Their contributions have created opportunities for the entire region to not only experience the arts live, up close and in person, but to inspire, educate, and entertain. Thanks to their hands-on commitment and financial support  the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has achieved recognition for artistic excellence. The Savares’s enthusiasm, passion, and outstanding presence at every event, every show, and every theatre milestone is truly what makes them deserving of this award.

Outstanding Board Member – Steven M. Weinger, Esq. – GableStage

GableStage Board of Directors President Steve Weinger is nationally recognized for his successful litigation on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities. Yet while maintaining his active practice, Mr. Weinger manages to donate significant time to a number of not for profit organizations, including cultural and educational institutions, advocacy groups for the disabled, and non-profit health care providers. His contributions to GableStage include being a driving force behind raising funds to co-produce Tarell Alvin McCreney’s production of Anthony and Cleopatra with The Royal Shakespeare Company in London and The Public Theatre in New York.
“Steve Weinger has been the best President of our Board of Directors in the 16 years that I’ve been at GableStage”, says Producing Artistic Director Joe Adler. “He’s an attorney with a full practice — and yet he always makes time for my issues and concerns.  His advice and counsel are invaluable — and I know I can always count on him.”

Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Theatre – John & Maria Rodaz – Area Stage Company

Although Area Stage had been a well-known theater production company staging professional productions for many years, in 2009 Maria and John Rodaz decided to create an acting conservatory for children and young adults that would carry all the rigors of a professional company. Area Stage’s conservatory program regularly produces student productions of the highest quality. Being part of these productions allows students to learn a high level of professionalism which takes them far when they graduate and leave the program, or branch out to perform outside of AreaStage even while still training there. Area Stage has also instituted a program of scholarships for young actors that do not have the financial means to pay conservatory rates.

Outstanding Contributor to Community Theatre – Alvin Entin – Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts (PPTOPA)

 Alvin E. Entin’s service to community theatre in general, and to Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts in particular, has been continuous, persistent, and exemplary. As Chairman of the Board of PPTOPA for 17 years, Alvin has been one of the guiding lights of the company. He forged the agreement with the City of Pembroke Pines which enabled PPTOPA to maintain a healthy financial outlook, and remains the on the Liaison Committee to the City to this day. Alvin chaired the PPTOPA play selection committee from the beginning; he has been the company’s principal fundraiser, marketer, and legal counsel. He is also the face of PPTOPA, maintaining the company’s ticket booth at all productions. Alvin has served as an actor, assistant director and/or director, as well as artistic consultant on numerous PPTOPA productions.   His high standards are reflected in the company’s productions, which are judged by critics and professionals in the area to be far beyond the normal perception of community theatre.

Outstanding Behind the Scenes Contributor – Gene Seyffer – Actors Playhouse

Gene Seyffer has been a behind the scenes man at Actors’ Playhouse nearly 20 years.  Though he has designed sets here and there when called upon, his primary focus has been as Technical Director (which includes overseeing the scene shop) – making sure production design elements are linked together and built just right.  He and his team of behind the scenes builders and technical personal at the theatre and in the shop constantly work under extreme pressure and deadlines.  Some of Gene’s rewarding technical challenges have included August, Osage County, Miss Saigon, 1776, and Les Miserables.  The job of a technical director can be a thankless one, and mostly unknown and unappreciated by the general public, but all who work in theatre know this job is critical to making a production work.   Gene holds a MFA in Theatrical Design and Production from Northwestern University.

The South Florida Theatre League’s Annual Holiday Party promises to be an exciting event, as the Silver Palm Awards will also be presented that evening. The party will take place at STACHE at 109 South West Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, on Monday, December 1st at 7:30 pm. Admission is $25 for non-Theatre League members; there is no charge for League members in good standing.

For further information about the South Florida Theatre League andThe Remy Awards please contact Executive Director Andie Arthur at 954-557-0778 and/or visit the South Florida Theatre League website at: www.southfloridatheatre.com
For more information about the Remy Awards, visit:  http://www.southfloridatheatre.com/remy.php

2014 Remy Award Recipients:
Civic Arts Leadership Award — Lois Frankel
Pioneer Award — Paul Tei
Service Award — Christine Dolen
Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award — Kathy and Joe Savarese
Outstanding Board Member – Stevn M. Weinger, Esq.
Outstanding Behind the Scenes Contribution — Gene Seyffer
Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre — Alvin Entin
Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Theatre — John and Maria Rodaz
CJ Remy

 

OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES Premieres in Florida – November 1st!

23 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Clients

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

openingpage-2-1Old Jews Telling Jokes
Premieres in Florida
at the Broward Stage Door Theatre
OJTJ - Logo…a priest, a rabbi and a frog walk into a bar…

October 23, 2014,
Coral Springs, Florida

When Eric Spiegelman and his partner Tim Williams asked film and television producer Sam Hoffman if he had any ideas for an internet website, he pitched the concept of Old Jews Telling Jokes. Millions of views, shares, and guffaws later, Hoffman – in collaboration with Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent, brought his Old Jews to Off-Broadway for an extremely successful run at the Westside Theatre.

Mazel Musicals, Inc. award winning producer Lawrence Toppall in association with Derrell Bunn and the Broward Stage Door Theatre will launch the Florida tour of Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Broward Stage Door Theater beginning Saturday, November 1st.

The show, which has been called a “pickle-barrel full of giggles”, showcases five actors in a revue-type production that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. It celebrates the rich tradition of Jewish humor “and all the rabbis, complaining wives, fed-up husbands, patience-challenged physicians, gossiping ladies and competitive men” populating it. The humor can be suggestive (sometimes even raunchy) as the ‘Old Jews’ make fun of themselves as well as followers of every other religion.

“I attribute [Old Jews Telling Jokes’] success to a number of factors,” says Hoffman. “It’s funny. We launched …in [2009] the year when the recession was nearly at its worst and I think people really liked having something fun to download…. it celebrates older people with no irony, and I think that’s a fairly unusual commodity in popular entertainment.”

Toppall and Bunn have chosen Peter J. Loewy to direct the production, which will feature Ashley Brooks, Gail Byer, Adam Chisnall, Ben Prayz, and Michael Small.

Loewy is no stranger to the South Florida Theatre scene, having directed several Broward Stage Door Theatre productions including his own musical The Kid from Brooklyn. “The material, the premise, the humor, and this cast are a terrific combination,” he says. “This show is going to appeal to every audience, I guarantee it. Age, ethnicity, attitude – none of it matters – because laughter transcends it all.”

Old Jews Telling Jokes will open on November 1, 2014 at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for Old Jews Telling Jokes are $44. Tickets may be purchased at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at http://www.stagedoorfl.org.

For more information about Old Jews Telling Jokes and/or The Broward Stage Door Theatre, please visit www.stagedoorfl.org , or contact Derelle Bunn Executive Producer/Artistic Director, at DerelleBunn@yahoo.com / 954-344-7765 or Carol Kassie (ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244).

Photographs and graphics available on request.

Old Jews Telling Jokes
Created by Peter Gethers & Daniel Okrent
Based on the website www.oldjewstellingjokes.com created by Sam Hoffman
Opens: November 1 – on sale through January 4
Tickets: $44
Phone: 954-344-7765
   Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday at 7:00 pm (starting the week of… 2nd week)
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
Facebook Page
Old Jews Telling Jokes Website

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.