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Broward Stage Door Theatre presents Joe DiPietro’s THE LAST ROMANCE – October 10 – November 23

23 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Arthur Whitelaw, Broward Stage Door Theatre, comedy, Coral Springs Theatre, Ft. Lauderdale Theatre, Joe DiPietro, Larry Kent Bramble, Phyllis Spear, Sally Bondi, The Last Romance

        openingpage-2-1The-Last-Romance-logo                                            October 10 – November 23
September 24, 2014

Playwright Joe DiPietro has become increasingly adept at illustrating the fascinating dynamics of love and family. From his first Off-Broadway success, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, through his Tony Award-winning hit Memphis, DiPietro has examined many aspects of the human connection. In the Broward Stage Door Theatre’s upcoming production of The Last Romance, DiPietro explores a relationship between a man and a woman who just happen to be over the age of 65, and the family ties that bind, and pull. The play is a gentle and tender comedy that mixes a lot of humor with a little bit of heartbreak… and opera!

Director Arthur Whitelaw and Stage Door’s Artistic Director Derelle Bunn have cast Larry Bramble, Phyllis Spear, Sally Bondi, and James Parks in the production, which will open on October 10th, and run through November 23rd.

“The Last Romance is a warm, funny and insightful play about love after 65,” says Whitelaw. “I hope our audiences will leave the theatre with a smile on their faces and a tear in their eyes. I know that after I read it, I did. Joe DiPietro is a talented young writer, who knows his characters and their territory.”

Larry Kent Bramble Headshot croppedLarry Bramble agrees. “When I first read this play I knew I had to play the role of Ralph. It seemed like it was written for me. Stage Door has allowed that dream to come true. I just directed Over the River and Through the Woods for Stage Door, and I have become a big fan of Joe DiPietro’s plays. He has an innate sense of what touches our souls and what makes us human.”

Joe DiPietro wrote the book and lyrics to the musical comedy hit I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, (composer: Jimmy Roberts), the longest running musical revue in off-Broadway history, with productions staged in over 150 cities around the world. He is also the author of the plays Over The River And Through The Woods, The Kiss At City Hall, The Virgin Weeps, and the comic thriller The Art Of Murder (winner of the 2000 Edgar Award). He wrote the book to the “new” Gershwin musical Nice Work If You Can Get It (world premiere: Goodspeed Opera House, 2001), a new adaptation of Rodgers & Hart’s Babes In Arms (world premiere: Goodspeed Opera House, 2002) and a new adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Allegro (world premiere: Signature Theatre, 2004). In addition to his book and lyrics for the recent off-Broadway musical The Thing About Men (composer: Jimmy Roberts), DiPietro’s other projects include book and lyrics for the rock & roll musical Memphis (composer: David Bryan, premiered regionally in late 2003), and the book for All Shook Up, an original musical comedy featuring the songs of Elvis Presley which opened on Broadway in 2005. Joe is the recipient of the William Inge Theater Festival New Voices In American Theater Award, and has won the O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference MacArthur Award for comic writing.

Arthur Whitelaw

Arthur Whitelaw

Arthur Whitelaw has been producing, directing, writing and acting for the past 61 years. His productions have won every major industry award including the Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Olivier, Evening Standard, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, etc.  He has discovered many future stars starting with his first production, Best Foot Forward which introduced Liza Minnelli and Christopher Walken to the New York stage. Others include: Marvin Hamlich, Stephen Schwartz, Gary Burgoff, Blyth Danner, Paul Michael Glaser, Christen Chenowyth to name only a few. His productions have played all over the world in and in many languages. Some of his many television credits include: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (NBC) Emmy Nom., Celebrating Gershwin (PBS/BBC) EMMY WIN and for HBO,  Camelot, The Rainmaker, The Deadly Game, and Groucho. His film credits include: Butterflies Are Free, and Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn with Jodie Foster. A few Seasons ago Mr. Whitelaw acted in Full Circle (a play he wrote about his long career) and directed A Taffeta Wedding (a sequel to The Taffetas) both for the Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. He has also just finished his autobiography Working For Peanuts.  Last year Mr. Whitelaw donated his vast theatre files to the Library of Congress.

The Last Romance will run from October 10th – November 23rd at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for The Last Romance 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.stagedoorfl.org.

The Last Romance
By Joe DiPietro
Directed by Arthur Whitelaw
Dates: October 10 – November 23
Tickets: $38 – $42 (Students $16)
For Tickets: 954-344-7765 / www.stagedoortheatre.com
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday at 7:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 3306

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Evening Star Productions Presents THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES – September 12 – 28

02 Tuesday Sep 2014

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Boca Raton Theatre, Evening Star Productions, Frank D. Gilroy, Jeffrey Bruce, Pulitzer Prize Winning Drama, Sol Theatre, THe Subject Was Roses

Logo-1 presents
The Subject Was Roses
September 12 – 28

Winner! 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Winner! Tony® Award for Best Play
Winner! New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play

Boca Raton, FL – September 2014Roses 1 copy
Evening Star Productions will follow up their sold out August production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors with Frank Gilroy’s multi-award winning play The Subject Was Roses. The play will open on September 12th, and run through September 28th at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton.

A timeless American classic, Gilroy’s play explores one family’s struggle to reconcile the disappointments of the past with hopes for the future in post-war America. Set in the Bronx in 1946, The Subject Was Roses focuses on three days in the lives of the Cleary family: Timmy, who has just returned from World War II, and his parents, Nettie and John.

jeffreybrucelegitcopy

Jeffrey Bruce

“The travails of a seemingly, happy family,  when the  son returns from war, and the effect it has on the parents who love him, combined with how his re-appearance affects their relationship,  was too good to resist when the opportunity arose to direct this play,” director Jeffrey Bruce says.

“When I was a teenager, I saw The Subject Was Roses at a Saturday matinee just after it had won both the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as the Tony for Best Play,” he continues.  “Jack Albertson, Irene Dailey and Martin Sheen comprised the cast, and I remember being devastated at the curtain call.  I have never been a particular fan of “happy” theatre and enjoy the experience most while feeling deepest emotion, which, to put it mildly, was the state I remained in hours after leaving The Royale Theatre.”

Bruce has cast father and son actors Alan and Evan Gerstel as John and Timmy Cleary. Elli Murray will play Nettie Cleary.

Alan Gerstel
Elli Murray
Evan Gerstel

Created by Sol Children Theatre’s artistic director Rosalie Grant as an off-shoot of her extremely successful Sol Children Theatre Company, Evening Star Productions’ mission is to offer serious young adult actors, stage managers, and designers the opportunity to push the boundaries of their knowledge and talent in a safe and highly professional environment, and to allow them the opportunity to work with professionals in their chosen fields.

Evening Star Productions’ The Subject Was Roses will run from September 12th through September 28th at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton. Tickets are $15 or $10 for students. Group rates are also available. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at the Sol Theatre box office at 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org. Sol Theatre is located at 3333 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton (33431).

For more information about Evening Star Productions, please contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447-8829 / info@eveningstarproductions.com or Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / ckassie@gmail.com.

The Subject Was Roses
Dates: September 12 – 28
Tickets: $15 / $10 for students
For Tickets: 561-447-8829 / www.eveningstarproductions.org
Showtimes:
Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm
SOL THEATRE
3333 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33431

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Pigs Do Fly Productions to present FIFTY PLUS – A NEW ATTITUDE! – Six Brand New Short Plays – at Empire Stage Sept 11 – 21

26 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Adela Del Rio, Beverly Blancette, comedy, Elissa Solomon, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Fifty Plus, Fifty Plus - A New Attitude, Fort Lauderdale Theatre, Janet Weakley, Kerry Sensenbach, Marjorie O'Neill-Butler, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Todd Caster, Troy Stanley

Logo---Attitude-PDF Pigs Do Fly Productions
presents
Fifty Plus – A New Attitude!
September 11th – 21st
A Collection of Six BRAND NEW Humorous Short Plays

Ellen Wacher

Ellen Wacher

Audience response to Pigs Do Fly Productions’ first outing, Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It confirmed what the company’s producer and artistic director, Ellen Wacher already knew – that the short, humorous plays she and her production team chose to present last May in Ft. Lauderdale would resonate with theatre patrons of all ages. The show sold out at Empire Stage, and sold even more tickets than anticipated when it ran for eight ‘encore’ performances in Boca Raton in August. The company’s newest production Fifty Plus – A New Attitude! will run at Empire Stage from September 11th through September 21st.

“We received close to four hundred submissions when we sent out a call forAttitude---ck plays last winter,” Wacher says, “and we quickly realized – even before our first run was over – that we’d found a great concept, that audiences were loving what we were doing, and that we still had a deep pool of excellent material to choose from. So…” she laughs, “I thought, why not do it again!?”

Empire Stage offered dates in September, and Wacher and her team revisited at least 75 of the previously submitted plays. Six plays were chosen and auditions were held in early August.

Todd Caster, Adela Del Rio, Kerry Sensenbach, Elissa Solomon, Troy Stanley, and Janet Weakely were cast.

The new collection, titled Fifty Plus – A New Attitude! reflects the company’s mission, to produce plays that highlight the actor over 50 as a viable, fully involved, full of life character perfectly.

Marj O'Neill-Butler“Anyone, any age, can do anything.  If you do it well at 25, you can do it twice as well at 50.  Not everything entertaining should be aimed at the young,” says Marj O’Neill-Butler, one of the show’s two directors.  You can have fun with an older crowd too.  Good stories resonate at any age.”

Beverly_BlanchetteCo-director Beverly Blanchette agrees: “Fifty Plus – A New Attitude! reminds me of Molly Shannon’s SNL character, Sally O’Malley, whose catchphrase is: “I’m proud to say I’m 50 years old. And I like to kick! Stretch! And kick! I’m 50!” Shannon says the phrase means: “Watch out people, here I come. . . I can kick ass.” And that’s what Pigs Do Fly Productions does.”

The six 10-minute plays are (see below for playwright bios):
Buddhists in the Basement  by Mary Beth Smith
Rainbow Sprinkles by Stacey Lane
Memoir by Donald Steele
Remote Control by Connie Schindewolf
Your Kiss is on My List by Christopher Lockheardt
Mrs Greenblatt’s Place in the Universe by Sharon Goldner

Tickets for Fifty Plus – A New Attitude! are $25 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com, or by calling 866-811-4111.
All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 North Flagler Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com.   For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com. To set up interviews, or for photos, please contact Carol Kassie at ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244.

~*~

Fifty Plus – A New Attitude!

By Various Playwrights
September 11 – September 21, 2014
Tickets: $25
Tickets: 866-811-4111 / www.pigsdoflyproductions.org
Performances:
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday: 8 pm
Sunday: 5 pm
All performances will take place at Empire Stage.
1140 North Flagler Drive.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Fifty Plus – A New Attitude! – Playwright Bios:

Sharon Goldner’s (Mrs Greenblatt’s Place in the Universe) plays have been produced and workshopped in NYC; Canada; FL; WI; OH; PA; VA; TX; CA; & MN. She’s a member of Dramatists Guild.

Stacey Lane’s (Rainbow Sprinkles) plays have been performed at 400 theatres on 6 continents. She has 35 published works and has received numerous grants, awards and commissions. www.StaceyLaneInk.com

Christopher Lockheardt’s (Your Kiss is on My List) plays have been produced over 140 times nationally and internationally, but never before in Florida. His father, who lives in Merritt Island, was starting to take it personally.

Connie Schindewolf (Remote Control), an award-winning playwright, has had productions across the United States (including NYC and LA), Canada, and Australia.  She’s a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and when she’s not writing, she’s saving sea turtles.

Mary Beth Smith (Buddhists in the Basement) won the 2014 Peter Honegger award for “Keep A-breast”, a dramedy about her bizarre experiences surviving cancer, living proof that laughter heals.

Donald Steele (MEMOIR) has had four plays published by Samuel French. He is a Fellow of the MacDowell Colony and member of the Dramatist Guild.

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Sol Children Theatre to collaborate with Florida Atlantic University’s Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development to Offer Theatre Classes for Children

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Sol Children Theatre

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Children's Theatre program, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Atlantic University College of Education, Into the Woods, Jr., Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development, Lydia Bartram, Rosalie Grant, Sol Children Theatre, theatre classes for young children, theatre education

Sol Children Theatre to collaborate with Florida Atlantic University’s
Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development
to Offer Theatre Classes for Children
SOL-FAUFor Immediate Release

Contact: Rosalie Grant
info@eveningstarproductions.org / 561-447-8829
Contact: Lydia Bartram
lbartram@fau.edu /561-297-0130
Contact: Carol Kassie
ckassie@gmail.com / 561-445-9244

Boca Raton, FL, August 13th, 2014:

This fall Sol Children Theatre of Boca Raton will partner with the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development to offer students classes in Creative Drama and Movement and Musical Theatre Performance Experience. The Center, located on the Boca Raton campus of Florida Atlantic University is affiliated with the College of Education.

Rosalie Grant head shot

Rosalie Grant

“Since we opened our doors we at Sol have been committed to reaching out to our community,” says Sol Founding Producer/Artistic Director Rosalie Grant.  “Several years ago Dr. Nancy Brown, who is the Peter and Nona Gordon Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Karen Slattery Center, asked me to provide a Theatre Intensive Workshop for her Early Childhood Education undergraduate and graduate students.  It proved to be extremely rewarding for me personally, and since then I’ve had the honor of teaching that workshop twice more.  Equally rewarding was finding kindred spirits in Nancy and the director of the Slattery Center, Lydia Bartram.  All three of us are passionate about teaching children.”

The collaboration is a fitting one for Sol Children Theatre, a not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing children – actors, backstage workers, or audience members – with a safe, secure, and highly professional theatre experience. Under Grant’s leadership the award-winning theatre has been producing quality programming for almost twenty years.   Their recent production of Annie featured a cast and crew ranging in age from 9 to 20 and was completely sold out!

Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between theatre involvement and academic achievement in young people. In addition to having higher standardized test scores than their peers who do not experience the arts, children who participate in theatre often experience improved reading comprehension, maintain better attendance records, and stay generally more engaged in school than their non-arts counterparts.

Lydia Bartram

Lydia Bartram, director of the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development is equally enthusiastic about the collaboration: “We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with the Sol Children Theatre in the provision of creative drama and musical theatre performance for children from 4 -12 years old. Promoting a passion for the arts is critical to healthy child development and lays a solid foundation for future learning potential.” she explains.

“The vision of Sol Children Theatre supports the interdisciplinary work of the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development, which serves as a university laboratory school, and is designed to be of service to children and their families, and to the wider professional community.” Bartram continues. “This program specifically addresses one of the school’s key missions, which is to help young children grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically in a learning environment that nurtures and supports their optimal development.”

Brown agrees: “I am thrilled that our dream of partnering with Sol Children Theatre is now becoming a reality”, she says. “Exposing children to the arts and musical theatre at a young age is extremely beneficial for them and we are so proud to collaborate with Sol Children Theatre on such an important project.”

“To bond the strengths of the creativity and professionalism that Sol can provide to the FAU schools’ children along with the team at the ground-breaking Karen Slattery Center is a dream come true,” says Grant. “Lydia and I have high expectations for this collaboration, and envision it being the stepping stone to further joint efforts.”

The Creative Drama and Movement class for 4 – 6 year olds will encourage young actors to explore the possibilities of acting choices in a safe and controlled environment where they will be given freedom to express themselves through emotion, movement, and vocals while building team work and synchronization skills through easy steps and patterns of movement and vocalizations.

The Musical Theatre Performance Experience for 7 – 12 year olds will offer 20 students a chance to participate in a fully staged musical production, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods Jr. Young actors will work with an experienced director learning many aspects of stagecraft. The course will culminate with 4 public performances scheduled for February 6-8, 2015.

For further information about both these programs, please contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447-8829. The classes will take place at the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development on the Boca Raton Florida Atlantic University Campus and then move into rehearsal and performance at Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton

For more information on how to register and to learn more about Sol Children Theatre, please visit www.solchildren.org or contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447.8829.

For more information about the Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development, please visit http://tinyurl.com/cpcqjg8 .

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Broward Stage Door Theatre presents WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT? THE SOUNDTACK OF AN ERA

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Broward Stage Door Theatre, Burt Bacharach, Kevin Black, Michael Leeds, Music of the 70s, Music of the 80s, musical comedy, Musical History, Musical Theatre, What's New Pussycat? The Music of an Era

Broward Stage Door Theatre
presents
What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era
August 22 – September 28

Pussycat-Soundtrack-(Karen-These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ So let’s go Downtown taking The Long And Winding Road to A Bridge Over Troubled Waters.  Then I’ve Got Georgia On My Mind, so I’ll be Leavin’ On A Jet Plane with My Girl, My Guy and Eleanor Rigby.  But if you’re California Dreamin’, I’m feelin’ those Good Vibrations so just Walk Like A Man and let’s Hit The Road, Jack.  YOU Don’t Have To Say You Love Me ’cause Our Day Will Come and we’re gonna be Happy Together.
How do I know…? I Heard It Through The Grapevine!

August 12, 2014
Coral Springs, Florida

When Broward Stage Door Theatre’s artistic director Derelle Bunn mentioned to director Michael Leeds and choreographer Kevin Black that she had an open time slot for a show, and asked them if they’d be interested in ‘doing something’, they jumped at the chance. “Kevin and I have wanted to work together for a while, and this was a terrific opportunity,” says Leeds. “And then, of course, the question became – what should we do?!”

The result of their collaboration is What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era, which will open at the Broward Stage Door Theatre on August 22nd, and run through September 28th.

“What’s New, Pussycat was originally going to be a revue of just Burt Bacharach songs,” Leeds explains.  “But as Kevin and I started listening to Bacharach’s music, we kept being distracted by other great songs of the same era.  So we decided to expand the show to include The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Etta James, Ray Charles, The Righteous Brothers, The Fifth Dimension and all those Motown greats like The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Ronettes, as well as incredible composers and writers like Henry Mancini, Michel LeGrand and of course, Burt Bacharach!

“Creating the piece took careful deliberation, Leeds continues: “From past experience, both Kevin and I have learned that though there are no “rules” to creating a musical revue, there are some guidelines.  First, of course, is what songs are the most popular; the songs the audience is coming to hear.”

Leeds and Black have tapped Carbonell Award-winner Eric Alsford as musical director/arranger for What’s New Pussycat?, and have assembled a top-notch cast for their production. Shane Tanner, Mike Westrich, Clay Cartland and Leah Sessa all have impressive South Florida resumes. Two additional performers from New York will round out the six-person ensemble.

Leeds head shot

Michael Leeds

Although he is primarily recognized as one of South Florida’s finest and busiest directors, Michael Leeds has also had great success as a playwright, screenwriter, and choreographer. He co-wrote and directed the Broadway musical Swinging on a Star which received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical as well as a Drama Desk Award nomination and a Theatre World Award. Off-Broadway Leeds directed and choreographed Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah – The Songs of Allan Sherman, starring Tovah Feldshuh & Mary Testa, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Director and Best Choreographer.  His production of the European premiere of Arthur Miller’s Playing For Time won a Festival Fringe First Award. For film, he choreographed End of Summer, starring Jacqueline Bisset and Peter Weller and co-wrote The Simian Line starring William Hurt and Lynn Redgrave, and The Last Film Festival, starring Dennis Hopper and Jacqueline Bisset. Leeds’ plays include The First Step, Who Killed Joan Crawford, and The Gift.  His many South Florida productions include Mack and Mabel (Carbonell Award Best Musical), The Light In The Piazza, and A Little Night Music, (both nominated for Best Musical, and a Silver Palm Award for Direction for Night Music).  As Assoc. Artistic Director for Island City Stage, his production of The Timekeepers garnered six Carbonell Awards including Best Direction and Best Production of a Play. Michael also teaches a weekly adult acting class.  www.LeedsWorkshop.com

Kevin Black

Kevin Black

Kevin 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 most recent creation for Stage Door, On the Radio, was extremely successful. 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 Miramar, Florida.

What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era will run from August 22nd – September 28th at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for What’s New Pussycat? 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 http://www.stagedoorfl.org.

What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era
Compiled by Michael Leeds & Kevin Black
Dates: August 22 – September 28
Tickets: $38 – $42 (Students $16)
For Tickets: 954-344-7765 / www.stagedoortheatre.com
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday at 7:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065

The Cast of What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era
The Cast of What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era

What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era
Song List:

A Day In The Life – The Beatles
A House Is Not A Home – Dionne Warwick
Aquarius – The Fifth Dimension
At Last – Etta James
Be My Baby – The Ronettes
Born Free – Matt Monro
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas
Cherish – The Association
Dancin’ in the Streets – Gladys Knight and The Pips
Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Dionne Warwick
Do You Wanna Dance – Del Shannon / The Mamas & The Papas
Don’t Sleep in the Subway – Petula Clark
Downtown – Petula Clark
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire
Fixin’ To Die Rag – Country Joe & The Fish
Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
Georgy Girl – The Seekers
Get Ready – The Temptations
Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey
Happy Together – The Turtles
He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
Hey Jude – The Beatles
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
Land of 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett
Last Train to Clarkesville – The Monkees
Leavin’ on a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary
Let’s Twist Again – Chubby Checker
Locomotion – Little Eva
Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
Moon River – Andy Williams
Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
My Guy – Mary Wells
My Girl – The Temptations
Never on a Sunday – Melina Mercouri
Same Old Song – The Four Tops
Shadow of Your Smile – Shirley Bassey
Shop Around – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Stop in the Name of Love – The Supremes
Talk to the Animals – Rex Harrison
The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
The Peppermint Twist – Joey Dee and The Starliters
The Pink Panther Theme – Henry Mancini
These Boots Were Made for Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra
To Sir, with Love – LuLu
Turn, Turn, Turn – The Byrds
Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
Wedding Bell Blues – The Fifth Dimension
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life – Michael Dees
What’s New Pussycat? – Tom Jones
Yesterday – The Beatles
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Dusty Springfield
You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – The Righteous Brothers

The Cast of What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era
The Cast of What’s New Pussycat? The Soundtrack of an Era

The DELRAY BEACH CHORALE Announces Auditions for their 2014 – 2014 Season

03 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Auditions, Delray Beach Chorale, Music, Patricia P. Fleitas, The Delray Beach Chorale

DBC New logoThe Delray Beach Chorale, in its 33rd season now under the artistic direction of Patricia P. Fleitas, DMA, announces openings for all voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) for the upcoming 2014 – 2015 season. Audition dates are August 12, 21, and 22 at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 Gleason Street, Delray Beach, FL 33483.

  • Tuesday, August 12, 2014        5:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Thursday, August 21, 2014       5:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Friday, August 22, 2014            3:00 – 6:30 pm

To schedule an audition appointment or for further information contact Dr. Fleitas at conductordbc@gmail.com
Audition criteria:
I. Two Options for Musical Presentation
a) Sing “America the Beautiful” (a cappella) in two different keys
b) Perform a couple of pieces representative of western art music (“classical”).
Submission of previously recorded solo performances as part of the audition is not accepted.
* A pianist will be on site to assist.

2. Other components include:
a) A short sight reading exercise will be provided.  Ability to sight read is not a determining factor for admission but is highly welcomed.
b) Pitch and rhythmic retention evaluation.
c) Evaluation of vocal range.

For information about the Delray Beach Chorale, refer to our website at
http://www.delraybeachchorale.org.
1-800-984-7282

2013-Delray-Chorale-23

Shakespeare in Boca Raton! Evening Star Productions to present THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – August 22 – 31

28 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Boca Raton Theatre, Evening Star Productions, Shakespeare, Sol Theatre Shakespear Comedy, The Comedy of Errors

Logo-1presents
The Comedy of Errors
comedy of errors postcard
William Shakespeare’s classic tale of mistaken identity, adventure, and romance comes to Boca Raton August 22-31

Boca Raton, FL, July 29th, 2014:

Evening Star Productions’ August production has just about everything any theatre-goer would want to see on stage: comedy, romance, suspense, adventure, several cases of mistaken identity, and a happy ending. William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors might have been written in 1594, but it’s as funny and witty and sharp in 2014 as it was 420 years ago.

The play’s characters include two sets of identical twins, Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse and their similarly identical servants, Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse. Antipholus of Ephesus is unaware that he has a twin brother, Antipholus of Syracuse. And Dromio of Ephesus is unaware that he also has a twin brother, Dromio of Syracuse. A major part of the play’s humor comes from slapstick and mistaken identity, puns, word play, and a myriad of comedic situations – and even 400 years after its first production, audiences will still delight in the mix-ups that occur when all the twins converge in Ephesus.

Evening Star Productions will present this clever and still original classic from August 22nd to August 31st at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton.

Evening Star Productions’ artistic director Rosalie Grant, and director Laura Ruchala have assembled a talented group of actors to populate Shakespeare’s Ephesus. Joanna Mandel, Seth Trucks, and Samantha Streich all recently appeared in Entr’Acte Theatrix’ production of Avenue Q. Also cast are Jim Gibbons, Greg Ward, Elaine Levin, Luis Herrera, Michael Mena, Lito Becerra, and Sofia Manolesco.

Laura RuchalaSays director Ruchala: “When Rosalie (Grant) asked me to direct a Shakespeare play this summer, it seemed like the stars had aligned. The Comedy Of Errors Is one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies. Pure silly fun, this play is a romping good time for the whole family. Twins, Shipwrecks, mistaken identity times two, chases, and shootouts; I know our modern twist on this classic will keep everyone entertained. I am doing this as an homage to the late artistic director and star of Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, Kevin Crawford,” Ruchala continues. “Before he passed away unexpectedly last winter we had discussed him helping me cut the script. Luckily, His brother Todd was able to recover this version – which we will be performing.”

Evening Star Productions’ The Comedy of Errors will run from August 22nd through August 21st at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton. Tickets are $15 or $10 for juniors. Group rates are also available. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at the Sol Theatre box office at 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org. Sol Theatre is located at 3333 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton (33431).

For more information about Evening Star Productions, please contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447-8829 / info@eveningstarproductions.com or Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / ckassie@gmail.com .

The Comedy of Errors
Dates: August 22 – 31
Tickets: $15 / $10 for juniors
For Tickets: 561-447-8829 / www.eveningstarproductions.org
Showtimes:
Friday & Saturday at 7:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm
SOL THEATRE
3333 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33431

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Pigs Do Fly Productions Encores in Boca Raton August 14-24

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Boca Raton Theatre, comedy, Fifty Plus, Pigs Do Fly Productions, short plays, Showtime Performing Arts Theatre

Pigs Do Fly Productions
Encores in Boca Raton
August 14-24
logo-pigsdoflyprod-vertical
Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It
A Collection of Seven Humorous Short Plays

 Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It sold out almost every performance when it played at Empire Stage in May. The good ‘word of mouth’ and positive reviews intrigued Showtime Performing Arts Theatre’s Marilyn Perry; she attended a performance and liked what she saw – so much so that she issued an invitation to Pigs Do Fly producer Ellen Wacher to reprise the production at Perry’s own theatre in Boca Raton.

Ellen Wacher

Ellen Wacher

Wacher quickly contacted directors Beverly Blanchette and Marj O’Neill-Butler, as well as actors Todd Caster, Mark Kroczynski, Kitt Marsh, Troy J. Stanley, Carol Sussman, and Janet Weakley, along with the technical crew associated with the Empire Stage production, all of whom came on board immediately.

The ‘encore’ edition of Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It! will run from August 14th through August 24th at Showtime Performing Arts Theatre in Boca Raton.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to reach a brand new audience – people who would otherwise not have an opportunity to see what we’re doing,” says Wacher. “And we now know for sure, from the reaction to our May production, that there is definitely an audience ‘out there’ looking for exactly the type of theatre we want to produce.”

Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It! consists of seven short plays reflecting Pigs Do Fly Productions’ mission to produce plays that highlight the actor over 50 as a viable, fully involved, full of life character. The scripts were selected from over 350 submissions. And Wacher was extremely specific in her search for just the right plays: “We looked for scripts that resonated with us; for situations that strike a chord with our audiences; and of course, for humor,” she explains. “I’m really excited that this concept is flying (pun intended!). It’s definitely an idea whose time has come. These plays appeal to everyone no matter how old they are! They’re funny, and witty, and touching, and resonate with anyone who sees them.”

The seven 10-minute plays will be mounted in the following order (see below for playwright bios):

Flight Fright by Marj O’Neill-Butler
Kiss Her Goodbye by Mike Vogel
Theater In the Red byJoan Broadman
Mrs. Jensen Isn’t Here Now by Steve Korbar
Spice by David Susman
Poison Control by Rebecca  Gorman O’Neill
How Nice of You to Ask by Rich Rubin

Tickets for Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know it are $30 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com, or by calling 866-811-4111.
All performances will take place at Showtime Performing Arts Theatre, 503 SE Mizner Boulevard, #73, in Boca Raton (33432).

~*~

Pigs Do Fly Productions presents
Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It
Dates:  August 14 – 24
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday: 8 pm
Sunday: 3 pm
Tickets: $30
Tickets: 866-811-4111 / www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Showtime Performing Arts Theatre
503 SE Mizner Boulevard, #73
Boca Raton, Florida 33432

Playwright Bios:

Joan Broadman (Theatre in the Red) has written twelve short plays, three full-length plays, and three feature-length screenplays. Her plays have been performed in twelve states, Australia, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Her many playwriting awards include “Excellence in Playwriting” from the Theatre Association of New York State. In June 2013, Broadman completed UCLA’s Professional Program in Screenwriting.

Steven Korbar’s (Mrs. Jensen Isn’t Here Now) full-length and one-act plays have been produced throughout the United States and Canada. Productions include I Understand Your Frustration at the Turtleshell Theatre NYC, Let Go at Future Ten in Pittsburgh, Hard at Elephant Stageworks in LA, Circles at Shelterbelt Theatre in Omaha.  His comedy What Are You Going to Be was recently published as part of Smith and Kraus’ “Best Short Plays of 2013”.

Rebecca Gorman O’Neill (Poison Control) was born in Akron, Ohio.  She escaped at age 17 to attend Dartmouth College, and she went on to earn her M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.  Rebecca’s original plays have been produced across the country, and her plays Tell-Tale and The Greater Good are available from Eldridge Publishing and Next Stage Press, respectively.  Rebecca is an Associate Professor of English at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she reaches playwriting, screenwriting, cinema studies, and the graphic novel.

Marj O’Neill-Butler, (Flight Fright) a member of the Dramatists Guild and the International Center for Women Playwrights, is a produced playwright of True Blue, eight Theatre for Children scripts, short plays Stalwart Woman, At The Bus Stop, Life Imitates Art, Leaving Home, What If?, Scavenger Hunt, Missed Connections, Elf Yourself, Chairs, One Less, and a reader’s theatre script The Women Of The Beat Generation.   She is proud member of Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Visit her online at www.marjorieoneill-butler.com.

Rich Rubin’s (How Nice of You to Ask) plays have been produced throughout the U. S., including theaters in New York, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles. Internationally, his work has been staged in London, Berlin, Sydney, Singapore, Mexico and Canada. Rich is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild as well as Portland’s Nameless Playwrights and P-Town Playwrights.

David Susman’s (Spice) short plays have been staged at the Boston Theater Marathon, the Maine Playwrights Festival, the Playwrights’ Platform Festival of New Plays in Boston, the Company Theatre’s Winter Shorts Festival in Norwell, MA, and the 0-60 Ten Minute Play Competition at Longwood University in Virginia. He lives and teaches in southern Maine.

Mike Vogel’s (Kiss Her Goodbye) full-length comedy March Madness was successfully produced off-Broadway in Fall 2012 at NYC’s Abingdon Theatre. He has had numerous one act plays produced nationwide and also writes a weekly column for a NYC newspaper.

Photos from the May 2014 Production of Fifty Plus – A Celebration of Life… As We Know It!

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Conundrum Stages presents ‘Café Conundrum’ on Friday, August 8th ‘

15 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Cafe Conundrum, Conundrum Stages, Jeanne Lynn Gray, John Lariviere, Kevin Johnson, Pam Bruno, Rhett Thompson, Serena Stroppa, Skye Whitcomb, Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, The Good Guy James Carrey

Conundrum Stages
presents
Café Conundrum
Friday, August 8th

Conundrum-logoAn evening of cabaret delights and coffeehouse treats that
will satisfy any appetite for live performance

July 15, 2014
Sunrise, FL

After 6 years of variety showcases, Conundrum Stages will present its first ever production at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre at 8 pm on August 8th. The production will feature a wide variety of exciting talent from across the tri-county spectrum.

Spotlighting both cabaret and coffee house acts, Café Conundrum will feature local stage actors, comedians, musical soloists, and performance poetry all in an effort to recognize the multi-faceted South Florida talent scene. A number of long-time contributors to Conundrum Stages presentations are slated to perform – including singers John Lariviere and Jeanne Lynn Gray, actors Fern Katz, Barry Katz, and Skye Whitcomb, comedians Rhett Thompson and Pam Bruno,andmusicians Serena Stroppa and The Good Guy.

“We are excited to do our first ever production,” says Kevin Johnson, president of Conundrum Stages. “And to do it with these talented artists/entertainers who have dedicated their time to our past presentations – I couldn’t be happier to share the stage with them. Café Conundrum is going to go a long way towards showing our local audiences that there is true and incredible talent in these parts. Special thanks goes to Lily Mazurek and the City of Sunrise for giving Conundrum Stages this opportunity to perform.”

Conundrum Stages was established and incorporated in 2008 as a multi-disciplined performance company providing platforms for Southeast Florida talent to showcase their material. Its origins go back as a play reading project in 2004 known as the Ghost Light Series featuring local stage artists in established works from playwrights from Arthur Miller to Anton Chekhov. After establishing its new operation, Conundrum expanded its programming to feature other disciplines of live performance including original music, poetry, comedy, and dance. Conundrum now has established recurring and annual showcases including The SpeakOut: An Evening of Poetry and Song, VOCAPALOOZA, Funny Business, Sirens & Strings: An Acou-chix Experience (2011-2013), and Holiday House. In 2012 Conundrum Stages reformatted the Ghost Light Series as a play reading festival and will return to Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale for its second edition in September. For more information about Conundrum Stages, visit www.conundrumstages.net or find Conundrum Stages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Café Conundrum will be presented at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre on Friday, August 8th, 8pm. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for students with ID, and $8 for children. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call (954) 747-4646 or visit www.sunrisefl.gov .

Café Conundrum
A tasty night of variety in theatre, music, comedy, and performance art featuring a wide variety of contributors from the talent roster of Conundrum Stages
Date: Friday, August 8th
Time: 8 pm
For Tickets: (954) 747-4646 or visit www.sunrisefl.gov
General Admission, $12, Students w/ ID, $10, Children, $8
Sunrise Civic Center Theatre
10610 West Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise 33351
Café Conundrum Performers:
Pam BrunoPAM BRUNO – Pam is an accomplished stand-up comedian who made her Conundrum debut last December for our annual Holiday House presentation at Acoustic Koi in Dania. With her clever, understated wit and laid back style, Pam delivers comedy from an angle that has won audiences over all across the country. She is a hit in comedy clubs, corporate settings, and private parties, and has taken top honors in many comedy contests. Pam has worked with many nationally known comedians, including Wendy Liebman, Louie Anderson, Elayne Boosler, and actor/comedian Bobby Lee. A founding member of many comedy groups and appearing in web series Adventures of a Sexual Miscreant and Labor Days, Pam is also creator of – and instructor at ‘Laugh Now’ Workshops, teaching everyday comedy to everyday people. For more information about her comedy, please visit www.pambruno.com

The Good GuyTHE GOOD GUY – James Carrey also known as The Good Guy has been a Conundrum contributor since 2010, when he read a scene from Death of a Salesman in our 2nd anniversary event at the Tamarac Theatre. Since then he has been performing his original music with Conundrum in programs including our showcases at the Van Dyke Café in October 2012 and October 2013, as well as our Funny Business program in October 2013. He most recently played at our Year 6 Open Mic Tour at the Cabaret South Beach. James is also an accomplished theater actor and playwright, performing in productions including Cannibal: The Musical, Assassins, and the All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret to name a few. Under his Crashbox theatre imprint, he has produced and written CRASHFEST and UNLEASHED, both performed at Empire Stage last year. Now devoted more to music, James’ works can be found on Facebook, Twitter, & Soundcloud under TheGoodGuyMusic.

Jeanne Lynn GrayJEANNE LYNN GRAY – Jeanne was also associated with the Ghost Light Series prior to Conundrum’s incorporation. Her Conundrum debut was participating as a musical guest in both our annual SpeakOut poetry/music event, the On The Boards Alternative Theater Festival and the first VOCAPALOOZA all in 2011. She performed for Conundrum’s 5th anniversary program at the Broward Center, last June. Jeanne is a Carbonell Award winner for her role as Queen in the musical, The Life, a full-time cabaret performer and a lead singer for the TK Blu Band. Other theatre credits include Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical, Company, Ragtime, and Ain’t Misbehavin. Vist her website, www.jeannelynngray.com.

Fern KatzFERN & BARRY KATZ – Fern and Barry are Chicago transplants who have been in South FloridaBarry Katz since 1976 and will be celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary in August. They made their Conundrum debut last June performing a short play for our 5th anniversary show at the Broward Center, and reprised their roles for an art walk in Dania last October. In 1999, The Katzs helped found Actors Community Theatre of Davie and have performed in several of their productions. Fern’s other stage credits include Secrets of the LaCroix, I Hate Hamlet, and Sordid Lives while Barry performed in Nuts, The Music Man, and Tinsel and Turkey. The Katzs have also been in several films and commercials. Be on the lookout for them on the new Paul Giamatti TV series, Hoke. Fern and Barry are delighted to be working with Conundrum Stages on this endeavor called Café Conundrum.

John Lariviere ckJOHN LARIVIERE – John has been an avid Conundrum Stages contributing performer since participating in the Ghost Light Series prior to Conundrum’s incorporation. Under the Conundrum banner,  he participated in a reading of Neil Simon’s The Gingerbread Lady and has given his vocal talents in showcases like The Wonderful World of Conundrum Stages, Vol. 1: Lights Up (2009) and our On the Boards Alternative Theatre Festival at the Tamarac Theatre (2011). John has also performed in both VOCAPALOOZA showcases in 2011 and 2013. John has appeared at professional theatres throughout South Florida in shows such as Rags and Sunday In The Park With George.  He regularly headlines as a cabaret singer in area clubs and theatres, and most recently premiered his cabaret show Moon River: The Music of Johnny Mercer.  He will next be appearing August 14th – September 14th in a tribute to Al Jolson, Fanny Brice and Eddie Cantor called You Made Me Love You.  John is also the General Manager of the Plaza Theatre in Manalapan.

Serena StroppaSERENA STROPPA – Serena has been a Conundrum contributor since 2010, making her debut at our 2nd anniversary show at the Tamarac Theatre, performing her original music. She has worked with us for two years through our Sirens & Strings female acoustic program as well as other programs including Holiday House, VOCAPALOOZA. She also played at the Van Dyke Café. Serena now has 2 covers of “Am I Wrong” (Nico & Vinz) and “Story of My Life” (One Direction) available on I-Tunes. Visit her Facebook page under Serenastrr and Youtube under SerenaD Medori.

Rhett Thompson 2RHETT THOMPSON – Rhett is a comedian based in Miami. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Rhett cut her teeth on the New York comedy circuit. She made her Conundrum debut in 2011, performing at the On the Boards Alternative Theatre Festival. Since then, she has twice performed for our Sirens & Strings female acoustic show, hosted Conundrum programs including Funny Business, Part 2, Conundrum Stages Live at the Open Stage Club and most recently, our Year 6 Open Mic at the Cabaret South Beach. Rhett’s podcast, “Blackanese Chick”, can be found on iTunes, Stitcher, and podOmatic. Please go to www.BlackaneseChick.com for more information and upcoming performances.

Skye WhitcombSKYE WHITCOMB – Another transplant from the Ghost Light Series, Skye made his Conundrum debut in 2009 acting in a reading of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. Skye also directed a reading of The Fall of the House of Usher, an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, and has participated in our annual SpeakOut poetry/music event for the past 4 years. Theatre performance credits include Neverwhere, In Development, and Lombardi. Skye is the founding Artistic Director for Outré Theatre Company, directing productions of The Wild Party, An Iliad, tick,tick…Boom!, Much Ado About Nothing, Mr. Marmalade, and Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story. He is looking forward to the upcoming Outré season which includes the plays Back of the Throat and Othello, and the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. For more details, visit www.outretheatrecompany.com.

Group shot 1

The Broward Stage Door Theatre presents BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE

15 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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Broward Stage Door Theatre, Butterflies are Free, comedy, Leonard Gershe, Michael Leeds, Romantic Comedy, Stage Door Theatre

Broward Stage Door Theatre
presents
Butterflies Are Free
Butterflies - ck1
“I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.” Charles Dickens (Harold Skimpole – Bleak House)

July 15, 2014
Coral Springs, Florida

The reviews for Leonard Gershe’s Butterflies Are Free were unanimously raves when it opened on Broadway in 1969, and the play ended up winning a number of awards that season. The play focuses on Don Baker, blind since birth, whose over-protective mother is forced to come to terms with her son’s bid for independence when he sets up in a Manhattan apartment on his own. He soon makes the acquaintance of his off-the-wall, liberated, actress neighbor Jill. Don learns the kind of things from Jill that his mother would never have taught him! And Jill learns from Don what growing up and being free is really all about.

Michael Leeds will direct Butterflies Are Free at the Broward Stage Door Theatre. The production will run from August 1st through September 14th.

Leeds head shot

Michael Leeds

“What drew me to Butterflies Are Free, aside from it being extremely charming and very funny, was the way it highlights how deceptive our perception of people with disabilities can be,” Leeds explains.  “While the young man in the play is blind, his problem is not how he sees the world but rather how the world sees him.  Gershe deftly makes the point that in their way, the young man is far less handicapped than his mother, who is deaf to what her son really needs, and the young woman who starts out emotionally crippled but blossoms through their relationship.”

Leeds and Broward Stage Door Theatre Artistic Director Derelle Bunn have assembled a talented cast of local and New York actors to inhabit Gershe’s characters. “Aside from earning numerous Tony and Oscar nominations, the play was responsible for introducing Blythe Danner to Broadway audiences

Gina Marie Jamieson

Gina Marie Jamieson

and the inimitable Goldie Hawn in the film,” Leeds says.   “And I’m lucky to have an equally talented young actress, Gina Marie Jamieson to play the lead opposite Britt Michael Gordon.

“Eileen Heckert won an Oscar for her portrayal of the acerbic mother,” he continues. “And Brook Packard has the same gift of delivering the biting humor while somehow remaining extremely likeable.  Andy Quiroga, whom I’ve worked with twice before, rounds out our ensemble as a self-absorbed theatre director.  (Personally, I don’t believe they exist but there you have it!)”

“And by the way,” Leeds adds, “The young man in Butterflies Are Free is a struggling song-writer, and the song he sings in the play was written by a young up-and-comer – named Stephen Schwartz!”

Britt Michael Gordon

Britt Michael Gordon

Actor Britt Michael Gordon continues to discover unexpected depths in his role as Don Baker as he works through the production’s rehearsal process. “I’ve fallen in love with this play,” he says.  “I’m finding there’s a lot more to it than people might assume. I don’t believe that Butterflies Are Free is only about blindness as a physical disability.  I think the play is about our ability as human beings to see past the surface of any individual, which, regardless of whether you’re sighted or not, is a difficult, yet essential part of life. Butterflies Are Free is teaching me how to see past the surface of those around me.  It’s teaching me to how to have faith in myself and
others.  And finally, Butterflies is teaching me to trust, even when I have no reason to.”

Butterflies Are Free will run from August 1st – September 14th at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for Butterflies Are Free 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.stagedoorfl.org.

Butterflies Are Free
By: Leonard Gershe
Dates: August 1 – September 14
Tickets: $38 – $42 (Students $16)
For Tickets:954-344-7765 / www.stagedoortheatre.com
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday at 7:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065

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