Entr’Acte Theatrix presents Tommy – October 17 – 27

11 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix

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Crest Theatre, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Musical Theatre, Rock Opera, The Who's Tommy, Tommy

The Who’s ‘amazing journey’ begins at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre on October 17^th.

Rehearsal’s for Entr’Acte Theatrix upcoming production of The Who’s Tommy are well underway, but the cast recently took a ‘time out’ for a quick photo session. All three Tommy’s were present, along with The Acid Queen, Captain and Mrs. Walker, Sally Simpson, Cousin Kevin, and Uncle Ernie.

The Who’s Tommy will run from October 17^th through October 27^th at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre in Old School Square.

Entr’Acte’s recent production of Monty Python’s Spamalot was a near sell-out, and ticket sales indicate that Tommy will attract similar crowds.

Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff’s Tony Award-winning musical about a young boy who discovers a natural knack for pinball was one of the very first rock operas to play on Broadway, and opened the door to a new era of musical theatre. Tommy is currently enjoying an extremely successful revival at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Entr’Acte’s cast members include Alexander Zenoz as Tommy, Alexa Baray as Mrs. Walker, Sean Dorazio as Captain Walker, Ashley Gravelin as the Acid Queen, Greg Halmos as Cousin Kevin, and David Lamphier as Uncle Ernie.

All the photos below are available for download.

Entr’acte Theatrix, is a not-for-profit, semi-professional, showcase company for young actors, providing performance opportunities for emerging theatre artists. An off-shoot of the Palm Beach Principal Players, an acting company for theater students of high school and college age, Entr’acte, as the name suggests, is the “next step,” from classroom to career, and provides the young actor his or her first professional, all-important, resume-building credit.

The Who’s Tommy will run from October 17^th to October 27^th only, at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square. The theatre is located at 51 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, 33444. Tickets are on sale now, and are available by calling 561-243-7922. Tickets are $20; $15 for groups of 15 or more with the 16^th ticket free; and $10 for children under 12; and are on sale now. $10 Student Rush tickets will be available ½ hour before curtain only, with valid ID. Tickets can be purchased on line at:
http://delraycenterforthearts.org or by phone at: 561-243-7922, ext. 1.

~*~

The Who’s Tommy
Composer & Lyricist: Pete Townshend
Librettists: Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff
Additional music and lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon
October 17 – 27
Tickets: $20
Groups of 15 or more: $15 (16^th ticket is free)
Children 12 & Under: $10
Student Rush – ½ hour before curtain: $10 – with valid ID
Performances:
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays – 8 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday – 2 p.m.
Delray Beach Center for the Arts / Crest Theatre
Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave.
Delray Beach 33444
Box Office: 561-243-7922, ext. 1
Direct link for on-line ticket purchase:
http://bit.ly/18ZAtNX
DelrayCenterForTheArts.org
http://www.entractetheatrix.org
https://www.facebook.com/EntrActePB?fref=ts

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Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies” Swings into The Broward Stage Door Theatre October 25th

08 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients

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'The Duke', Cotton Club, Duke Ellington, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Sophisticated Ladies, Swing, The Broward Stage Door Theatre

Broward Stage Door Theatre
presents
Sophisticated Ladies
October 25^th – November 24^thStylish, Sexy… and Sophisticated!

The Broward Stage Door Theatre will reverberate with the music of the legendary Duke Ellington when Sophisticated Ladies opens on October 25^th. Ellington’s musical legacy will be celebrated in style in this brassy and classy tribute to one of America’s greatest musicians and composers.

“Sophisticated Ladies will definitely bring you back to Harlem’s famed Cotton Club,” says the show’s director Dan Kelley. “Yet it’s an eclectic mix of big band swing, jazz, blues, pop, and classical. In short, it’s the very best of the best, and it promises to be an unforgettable evening of entertainment.”

Duke Ellington was – and is still considered to be an American Master. His career spanned over 50 years – from 1923 until his death. Although he was a pivotal figure in the history of jazz, he embraced the phrase ‘beyond category’, and preferred to call his work “American Music”. Sophisticated Ladies showcases his multi-faceted talent. The show was nominated for eight Tony awards when it originally played on Broadway, and it won three. It features over 35 musical numbers by “The Duke” that have become standards in the American Songbook, including such hits as A Train, It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, Solitude, Hit Me With A Hot Note, Satin Doll, Mood Indigo, and I’m Beginning To See The Light.

Stage Door’s Artistic Director Derelle Bunn has assembled an impressive team for the production. Along with the award-winning Kelley as director, Sophisticated Ladies will feature the choreography of multiple Carbonell Award-winner Chrissi Ardito, the musical direction of Marcus Davis, and costume design by award-winning costumer Peter Lovello.

Kelley has cast the show with some Stage Door favorites as well as several exciting newcomers, including Courtney Blackmun, Marcus Davis, Karma Jenkins, Clint Hromsco, Walter Kemp, Brooke Martino, Shenise Nunez, Gregory Omar Osborne, Ziarra Washington, Stevanie Anita Williams, and Christopher George Patterson.

Says Patterson: “Sophisticated Ladies is one of my favorite shows because of the positively infectious music of Duke Ellington, but more so because it once starred my idol, Gregory Hines, on Broadway. This show brings you back to the days where the spectacle of Broadway was purely the song-and- dance element, and no high-tech scenery or theatrical automation stole the show from the performers.”

Sophisticated Ladies will run from October 25^th to November 24^th at The Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. The theatre is located at 8036 Sample Road, in Coral Springs.

Tickets for Sophisticated Ladies are $38; $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.stagedoortheatre.com

Sophisticated Ladies
Concept by Donald McKayle
Based on the music of Duke Ellington
October 25 – November 24
Tickets: $38 (Students $16)
Phone: 954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com

The 2013-2014 Season will be a Feast for Theatre Lovers in South Florida

07 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix, RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women, Sol Children Theatre, Steve Solomon's 'Canoli, Latkes, & Guilt! The Therapy Continues...', The South Florida Theatre League, Theatre Thoughts, Uncategorized

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Boca Raton, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Canoli Latkes & Guilt, Children's Theatre, coral springs center for the arts, Crest Theatre, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, Drama, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Lyric Theatre, Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Musical Theatre, Parade Productions, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, Simon Wiesenthal, Steve Solomon, The Who, The Who's Tommy, The Women's Theatre Project, theater, They're Playing Our Song, Tom Dugan, Tommy, Wiesenthal, Willow Theatre

South Florida theatre is thriving. At last count, the Theatre League of South Florida reported a membership of 58 theatres, with several new production companies waiting in the wings to join.

The 2013-2014 South Florida theatre season promises to be more exciting than ever. Theatre companies have chosen a wide variety of plays – traditional and non – to populate their many stages, and audiences will have the opportunity to sample everything from Broadway classics and award-winning dramas to rock operas, madcap comedies, and children’s theatre.

Although many are familiar with the larger venues in the area – The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, there are a number of excellent smaller, interesting, and reasonably priced local theatres definitely worth visiting.

Boca Raton hosts several well respected theatre companies. The award-winning Women’s Theatre Project and the Boca Raton Theatre Guild both operate out of the Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park. This state of the art theatre seats 155 patrons. There is ample parking available, and the surrounding park is a delightful setting for a pre-theatre picnic. This year, the two companies have joined forces to offer patrons the opportunity to purchase subscriptions to their productions. For a total of $99, patrons can attend four plays – two musicals produced by the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, and two plays presented by the Women’s Theatre Project.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild will also team with Peter J. Loewy this season, and together they will co-produce Respect: A Musical Journey of Women at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center. Respect originated in South Florida, and Loewy was not only its first director, but one of the prime developers of the ever-popular show.

Parade Productions is one of Boca Raton’s newer companies. Their mission, “to produce high quality theatre experiences that entertain, enlighten inform, uplift and inspire”, is reflected in their choice of plays. This season’s production, The Last Schwartz has been praised as being ‘rollicking, sad, shocking, goofy, and thoughtful…’ Their home, at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre, is easily accessible, and free, metered, or valet parking is available.

Sol Children Theatre offers theatre for the entire family. Now entering their 11^th year, this company of young performers, under the direction and guidance of Rosalie Grant, produces a number of quality productions each year. Located on Federal Highway just south of Spanish River Boulevard, Sol is a small black box theatre. It seats 77, including child sized front row seating for their younger audiences. This year they are debuting a new production company, Evening Star Productions, which will focus on plays for more for mature audiences, and feature adult, professional actors, as well as young people working towards a career in theatre.

For those who would venture north to Delray Beach, Entr’Acte Theatrix will follow up this past summer’s highly successful production of Monty Python’s Spamalot with The Who’s Tommy at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square.

Steve Solomon will bring his comedic recollections back to the The Lyric Theatre, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and the Coral Springs Center for the Arts …And the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs has a dozen productions planned between September 2013 and July 2014.

Below is a list, in chronological opening night order, of just some of the theatres, theatre companies, plays (and one musical group), that will be on stage this season, along with brief descriptions of each production. Group rates are available for every one of these productions. Mark your calendars and purchase your tickets soon!

The Broward Stage Door Theatre will present 12 plays and musicals between August 30, 2013 and July 6, 2014. Included in their schedule are 9-5: The Musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Sophisticated Ladies, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, Twilight of the Golds, Crimes of the Heart, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo.
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
Tickets: $38 (Students $16)
Phone: 954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
Several productions will also play at the Broward Stage Door Miami
www.stagedoormiami.com
~*~

Sol Children Theatre and Evening Star Productions will present a number of plays throughout the season. Please keep checking this website for more information!
~*~

~*~

The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Presented by: The Broward Stage Door Theatre
By Alfred Uhry
November 15 – December 31
Tickets: $38 (Students $16)
Phone: 954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com

It’s Atlanta, Georgia, in December 1939. Gone with the Wind is having its world premiere, and Hitler is invading Poland. But many of Atlanta’s German Jews are more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. By the author of Driving Miss Daisy. Winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play.
~*~

Steve Solomon – Stand Up
December 3
Showtime: 7:00 pm
The Lyric Theater
59 S.W. Flagler Avenue,
Stuart, FL 34994
Tickets: $35
Phone: 772-286-7827
To purchase tickets on line: www.lyrictheatre.com/show

America’s favorite dysfunctional comedian is back again. Creator and star of three-time award-winning Broadway comedy “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m in Therapy”, Steve Solomon returns with even more side-splitting, raucous jokes this December, introducing new material and incorporating stories from his other hit shows, such as “STILL in Therapy” and “Home for the Holidays.”
~*~

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women
December 5 – January 6
Presented by: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild & Peter J. Loewy
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets: $38/$33 if purchased before November 15
RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women chronicles of the progress of women through the 20^th Century, as played out against the songs they were listening to during various periods in their lives. Featuring an ensemble cast of four and a live band, the show includes more than 60 songs, ranging from “I Wanna Be Loved by You,” and “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” to “I Will Survive,” “Hero” and “Video.
Purchase tickets at: www.brtg.org
~*~

The Lyons
December 6 – 22, 2013
Presented by: The Women’s Theatre Project
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Tickets: $25 (Joint subscriptions with the Boca Raton Theatre Guild available – see above)
www.womenstheatreproject.com
Nicky Silver’s outrageously funny and stirring play about a family coming to terms with the impending death of its patriarch received glowing reviews when it ran on Broadway in 2012. The play focuses on Rita Lyons and her grown children, who, as they gather to say goodbye, learn that despite being a family, each of them is totally isolated. Afraid of closeness and solitude, they are pushed into a new arena – the human connection.
~*~

9-5: The Musical
Presented by: The Broward Stage Door Theatre
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture
December 13 – January 19
Tickets: $38 (Students $16)
Phone: 954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com
9-5: The Musical is the musical comedy based on the popular movie, and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song, along with her Tony Award and Grammy-nominated score. 9-5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge. Outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic, 9-5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business!
~*~

My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m STILL in Therapy… the chaos continues
December 18 – December 22
Showtimes:
Wednesday, December 18 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM
Friday, December 20 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 22 at 7:00 PM

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
701 Okeechobee Blvd,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets: $30
Phone: 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471
To purchase tickets on line: http://www.kravis.org

The comedy chaos continues in this ALL NEW critically acclaimed prequel to his original smash hit, My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m In Therapy! I’m Still In Therapy takes us back to Steve’s wacky childhood right up to the present day. The audience follows along in this wonderfully funny journey about growing up, mixed marriages, ex-wives, dogs, cats, dieting, and dozens of other side-splitting situations that we can all relate to. It’s an evening of comedy you don’t want to miss!
~*~

Peter Pan
January 17 – February 2
By J.M. Barrie – Updated by John Caird & Trevor Nunn
Presented by Sol Children Theatre
Fridays & Saturdays 7pm;
Saturdays & Sundays 2pm
Tickets: $12 & $8 juniors
3333 North Federal Highway,
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-447-8829
www.solchildren.org
The beloved story of Peter, Wendy, Michael, John, Capt. Hook, Smee, the Lost Boys, pirates and Indians, and, of course, Tinker Bell, in their adventures in Never Land. However, for the first time, the play is here restored to Barrie’s original intentions.
~*~

Wiesenthal
January 22 – March 16
Presented by Karyl Lynn Burns & Normand Kurtz
and The Broward Stage Door Theatre
Tickets: $38/$42
Phone: 954-344-7765
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Thursday Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm
The Broward Stage Door Theatre
8036 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, Fl 33065
www.stagedoortheatre.com

Written by and starring Tom Dugan and produced by Karyl Lynn Burns and Tony Award-winner Normand Kurtz, Wiesenthal tells the remarkable story of the life of Simon Wiesenthal, sometimes referred to as “The Jewish James Bond.” Told with hope, humanity and humor, the play follows Wiesenthal as he addresses a group of visitors on his last day at the Jewish Documentation Center in Vienna. As he reflects on his life and work, Wiesenthal recounts how he faced Hitler’s SS; how he endured the loss of family and friends; how he escaped a concentration camp only to be recaptured; and how, after liberation day, he began a remarkable journey for justice.
~*~

Pippin
January 24 – February 9
Presented by: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets: $35 (Joint subscriptions with the Women’s Theatre Project available – see above)
www.brtg.org
Currently enjoying an extremely successful revival on Broadway, Pippin uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of a young prince and his search for meaning and significance.
~*~

The Last Schwartz
January 30 – February 23
Presented by: Parade Productions
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-291-9678
Tickets: $35/$40
www.paradeproductions.org
The Schwartz family is on its last legs. Their father has died and their Catskills home is going up for sale. Norma Schwartz’ husband hasn’t spoken to her since she turned their 15 year old son in for smoking pot; it doesn’t seem like brother Herb’s wife will ever present him with an heir; middle sibling Simon has one foot on the moon; and youngest brother Gene arrives at the family compound with an unexpected guest. Will any of them remember what it means to be a family?
~*~

Steve Solomon’s Canoli, Latkes, & Guilt! The Therapy Continues…
February 5 – 16
The Coral Springs Center for the Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone: 954-344-5990
Group Sales: 1-888-264-1788
Tickets: $42.50/$49.50
The Coral Springs Center for the Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone: 954-344-5990
Group Sales: 1-888-264-1788
www.stevesolomoncomedy.com
Just in case you’ve missed one of Steve Solomon’s award winning “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish…” comedies, he’s back with a new show featuring the very best comedy bits from his earlier three shows – plus loads of new comedy pieces.
~*~

Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins
February 28-March 16
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Tickets: $25 (Joint subscriptions with the Boca Raton Theatre Guild available – see above)
www.womenstheatreproject.com
Barbara Bradshaw will star as the unsinkable, unstoppable Molly Ivins. The ‘dyed-in-the-wool liberal from deep in the heart of Texas’, famously brassy newspaper columnist and best-selling author was a crusading journalist who broke gender barriers with her sharp-tongued wit, humor, and political savvy to establish herself as one of the nation’s most influential political columnists.
~*~

The Anarchist
By David Mamet
February 28 – March 21, 2014
Tickets: $25 ($20 previews)
Days & Times: Thu – Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm (not all Sat matinees available)
Andrews Living Arts Studio
23 NW Fifth Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111The Southeast American premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet’s The Anarchist, starring Carbonell Award-winner Patti Gardner and Jacqueline Laggy. Two women and one unspeakable crime highlight this searing drama as one character’s radical past in the turbulent 70s comes back to haunt her….again. This production will take place in the Andrews Living Arts Studio, an intimate, 50 seat black box theatre well suited to the play.
www.brtg.org
~*~

Great Moments in Opera:
March 29 & April 4
Presented by: The Delray Beach Chorale
Featuring the choruses of several major operas. The 60-voice chorale will be performing with professional instrumental accompaniment. The concert will feature soloists Artists-in-Residence Alicia Branch, Soprano, Monica Hidalgo, Alto, Myngoe Brashears, Tenor, Jorge L. Toro, Tenor and William R. Stafford, baritone and Jorge Toro, Tenor.

The concert will be performed on March 29th at
The Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth
4200 South Congress Avenue
Lake Worth 33461
&
On April 4th at
The First Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach
33 Gleason Street,
Delray Beach 33483
Tickets: $25 in advance/$30 day of show
delraybeachchorale.org
~*~
Everyday Rapture
By Sherie Rene Scott & Dick Scanlon
Music by various composers
April 25 – May 11, 2014
Tickets: $28
Days & Times: Thurs – Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

May 25 – May 27, 2014
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Tickets: $28
Days & Times: Fri & Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm
Phone: 561-347-3948 (tickets available by phone or at the box office only)
www.brtg.org

Everyday Rapture was praised by critics and audiences alike when it played on Broadway in 2010. Margot Moreland will star in the Southeast premiere of this Tony Award-nominated musical story of a young woman’s psycho-sexual-spiritual journey on the rocky path that separates her mostly Mennonite past from her mostly Manhattan future. Her life takes her from the cornfields of Kansas to the clover fields of New York (with a disturbing detour through YouTube). Featuring songs made famous by Harry Nilsson, The Band, David Byrne, Roberta Flack, Mister Rogers, The Dap Kings and Judy Garland.
~*~

This page will be updated on a regular basis.

For information on the Theatre League of South Florida and what’s playing in theatres from Key West through Jupiter, visit www.southfloridatheater.com.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild presents Marilyn: Forever Blonde

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients

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Boca Raton Theatre, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Greg Thompson, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe retrospective, Marilyn: Forever Blonde, Musical Theatre, Sunny Thompson, The Willow Theatre

The Marilyn Monroe Story In Her Own Words and Music
Starring Sunny Thompson as Marilyn Monroe

“MUST SEE MONROE!
Sunny Thompson’s dazzling performance is nothing short of a beautifully astute, highly credible portrait that honors the film and pop icon’s timeless legacy with captivating pull.” ~Dayton City Paper

A photo shoot in the summer of 1962. As screen icon Marilyn Monroe poses for her photographer she finds herself wondering what it might be like if she had it to do all over again. In Marilyn: Forever Blonde, the legendary actress reveals much of what we know – but even more about what we don’t know – of the roller coaster ride she took from the orphanage to the silver screen. It is a fascinating and provocative journey.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild will present Marilyn: Forever Blonde at the Township Center for the Performing Arts in Coconut Creek from November 21^st – December 1^st, and at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre from January 9^th – 11^th. The production is part of the BRTG’s recently announced extended season.

Marilyn: Forever Blonde, stars acclaimed actress Sunny Thompson, and has won a dozen major awards including “Best Special Theatrical Event of the Year,” “Best Leading Actress in a Play,” “One of the Year’s Top Ten Productions” and “Best Touring Production”. It has played throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, England and New Zealand. Critics have consistently and unanimously praised Thompson’s compelling and nuanced performance as Marilyn.

Playwright Greg Thompson painstakingly researched all aspects of Monroe’s life – all the words spoken in the play have been documented as being Marilyn’s own. Marilyn: Forever Blonde features 17 songs by some of the greatest songwriters in show business; Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, and Johnny Mercer are all represented, and Monroe performed each of the musical numbers featured in the production in her films. The music is has been carefully selected to help tell Marilyn’s story – a life of dreams and make-believe that catapulted her to the stars and ultimately found her crashing down to Earth – remaining in our memories forever.

Marilyn: Forever Blonde is directed by Stephanie Shine, Artistic Director of the Memphis Shakespeare Company. The play was written by Greg Thompson, who has produced dozens of award-winning shows throughout the world.

The play languished on the shelf for more than a dozen years before Thompson found the right actress to play the part. “I found Marilyn Monroe impersonators who couldn’t act, and many wonderful actresses who just didn’t seem to give off the sexual playfulness of Monroe,” says Thompson. “I didn’t even think of Sunny as Marilyn until she put on a Marilyn styled wig to do a parody in her stage show.”

But Thompson turned the offer down, explaining that no woman should ever have to be compared with Marilyn Monroe. However after two years of ‘nagging’ Thompson finally got his way. “It took nearly 15 years to make it happen,” he says. “If I’d had to wait another 15 years I’m afraid I might have forgotten what it was about Marilyn Monroe that turned me on in the first place!”

Tickets for Marilyn: Forever Blonde are on sale now. Tickets for the Township Center for the Performing Arts production can be purchased by calling 954-970-0606. Tickets for the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center production can be purchased on line at www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111. Performance days, dates, and times are listed below.

For more information about Marilyn: Forever Blonde: www.marilynforeverblonde.com.

Marilyn: Forever BlondeJanuary 9 – 11, 2014
Tickets: $: $30/ $25 if purchased before opening night
Days & Times: Thu, Fri & Sat: 8pm,
Fri & Sat: 2pm
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

~*~

Critical praise for Marilyn: Forever Blonde and Sunny Thompson:

“It is a haunting image that Sunny Thompson creates. Every nuance, every
eye blink, every gorgeous gown and her walk is Marilyn. This is truly one of
the greatest performances of the modern stage. Thompson has the same
magnetic presence that Monroe had and is astounding in this role. The
production is exemplary. The set is gorgeous with exquisite design elements.” ~San Francisco Online Daily News

“The delectable Sunny Thompson has the strange allure of Monroe down to
a tee, you can’t take your eyes off her!” ~ The London Times

I was constantly mesmerized by Sunny. I could hardly believe it was a
show…It actually brought tears to my eyes…Sunny Thompson could win every
know award for this masterpiece performance.” ~ Mr. Blackwell, Hollywood

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The Boca Raton Theatre Guild presents They’re Playing Our Song November 8-24

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients

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Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Carole Bayer-Sager, Marvin Hamlisch, musical comedy, Musical Theatre, Neil Simon, The Willow Theatre, They're Playing Our Song, Willow Theatre

Neil Simon, Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager’s collaboration is a delightful tale of love, comedy, and music

It is said that opposites attract. Pair a somewhat up-tight classically trained musician with a young lyricist who’s a little bit more than ‘out there’, and sparks just might fly. Add a script by comedy master Neil Simon to the mix, stir in music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Carole Bayer-Sager and musical theatre magic is bound to occur.

Carbonell Award winners Margot Moreland and Oscar Cheda will star in the Boca Raton Theatre Guild’s production of They’re Playing Our Song at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The show will run from November 8^th through November 24^th. The two will portray Vernon Gersch and Sonia Walsk, the fictional counterparts to Hamlisch and Bayer-Sager whose real-life romance served as the inspiration for the musical.

“They’re Playing Our Song was an enormous hit when it played on Broadway,” says BRTG Artistic Director Keith Garsson. “It ran almost three years. The script and score still resonate with great music and very funny dialogue. And the theme of the show – that can two people can maintain both a personal and professional relationship with some sacrifice and compromise – offers an extremely entertaining two hours.

“They’re Playing Our Song was one of the last personal musicals,” Garsson explains. It was the era of shows like Dreamgirls and Falsettoland. Soon afterwards, Broadway gave way to another “British invasion” with productions like Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz. Since then, spectacles have become the new normal.”

“We have a terrific team in place for this show,” Garsson (who will also direct the show) continues. “Caryl Fantel is our musical director, and Ron Hutchins will choreograph both Song and our upcoming production of Pippin. They’re Playing Our Song is a terrific fit for us in that it hasn’t been done often. And it continues the BRTG’s tradition of producing musicals from the sixties and seventies – a time a lot of us remember fondly.”

They’re Playing Our Song will run from November 8^th through November 24^th at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm, and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to producing professional productions and advancing the art of theatre in the South Florida community.

~*~

They’re Playing Our Song
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager
Book: Neil Simon
November 8-24, 2013
Tickets: $35
Previews: (November 8 & 9) $30
Wednesday Evenings: $30
Wed – Sat at 8pm
Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun at 2pm
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
www.brtg.org
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Entr’Acte Theatrix to present ‘The Who’s Tommy’ – October 17 – 27

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix

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Crest Theatre, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Pinball Wizard, Rock Opera, The Who, The Who's Tommy, Tommy

Entr’Acte Theatrix
presents
Tommy

The Who’s iconic rock opera is a tribute to hope, healing, and the human spirit.

Entr’Acte Theatrix will follow up their extremely successful summer production of Monty Python’s Spamalot with The Who’s Tommy. The show will run from October 17^th though October 27^th at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts’ Crest Theatre at Old School Square.

Peter Townshend’s Tony Award-winning tale of a young boy – a ‘deaf, dumb and blind kid’ – who survives the painful traumas, abuses, and neglect of his childhood and reaches the heights of adoration as a cult figure through his talent as a ‘pinball wizard’ – is not a typical musical. Based upon the fourth album (released in 1969) by the famed British rock band The Who, this fast paced, ground-breaking rock opera is told almost completely musically – there is very little dialogue.

“I was kind of in another world during the era of Tommy,” says musical director Roger Blankenship. (The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 for “historical, artistic and significant value.”) “Listening to the music brings back some distant memories, and sounds that I am looking forward to recreating. It was a time of … dare I say….purer ? rock. A couple of years ago I did the show Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which has some of these similar tones, and it was a lot of fun. Kevin Black is a magician, and the performers of Entr’acte are energetic and hard working – this promises to be a great show.”

Director Kevin Black agrees: “The Who’s Tommy is an extremely exciting project to take on, for many reasons,” he says. “South Florida has not seen a large scale production of this show in many years and we plan to deliver just that. This multi-media rock opera was truly an original and is adored by its many fans. We want to keep the integrity of the production, as well as bring new life to this wonderfully scored piece of theatre. The heart of the story lies within a family struggling to hold it together in a time of war, angst, protest and the British revolution of music.”

Entr’Acte’s cast includes a number of new faces, including Alexa Baray, Cristina Flores, and Alexander Zenoz as Tommy. Returning to the company are Ashley Gravelin, Greg Halmos, Nick Williams, Cindy Thagard, Rio Petersen and twins Danica and Alexa Taylor.

For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix or The Who’s Tommy visit www.entractetheatrix.org

~*~

Delray Beach Center for the Arts / Crest Theatre
Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave.
Delray Beach 33444
Box Office: 561-243-7922, ext. 1
Direct link for on-line ticket purchase:
http://bit.ly/18ZAtNX

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A David Mamet Premiere Toplines the Boca Raton Theatre Guild’s Extended Season

12 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients, RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women

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Andrews Living Arts, Boca Raton Theatre, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, David Mamet, Everyday Rapture, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn: Forever Blonde, Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, Sunny Thompson, The Anarchist, Township Center for the Performing Arts

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild may need to update its name
as it takes to the road!

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild has added four additional productions to its 2013-2014 season. Under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Garsson and a forward-thinking board of directors, the company has decided to expand their reach and venture beyond their home base, The Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.

The BRTG, who recently announced they have combined their 2013-2014 Willow Theatre season with that of The Women’s Theatre Project, has been consistently evolving in recent years, “And this is just the next step,” explains Garsson.

The show choices are eclectic, and have been chosen to attract a broad range of theatre patrons. David Mamet, Marilyn Monroe, an edgy new musical, and a South Florida favorite are all on the Guild’s extended schedule, and some of the area’s top talent has signed on to bring these productions to life:

Sunny Thompson will star in Marilyn: Forever Blonde at the Township Center for the Performing Arts from November 21^st to December 1^st. Thompson has received rave reviews for her masterful portrayal of the still popular legend nationally and internationally. The show will also play at the Mizner Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre from January 9^th – 11^th.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild will team with Peter J. Loewy and present RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women from December 5^th through January 5^th at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre. This is a return of the very first, wildly popular Florida incarnation of RESPECT and will be helmed by Loewy, the show’s first director. RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women details the journey of women told through Top-40 music. Combining excerpts of 60 songs including “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “I Will Survive,” “I Will Follow Him,” “These Boots are Made for Walking,” “What’s Love Got to Do with it,” and “Hero” with women’s own stories about finding dreams, lost love, relationship issues, entering the workforce, gaining independence, and more.

From February 28^th – March 21^st audiences will have the opportunity to see the Southeast American premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet’s The Anarchist, starring Carbonell Award-winner Patti Gardner and Jacqueline Laggy. Two women and one unspeakable crime highlight this searing drama as one character’s radical past in the turbulent 70s comes back to haunt her….again. This production will take place in the Andrews Living Arts Studio, an intimate, 50 seat black box theatre well suited to the play.

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to producing professional productions and advancing the art of theatre in the South Florida community.

Ticketing information for each production of the Boca Raton Theatre Guild’s extended season is below:

Marilyn: Forever Blonde
By Greg Thompson
November 21 – December 1, 2013
Tickets: $30/ $25 if purchased before opening night
Days & Times: Thurs – Sat: 8pm,
Sat & Sun: 2pm (no performance on Thanksgiving)
The Township Center for the Performing Arts
2452 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33066
Phone: 954-970-0606 (tickets available by phone or at the box office only)

January 9 – 11, 2014
Tickets: $: $30/ $25 if purchased before opening night
Days & Times: Thu, Fri & Sat: 8pm,
Fri & Sat: 2pm
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women
By Dorothy Marcic
December 5, 2013 – January 5, 2014
Previews: December 5 & 6 at 8 pm (preview tickets $30)
Opening Night: December 7
Tickets: $38/ $33 if purchased before November 15/$30 for groups of 20 or more.
Thursday – Saturday 8 pm
Wednesday 2 pm
Sunday 2 pm

The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

Everyday Rapture
By Sherie Rene Scott & Dick Scanlon
Music by various composers
April 25 – May 11, 2014
Tickets: $28
Days & Times: Thurs – Sat: 8pm
Sat & Sun: 2pm
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 866-811-4111
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Tickets available online at: www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild & The Women’s Theatre Project Debut a Combined Subscription Package

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients

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Boca Raton Theatre, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Florida Theatre, musical comedy, Pippin, Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, The Lyons, The Women's Theatre Project, They're Playing Our Song

Season Tickets Now Available for Four Exciting Productions.

The award-winning Women’s Theatre Project and the Boca Raton Theatre Guild have joined forces and are offering patrons the opportunity to purchase subscriptions to their productions next season. For a total of $99, patrons will be able to attend four plays – two musicals produced by the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, and two plays presented by the Women’s Theatre Project.

Both the BRTG and TWTP operate out of the Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton, and both companies have noted an increase in interest about the others’ productions by theatre-goers since the Women’s Theatre Project moved into the Willow to the last season. The fit is a natural one, says BRTG Artistic Director Keith Garsson: “By offering to combine our four shows into one package, Sugar Sand Park has enabled theatre goers to enjoy a wide range of productions from classics to edgy new comedies. We will still be able to maintain our level of professionalism, yet we hope to reach out to a wider fan-base and encourage more cross-over between audiences loyal to both companies before The Women’s Theatre Project moved here from Fort Lauderdale.”

Genie Croft, Artistic Director of the Women’s Theatre Project agrees: “This is another big move for us, especially since our original move last season to the Willow – and a part of our continuing growth,” she explains. “This partnership with The Boca Raton Theatre Guild allows both companies to offer an exciting season of outstanding plays and musicals to our patrons at a very affordable price. And it’s an extraordinary opportunity to showcase and highlight some of Florida’s best talent in drama, comedy, and musical theatre. It’s a perfect combination!”

The plays and musicals that will make up the two companies combined season are They’re Playing Our Song, the south eastern premier of Nicky Silver’s The Lyons, the current Broadway hit Pippin, and Red Hot Patriot: The Kickass Wit of Molly Ivins. Details about each production are below.

Subscriptions to the combined Boca Raton Theatre Guild/The Women’s Theatre Project are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Willow Theatre Box Office at 561-347-3948. The subscription offer will expire with the final performance of They’re Playing Our Song, on November 24^th. Tickets to individual performances are also on sale.

All productions will take place in the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road.

For more information about the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, please visit www.brtg.org; for more information about The Women’s Theatre Project please visit www.womenstheatreproject.com .

The Women’s Theatre Project/Boca Raton Theatre Guild
Season Subscription Information:

They’re Playing Our Song: November 8-24, 2013
Presented by: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Individual Tickets: $35

They’re Playing Our Song will star Carbonell Award-winners Margot Moreland and Oscar Cheda as fictional counterparts to the real-life romance between Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer-Sager.
~*~

The Lyons: December 6 – 22, 2013
Presented by: The Women’s Theatre Project
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Individual tickets: $25
Nicky Silver’s outrageously funny and stirring play about a family coming to terms with the impending death of its patriarch received glowing reviews when it ran on Broadway in 2012. The play focuses on Rita Lyons and her grown children, who, as they gather to say goodbye, learn that despite being a family, each of them is totally isolated. Afraid of closeness and solitude, they are pushed into a new arena – the human connection. With Jessica Peterson, Kevin Reilly, Matthew Korinko, Jacqueline Laggy, Clay Cartland, and Carolyn Johnson.
~*~

Pippin: January 24 – February 9, 2014
Presented by: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Group Sales: 561-948-2601
Individual tickets: $35

Currently enjoying an extremely successful revival on Broadway, Pippin uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of a young prince and his search for meaning and significance. With Mike Westrich and Patti Gardner.
~*~

Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins:
February 28-March 16, 2014
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
Individual Tickets: $25

Four time Carbonell Award-winner Barbara Bradshaw will star as the unsinkable, unstoppable Molly Ivins. The ‘dyed-in-the-wool liberal from deep in the heart of Texas’, famously brassy newspaper columnist and best-selling author was a crusading journalist who broke gender barriers with her sharp-tongued wit, humor, and political savvy to establish herself as one of the nation’s most influential political columnists.
~*~

Auditions: Seeking Men for ‘The Who’s Tommy’!

01 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix

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Crest Theatre, Delray Beach, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Musical Theatre, The Who, The Who's Tommy, Tommy

Entr’Acte Theatrix is seeking additional men who sing and move well to audition for The Who’s Tommy. All auditioners should have the following prepared:

16 bars, rock style power ballad
16 bars, up-tempo, rock style
16 bars, selection from the show
1 minute monologue

Rehearsals begin on September 3, 2013, and are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. The show opens on October 17, and runs through October 27, with matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be 10-12 performances. Rehearsals will be at Palm Beach Day Academy, 241 Seaview Avenue, Palm Beach, FL, 33480, and performances will be at the Crest Theatre, Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, FL.

There will be compensation, based on experience and role.

For more information and/or to set up an audition appointment please contact hedzupproductions@yahoo.com.

Auditions for RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women – September 23

01 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Clients, RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women

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Boca Raton, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, BRTG, Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Musical Theatre, Peter J. Loewy, Pop Music, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, The Studio Theatre

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women
Will Run December 5 – January 5
at the
Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2nd Floor

Non-Equity/Paid

Audition Information:

The second round of auditions for the Boca Raton Theatre Guild/Peter J. Loewy production of RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women will be held on Monday, September 23 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center/Studio Theatre, 2^nd Floor (201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432), from 10 am – 4 pm.

This is a return of the very first, wildly popular Florida production of RESPECT and will be directed by the show’s original director, Peter J. Loewy. RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women details the journey of women told through Top-40 music. Combining excerpts of 60 songs including “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “I Will Survive,” “I Will Follow Him,” “These Boots are Made for Walking,” “What’s Love Got to Do with it,” and “Hero” with women’s own stories about finding dreams, lost love, relationship issues, entering the workforce, gaining independence, and more.

Casting:
4 females between the ages of 25 – 45, including one African American female.
All must have exceptional singing voices and move extremely well.
A very, very keen sense of comedy is a must for all characters.
Auditions are by appointment only.

Please prepare 1 up-tempo number and one ballad. Pop, 60’s, and/or contemporary rock preferred.

Please send resumes and head shots to brtgauditions@aol.com.

Rehearsals begin in Boca Raton November 11.
Performances begin December 5 and run through January 6.
There will be a New Year’s Eve performance.
For more information, please contact brtgauditions@aol.com .