BOCA RATON, FL: A major chemical company pours cancer-causing waste into the water supply, and a high-powered law firm brings a class action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of “the little people” – who might die from the poisonous water. Who wins? Who loses? A Class Act, Norman Shabel’s intriguing and timely look at the inner workings of our justice system will ask and possibly answer these, and other questions when the play runs from March 25th through March 27th at Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton.
As the lawyers wheel and deal and decide whether to take a settlement or go to trial, it becomes increasingly unclear who is really winning. Who makes millions whether they win or lose? Which lawyers battle the best… or the worst? Who gets justice in the end? A Class Act is a sophisticated thrill ride that has been described as “engrossing and gripping”. It examines a world in which greed pervades, the loyal suffer, and morality is always relative.
Norman Shabel
“The pandemic global disaster the world is now suffering was prevalent several years ago, when I originally wrote the play, with the poison dumped in the worlds’ drinking waters by non-caring corporations whose only consideration was saving expenses in the production of their products,” playwright Norman Shabel said recently. “A Class Act depicts the war-like negotiations between those corporate non-caring perpetrators and the lawyers who represent the dying public.”
Attorney turned author and playwright Norman Shabel spent close to 50 years as a trial and class action lawyer. He has drawn upon his experience to fashion a ‘pulled from the headlines’ look at what goes on in corporate America, in courtrooms, and behind the scenes. A Class Act received excellent reviews when it played Off-Broadway in 2016.
David Simson
A Class Act will be directed by David Simson. Since moving to Florida from Philadelphia, Simson has directed the popular musicals Anything Goes and Nice Work If You Can Get It, as well as the acclaimed dramas Endgame, The Shadow Box, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.He conceived and directed Wisdom Wonderment Rainbows, based on the poetry of his husband Tony Puma, which enjoyed two sold-out runs in South Florida. He is currently involved in Ronnie Larsen’s Plays on Wilton, presenting staged readings of new plays. David is the recipient of a number of fellowships to study Shakespeare, at The Globe and Stratford in England and in Ashland, Oregon. He had the distinct honor and privilege to be one of twenty American teachers selected to study The Holocaust in Poland and Israel.
Simson’s cast includes Brewer Daniels, Tom Copeland, Ken Vianale, Leslie Kandel, Bob Sharkey, Adam Carter, and Tom Turner. Chloe Ward is the production’s Stage Manager, and Gerry Regan is the show’s Technical Director.
A Class Act will run at the Mizner Park Cultural Center from March 25 – 27. Ticket prices range from $25 to $35 and can be purchased online at miznerparkculturalcenter.com The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center is located at 201 Plaza Real, in Boca Raton (33432).
For more information about A Class Act contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
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A Class Act By Norman Schabel March 25 – 27, 2022 Performances:Friday & Saturday at 8 pm Sunday at 2 pm & 6 pm Tickets: $25/$30/$35 Click HERE for tickets, Or call 844-672-2849 Mizner Park Cultural Center 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432
“…a fascinating exploration of the early life of Jackie Kennedy… Dugan does a wonderful job of presenting audiences with a side of her that few know about.” Julia Stier – Medium
BOCA RATON, FL: Actor/Playwright Tom Dugan’s new play, Tell Him It’s Jackie will have its premiere South Florida run from December 15th through December 19th at the Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton. The play received rave reviews when it debuted in Los Angeles in Dugan’s own ‘Backyard Playhouse’ in 2020.
Kait Haire
Kait Haire will portray former First Lady Jackie Kennedy in a powerful and revealing narrative as she receives word, on June 5th, 1968, of her brother-in-law Robert Kennedy’s assassination. Believing herself incapable of living through another great loss, Jackie decides on a course of action that will irrevocably change her future and that of her children. Tell Him It’s Jackie is a fascinating exploration of the life of one of America’s – and the world’s most recognizable and beloved figures.
“The experience of working on Tell Him It’s Jackie has been wonderful,” Haire says. “Jackie is an American icon, and it is easy for people to forget she wasn’t just the poised, stylish woman she presented to the public. She had her breaking points, like we all do, and as an actor it has been great to get to explore those moments.”
Tom Dugan
Playwright Tom Dugan, well known for his award-winning performance as Simon Wiesenthal in his play Wiesenthal,dove deep into Jacqueline Kennedy’s life history in order to stay true to the woman portrayed in Tell Him It’s Jackie. “I discovered new information that was only recently released to the public,” he says. “And I came to understand Jackie had a powerful sexuality that she used to manipulate the media, the public, and the people in her life. Kait Haire has that same alluring charisma – her Jackie is compelling, real, and seductive.
“This play is a completely pandemic inspired production,” Dugan explains. “We rehearsed for a couple of months over Zoom which allowed us the time to really develop the character organically, and the play debuted in my own backyard! Everyone – our tech crew, Kait, and I were COVID tested frequently (this was before the vaccine); and aside from when Kait was performing, we were all masked, as was our socially distant audience, which was limited to only 16 people.”
“Ms. Haire creates an impeccable Jackie; she looks like her, sounds like her, and moves like her.” – Theatre Notes
Playwright Tom Dugan, well known for his award-winning performance as Simon Wiesenthal in his play Wiesenthal,dove deep into Jacqueline Kennedy’s life history in order to stay true to the woman portrayed in Tell Him It’s Jackie. “I discovered new information that was only recently released to the public,” he says. “And I came to understand that Jackie had a powerful sexuality she used to manipulate the media, the public, and the people in her life. Kait Haire has that same alluring charisma – her Jackie is compelling, real, and seductive.
“This play is a completely pandemic inspired production,” Dugan explains. “We rehearsed for a couple of months over Zoom which allowed us the time to really develop the character organically, and the play debuted in my own backyard! Everyone – our tech crew, Kait, and I were COVID tested frequently (this was before the vaccine); and aside from when Kait was performing, we were all masked, as was our socially distant audience, which was limited to only 16 people.”
“Ms. Haire creates an impeccable Jackie; she looks like her, sounds like her, and moves like her.” – Theatre Notes
Playwright Tom Dugan, well known for his award-winning performance as Simon Wiesenthal in his play Wiesenthal, dove deep into Jacqueline Kennedy’s life history in order to stay true to the woman portrayed in Tell Him It’s Jackie. “I discovered new information that was only recently released to the public,” he says. “And I came to understand that Jackie had a powerful sexuality she used to manipulate the media, the public, and the people in her life. Kait Haire has that same alluring charisma – her Jackie is compelling, real, and seductive.
“This play is a completely pandemic inspired production,” Dugan explains. “We rehearsed for a couple of months over Zoom which allowed us the time to really develop the character organically, and the play debuted in my own backyard! Everyone – our tech crew, Kait, and I were COVID tested frequently (this was before the vaccine); and aside from when Kait was performing, we were all masked, as was our socially distant audience, which was limited to only 16 people.”
“Ms. Haire creates an impeccable Jackie; she looks like her, sounds like her, and moves like her.” – Theatre Notes
Playwright Tom Dugan, well known for his award-winning performance as Simon Wiesenthal in his play Wiesenthal,dove deep into Jacqueline Kennedy’s life history in order to stay true to the woman portrayed in Tell Him It’s Jackie. “I discovered new information that was only recently released to the public,” he says. “And I came to understand that Jackie had a powerful sexuality she used to manipulate the media, the public, and the people in her life. Kait Haire has that same alluring charisma – her Jackie is compelling, real, and seductive.
“This play is a completely pandemic inspired production,” Dugan explains. “We rehearsed for a couple of months over Zoom which allowed us the time to really develop the character organically, and the play debuted in my own backyard! Everyone – our tech crew, Kait, and I were COVID tested frequently (this was before the vaccine); and aside from when Kait was performing, we were all masked, as was our socially distant audience, which was limited to only 16 people.”
“Ms. Haire creates an impeccable Jackie; she looks like her, sounds like her, and moves like her.” – Theatre Notes
Tom Dugan (Playwright/ Director/Actor) has been honored with nominations for the New York Drama Desk Award, New York Outer Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Ovation Award, and won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Wiesenthal(produced by Daryl Roth and directed by Jenny Sullivan). Wiesenthal has enjoyed productions in Israel, India, Australia, Italy, and Mexico. The script has been published by Bashert Books and is currently available on Amazon. A feature film of Wiesenthal, produced by Dan Kaplow (The Haunting of Hill House, Joe Exotic) is now in the works. During the pandemic Tom, with the help of his family, created Dugan’s Backyard Playhouse, a socially distant outdoor live theatre where he premiered two of his plays Tell Him It’s Jackie (“brilliant and masterful” – Curtain Up) and The Ghosts Of Mary Lincoln (“Spellbinding” LA Times). Tom’s newest one-man show, Tevye in New York (“Magical” – LA Times), premiered at the Wallis Annenberg in Beverly Hills over the summer, and will begin touring next year. His newest piece, Cemetery Pub, will premiere in 2022. Mr. Dugan’s Film/TV credits include Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dave, Kindergarten Cop, and Naked Gun. Facebook: TomDuganPlays
Tell Him It’s Jackie will run from December 15th through December 19th at Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton. Tickets are $49 and are available online at miznerparkculturalcenter.com/ or by calling 844-672-2849.
Please Note: Masks covering nose, mouth, and chin must be worn in the building at all times in order to attend.
For more information about Tell Him It’s Jackie, Tom Dugan, or Kait Haire, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
Tell Him It’s Jackie By Tom Dugan December 15-19, 2021 Tickets: $49 Performances: Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30 pm Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday at 2 pm For tickets: https://miznerparkculturalcenter.com/events/tell-him-its-jackie/2021-12-15 Or call 844-672-2849 Mizner Park Cultural Center 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432
“Actor/playwright Tom Dugan’s superb award-winning one-man show Wiesenthal is a must-see for anyone who loves great acting, writing, drama, human rights and/or Jews, plus hates fascism, crimes against humanity, war and atrocities.” Ed Rampell for Hollywood Progressive
BOCA RATON, FL: Wiesenthal, written by and starring noted actor/playwright Tom Dugan tells the remarkable true story of Nazi Hunter Simon Wiesenthal. Sometimes referred to as “The Jewish James Bond”, Wiesenthal devoted his life to bringing more than 1,100 Nazi war criminals to justice. Dugan will bring this powerful piece of theatre to the Mizner Park Cultural Center from December 3rd through December 5th.
Tom Dugan
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; and how, after liberation day, he began his remarkable journey – tracking down and gathering information on fugitive Nazi war criminals so they could be brought to trial. Dugan, who was raised Irish Catholic, was inspired to write Wiesenthal by his father, a war veteran and liberator who received the Bronze Battle Star and a Purple Heart for his service in World War II.
Simon Wiesenthal & Marty Rosen
There will be audience ‘talk backs’ after each performance, with a special appearance after the December 4th evening show by long-time Simon Wiesenthal friend and lawyer Marty Rosen. Rosen worked with Wiesenthal for over 30 years, helping with the legalities of bringing many Nazis to justice. When the statute of limitations for Nazi war criminals was about to run out in Germany, Marty travelled to Germany and convinced Chancellor Willy Brandt to abolish it – assuring that for the rest of their lives Nazi war criminals could be chased, caught, and brought to justice.
Wiesenthal enjoyed an extended run Off Broadway, as well as long runs at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California, and Theatre 40 in Los Angeles, where the production won the L.A. Drama Critics’ Circle Award and was nominated for three Ovation Awards (“Best Actor”, “Best Director” and “Best Play”). The show was a Critic’s Choice in the L.A. Times and was praised for the “righteous stories here that you will not forget.” The Times described Dugan as “authoritative and engaging.” The Ventura County Star reviewer called Dugan’s performance “remarkable…drawn in unforgettable strokes,” and wrote that the play “gives equal weight to the heroic wisdom and wit with which Wiesenthal lived his long and purposeful life.” The show was also a Critic’s Pick in Backstage, where Dugan’s work was called “masterful” and the writing “superlative”.
Tom Dugan (Playwright/Actor) Having been honored with nominations for the New York Drama Desk Award, New York Outer Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Ovation Award, and winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Wiesenthal produced by Daryl Roth and directed by Jenny Sullivan, Wiesenthal has enjoyed productions in Israel, India, Australia, Italy, and Mexico. Tom’s next piece Tell Him It’s Jackie, about former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, was hailed “a stunning accomplishment” by Entertainment Weekly. Mr. Dugan recently premiered Tevye In New York at the Wallis Annenberg in Beverly Hills (“magical” – Los Angeles Times) and will begin a national tour in 2022. Dugan’s newest work, a dark comedy called Cemetery Pub will premiere in Los Angeles in 2022.
Tell Him It’s Jackie (“Scorching… impeccable” – Theater Notes) will run at the Mizner Park Cultural Center from December 15 – 19.
Please Note: Masks covering nose, mouth, and chin must be worn in the building at all times in order to attend.
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center is located at 201 Plaza Real, in Boca Raton (33432)
For more information about Wiesenthal and/or Tom Dugan please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244. ~
Wiesenthal By Tom Dugan December 3 – 5, 2021 Tickets: $35/$45 Performances: Friday & Saturday, December 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm Saturday & Sunday, December 4 & 5 at 2:00 pm For tickets: https://miznerparkculturalcenter.com/events/wiesenthal-2/2021-12-03/ Call 844-672-2849 Mizner Park Cultural Center 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432
BOCA RATON, FL: A kaleidoscopic flashback through game shows, sitcoms, disco, earth shoes, pet rocks, and lava lamps, Streakin’ Thru the 70s is an outrageous, mind-blowing dash through the much maligned ‘Me Decade’. The show, presented by MNM Theatre Company and Arts Center Management, will run from February 4th through February 20th at the Mizner Park Cultural Center, and is filled music, comedy, and memories and features over 40 hit songs.
Streakin’Thru the 70s began as a workshop by creators/writers James A. Rocco and Albert Evans, who were responsible for the off-Broadway hits Pageant and Nite Club Confidential. A six-week tryout in a small theatre in Wichita Kansas turned into a five-month run, and the enthusiastic reaction to the show, its iconic music, and uniquely 70s catch phrases and images – “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature”, “How would you like a nice Hawaiian Punch”, hot pants, polyester pantsuits, and the Village Person – plus the popularity of the Broadway mega-hit Mamma Mia, emphasized the universal appeal of both mocking and simultaneously embracing the ‘what were we thinking’ culture of the 1970s.
“I am so looking forward to presenting this groovy good time and reminding audiences of what a special decade the 70s was,” says the show’s director Jonathan Van Dyke. “With all the laughs, music, fabulous fashion, and fun in this show, it will be a ‘dy no-mite’ theatrical event whether you lived it or not!”
Eric Alsford will serve as Streakin’s music director; the cast includes Shelley Keelor, Dorian Quinn, Ellie Roddy, and Ryan Michael James.
James A. Rocco is an award-winning director, writer, and theatrical consultant whose work has been seen on Broadway, off-Broadway, throughout the United States, and in London, Paris, and Tokyo. In 2013 he was recognized by the Broadway League and the Coalitions of Broadway Unions and Guilds for 25 years of dedication, craft, and contribution to theatre.
Albert Evans wrote the music for the off-Broadway hit Pageant, chosen by Time Magazine as one of the year’s ten best entertainment events. His lyrics are featured in a new performing edition of The Merry Widow, seen at New York City Opera, and televised on Live from Lincoln Center (PBS). He was the Composer in Residence for ten years at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse and is currently Artistic Associate at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
Streakin’ Thru the 70s will run at the Mizner Park Cultural Center from February 4th through February 20th, 2022. Ticket prices range from $45 to $65 and can be purchased online at miznerparkculturalcenter.com.
Masks must be worn in order to attend.
The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center is located at 201 Plaza Real, in Boca Raton (33432)
For more information about Streakin’ Thru the 70s or the Mizner Park Cultural Center, contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
Streakin’ Thru the 70s By James A. Rocco and Albert Evans, with Heidi Karol Johnson February 4 – 20, 2022 Tickets: $45/$55/$65 For tickets: Call 844-672-2849 Online: miznerparkculturalcenter.com/events/streakin-thru-the-70s/2022-02-04 Performance Days & Times: Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday at 2 pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 pm 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432
BOCA RATON, FL: Six-time Tony and Emmy nominee Tovah Feldshuh will return to Boca Raton’s Mizner Park Cultural Center on SaturdayOctober 16thand Sunday October 17th for three performances of her acclaimed one woman show Tovah is LEONA! The show, in which Feldshuh assumes the persona of real estate mogul and hotelier Leona Helmsley, played to sold-out houses in January 2019.
As Helmsley, the disgraced doyenne comments and sings about anything and everything – from her meteoric rise from office temp to trophy wife, from wheeler-dealer to hotel magnate, to her relationship with real estate rival Donald Trump.
Created by Feldshuh, Director Jeff Harnar, and Musical Director James Bassi (and based on the New York Times best-seller by Randell Pierson), Leona Helmsley is given one hour up from Purgatory to SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!!… and sing a few show tunes. She fulfills her dream to star in her own cabaret show as she sings for her innocence in a long-awaited RE-trial with the audience as her jury. So “HARRY on Down!” for an evening of fun, frolic & foreclosure! If you’re indicted, you’re invited!!
“Dear Ones, I am overjoyed to be returning to South Florida with Tovah is LEONA!, home of such fabulous audiences.” Feldshuh enthuses. “Needless to say Leona will want everything “Helmsley perfect,” and as such, she insists “No Vaccination, No Entry.” So please, let’s avoid her wrath and abide by this request. Hell hath no fury like Leona scorned!”
Tovah is LEONA! features original music by Ron Passaro, lyrics by David Lee, and a book by Alex Lippard and David Lee. The show is directed by Jeff Harnar, and Musical Director James Bassi provided the musical arrangements and additional lyrics.
Tovah Feldshuh is a six-time Emmy & Tony nominee and has been awarded three honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters. Additionally, for her theatre work, she has won four Drama Desks, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, three Dramalogues, the Obie, the Theatre World, and the Helen Hayes and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Actress.
Tovah Feldshuh
Feldshuh has appeared on Broadway (Yentl, Cyrano, Rodgers & Hart, Dreyfus in Rehearsal, Sarava!, Lend Me a Tenor, Golda’s Balcony,Irena’s Vow, and as the show stopping trapeze-swinging Berthe in Pippin), Off-Broadway, and in dozens of productions around the country. Her numerous television roles include Deanna Monroeon “The Walking Dead”, Danielle Melnickon “Law & Order”, POTUS Pauline Mackenzie on “Salvation”, and Naomi Bunch, on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” where Feldshuh can be seen singing the dignified showstopper: “Where’s the Bathroom!?” Her film credits include Kissing Jessica Stein, (Golden Satellite Award), A Walk on the Moon, Brewster’s Millions, Just My Luck, Daniel, The Idolmaker, and Paramount’s soon-to-be released Clifford. Recently Ms. Feldshuh’s award-winning performance as Prime Minister Golda Meir in Golda’s Balcony was made into a film entitled Golda’s Balcony The Film which won 20 out of 20 Audience Choice Awards. She is about to star as Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer in Becoming Dr. Ruth by Mark St. Germain, opening December 4th in New York City at the state-of-the-art Safra Hall in the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Her first memoir, LILYVILLE: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I’ve Played, has been chosen as a “Must Read” by Good Morning America and was immediately ranked the Number One New Release in Parent and Adult Child Relationships on Amazon. Follow Tovah’s travels around the world on Instagram @tovahfeld and her future engagements on her website: www.tovahfeldshuh.com.
Tickets for Tovah is LEONA! are on sale now and range in price from $39 – $59. Tickets can be purchased online at http://miznerparkculturalcenter.com or by phone at 844-672-2849. The Mizner Park Cultural Center is located at 201 Plaza Real in Boca Raton (33432).
Masks must be worn in order to attend. All patrons must be vaccinated.
For more information about Tovah is LEONA!, to arrange for tickets, or to speak with someone involved in the production, please contact Carol Kassie at Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244.
“Tovah Is a Life Force!” Theater Pizazz
“Fast, funny and vastly entertaining.” Cabaret Scenes
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Tovah is LEONA! Saturday, October 16 at 3 pm & 7:30 pm Sunday, October 17 at 2 pm Created by: Tovah Feldshuh, James Bassi, & Jeff Harnar Directed by Jeff Harnar Musical Director: James Bassi Music by Ron Passaro Lyrics by David Lee & Alex Lippard Tickets: $39 – $59 For tickets: http://miznerparkculturalcenter.com 844-672-2849 All performances take place at The Mizner Park Cultural Center 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor Boca Raton, FL 33432 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiznerParkCulturalCenter
BOCA RATON, FL: MNM Theatre Company’s cutting-edge production of Maltby and Shire’s Closer Than Ever will now be available for streaming on demand through January 10th, MNM Producing Artistic Director Marcie Gorman announced today.
Marcie Gorman
“We are so proud of this project,” Gorman explains, “and we want to make sure everyone who would like to see Closer Than Ever has the opportunity to do so. Our director, Jonathan Van Dyke, came up with an incredibly creative and innovative way to make live theatre during the pandemic, using video, audio, and projections. Our cast and crew stayed safe and healthy throughout the entire creative process, and their dedication to this project is another reason why we want to ensure their work remains available for a while longer. Plus, of course,” she adds, “The reviews by both audiences and critics alike have been nothing less than stellar, so it’s a popular demand extension, too!”
Closer Than Ever has received universal praise since it began streaming on November 27th, including glowing endorsements from both composer David Shire (“The performances were honest and great, the musical direction, staging, production design, choreography all first rate, and [your] direction and overall conception of how to present CTE and keep it “Covid-safe” was truly impressive.”) and lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. (“The performances were all on the money and very true, Surprisingly, that isn’t usually the case with this show. Your staging ideas and your filming ideas were very very clever. It was an actual film version of the show, which was daring to attempt. Clearly you approached the show with a great deal of love and a great deal of respect for the material. I heard every word, and the vocals were glorious.”)
Closer Than Ever features self-contained songs which deal with such diverse topics as security, aging, mid-life crisis, second marriages, working couples, and unrequited love. Maltby and Shire based many of the songs on real-life experiences of their friends, or stories told to them.
Closer Than Ever stars Aaron Bower, Johnbarry Green, and Carbonell Award-winners Shelley Keelor, and Elijah Word, each of whom have worked with MNM Theatre Company in the past. The technical crew, almost all of whom are also MNM alumni, includes Eric Alsford as the production’s Musical Director, and Emily Tarallo as the show’s Choreographer. Lighting Designer is Clifford Michael Spulock, Sound Designer is Mike Kelly, Scenic Artist is Cindi Taylor, and Scenic Designer is Jordon Armstrong. Johnbarry Green serves as Technical Director, Cliff Burgess as Videographer, Michael Joseph as Assistant Videographer and Wig Design is by Justin Lore of Tease & Floof Custom Wig Boutique. Amber Mandic and Andrea Guardo are the production’s co-Stage Managers and co-Props Mistresses.
Closer Than Ever will be available On Demand through January 10th, on Music Theatre International’s (MTI) streaming platform www.ShowTix4U.com via MNM Theatre Company’s website www.mnmtheatre.org. Once tickets are purchased, patrons will receive a link to view the production. The link will be active for 48 hours from the first click. Tickets are $20.
MNM Theatre Company is an award-winning not-for-profit 501(c)(3) theatre company whose mission is to produce high quality professional live theatre that inspires audiences and enriches the cultural life of the community while creating Florida based jobs in the Arts.
For more information about Closer Than Ever and MNM Theatre Company please visit www.mnmtheatre.org/ . To speak with Marcie Gorman or Jonathan Van Dyke, please contact Carol Kassie at Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244.
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Closer Than Ever Streaming On Demand
Through January 10th, 2021
Music by David Shire
Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr.
Conceived by Steven Scott Smith
Directed by Jonathan Van Dyke
Tickets: $20 Tickets available at https://www.mnmtheatre.org/
Direct ticketing link: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/41307
Creating Theatre in the Time of COVID! MNM Theatre Company’s Innovative Production of Maltby & Shire’s Closer Than Ever Will Be Available for Streaming on Demand November 27 – December 31
MNM develops a cutting edge and creative way to move forward with Maltby & Shire’s Closer Than Ever.
November 9, 2020
BOCA RATON, FL: Rehearsals and filming have been completed for MNM Theatre Company’s upcoming production of Closer Than Ever, David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr.’s fascinating song cycle that explores the everyday struggles of love in the modern world. The production will begin streaming on November 27th and be available through December 31st.
Director Jonathan Van Dyke has developed an innovative theatrical hybrid that marries live performances with video, audio, and projections. “The result,” says MNM Producing Artistic Director Marcie Gorman, “is an exciting and creative way to make live theatre during this horrendous pandemic.”
Marcie Gorman
“We rehearsed at our warehouse in Boca Raton, and filmed there as well,” Gorman explains. We followed extremely strict protocols throughout the process and were constantly mindful of the health and well-being of our cast and our crew. COVID testing, masks, cleaning, and sanitizing – we did it all constantly. But what’s so wonderful is that we are created and performed live theatre and we will be able to share it with a worldwide audience.
“And Jonathan’s concept, which involves integrating live performances with projections, is brand new. It’s what will separate this production from just being a filmed play – it’s a hybrid with three components, not just two, and as far as we know, no one has ever done anything like it before.”
Jonathan Van Dyke
“This concept was developed to allow us to create theatre during the pandemic, but it can and will be implemented for a live production,” Director Jonathan Van Dyke explains. “The integrated projections allow for intimate onstage moments; the actors were each green-screened separately and the results were edited for projection, so they appear to interact with one another.”
Shelley Keelor and Aaron Bower in Closer Than Ever “They never held hands… they were just edited that way!” Jonathan Van Dyke Photo credit: Jonathan Van Dyke
Closer Than Ever features self-contained songs which deal with such diverse topics as security, aging, mid-life crisis, second marriages, working couples, and unrequited love. Maltby and Shire based many of the songs on real-life experiences of their friends, or stories told to them.
Closer Than Ever stars Aaron Bower, Johnbarry Green, and Carbonell Award-winners Shelley Keelor, and Elijah Word, each of whom have worked with MNM Theatre Company in the past. The technical crew, almost all of whom are also MNM alumni, includes Eric Alsford as the production’s Musical Director, and Emily Tarallo as the show’s Choreographer. Lighting Designer is Clifford Michael Spulock, Sound Designer is Mike Kelly, Scenic Artist is Cindi Taylor, and Scenic Designer is Jordon Armstrong. Johnbarry Green serves as Technical Director, Cliff Burgess as Videographer, Michael Joseph as Assistant Videographer and Wig Design is by Justin Lore of Tease & Floof Custom Wig Boutique. Amber Mandic and Andrea Guardo are the production’s co-Stage Managers and co-Props Mistresses.
Closer Than Ever will begin streaming on November 27th and will be available On Demand through December 31st on Music Theatre International’s (MTI) streaming platform www.ShowTix4U.com via MNM Theatre Company’s website www.mnmtheatre.org or on the company’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/mnmtheatrecompany . Once tickets are purchased, patrons will receive a link to view the production. The link will be active for 48 hours from the first click. Tickets are $20.
MNM Theatre Company is an award-winning not-for-profit 501(c)(3) theatre company whose mission is to produce high quality professional live theatre that inspires audiences and enriches the cultural life of the community while creating Florida based jobs in the Arts.
For more information about MNM Theatre Company please visit www.mnmtheatre.org/ To speak with Marcie Gorman or Jonathan Van Dyke, please contact Carol Kassie at Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244..
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BOCA RATON, FL: MNM Theatre Company, like almost every theatre company around the world, has been drastically affected by COVID-19. All scheduled productions have either been cancelled or postponed indefinitely, with no re-start date in sight. However, the company’s Producing Artistic Director and CEO Marcie Gorman and Director Jonathan Van Dyke have come up with an innovative way to provide audiences with theatre, and the company’s first production Maltby and Shire’s Closer Than Ever will debut on November 27th and be available for On Demand streaming through December 31st.
“Since we haven’t been together for a long time, we knew it was time to be Closer Than Ever,” Gorman says. “Just the name of this show seemed to be a perfect fit for these times – so many of us are still so far apart and yet in many ways, Closer Than Ever.
“And Jonathan has developed a safe and incredibly creative way to present it to audiences”, she continues. “I’m excited about this on so many levels, not the least of which is to provide work for our actors and technical people, most of whom haven’t worked for months, and are so looking forward to once again ‘making theatre’”.
Closer Than Ever will be filmed at MNM’s Boca Raton warehouse/studio, which will be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Maximum safety precautions will be observed from the start of rehearsals through the final performance: Individual show segments will be filmed separately; actors and tech crew have been asked to observe COVID protocols and remain as isolated as possible unless rehearsing or performing. They will be COVID tested frequently; their temperatures will be taken each time they enter the building; and they will be required to hand sanitize multiple times every day. They will maintain at minimum a 6-foot social distance whether on stage or off; and masks will be worn at all times unless the actor is on stage or being filmed. A very small invited audience will be present at one taping – but everyone will have his or her temperature taken, audience members will also be properly socially distanced, and each audience member must be part of the show’s participants’ ‘bubble’.
Closer Than Ever is a nonstop exploration of everyday struggles in the “modern world”. Topics ranging from unrequited adoration… to aging… to Muzak are tackled with resounding sincerity and precisely placed hilarity. Each song is a unique story told by a new character, taking audiences into the minds of the individuals facing these completely relatable challenges. Lyricists Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire based many of the songs on real-life experiences of their friends, or stories told to them. The show won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical.
“Knowing what we are facing in live performance logistically and what would resonate artistically, for me the choice was Maltby & Shire’s Closer Than Ever,” says Jonathan Van Dyke who will direct and stage the production. “The title alone says so much of where we are. While unable to be close physically, in our hearts and minds we are Closer Than Ever.
“Working with MNM and our integrated video concept, we hope to have found a way to navigate safety measures and still execute some intimate moments in an artistic way,” he continues. “The humanity and honesty of the songs delivers such a layered theatrical experience. Maltby and Shire have created over a dozen Broadway shows, film and television scores, and are the recipients of Grammy, Tony and Academy Awards. I’m so looking forward to working on this material with this team.”
Closer Than Ever will star Johnbarry Green, Aaron Bower, and Carbonell Award-winners Shelley Keelor, and Elijah Word, all of whom have worked with MNM Theatre Company in the past. The technical crew, also all MNM alumni, includes Eric Alsford as the production’s Musical Director, and Emily Tarallo as the Choreographer, as well as Lighting Designer Clifford Michael Spulock, Sound Designer by Mike Kelly, Scenic Artist Cindi Taylor, and Scenic Designer Jordon Armstrong. Johnbarry Green will serve as Technical Director, Cliff Burgess as Videographer, Michael Joseph as Assistant Videographer, wigs by Tease & Floof Custom Wig Boutique, and Amber Mandic and Andrea Guardo will be the production’s co-Stage Managers and co-Props Mistresses.
The award-winning duo, lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. (Miss Saigon, Fosse, Ring of Fire) and composer David Shire (film scores include The Conversation, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, All The President’s Men, and parts of Saturday Night Fever), began working together as students at Yale University. Their first Broadway credit as a team was in 1968, when their song “The Girl of the Minute” was used in the revue New Faces of 1968. Their shared credits include Baby (1983), Big (1996) and Take Flight (2007). Richard Maltby conceived and directed the only two musical revues to win the Tony Award for Best Musical: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978) and Fosse (1999). David Shire won the Oscar for the theme song to Norma Rae “It Goes Like It Goes”; as a pianist Shire played for the original productions of both The Fantasticks and Funny Girl.
Closer Than Ever will begin streaming on November 27th and will be available On Demand through December 31st on Music Theatre International’s (MTI) streaming platform www.ShowTix4U.com via MNM Theatre Company’s website www.mnmtheatre.org or on the company’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/mnmtheatrecompany . Once tickets are purchased, patrons will receive a link to view the production. The link will be active for 48 hours from the first click. Tickets are $20.
MNM Theatre Company is an award-winning not-for-profit 501(c)(3) theatre company whose mission is to produce high quality professional live theatre that inspires audiences and enriches the cultural life of the community while creating Florida based jobs in the Arts.
For more information about MNM Theatre Company please visit www.mnmtheatre.org. To speak with Marcie Gorman or Jonathan Van Dyke, please contact Carol Kassie at Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244.
March & April at
Mizner Park Cultural Center: Festival of Classics: A Night of Short Performances
& Artist Conversations – March 16 Tovah is Leona – March 28 & 29 Wiesenthal – April 3-5 Hank Williams and My Honky Tonk Heroes – April 8 Judy Carmichael: Swing Time! A Celebration of the Great American Song Book – April 17 Harrison Greenbaum: What Just Happened? A Comedy + Magic Show – April 25
BOCA RATON, FL: Mizner Park Cultural Center will once again host a wide variety of entertainment and events over the coming weeks. Comedy, music, magic, and live theatre are all on the popular venue’s schedule during March and April.
On March 16th, the award-winning actor Avi Hoffman will host Festival of Classics: A Night of Short Performances and Artist Conversations. The show, presented by Joseph Papp Yiddish Theatre, Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida, Grace Arts, New City Players, and Thinking Cap Theatre with Emily Ricca Dance Collective, will showcase local South Florida companies performing the Classics. Hoffman, who will be joined by special guest Susan Papp, will take on the persona of Joseph Papp, the American theatrical producer and founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theatre.
Tovah Feldshuh
Six-time Tony and Emmy nominated star Tovah Feldshuh returns to the theatre on March 28th and 29th for four encore performances of Tovah is Leona! a musical production featuring highlights from the new Broadway-bound musical Queen of Mean, based on Piers Ransdell’s New York Times best-selling biography of Leona Helmsley. In the production, which sold out in January, Feldshuh, as the disgraced doyenne, comments and sings about anything and everything – from her meteoric rise from office temp to trophy wife, from wheeler-dealer to hotel magnate, to her relationship with real estate rival Donald Trump.
Tom Dugan as Simon Wiesenthal
Wiesenthal, the story of ‘an ordinary man who did extraordinary things’, will run for four performances only, from April 3rd – 5th. Written by and starring Tom Dugan, Wiesenthal is the riveting true story of Simon Wiesenthal. Nicknamed ‘The Jewish James Bond’, he devoted his life to bringing more than 1,100 Nazi war criminals to justice. Intelligent, funny, flawed, and noble, Wiesenthal was a universal hero.
Jason Petty will bring his acclaimed musical review, Hank Williams and my Honky Tonk Heroes, to the Cultural Center on April 8th. Petty a masterful singer, actor, and historian, whose musicianship and songwriting abilities have won him numerous performances at The Grand Ole Opry, will recreate the magic that Williams and his ‘honky tonk heroes’ – the giants of country music – created.
Grammy-nominated pianist, vocalist, and songwriter Judy Carmichael will celebrate the music of swing piano greats with an evening of classics from the Great American Songbook in her show Swing Time! A Celebration of the Great American Song Book on April 17th. From the Gershwins to Cole Porter to Fats Waller and Peggy Lee, Carmichael’s mastery of the piano style popularized by Count Basie and James P. Johnson among others, has been lauded all over the world.
Harrison Greenbaum
Harrison Greenbaum will return to the Mizner Park Cultural Center with What Just Happened? A Comedy + Magic Show on April 25th. The award-winning magician and comedian, who has been featured on “America’s Got Talent”, NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, and National Geographic’s “Brain Games”, has created a unique blend of comedy and magic, jaw-dropping cutting edge illusions, mind reading, and legerdemain, much of it invented specifically for this performance, and never seen before.
BOCA RATON, FL: Chasing Jack, the award-winning play by John S. Anastasi, will have its southeastern premiere at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park this March. The production, to be directed by Peter J. Loewy, will begin previews on March 12th and open on March 14th. The show will run through March 22nd.
Chasing Jack, which won the Best Play Award at the 2019 New York Theatre Festival Summerfest, is the story of Dr. Jack Chase, a surgeon with a serious gambling addiction. Through the lens of a malpractice lawsuit that could end his career, Chasing Jack explores familial relationships, medical ethics, and the potentially crippling effects of addiction. The stakes couldn’t be any higher as Jack looks back at pivotal moments in his life, his relationships, and his career.
John Anastasi, M.D.
“I had written several plays, three of which were produced Off Broadway,” playwright John Anastasi said recently, when he was asked how Chasing Jack came about. “It was after a reading of my play I Forgive You Ronald Reagan, starring Lucie Arnaz and her husband Laurence Luckinbill, and we were all out for dinner. Lucie asked me about her mother’s aortic dissection (I am a thoracic surgeon in ‘my other life’!) and we started talking about heart surgery. She listened to all the stories and was mesmerized, and at the end of the evening she said, “You write well but the best stories are when you write and talk about what you do!” My response was that I spend 14 hours a day doing heart surgery, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer and write about it.
“So, two plays later I was at the opening night party of my play, Would You Still Love Me if, with Kathleen Turner,” Anastasi continued. John Patrick Shanley came up to me and said almost the same thing: “Write about what you know…” There are two things I love, medicine and the law. My daughter is a lawyer. So, I started to think of how to connect them all and after an especially difficult operation, the germ of the story began.
“I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I’m Jack, because I’m not,” he says. “Some of me is in him as I believe some of me is in all the characters I write, even the women. The monologues Jack speaks regarding what it’s like to be a heart surgeon are very real. The addiction concept is drawn from having the unfortunate experience of operating on drug addicts over the years, and watching them lie, betray, and systematically destroy every relationship, especially the people who love them the most.”
Anastasi and Director Loewy have cast a combination of local and out of town actors in the production. Galen Murphy Hoffman will play Dr. Jack Chase, and two-time Tony Award nominee Crista Moore will portray the attorney Ockerman – the first time a woman has played this role. Other cast members include India H. Jarvis as Taylor, Elana Valastro as Rebecca, David Sadaka as The Judge, Rick Malone as Robert, Ben Prayz as Dr. Fox, and Francis Allen as Dr. Noel.
Chasing Jack will run from March 12th – 22nd at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $30; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $25. Tickets can be purchased online at sugarsandpark.org/chasing-jack or by phone at 561-347-3948. The Willow Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).
For more information about Chasing Jack please visit www.chasingjacktheplay.com/. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, or to arrange to see the production, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
This is a story about a world-class gambling obsession
that starts off at 100 miles-per-hour and builds from there.
It’s not a courtroom drama.
It’s a courtroom bombshell.
~*~
Chasing Jack March 14 – 22, 2020
Preview performances March 12 & 13. By John S. Anastasi Directed by Peter J. Loewy Tickets: $30 / $25 for groups of 6 or more For tickets: 561-347-3948 or https://sugarsandpark.org/chasing-jack Showtimes: Thursday, March 12 at 7pm Friday, March 13 at 8pm Saturday, March 14 at 2pm Saturday, March 14 at 8pm Sunday, March 15 at 2pm Thursday, March 19 at 7pm Friday, March 20 at 8pm Saturday, March 21 at 2pm Saturday, March 21 at 8pm Sunday, March 22 at 2pm All performances will take place in The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park 300 South Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33486
Carol Kassie 