Tag Archives: Jerry Herman

TO LIFE 3: STORIES & MUSIC CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEWISH COMPOSERS TO THE GREAT HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS – January 20 – February 5 at the Willow Theatre

29 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by in Clients, Hy Juter, Shari Upbin, Uncategorized

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January 20 – February 5, 2023

“Music doesn’t argue, discuss, or quarrel. It just breathes the air of freedom.”
~ Harold Arlen

“Hooray for Hollywood!” ~ Johnny Mercer

“You ain’t heard nothing yet, folks!” ~ Al Jolson

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

November 29, 2022

BOCA RATON, FL:  George Gershwin.  Irving Berlin. Johnny Mercer. Harold Arlen. Sheldon Harnick.  Jerry Herman. These composers and many more will be highlighted in To Life 3: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to the Great Hollywood Musicals.  The production will run from January 20th through February 5th at The Willow Theatre in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park. To Life 3 is a follow-up to two previous To Life productions – both of which sold out at the Willow Theatre in 2019 and 2020. 

Featuring amusing anecdotes and fascinating historical facts, along with tributes to some of the greatest Jewish performers in Hollywood history, including Eddie Cantor, Danny Kaye, and Barbara Streisand, To Life 3 will be performed by five of South Florida’s award-winning musical theatre artists:  Julie Kleiner, Bruno Faria, Michael Materdomini, Amy Tanner, and Shari Upbin.

Hy Juter

Hy Juter (Jupiter Theater Company, LLC) will produce the show: “We’re extremely excited about this iteration of our To Life series,” he says.  “This time we’re focusing on Hollywood and the outstanding talents that contributed to those great musicals we all remember. We have an amazing cast – their talent is extraordinary! Our director, Shari Upbin, has also written the show this year.  Her background in theatre and her extensive knowledge of the Hollywood musical made her a natural choice to continue our tradition of presenting audiences with a unique combination of history, music, and fun!”

Shari Upbin

Upbin will also direct the production, and Bobby Peaco will serve as music director and pianist.

“To Life 1 and 2 featured the Jewish composers of Broadway,” Upbin says. “But what most people don’t realize is first of all, how many of them transitioned to Hollywood, and secondly, that there were numerous Jewish composers who wrote primarily for ‘the movies’.  I had an amazing time writing the script for the show,” she continues. “I learned so much – there are so many fascinating stories involving these amazingly talented individuals I can’t wait to share with our audiences. And of course,  I couldn’t leave out some of the greatest Jewish stars who left their indelible marks – Eddie Cantor, Danny Kaye, Barbra Streisand… so many and so memorable.”

To Life 3 will run from January 20 through February 5 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.  Tickets are $43; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $38.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.sugarsandpark.org/life-3 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 To Life 3: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to the Great Hollywood Musicals please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.    

~

Hy Juter (Jupiter Theater Company, LLC) presents
To Life 3: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to the Great Hollywood Musicals
January 20 – February 5, 2023
Written and Directed by Shari Upbin 
Tickets: $43 / $38 for groups of 6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction
For tickets:  561-347-3948 or
https://www.sugarsandpark.org/life-3
Showtimes:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Saturday, & Sunday at 2 pm
All performances take place in
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486

About The Willow Theatre:
The Willow Theatre, opened in 1998, is a beautiful 155-seat proscenium theater, located inside Sugar Sand Park Community Center and allows for a unique experience for theatre patrons. Before or after a show, you may wander the nature trails, visit the Children’s Science Explorium, look at the art exhibit on display, or picnic at one of our pavilions.

  • Shari Upbin
  • Bobby Peaco
  • Julie Kleiner
  • Michael Materdomini
  • Bruno Faria
  • Amy Tanner
  • Hy Juter

TO LIFE: STORIES & MUSIC CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEWISH COMPOSERS TO THE GOLDEN AGE OF BROADWAY – Jan 18 – Feb at the Willow Theatre

27 Thursday Dec 2018

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Black Box Booking & Hy Juter
Present

To Life: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway

January 18 – February 3, 2019

 “Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you’ve got to wait ’til the last collaborator comes in before you can complete the collaboration.” 
~ Stephen Sondheim

“I think it is just as important to sing about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about slums. I just couldn’t write anything without hope in it.”
~ Oscar Hammerstein”

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

December 27, 2018
BOCA RATON, FL:  From Irving Berlin to Leonard Bernstein, and from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim, not to mention Fanny Brice, Zero Mostel, Jerry Orbach, and Barbra Streisand, Jewish composers and artists have contributed tremendously to Broadway.   Black Box Booking and Hy Juter will present To Life: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park from January 18th through February 3rd.

To Life: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway is chock full of fascinating narrative and charming anecdotes about some of the greatest Broadway artists of the 20th and 21st century.  The production features five of South Florida’s top actor singers:  Jeffrey Bruce, Broadway’s Jodie Langel, two-time Carbonell Award-winner Wayne LeGette, Alix Paige, and Carbonell Award-winner Mark Sanders.

Producers Jerry Seltzer of Black Box Booking and Hy Juter have tapped Shari Upbin to direct the show, and Paul Reekie to handle To Life’s musical direction.

“Jewish contribution to the Broadway musical has been phenomenal,” Upbin says. “In fact, Jewish composers and lyricists created the Broadway musical. Children of immigrants, called outsiders – people who struggled for acceptance in mainstream society – created the greatest American shows in history. Show Boat, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy… and scores (pun intended!) more!

“Growing up in a household where my mother was a singer and my dad a writer for Jack Benny, I learned musical theatre songs early, and created dances for my parents to enjoy,” she continues. “I was encouraged by their enthusiasm for a good song, a good joke. Yes, my parents spoke Yiddish when they did not want me to understand what they were saying… but I always felt the warmth of the light in their eyes. I dedicate all the Jewish one-liners and the amazing songs heard in this show to my parents and grandparents. Immigrants who found their place in America urging me to continue their legacy. Tradition!”

To Life: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway was created and written by Scott Siegel.  Siegel is a well-known pop culture critic who covers film, theatre, and cabaret with his wife, Barbara, writing “The Siegel Column” for TheatreMania.com, and “The Two of Clubs” column for Talkin’Broadway.com. He has created more than 300 major concerts that have been performed worldwide, he has written/produced/directed concerts for Michael Feinstein, and has created scores of nightclub acts that have played at major clubs around the globe. However, he is perhaps best known as the creator/writer/director/host of New York City’s Town Hall Theatre’s signature series, Broadway by the Year® and Broadway Unplugged.

Nicole Stav is the production’s Stage Manager, and Jason Pierre will serve as Assistant Stage Manager.  Technical crew includes Laura Fulton (Lighting) and Andrés Alessandro Beuses Casasanta (Sound).

To Life will run from January 18 through February 3 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.  Tickets are $35; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $30.  Tickets can be purchased on line at www.willowtheatre.org 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 To Life: Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.  To learn more about Black Box Booking please visit www.blackboxbooking.com, and for more information about Hy Juter please contact jupitertheater@yahoo.com.

To Life:  Stories & Music Celebrating the Contributions of Jewish Composers to The Golden Age of Broadway
January 18 – February 3, 2019
Created and Written by Scott Siegel
Directed by Shari Upbin
Tickets: $35 / $30 for groups of 6 or more
For tickets:  561-347-3948 or www.willowtheatre.org
Showtimes:
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday at 2 pm
All performances take place at
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
www.willowtheatre.org

About The Willow Theatre:
The Willow Theatre, opened in 1998, is a beautiful 155-seat proscenium theater, located inside Sugar Sand Park Community Center and allows for a unique experience for theatre patrons. Before or after a show, you may wander the nature trails, visit the Children’s Science Explorium, look at the art exhibit on display, or picnic at one of our pavilions.

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LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Stage Door Theatre – August 31 – September 23

06 Monday Aug 2018

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Stage Door Theatre
presents
La Cage Aux Folles
August 31 – September 23
at their new venue
Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)

“We are what we are, and what we are is an illusion.”
La Cage Aux Folles

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Carol Kassie
Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244


August 7, 2018:

LAUDERHILL, FL:  Stage Door Theatre’s first production at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC), their brand new, state-of-the-art home, will be the multiple Tony Award-winning La Cage Aux Folles.   The production will open on August 31st and run through September 23rd.   (The theatre will celebrate the move to their new home at a Gala Party on September 1st – details to be announced.)

After twenty years of un-wedded bliss, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better-or-worse experience a bit of both when Georges’ son (fathered during a one-night fling) announces his impending marriage to the daughter of a bigoted, right-wing politician.  Further complicating the situation is the ‘family business’: Albin and Georges run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, where Albin is the ‘star’ performer, ZaZa.

The musical, based on the French play by Jean Poiret, was adapted for the stage by Broadway royalty – Harvey Fierstein wrote the book, and Jerry Herman provided the music and lyrics.  The original production received nine Tony nominations, and won six, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.  It is the first musical to win the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical twice.

Carbonell nominee (as both actor and director) Bruce Linser will direct the production: “I see this show as somewhat of a period piece,” Linser explains. “It is set in the 70s, a time when gay people and drag queens were still fighting to come out of the shadows. This story of a young straight man forcing his parents to change themselves and their lives so drastically – or these two gay men being willing to suffer that humiliation so willingly – would seem ridiculous or even downright hateful today. Not that gay people aren’t still marginalized. With lawsuits around gay wedding cakes and “religious freedom” laws, there is definitely a culture of fear and hatred for the LGBT community, and there are looming signs of it being allowed to grow under the current administration in Washington DC. So in a way this production of this show at this time is a bit of a warning. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it”, as they say. We need to remember where we’ve been, so we can prevent ourselves from going there again in the future. And that’s for all of us – gay and straight alike. What we need right now is empathy and understanding for each other, and what better way to explore that than through the joy and thoughtfulness that is musical theatre?

“To that end, we are following much more of the style of the most recent revival of the show,” he continues.  “Harvey Fierstein, who wrote the book to La Cage, has said that the original production, while glamorous and beautiful, wasn’t really “right” for the world of the play. It was glitzed and glittered up for Broadway, in large part to make it palatable and acceptable for the Broadway audience at the time. And it worked – it’s a beloved, Tony-winning show, gay relationships now enjoy widespread support and acceptance, and drag queens have their own TV shows! Which is why we can now take that shiny veneer off of the show, at least a little bit, so we can explore more of the darker truth that the original movie and show were revealing. Don’t get me wrong – there will still be gorgeous costumes and fabulous dance numbers. It’s a musical, after all! But we’re also looking for the heart and soul underneath all of that … the fear and love that drives these people to be who they are and do what they do. The humanity of these characters and their relationships. That, to me, makes for interesting, powerful, and entertaining theatre.”

Linser has assembled a top-notch cast to populate the Riviera town of St. Tropez:  Larry Buzzeo will play Albin/ZaZa, and Jamie Parnell will play Georges.  2017 Carbonell Award-winner Elijah Word will play Jacob, and Connor Delves will play Jean-Michel.  Dalia Aleman and James Skiba, who recently starred in Stage Door’s production of Victor/Victoria will also be featured. Other cast members include 2017 Carbonell nominee Kat Gold, Alexandra Van Hasselt, JR Coley, Rebeca Diaz, Sean Davis, Nicole Kinzel, Kevin Lozano, Courtney Poston, Dyllan Vallier, Stephen Hohendorf, Korey Harlow, Jonathan Eisele, Johanna Moise, and Cat Pagano.

Paul Reekie will serve as the production’s Musical Director; Choreography is by Danny Durr, and the show’s Assistant Choreographer is Jenny Hegarty.  Scenic Design is by Michael McLain; Lighting Design is by Ardean Landhuis; Sound Design is by King Raymonvil; and Costumes are by Jerry Sturdevant.  The production’s Stage Manager is Nancy Clay.

La Cage Aux Folles will run from August 31 to September 24 at Stage Door Theatre’s new location, the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC). The theatre is located at 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the North East corner of Sunrise Boulevard and 441 (State Road 7).

Tickets for La Cage Aux Folles (and for all Stage Door productions) will remain at $48. (LPAC will charge $5 service fee per ticket, however if a package of four Stage Door shows is purchased the service fees will be waived.) Group rates are available, as are student prices (with valid ID). Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at www.stagedoorfl.org or on the LPAC website at https://lpacfl.com.

For more information about La Cage Aux Folles and/or Stage Door Theatre, please visit www.stagedoorfl.org, or contact Derelle Bunn Executive Producer/Artistic Director, at DerelleBunn@yahoo.com / 954-344-7765 or Carol Kassie (carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244).

La Cage Aux Folles
August 31 – September 23, 2018
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the play by Jean Poiret
Tickets:  $48 ($53 with s/c)
Tickets:  954-344-7765 / www.stagedoorfl.org
Showtimes:
Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday at 2 pm,
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm
All performances take place at
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11th Place
Lauderhill, FL 33311
(Central Broward Regional Park – NE corner of Sunrise Blvd. and 441)
www.stagedoorfl.org
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