This Is Not A 'View' You Want To See

Sometimes Broadway makes us just scratch our heads in wonderment.
You must know what those times are like, right?
When you've paid a huge ticket price for something that's been called "absolutely astonishing" and you find yourself thinking: "Wha . . . . ?"
When you've looked forward to seeing a new interpretation of a classic (but not too new) and you discover that now it's no longer anything like you remember it?
When you've got great seats and you expect something scintillating and mesmerizing and darn near thrilling only to discover that your main concern becomes just how uncomfortable the seat is or just how glaring and depressing the set seems.
Ok, look -- Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge is not a cheerful show.
We knew that. We understood that. We studied this Miller play and nearly all of his works thoroughly in American Literature class in college. And then we saw an outstanding production of the play (faithfully produced and in context) with the late, great Richard Castellano in the lead role as Eddie Carbone, a rough, burly, dockworker in Brooklyn's hardscrabble Red Hook neighborhood of the 1950s. The time and the context are critical to the understanding of the drama and if you see a production of the show as Miller meant for it to be produced, you'll understand why.
But the current production of this play (now at the Lyceum Theater on Broadway) from Britain's Young Vic Company is no such production. Under the direction Ivo Von Hove the play is literally and figuratively stripped bare. It begins with two half-naked dock workers rinsing off their not-quite-ripped bodies in a stark, sanitary environment (a large, brightly-lit white box) and it ends -- well, you don't really want to know how it ends. Let's just say that it ends with the only gimmicky special effect of the entire evening. Here's a hint: There's a drain in the floor of the box/stage and we don't know why it's there until the big, sloppy ending.
Anyway, this production has no props whatsoever. None.
Which is to say that there's no set except for the big white box that the players move around in. The characters have no costumes to speak of, either. They move about in ordinary street clothes (rather dreary looking outfits) except that they don't wear shoes or socks. They remain barefooted the entire time. Don't ask us why. We still don't know why.
Also, the characters in this version are compressed into a stage/box that is about one-third the size of the actual Lyceum stage. The other two-thirds of the stage (on either side of the box) is taken up by bleachers for audience members. So, save for the back wall, this almost seems like a production in the round with audience members in the scene on the right and the left. Meanwhile, since they can't enter or leave from the right or the left, all of the players appear and disappear through a simple, bare opening in the center of the back wall.
The characters move about and deliver their lines almost like robotic pieces on a magnetized metal slab. Don't misunderstand. They have a lot of emotion and there's plenty of shouting and gesticulating over the course of this long production which plays without interruption. But it's all sort of starngely over wrought. And, while all this is going on there are weird, piercing sounds playing in the background. Why? Maybe some of these are supposed to be sounds associated with the docks, but we're not entirely sure what they are. Are the sounds there to create added tension or mystery or intrigue or what? Your guess is as good as ours.

As originally written by Miller, the play is set in an Italian American neighborhood near the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. It employs a chorus and narrator in the character of Alfieri, a lawyer. Eddie, the tragic protagonist, has an improper love of, and almost obsession with, Catherine who is his niece and adopted daughter.
Miller's interest in writing about the world of the New York docks originated with an unproduced screenplay that he developed with Elia Kazan in the early 1950s (entitled The Hook) that addressed corruption on the Brooklyn docks. Kazan later directed On the Waterfront, which dealt with the same subject. Miller said that he heard the basic account that developed into the plot of A View from the Bridge from a lawyer who worked with longshoremen, who related it to him as a true story.

This production (which runs through February 21) has been called everything from "thrilling" to "magnificent" to "exquisite" and "profound."

But, even though this production has given us an insight into what appear to be current theatrical trends, we still have to call it unfaithful, manipulative and gimmicky.

Oh yes, we understand that Eddie's story is a complete tragedy -- a classic tragedy. We get it that it's sort of like a Greek tragedy and that theoretically it can be performed just as the ancient Greeks might have performed Aeschylus or Euripides. But we're not in Greece and the play takes place in the middle of the 20th century in America.

And, absent the desire to be "unique," what's this interpretation doing on Broadway in 2016?

Bottom line: Don't waste your time, or money.

Was There Someone Who Inspired YOU?

Behind every great performance is inspiration, and behind inspiration is a great teacher. The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University want to know what educators inspired you through theatre. Tell us the story of your teacher, and he or she could be selected as the winner of this year's Excellence in Theatre Education Award.

Nominate your teacher at http://TonyAwards.com/educationaward by February 29, 2016.

You Won't Believe What's Coming Back To Broadway

One of the biggest, greatest musicals of all time will return to Broadway just about a year from now.
In March, 2017 Hello Dolly! with Bette Midler on the title role will return to the Great White Way.
Directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances on Broadway on March 13, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017.

This new production of Hello, Dolly! will be the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since it opened more than fifty years ago.

You'd better plan on being first in line when the tickets go on sale because this will be a sure sellout. This is one of the most exuberant, best crafted, most tuneful musicals of all time and with Better Midler in a role that seems made for her -- well, it can;t miss! 

Mourning Loss Of Beloved Theatre School Founder

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is mourning the loss of its beloved Theatre School Founding Director Mickey McNany, who lost her brave battle with cancer on Wednesday morning.   

Mickey, as she was called by everyone, founded the Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School in 1989 and continued to manage the arts education initiative until recently. Information regarding services and arrangements will be posted on Paper Mill's website (www.papermill.org) when it is available. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to "Paper Mill Playhouse Education Fund" or "Peggy's House at Hope Village" in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Paper Mill Playhouse released a tribute video today in Mickey's honor: www.vimeo.com/148156493.

Over the decades Mickey trained thousands of students throughout the state of New Jersey who would go on to become Broadway stars, Tony Award winners and movie stars including Academy Award-winning actress Anne Hathaway. "Mickey taught from a place of love, always with a smile in her eyes… that was Mickey's gift," 

Anne Hathaway, who studied with Mickey for several years in her youth. recently remarked, . "She taught us that this part of ourselves, the part that just had to sing and dance to feel whole, the part that for some of us wasn’t an easy fit in the rest of our lives, was lovable and cherished. She was the leader and constructor of our enchanted playground and she was always smiling."

Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee added, "You will never meet another teacher as beloved as Mickey McNany.  She is truly one of those unique individuals you may meet once in your lifetime, if you are lucky enough – and if you are lucky enough to have had her as a teacher or colleague, she will leave an indelible mark on the very core of who you are. I know this because I have seen it happen countless times during my 15-year relationship with her and, in fact, have been transformed by her myself."

Mickey McNany, a resident of Springfield, NJ, was a certified instructor with a BA in Fine Arts Education and a PBM degree in Music Performance from Kean University.  Mickey tirelessly devoted herself to Paper Mill Playhouse students for nearly 30 years.  She founded the Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School in 1989 and grew it from a single class to a thriving, year-round enterprise offering classes to over 500 students each year.  

She oversaw the Junior Division of Paper Mill's esteemed Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.  She was an instructor, a director and the brilliant set designer for Paper Mill’s three student touring companies.  In her home garage “scene shop” she transformed cardboard refrigerator boxes into stunning sets as varied as the Darlings' nursery and Aladdin’s Agrabah.  Recently Mickey’s touring production of Aladdin was showcased on Paper Mill's mainstage.

Inspired by her granddaughter Mary, Mickey had a life-long passion for ensuring that children with disabilities could experience the joy and magic of theater arts. From the start of her Paper Mill tenure, she brought student touring companies to schools and centers for children with disabilities. She started Paper Mill's Creative Drama class for children with disabilities. She collaborated with the Horizon School on the “Lend Your Voice” project, an innovative partnership in which Paper Mill students record voiceovers that enable nonverbal children to realize the characters in their school play. This program was recognized with the Cultural Access Network’s 2013 Innovator Award. Mickey’s other awards include the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2009 Applause Award for Excellence in Theatre Education, the 2013 New Jersey Governor’s Award for Arts Education, the 2013 VSA New Jersey Education in the Arts Distinguished Service Award,  Kean University’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award and the Byrne-Kean Arts Advocate Award from Paper Mill Playhouse.

"Mickey’s magic is that she makes every child feel like the most worthwhile person in the room," stated Paper Mill Playhouse Director of Education Lisa Cooney.  Because Mickey needed to retire from the classroom last month, a Facebook page was created so that her current and former students have a forum in which to share the impact Mickey has had on their lives. Among the hundreds of inspirational tributes, one student summed it up best when she said:

In a way, I am surprised by the hundreds of people here expressing how much Mickey meant to them. Mickey made me feel special and appreciated; she was a steadfast advocate. How did she have the time, love, and energy to make everyone else feel the same way? I think this is a testament to Mickey's capacity to care, her insight, her passion, and her uncanny ability to make everyone feel appreciated for their own specific skills. She made me feel like a star!

Cooney continued, "Every kid feels like a star when they are in her presence because, to Mickey, every kid, in their own way, is a star.  Discovering the inner strength and worth in each individual child and nurturing it until the child feels and believes it himself is the greatest gift a teacher can give to a student.  And Mickey has done this thousands and thousands of times.  She is an irreplaceable gift to her students and her colleagues, and everyone at Paper Mill Playhouse."

In a recent interview Mickey remarked,   “I have had the gift of working for 30 years in a place I adore and has given me the opportunity to meet and work with so many outstanding people.  I have seen people transformed through the magic of theater and students who are differently abled rise to their true potential and have so much fun, and it has been glorious. I am surrounded by a loving family and friends and cannot possible ask for anything more out of life. I am living the life out of every day I am given, and I'm so grateful for all the miracles I am noticing every day. Who could ask for anything more? Be assured that I will have my students and Paper Mill family in my heart…Always!”

'Fiddler' Returns To Broadway Sunday!

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jam Theatricals, Louise Gund and Jerry Frankel are thrilled to announce the new Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof officially opens on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Tickets are now on sale via Telecharge.com or by phone at (212) 239-6200.

The cast features five-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle Award winner Danny Burstein (Cabaret, Golden Boy, Follies, South Pacific) in the iconic role of Tevye, Tony nominee Jessica Hecht (A View From the Bridge, “Breaking Bad,” The Last Night of Ballyhoo) as Golde, Jenny Rose Baker (Annie Get Your Gun) as Shprintze, Michael C. Bernardi as Mordcha, Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, The Coast of Utopia) as Lazar Wolf, Hayley Feinstein (Shrek The Musical, National Tour) as Bielke, Mitch Greenberg (It Shoulda Been You) as Yussel and the Beggar, Adam Grupper (The Addams Family) as the Rabbi, Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years, Next to Normal, Rent) as Motel, Karl Kenzler (You Can’t Take It With You, Mary Poppins) as the Constable, Alix Korey (All Shook Up, Chicago) as Yente, Jesse Kovarsky as The Fiddler, Samantha Massell (La Boheme) as Hodel, Melanie Moore (Finding Neverland, “So You Think You Can Dance”) as Chava, George Psomas (South Pacific) as Avram, Ben Rappaport (“Mr. Robot,” Picnic) as Perchik, Nick Rehberger (The Glass Menagerie) as Fyedka, Jeffrey Schecter (A Chorus Line, Nice Work if You Can Get It) as Mendel, Alexandra Silber (Master Class) as Tzeitel, Jessica Vosk (The Bridges of Madison County) as Fruma-Sarah, Lori Wilner (The Assembled Parties) as Grandma Tzeitel, Aaron Young as Sasha, and Jennifer Zetlan (Metropolitan Opera) as Shaindel. The ensemble features Julie Benko, Eric Bourne, Stephen Carrasco (Kinky Boots), Eric Chambliss, Austin Goodwin, Jacob Guzman (Newsies), Reed Luplau, Brandt Martinez (Aladdin), Matt Moisey, Sarah Parker, Marla Phelan (Sleep No More), Tess Primack, Silvia Vrskova, and Jonathan Royse Windham.

Fiddler on the Roof is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, who most recently helmed the 2015 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of The King and I. Sher has directed Burstein on Broadway in the revivals of Golden Boy and South Pacific, as well as in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. It is choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, inspired by the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, and the music director is Ted Sperling (The King and I, South Pacific).

Fiddler on the Roof has book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other Tony Awards that year.

The design team includes scenic design by Michael Yeargan (Tony Award nominee, The King and I), costume design by Catherine Zuber (Tony Award winner, The King and I), and lighting design by Donald Holder (Tony Award nominee, The King and I). Fiddler on the Roof will be their 5th Broadway production working with Sher, after South Pacific, Golden Boy, The Bridges of Madison County, and The King and I. Sound design is by Scott Lehrer (A Delicate Balance, South Pacific). Casting is by Telsey + Co./Abbie Brady Dalton.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Rediscover the joy as a Broadway tradition returns: Fiddler on the Roof. Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific and The King and I bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production won ten Tony Awards including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time—and now you can be there when the sun rises on this new production starring Tony nominees Danny Burstein and Jessica Hecht with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. Featuring the Broadway classics “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition,” Fiddler On the Roof will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!

Website: http://fiddlermusical.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiddlerBroadway

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiddlerBroadway

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiddlerbroadway/

'Bronx Tale' Musical Announces Cast

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce complete casting for the world premiere musical A Bronx Tale: The Musical. The musical will be co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Sergio Trujillo. A Bronx Tale: The Musical features a book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.

Leading the company are Jason Gotay as Calogero, Joshua Colley as Young Calogero, Nick Cordero as Sonny, Richard H. Blake as Lorenzo, Coco Jones as Jane and Lucia Giannetta as Rosina. A Bronx Tale: The Musical will run at the Millburn, New Jersey theater from February 4, 2016, through March 6, 2016.  The official press opening night is Sunday, February 14, at 7:00 pm. A Bronx Tale: The Musical is proudly sponsored by Bank of America and generously supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Paper Mill Playhouse's 2015-2016 Season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

Based on the real life story by Chazz Palminteri‚ A Bronx Tale: The Musical is set against the backdrop of racial strife and organized crime in the 1960s. It is the story of an Italian-American teenager finding his path in life as he must choose between the father who raised him and a mob-boss father figure who fascinates him.

A Bronx Tale: The Musical will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:30pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 8:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now starting at $32. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680.  College students may order $20 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance.

“A Bronx Tale has always had a very special meaning to me," commented co-director Robert De Niro “The story is so rich and I look forward to working with Jerry, Chazz, Alan and Glenn to bring it to the stage in its latest incarnation.”

“I’ve been in love with the story of A Bronx Tale ever since I directed Chazz Palminteri’s one-man show on Broadway a few years ago,” remarked co-director Jerry Zaks. “A Bronx Tale: The Musical is a universal story and I think it’s going to be a real treat for audiences to experience. I’m really looking forward to working on this new musical at Paper Mill Playhouse this winter.”

“There are only three things you can do to an audience - make them laugh, make them cry or you can scare them.  In A Bronx Tale: The Musical we do all three,” commented book writer Chazz Palminteri.

“I’m truly excited to be returning to Paper Mill Playhouse with this musical of A Bronx Tale,” said Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken. “As a longtime fan of Chazz Palminteri, I have treasured the opportunity to bring his incredible story to life through songs that are inspired by the Bronx neighborhood he grew up in, the unique world of his formative years and the rich sounds of late 50’s and early 60’s pop music. Besides reuniting me with longtime collaborators like Glenn Slater and Jerry Zaks, I have had the amazing honor of getting to know and work with a legend like Robert DeNiro.”

Jason Gotay (Calogero) was seen on Broadway in Bring It On: The Musical and Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. Mr. Gotay appeared in regional productions of Into the Woods, Rent, Shenandoah and The King and I. Mr. Gotay was seen in NBC’s Peter Pan Live!

Joshua Colley (Young Calogero) recently played Gavroche in Les Misérables and Les in Newsies on Broadway. Mr. Colley appeared in national tours of Elf: The Musical and the 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables.

Nick Cordero (Sonny) was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as Cheech in Bullets Over Broadway. Mr. Cordero was also seen on Broadway and on tour in Rock of Ages. Off-Broadway, Mr. Cordero appeared in The Toxic Avenger.

Richard H. Blake (Lorenzo), a resident of Clifton, New Jersey, starred in many Broadway shows including Jersey Boys, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Aida and more. Mr. Blake appeared in national tours of Wicked, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose and The Sound of Music.

Lucia Giannetta (Rosina) returns to Paper Mill Playhouse where she was last seen in The 25^th Anniversary production of Les Misérables. Ms. Giannetta was seen on Broadway in Les Misérables and Leap of Faith.

Coco Jones (Jane) starred in Disney Channel’s #1 film of 2012, Let It Shine, Coco has gone on to sell more than 200k tracks on iTunes, including her debut single Holla' At The DJ which peaked at #2 on Radio Disney.  She has performed on Good Morning America as well as making high profile appearances at The U.S. Open, The Rose Parade, BET’s 106’s and Park, and The Radio Disney Music Awards.   

Rounding out the ensemble are: Gilbert L. Bailey II (The Book of Mormon), Joe Barbara (Jersey Boys, Las Vegas) Michael Barra (Man of La Mancha tour, Law & Order), Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd (Spring Awakening, Center Repertory Theater), Jonathan Brody (Spamalot), Ted Brunetti (Assassins, Plawrights Horizons), Eean Sherrod Cochran (Mamma Mia tour), Philip Colgan (West Side Story, Skirball Center), Brittany Conigatti (Matilda tour), Kaleigh Cronin (Cabaret), Kim Dodson (A Christmas Carol, McCarter Theater), Trista Dollison (The Lion King), Vincenzo Faruolo (A Christmas Story; The Musical, Paper Mill Playhouse), David Michael Garry (The Phantom of the Opera), Aisha Jackson (Beautiful), Jess LeProtto (Newsies, So You Think You Can Dance), Carlos Lopez (Grease), Corey Mosello ((We Will Rock You tour, One Life to Live), Dominic Nolfi (Jersey Boys), Paul Savlatoriello (Tony N' Tina's Wedding), Christie Schwartzman (Rock of Ages tour), Joey Sorge (Nice Work if You Can Get It), Kirstin Tucker (Cinderella) and Keith White (Jersey Boys tour). 

Robert De Niro (Director), considered one of the greatest American actors of all time, produced, directed and starred in many iconic films. Mr. De Niro won the 1974 Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in The Godfather: Part II and the 1980 Academy Award for best actor for his role in Raging Bull. Mr. De Niro received Academy Award nominations for Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Awakenings, Cape Fear and Silver Linings Playbook. Mr. De Niro is a four-time New York Film Critics Circle Award winner for his work on Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Awakenings. In addition to winning the 1981 Golden Globe award for his work on Raging Bull and winning the 2011 Cecil B. DeMille Award, Mr. De Niro was nominated for a total of seven Golden Globe Awards. Mr. De Niro was nominated for six British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. Mr. De Niro starred in many other films including Mean Streets, Bang the Drum, Analyze That, Meet the Fockers and more. Mr. De Niro made his Broadway debut in the 1986 play Cuba & His Teddy Bear. Mr. De Niro founded his own production company, Tribeca Film Center, and made his directorial debut in 1993 with A Bronx Tale.

Jerry Zaks (Director) won four Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and an Obie Award. Mr. Zaks directed many Broadway shows including Sister Act, The Addams Family, Guys and Dolls, Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me a Tenor, House of Blue Leaves, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Anything Goes, La Cage aux Folles, Little Shop of Horrors and more. Mr. Zaks received SDC’s Mr. Abbott Award for lifetime achievement and an honorary doctorate of fine arts from his alma mater, Dartmouth College. Mr. Zaks is a 2013 inductee to the Theater Hall of Fame.

Sergio Trujillo (Choreographer) is a four-time Drama Desk Award nominee who choreographed the Broadway productions of On Your Feet!, Memphis, Jersey Boys, Leap of Faith, The Addams Family, Next to Normal, Guys and Dolls and more. Mr. Trujillo choreographed off-Broadway productions of Invisible Thread, Saved, The Capeman, Romeo and Juliet, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Kismet.

Chazz Palminteri (Book) wrote and performed his one-man show A Bronx Tale for the first time in 1989 before moving it off-Broadway. Mr. Palminteri went on to write the screenplay and co-star in the screen adaptation of A Bronx Tale alongside Robert De Niro. Mr. Palminteri has more than 55 movies to his credit as an actor, writer, and director, including The Usual Suspects, Bullets Over Broadway (Academy Award nomination), Analyze This, Hurlyburly, Mullholland Falls, Faithful (also written by Mr. Palminteri), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Yonkers Joe, Jolene and most recently Legend starring Tom Hardy. Mr. Palminteri had a recurring role on the hit show Modern Family and has starred in Blue Bloods. Mr. Palminteri directed the HBO series Oz (episode “Unnatural Disasters”), Showtime’s Women vs Men, and the feature film Noel starring Susan Sarandon, Paul Walker, and Robin Williams.

Alan Menken (Music) composed the stage and film musicals Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Mr. Menken’s other stage musicals include God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, A Christmas Carol, Sister Act and Leap of Faith. Mr. Menken’s film musicals also include Life With Mikey, Pocahontas, Hercules, The Shaggy Dog, Enchanted, Tangled and Mirror, Mirror.  Some of Mr. Menken’s television credits include Galavant, The Neighbors, Lincoln, Sesame Street and more. Mr. Menken won eight Oscar Awards, 11 Grammy Awards (including Song of the Year), seven Golden Globe Awards, a Tony Award, an Olivier Award, a New York Drama Critics Award, a London Evening Standard Theatre Award, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Some of Mr. Menken’s other awards and honors include Billboard’s #1 single and album, Disney Legend, and honorary doctorates from NYU and the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Glenn Slater (Lyrics) won the 2011 Grammy for his work co-creating Disney’s Tangled. Mr. Slater is a two-time Tony Award nominee who wrote the lyrics for School of Rock, Sister Act, The Little Mermaid and Leap of Faith on Broadway. Mr. Slater received an Olivier Award nomination for his work on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies.

Ron Melrose (Music Supervisor & Vocal/Dance Arranger) served as musical director and supervisor for Doctor Zhivago on Broadway. Mr. Melrose worked on many other Broadway productions including Wonderland, Jersey Boys, Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and more.

Jonathan Smith (Music Director/Conductor) serves as the associate musical supervisor for Jersey Boys and has worked on productions across the world. Mr. Smith was co-creator of the Tony and Grammy-nominated Broadway musical Swing!. On Broadway Mr. Smith also worked on Thoroughly Modern Millie and Imaginary Friends.

Doug Besterman (Orchestrator) is a three-time Tony Award winner for best orchestrations for his work on Fosse, The Producers and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Mr. Besterman provided orchestrations for many other Broadway shows including It Shoulda Been You, Bullets Over Broadway, Aladdin, Elf:The Musical, Seussical and more.

The A Bronx Tale: The Musical design team includes:

Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design) won the 2014 Tony Award for best scenic design of a play for his work on Act One. Mr. Boritt designed sets for many Broadway and off-Broadway shows including The Scottsboro Boys, Thérèse Raquin, Hand to God, On the Town, Sondheim On Sondheim, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chaplin and more. Mr. Boritt received the 2007 Obie Award for sustained excellence in set design.

William Ivey Long (Costume Design) won six Tony Awards for best costume design and currently serves as elected chairman of the American Theatre Wing. Mr. Long designed costumes for many Broadway shows including Chicago, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Cabaret, Grey Gardens, The Boy from Oz, Hairspray, The Producers and more.

Howell Binkley (Lighting Design) won the 2006 Tony Award for best lighting design of a musical for his work on Jersey Boys.  Mr. Binkley served as lighting designer for many Broadway shows including Hamilton, Allegiance, Honeymoon in Vegas, After Midnight, Lombardi, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls and more.

Gareth Owen (Sound Design) received Olivier Awards for Merrily We Roll Along and Memphis and Tony Award nominations for A Little Night Music and End of the Rainbow. Mr. Owen designed more than 250 commercial musicals including worldwide productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Hairspray, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Singin’ in the Rain and Paper Mill’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Paul Huntley (Hair & Wig Design) won the 2003 Tony Award for excellence in theatre and the 2002 Drama Desk Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Huntley provided hair and wig design for many Broadway shows including Fun Home, The Visit, Big Fish, Gypsy and more.

Robert Westley (Fight Coordinator) recently served as fight director for Hand to God on Broadway. Mr. Westley’s off-Broadway work includes Important Hats of the Twentieth Century, Verité, Things of Dry Hours and Butcher of Baraboo.

Tara Rubin Casting (Casting) is a leading New York casting firm whose Broadway credits include Aladdin, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia! among others. Tara Rubin Casting’s regional credits include Yale Repertory, Westport Country Playhouse, Bucks County Playhouse and more. The lead casting directors on this project are Tara Rubin, CSA and Merri Sugarman, CSA.

The Production Stage Manager is Beverly Jenkins.

Fiddler On The Roof To Launch Chanukah Celebration Sunday

The new Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof will celebrate the first night of Chanukah with four major events this Sunday, December 6. 

From DOROT on Upper East Side to Macy’s and Hebro in Midtown to The Museum of Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s historic Lower East Side, the city will be covered with Fiddler cast appearances and performances to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights. Fiddler on the Roof, the celebrated musical, is currently in previews and will open on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Tickets are now on sale via Telecharge.com or by phone at (212) 239-6200.

Below is a breakdown of the events featuring Fiddler cast members on Sunday, December 6:

DOROT’s Chanukah Party

11:30 AM – 171 West 85^th Street, New York, NY 10024

DOROT, an innovative leader in mobilizing volunteers of all ages to improve the lives and health of the elderly, will celebrate the season at this special event. The organization serves both the Jewish and wider communities to address the challenges of an aging society. Members of the Fiddler cast will perform “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Sunrise, Sunset” and visit with the seniors. More information on the organization is at www.DorotUSA.org

Macy’s Holiday Reading Circle

1:00 PM – Macy’s Herald Square, 7^th Floor – 151 West 34^th Street, New York, NY 10001

The Macy’s Reading Circle is held throughout the year and will be specifically featuring the stories of Sholem Aleichem for this holiday event. The production’s stars Adam Kantor, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, and Alexandra Silber will be performing “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “Miracle of Miracles.” Following that, Elisa Stein, the wife of Fiddler’s late bookwriter Joseph Stein, will read Aleichem’s classic tales that are the basis for the musical. While supplies last, attendees can receive a voucher good for a pair of Fiddler tickets with any $100 Macy’s purchase. For more details, please visit www.macys.com/events.

An Afternoon with lyricist Sheldon Harnick

2:00 PM – The Museum at Eldridge Street – 12 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002

Fiddler’s legendary lyricist Sheldon Harnick with talk will Alisa Solomon – author of Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof – about his fascinating life, career, and the making of a musical masterpiece. The program will also feature music by violinist Kate Mollica and is followed by a reception with traditional Chanukah treats to follow. Tickets to the event are $18 adults and $15 students and seniors. Visit Eldridgestreet.org or call (212) 219-0302.

Hebro’s HANUCON

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM – Therapy Bar & Lounge, 348 West 52^nd Street, 2^nd Floor

Hanucon – sponsored by Hebro, the gay Jewish social organization – will serve latkes, offer drink specials, and have a DJ. The Fiddler cast performs at 7:15 PM followed by candle lighting. Attendees are encouraged to flaunt the spirit of the holiday with a Hanukkah sweater or a Star of David necklace. Hebro produces club parties, bar nights, Shabbat dinners and cultural experiences for gay Jews in New York City. Hebro began in 2008 and this is their 4^th Annual Hanukkah event.  For further details and to purchase tickets, email info@myhebro.com or visit MyHebro.com

Fiddler on the Roof is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jam Theatricals, Louise Gund and Jerry Frankel.

The cast features five-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle Award winner Danny Burstein (Cabaret, Golden Boy, Follies, South Pacific) who will step into the iconic role of Tevye, Tony nominee Jessica Hecht (A View From the Bridge, “Breaking Bad,” The Last Night of Ballyhoo) as Golde, Jenny Rose Baker (Annie Get Your Gun) as Shprintze, Michael C.   Bernardi as Mordcha, Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, The Coast of Utopia) as Lazar Wolf, Hayley Feinstein (Shrek The Musical, National Tour) as Bielke, Mitch Greenberg (It Shoulda Been You) as Yussel and the Beggar, Adam Grupper (The Addams Family) as the Rabbi, Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years, Next to Normal, Rent) as Motel, Karl Kenzler (You Can’t Take It With You, Mary Poppins) as the Constable, Alix Korey (All Shook Up, Chicago) as Yente, Jesse Kovarsky as The Fiddler, Samantha Massell (La Boheme) as Hodel, Melanie Moore (Finding Neverland, “So You Think You Can Dance”) as Chava, George Psomas (South Pacific) as Avram, Ben Rappaport (“Mr. Robot,” Picnic) as Perchik, Nick Rehberger (The Glass Menagerie) as Fyedka, Jeffrey Schecter (A Chorus Line, Nice Work if You Can Get It) as Mendel, Alexandra Silber (Master Class) as Tzeitel, Jessica Vosk (The Bridges of Madison County) as Fruma-Sarah, Lori Wilner (The Assembled Parties) as Grandma Tzeitel, Aaron Young as Sasha, and Jennifer Zetlan (Metropolitan Opera) as Shaindel. The ensemble features Julie Benko, Eric Bourne, Stephen Carrasco (Kinky Boots), Eric Chambliss, Austin Goodwin, Jacob Guzman (Newsies), Reed Luplau, Brandt Martinez (Aladdin), Matt Moisey, Sarah Parker, Marla Phelan (Sleep No More), Tess Primack, Silvia Vrskova, and Jonathan Royse Windham.

Fiddler on the Roof is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, who most recently helmed the 2015 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of The King and I. Sher has directed Burstein on Broadway in the revivals of Golden Boy and South Pacific, as well as in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. It is choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, inspired by the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, and the music director is Ted Sperling (The King and I, South Pacific).

Fiddler on the Roof has book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other Tony Awards that year.

The design team includes scenic design by Michael Yeargan (Tony Award nominee, The King and I), costume design by Catherine Zuber (Tony Award winner, The King and I), and lighting design by Donald Holder (Tony Award nominee, The King and I). Fiddler on the Roof will be their 5th Broadway production working with Sher, after South Pacific, Golden Boy, The Bridges of Madison County, and The King and I. Sound design is by Scott Lehrer (A Delicate Balance, South Pacific). Casting is by Telsey + Co./Abbie Brady Dalton.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Rediscover the joy as a Broadway tradition returns: Fiddler on the Roof. Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific and The King and I bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production won ten Tony Awards including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time—and now you can be there when the sun rises on this new production starring Tony nominees Danny Burstein and Jessica Hecht with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. Featuring the Broadway classics “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition,” Fiddler On the Roof will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!

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