Category Archives: Stage – all

TRINITY REP CLOSES SEASON WITH OKLAHOMA!

Theatre Announcements, , , ,

A fresh take on a classic helmed by 2015 Emmy Award winner Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins May 5-June 5, 2016Oklahoma art 4 web

PROVIDENCE, RI: Trinity Rep closes out its 52nd season Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, directed and choreographed by 2015 Emmy Award winner Richard Jenkins and Sharon Jenkins. Oklahoma! runs May 5-June 5, 2016.

At the turn of the 20th century in the western territories, cowboy Curly vies with mysterious farmhand Jud for the heart of Laurey, the woman they both love. Packed with humor, romance, square dances and an unforgettable score, Oklahoma! is a portrait of both the naiveté and complexity of American pioneer settlers.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Richard and Sharon bringing their signature style and relentless approach to Oklahoma!,” artistic director Curt Columbus said of the pair that brought Trinity Rep’s critically acclaimed 2014 production of Oliver! to life. “They are an incredible team, because of their commitment to emotionally evocative story telling through world class acting. Richard and Sharon personify what it means to be Trinity Rep artists. This is sure to be an Oklahoma! unlike any other.”

The cast includes Trinity Rep resident acting company members Janice Duclos, Rebecca Gibel, Stephen Thorne, Charlie Thurston, Rachael Warren and Joe Wilson, Jr., with Shura Baryshnikov, Royer Bockus, Jon Cooper, Taavon Gamble, Tom Gleadow, Kevin Patrick Martin, Jude Sandy, Hannah Spacone and Stephen Ursprung.

The design team includes Michael Rice (music direction), Eugene Lee (set and lighting design), Toni Spadafora (costume design), Peter Sasha Hurowitz (sound design) and stage manager Kristen Gibbs.

Richard Rodgers (composer, 1902–1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (librettist/lyricist, 1895–1960) joined forces in 1943, creating the most successful partnership in American musical theatre. Oklahoma!, their first musical together, was the first of a new genre—the musical play—blending Rodgers’ sophisticated style of musical comedy with Hammerstein’s innovations in operetta. Oklahoma! was followed by Carousel (1945), Allegro (1947), South

Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Me and Juliet (1953), Pipe Dream (1955), Flower Drum Song (1958) and The Sound of Music (1959). The team also wrote one movie musical, State Fair (1945; adapted to the stage, 1995), and one for television, Cinderella (1957; adapted to the stage, 2011). Their musicals have garnered awards including: Pulitzer Prizes, and Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, in addition to Drama Desk, Drama Critics’ Circle, Outer Critics’ Circle, Laurence Olivier, and Evening Standard Awards.

Director Richard Jenkins was a Trinity Rep acting company member for 14 seasons, starting in 1970. He served as artistic director for four seasons (1990-1994) and directed numerous productions during that time. Richard has appeared in over 60 feature films, the HBO drama series Six Feet Under, and has been nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Independent Spirit Awards, a Critics Choice Award, a Gotham Award, and received a Satellite Award, a Spotlight Award, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in The Visitor. Recent credits include the film God’s Pocket with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Trinity Rep’s own Peter Gerety, as well as his Emmy-winning role opposite Frances McDormand in Olive Kitteridge.

Director and choreographer Sharon Jenkins has worked as a choreographer on productions at Trinity Rep for over 40 years, where she has worked with artistic directors Adrian Hall, Richard Jenkins, Amanda Dehnert, Oskar Eustis, and Curt Columbus. She has choreographed The Music Man, Annie, West Side Story, The Fantasticks, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cabaret, Camelot and Oliver!. Sharon spent 20 years as the dance director at Hope Arts Magnet School in Providence, 15 years as a dance specialist with the RI State Council on the Arts, 10 years as a dancer with RI Dance Rep, and 10 years as choreographer for The Arabella Project. In addition to her work at Trinity Rep, she has worked at Long Wharf Theatre, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Center Stage, South Coast Rep and was the choreographer for Paramount Pictures feature School Ties.

website at www.trinityrep.com

Seaglass Chorale in Concert

Music, Theatre Announcements, , , , , , , , ,

Presents “Reflection and Meditation”

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Merrill Auditorium, Portland

3 p.m.

I saw the Seaglass Chorale perform this work by Ola Gjeilo last year and it is positively beautiful. The music and photographs are a perfect match. The voices and orchestra soothe the soul.

 

“The voices and orchestra soothe the soul.”

 

Merrill Poster Updated Jan 2016Seaglass Chorale of southern Maine will present its debut concert, “Reflection and Meditation,” at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium under the direction of Jean Strazdes. The concert, scheduled for March 20, introduces the music of contemporary Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo to the Merrill audience and will be performed against a backdrop of images by Maine photographer Peter Ralston. Selections include Sunrise Mass, Across the Vast Eternal Sky, Dark Night of the Soul, and Luminous Night of the Soul.

 

The performance by the 49 member chorale will feature Kim Karchenes, piano; visual artist Stephanie Sanders and a nine member string ensemble.

Tickets are available through PortTIX for $38 with special rates for groups of 15 or more. For more information, see www.tickets.porttix.com, Email: www [dot] boxoffice [at] porttix [dot] com or call 207-842-0800.

A Captivating Romeo and Juliet At The Hartford Stage

Theater Reviews, , , , , , ,

 

by Bobby Franklin

“O Romeo, Romeo! – wherefore art thou Romeo?”

In answer to that question, Romeo, Juliet, and all of the Capulets and Montagues are on the Hartford Stage under the very fine direction of Darko Tresnjak.

This Romeo and Juliet is nothing short of superb.

This Romeo and Juliet is nothing short of superb. Written over 400 years ago, the Hartford’s production of Shakespeare’s work is fresh and alive. The beautifully talented Kaliswa Brewster in her “dream role” as Juliet couldn’t be more perfect in the role as the young Ms

Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster)
Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster)

Capulet who is taken with the handsome Romeo played by the equally talented Chris Ghaffari. The two are lovely to watch as their forbidden love blossoms. They perform their parts with much playful humor (the famous balcony scene is among the best and most original I have ever seen) on a versatile set inspired by the work of Italian neorealist cinema, think Rossellini and Visconti.

Romeo (Chris Ghaffari) and Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster)
Romeo (Chris Ghaffari) and Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster)

The first half of this beautiful play is joyful and light. It makes the audience relax and share in the excitement of the title characters as they become more and more enthralled with each other. We laugh and share in their joy. Of course, we are made well aware of the tension that exists between the two families, but some how we feel things will work out just fine. Yes, even knowing the story, our emotions follow that arc. It is the magic director Tresnjak is able to make happen on stage. It is not the first time I have seen him do this.

Mercutio (Wyatt Fenner) and Tybalt (Jonathan Louis Dent)
Mercutio (Wyatt Fenner) and Tybalt (Jonathan Louis Dent)

Mercutio (Wyatt Fenner) is unlike any you have seen before. He is intense and, well, mercurial. And it is when he meets his end that our joyful mood takes a sudden and very real turn. “A plague on both your houses!” Again, it is that Darko magic at work. I observed laughter turn to tears in the audience as things descended into darkness because of the petty hatreds of the two families.

Friar Laurence (Charles Janasz)
Friar Laurence (Charles Janasz)

Charles Janasz brings wisdom and warmth to the part of Friar Laurence, and Kandis Chappell as Juliet’s nurse joins him in the failed and finally tragic attempt to reconcile things for the lovers and families. Our hearts break for them as well.

Everyone in the large cast is terrific, the set, with a balcony that extends and recedes from a wall designed after an Italian cemetery wall, and lighting are to the usual high standards of the Hartford. This production is a joy for all of the senses. Within minutes of the opening the theatergoers feel they are a part of all that is happening on the stage.

If you have seen Romeo and Juliet before do not miss this one as it is unlike any before. If you have never experienced it, there is no better time than now to see it for the first time, though I must warn you it may spoil you for future productions.

Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster) and Nurse (Kandis Chappell)
Juliet (Kaliswa Brewster) and Nurse (Kandis Chappell)

I have now attended enough Shakespeare productions directed by Darko Tresnjak at the Hartford to say his are by far the best in New England.

I urge you to take the short run down to Hartford to see this play. You’ll be sorry if you miss it.

Romeo and Juliet at The Hartford Stage through March 20th.

Info at www.hartfordstage.org Box Office 860-520-7114

The Hartford Stage Presents Romeo and Juliet

Theatre Announcements, , , , ,

Kaliswa Brewster and Chris Ghaffari Lead Cast

Directed by Darko Tresnjak

Chris Ghaffari and Kaliswa BrewsterHartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnik will be bringing his magic to William Shakespeare’s most popular play Romeo and Juliet beginning on February 11th and playing through March 20th.

Kaliswa Brewster and Chris Ghaffari will play the archetypal young lovers. Brewster’s credits include Hartford Stage’s La Dispute and Macbeth and Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Under Milk Wood, all three directed by Tresnjak; the new Showtime series “Billions,” which stars Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti and debuts next month; and the Off-Broadway premieres of Emotional Creature and Soldier X. Ghaffari is in his final year of the MFA program at the Yale School of Drama, where he has performed in Coriolanus, King John and Paradise Lost. His resume also includes King Lear for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park and As You Like It and Julius Caesar at Shakespeare on the Sound.

Tresnjak said, “Romeo & Juliet is a play of seemingly infinite possibilities, reinvented from generation to generation for over 400 years, a symbol of romantic love infused with iconic imagery and unforgettable language that has become a part of the vernacular. We look forward to exploring this eternally modern play with a company of great stage veterans and rising stars.”

Having seen Darko perform his magic on MacBeth and Hamlet I am very much looking forward to seeing what he does with Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet contains some of Shakespeare’s best known lines including “A plague on both your houses.”, “Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, that i shall say good night till it be morrow.”, and “What’s on a name? That which we call a rose by any bother name would smell as sweet.”

For more information go to: www.harfordstage.org or call 860-527-5151

The Ogunquit Playhouse Announces Its 2016 Season Lineup

Theatre Announcements, , , ,

 

The Season Kicks Of With Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles

Let It Be (Photo Paul Coltas)
Let It Be (Photo Paul Coltas)

It looks to be another exciting season as the Ogunquit Playhouse rolls out its schedule for 2016. This will be their longest season ever kicking off on May 18th with Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles. This tribute show follows the Fab Four from their humble Liverpool beginnings through their meteoric rise, and includes such great songs as Twist and Shout, She Loves You, Yesterday, Hey Jude, and Let It Be.

Let It Be will play through June 11th and be followed by Anything Goes, one of the great Broadway musicals featuring the music of Cole Porter.

Ogunquit 2016 SeasonThe season will continue with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and wrap up the regular season with the return of the rocking Million Dollar Quartet.

Once again, the Playhouse will work in collaboration with the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH to present a special Christmas show to be announced later.

The Qgunquit Playhouse is one of the most consistently good venues in New England, and this year’s lineup looks to be very promising.

Artistic Director Brad Kenney completed ten years with the Playhouse in 2015 and has taken the theatre far. Below is a Youtube look back on the many wonderful productions that have taken place under Brad’s incredible guidance.

For more information go to: www.ogunquitplayhouse.org

The White Chip, A Very Funny Play About A Very Serious Subject

Theater Reviews, , , , , , , , ,

 

At The Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell Through January 31st

Directed by Sheryl Kaller

Reviewed by Bobby Franklin

Actor #2 (Isabel Keating), Sean Daniels (Jeffrey Binder), Actor #1 (Benjamin Evett)
Actor #2 (Isabel Keating), Sean Daniels (Jeffrey Binder), Actor #1 (Benjamin Evett)

“The White Chip” now playing at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell is an important work. Written by Sean Daniels, MRT’s Artistic Director, it is a no holds barred look at Sean’s painful struggle with addiction. In it he tells the story of how he practically ruined his life, his relationships, and his health because of the hold alcohol had on him. In the play the audience witnesses Sean’s tragic life as we see the disease progress and tear him apart, and while we are watching this tale of self destruction we are many times laughing to the point of tears. I know, it sounds a bit strange.

The cast is led by Jeffrey Binder as Sean who is superb in a role that takes incredible emotional stamina. Within minutes he has formed a bond with the audience who now become immersed in his life story. Mr. Binder is fluid on the stage and his face takes on the years of abuse as the play and his alcoholism progresses. This is not done with makeup.

Isabel Keating, Benjamin Evett, Jeffrey Binder
Isabel Keating, Benjamin Evett, Jeffrey Binder

Benjamin Evett and Isabel Keating are listed in the program as Actor #1 and Actor #2 as they play multiple roles and slip in and out of their various characters without missing a beat. Having seen Mr. Evett perform many times before, I was not surprised at this as he is one of the areas top actors. This was my introduction to Ms Keating and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. It wonderful to watch such talented actors switch from character to character at the drop of a hat.

The title refers to the white chip, or token, that is given to people when they first attend a Twelve Step Program. It is in recognition of their taking the first step towards recovery. Unfortunately, Sean has amassed a large amount of these chips over the years as he has relapsed time and time again, with each new round of drinking dragging him further and further down towards that black hole. Along the way he learns better and better ways to hide his drinking from others, how to lie to himself, and how to avoid responsibilities, but eventually his life starts to completely unravel. Much will be familiar to those who have or know someone who has dealt with this awful disease.

Sean and Bartender
Sean and Bartender

Okay, so you must be wondering why I said this is a funny play. It sounds pretty dreadful, and it is. The great thing about “The White Chip” is how Daniels has filled it with so much laughter. There are jokes about his Mormon upbringing, his embarrassing escapades while on a bender, his relationship with his mother, who also is an alcoholic, and his meeting with the Jews where he is finally able to make some sense of things. Who would have thought such a thing?. There is wonderful banter among all the characters as they move about the stage engaged in quick-witted exchanges. There are projections onto two screens with cartoon like characterizations of the embarrassing escapades Sean has embarked on while drunk as well as graphics listing the pros and cons of his behavior. Mr. Evett is particularly impressive when he plays Sean’s father who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Many of these scenes are heartbreaking and touching.

If this play weren’t funny it would be unbearable to watch.

And that is what is so wonderful about it. By allowing his audience the release through the comedy Mr. Daniels is able to tell his story of just how terrible his struggle has been, and of how so many people are dealing with the same battle. It is a battle to overcome the shame and ask for help. It is not only a play for those who have or are struggling with addiction, but a story that should be seen by all people so they will begin to realize the stigma associated with addiction is cruel and uncalled for. The way to help people is to allow them to step away from the shame and know they will be able to reach out for help without being branded as weak and lacking in character.

In the program notes Sean Daniels expresses something that has to be a first for an artist. About “The White Chip” he writes “And I do hope that no one produces it in ten years because it feels incredibly outdated-because we have no more silent deaths.” As much as I enjoyed this play and urge people to see it, I have to agree with him.

“The White Chip” playing at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, MA through January 31st . Box Office: 978.654.4678

MRT.0rg

Photo Credit: Merrimack Repertory Theatre

 

A Beautiful Violet Grows At The SpeakEasy

Theater Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

“Violet” At The Calderwood Pavilion, Boston

Reviewed by Bobby Franklin

My review of the SpeakEasy Stage Company’s production of “Violet” could be summed up in just three words: See this play.

Flick, Violet, and Monty
Flick, Violet, and Monty

Violet, which premiered off Broadway in 1997 originally got mixed reviews, but fortunately survived and went on to play Broadway. This Boston run is being directed by Paul Daigneault who is taking it on for the second time, it played the SpeakEasy in 2000, and he has done a masterful job. Along with a remarkable score composed by Jeanine Tesori with lyrics by Brian Crawley and a first rate cast led by Alison McCartan who’s Violet is near perfect.

Violet and Young Violet
Violet and Young Violet

Set in 1964, it is the story of Violet, a young woman who has a severe facial scar that resulted from a tragic accident when she was a child. She has gathered together enough money to take a bus trip from her home in Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she believes a faith healer can remove her scar and the emotional pain that goes with it.

Along the way she befriends a number of people including two soldiers, Flick and Monty, who both come to care for her very much. There are also scenes that occur during the performance of the young Violet, played with amazing depth by Audree Hedequist, and her father played by Michael Mendiola in a role filled with emotion that seems made to order for him. The two are beautiful to watch together and give the audience insight into how Violet’s strength was developed.

It would have been so easy for this play to have fallen into the story of a bitter young woman who is mad at the world for the bad hand she has been dealt, and the people who look at her and feel pity for her, but that is not how it goes.

Adult Violet & Father
Adult Violet & Father

Violet is tough and smart. Yes, she is angry and hurt, but at no time did I feel pity for her. I was sympathetic towards her, but I also recognized the amazing strength of her character. Flick does as well. Her father did a remarkable job giving her the tools to enable her to deal with life, which is conveyed in the number “Luck of the Draw”. The people Violet encounters on her trip learn as much from her as she does from them.

The musical score is breathtaking covering many genres including gospel, folk, rock, and country. It is hard to believe one composer could master so many different types of music. While all the numbers are outstanding I do have to make mention of “Let It Sing” performed by Dan Belnavis as Flick. His incredible voice fills the theater with emotion.

John King as Preacher
John King as Preacher

I would also note that the scenes with the faith healing preacher are played just right by John F. King who did not slip into parody, which would have been easy to do, but instead showed the human qualities of the man without diminishing him. It was not easy to do, but Mr. King got it right.

Again, see this play, you will not be disappointed. Violet will move you, touch you, and make you want to Let It Sing! What you see and hear will stay with you long after you experience this amazing production. Theatre is alive and well in Boston thanks to the SpeakEasy Production Company.

Photo Credit: Glenn Perry

Violet, playing through February 6th at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston.617.933.8600

www.BostonTheatreScene.com


 

 

 

 

RINGING IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH TRINITY REP’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Theatre Announcements

Storybook London comes to life| November 7- December 31

PROVIDENCE, RI: Trinity Rep announces its annual presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, directed by Curt Columbus, and featuring resident acting company member Stephen Berenson as Scrooge. Performances run November 7 through December 31. Tickets are on sale now and by phone at (401) 351-4242, online at www.trinityrep.com, or in person at the theater’s box office at 201 Washington St. A Christmas Carol is presented by Cardi’s Furniture with supporting sponsor Amica Insurance.

Stephen Berenson as Ebenezer Scrooge
Stephen Berenson as Ebenezer Scrooge

A timeless tale of forgiveness and hope enjoyed by generations of New Englanders, this holiday favorite earns rave reviews from audiences and critics year after year. The Boston Globe praises the annual tradition saying, “There is no better Carol than the one that Trinity Repertory Company puts on every Christmas season.”
“A Christmas Carol is a story of compassion, generosity and possibility, which are all part of the holiday spirit,” remarks director Curt Columbus. “It simply would not be Christmas in Rhode Island without this show, and sharing it with the community every year is our way of celebrating the season with our neighbors.”

Stephen Berenson as Ebenezer Scrooge with Rachael Warren and Joshua Lomeli as solicitors for the poor
Stephen Berenson as Ebenezer Scrooge with Rachael Warren and Joshua Lomeli as solicitors for the poor

This year’s Carol features many Trinity Rep resident acting company favorites including Stephen Berenson, Janice Duclos, Phyllis Kay, Brian McEleney, Anne Scurria, Fred Sullivan, Jr., Stephen Thorne and Rachael Warren; guest actors Adrian Blount and Whitney White; and Brown/Trinity Rep MFA actors Dennis Kozee, Joshua Lomeli, and Kyle Vincent Terry.
Trinity Rep also welcomes twelve talented local children, ages 8-12, to the stage. One hundred fifty child actors auditioned and the rotating cast includes: Damola Adebayo of Providence, Calista Aguinado of Warwick, Lillian Johnson of Johnson, Thomas Fitzgerald of Warwick, Gustavo Londono of Cranston, Laurel McMahon of
Warwick, Amaryllis Miller of Cranston, Bobby Miller of Cranston, Antonio Ross of North Providence, Ronin Scott of Warwick, Billy Stockton of Johnston, and Delaney Wilson of Berkeley, MA.

Kyle Vincent Terry as Fred, Whitney White as Lucy, Adrian Blount as Sister-in-law and Dennis Kozee as Topper
Kyle Vincent Terry as Fred, Whitney White as Lucy, Adrian Blount as Sister-in-law and Dennis Kozee as Topper

The design team includes Michael Rice (music direction), Shura Baryshnikov (choreography), Deb O (set design), Toni Spadafora (costume design), Josh Epstein (lighting design), Peter Sasha Hurowitz (sound design) and Aaron Rhyne and John Narun (projection design).
Curt Columbus became Trinity Repertory Company’s fifth artistic director in January 2006. He is also the artistic director of the Brown/Trinity MFA programs in Acting and Directing. Trinity Rep directing credits include Middletown, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Merchant of Venice, His Girl Friday, Camelot,
Cabaret, The Odd Couple, The Secret Rapture, The Receptionist, Memory House, Blithe Spirit, A Christmas
Carol, Cherry Orchard and the world premieres of The Completely Fictional, Utterly True, Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allen Poe and Social Creatures. Trinity Rep has been home to the world premieres of three of his
plays, Paris by Night, The Dreams of Antigone, and Sparrow Grass. Trinity has also produced his translations of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and Ivanov, as well as Georges Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear.

Whitney White as Ghost of Christmas Past
Whitney White as Ghost of Christmas Past

Prior to coming to Trinity, Curt lived and worked in the Chicago theater scene for almost twenty years. He was artistic associate of Victory Gardens Theater from 1989-1994, the director of the University of Chicago’s University Theater from 1994-2000, and the associate artistic director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company from 2000-2005, where he premiered his translations of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and The Cherry Orchard, and Elsa Bernstein’s Maria Arndt.

Curt’s adaptation of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment (with Marilyn Campbell) has won awards and accolades at theaters around the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. His translation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters, developed at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia, was published by Dramatists Play Service, as was his play, Sparrow Grass, and his translation/adaptation of Ivanov.

Photo Credit: Mark Turek

White Christmas the Musical

Theatre Announcements

Broadway’s Jeffry Denman and Joey Sorge to Star in the Ogunquit Playhouse Production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Musical on Stage at the Historic Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH

Two Broadway veterans are slated to star in the upcoming Ogunquit Playhouse production of the beloved holiday classic White Christmas at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, December 9 to 20. Jeffry Denman will reprise his role as Phil Davis and Joey Sorge will play Bob Wallace in this heartwarming musical adaptation that features the book by David Ives and Paul Blake and seventeen Irving Berlin songs including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial favorite, “White Christmas.”  The story follows the two World War II veterans whose successful song-and-dance act finds them following two beautiful singing sisters to Vermont in search of romance and to put on a Christmas show –but, will there be snow?

Jeffrey Denman
Jeffrey Denman

Jeffry Denman played Phil Davis in the world premiere, cast recording and original Broadway (Astaire Award nomination) casts of White Christmas and won an IRNE Award in 2007 for the Boston production. An accomplished director and choreographer as well, Jeffry choreographed the Ogunquit Playhouse productions of The Music Man and West Side Story and directed and choreographed Damn Yankees. On Broadway: The Producers, Cats, Dream, How To Succeed. Encores: Face the Music, Of Thee I Sing. Off Broadway: YANK! (Drama Desk, Lortel, Callaway noms), Passion, Children of a Lesser God, The Holiday Guys. TV/Film: Erotic Fire of the Unattainable, Law & Order, Nurse Jackie, PBS Great Performances. Regional: Kid Victory (Signature), Crazy for You, Spamalot (Ogunquit), Singin in the Rain (MUNY), Into the Woods (Baltimore Center Stage, Sacramento Music Circus).

Joey Sorge
Joey Sorge

Starring as Bob Wallace is Joey Sorge who recently played the lead in the Ogunquit production of Nice Work If You Can Get It and was part of its original Broadway cast with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara. On Broadway he also appeared in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie and as Young Buddy in the 2001 revival of Follies. Sorge also starred in the Ogunquit Playhouse productions of Singin’ in the Rain and The Drowsy Chaperone. Off-Broadway: Sondheims’ Saturday Night (Second Stage) and Summer of ’42 (Variety Arts). National Tours include: Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes, the iconic Fonz in Happy Days – A New Musical, and Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He has been seen regionally in Victor, Victoria at TUTS, Animal Crackers at Williamstown, Grease at Papermill, Radio Girl at Goodspeed, and Marty at Huntington Theatre. His film credits include: New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Contradictions of The Heart, Providence, and Audrey. TV/Web:  “The Knick”, “Alphabet Boys,” “Person of Interest,” “Numb3rs,” “Commander in Chief” and the remake of “Night Stalker.”

Tickets are on sale now at The Music Hall by calling 603-436-2400, online at www.themusichall.org or visiting the box office at 28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.