Richard Skipper Celebrates

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Charlotte Libov refuses to be pigeonholed. She loved performing when she was a little girl, but she also was hooked on newspapers and decided to become a reporter, rising from small city dailies to the New York Times. She was writing for the Times when she learned she’d been born with a dangerous heart defect and underwent open-heart surgery at the world-famous Cleveland Clinic. Her experience dovetailed with a growing awareness of heart disease as a killer of women, and her first book, “The Woman’s Heart Book,” led to a groundbreaking PBS documentary and launched her career as a national speaker. She is still writing books and, in July, her sixth book, “Fight Back: Beat the Coronavirus,” was published.  She also founded “Sing Out,” a FB group with 6,600 members, devoted to supporting the live arts. Charlotte was poised to take over as a host at the Bleu Bar’s popular open mic night at the iconic National hotel in South Beach on March 25, 2020 but – you guessed it—the pandemic struck, shutting the hotel down. And so, Charlotte pivoted again, her virtual NYC debut on Aug. 6, when her first cabaret show “I Wrote the Book,” streamed live from MetropolitanZoom’s Studio A.

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Award winning Songstress and Blujazz Artist, Marieann Meringolo, returns to the stage, Wednesday-Saturday, August 4th - 7th, 2021, at 7:30 pm, with her critically acclaimed “Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: The Songs of Alan & Marilyn Bergman” tribute show.

Award-winning recording artist and entertainer Marieann Meringolo makes her debut at Paper Mill’s Brookside Cabaret with her critically acclaimed show, Between Yesterday and Tomorrow, celebrating the three-time Academy Award–winning songwriting team of Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The Bergmans have written lyrics not only for numerous television shows, films, and stage musicals, but also for some of the biggest and best singers of our time: Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson, Johnny Mathis, and most notably Barbra Streisand, who has recorded 64 of their songs. Marieann’s heart-soaring tribute, directed by Will Nunziata with music direction by Doyle Newmyer, transports audiences with such unforgettable favorites as “The Way We Were,” “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” “Where Do You Start?,” “Nice ’n’ Easy,” “That Face”, “The Windmills of Your Mind”, “It Might Be You,” and more.  Just Out!! is the new single by Marieann, "I Am Blessed."  Click Here: https://hypeddit.com/link/6zz5z2

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here:   https://youtu.be/IilI3qdLCXg  Grammy® nominated Nicole Zuraitis is a New York-based vocalist, pianist, and songwriter who took home the Gold Medal and Ben Tucker Jazz Award in the 2021 American Traditions Competition. The musical chameleon brings her signature warmth and outstanding vocals to various genres and styles, as demonstrated on her newest multi-hyphenate album, All Wandering Hearts (DotTime Records).  In 2019, Nicole's career blossomed when she and her husband, renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, were dually nominated for a Grammy® for their arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene."  Nicole graces the stages at both the iconic Birdland Jazz Club and Greenwich Village's 55 Bar monthly.  Nicole's critically acclaimed 2018 release, Hive Mind (Dot Time Records), earned the title of 'Best Jazz Album' in the 2018 International Music and Entertainment Awards. Zuraitis has assembled an all-star female ensemble to record her project Generations of Her - Women Songwriters and Lyricists of the Last 100 Years while working diligently on her sixth album as a leader.  Nicole has collaborated with such luminaries as Cyrille Aimee, Thana Alexa, Dave Stryker, Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Omar Hakim, Melanie Safka, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and teaches jazz and songwriting worldwide, with highlights including Berklee College of Music, NYU, SAM in India, The Australian Embassy, and the Lithuanian Consulate. Nicole is currently pursuing her Masters of Business Administration from LSUS and loves to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls with her husband, Dan. For more information, visit www.nicolezmusic.com or tag @nicolezmusic.

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This was unlike any other production of HELLO, DOLLY! in that the Principal Actors and two Stage Managers were brought from New York and the Ensemble members (and one Stage Manager) were hired from a wonderful talent pool of performers from Dallas. 

For this celebration, Kassira McKee and Richard Skipper are bringing together some of the ensemble who broughts the dancing and songs to life in these Touring Productions of the Jerry Herman/Michael Stewart (oh, and let’s not forget Thornton Wilder!) This is the follow up to the highly successful show celebrating the leading actors.

Produced by James M. Nederlander and Fred Walker; In conjunction with Charles Lowe Productions, Inc.

Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion

Book by Michael Stewart; Music by Jerry Herman; Lyrics by Jerry Herman; Based on the play "The Matchmaker" by Thornton Wilder; Dance arrangements by Peter Howard; Musical Director: Peter Howard

Directed by Lucia Victor; Choreography re-created by Terry Lacy; Production Supervisor: Jerry Herman

Scenic Design by Oliver Smith; Costume Design by Freddy Wittop; Costumes re-created by Gail Cooper-Hecht; Lighting Design by Martin Aronstein; Sound Design by Peter J. Fitzgerald

General Manager: Theatre Now, Inc.; Company Manager: Marion Finkler

Production Supervisor: Jeremiah J. Harris; Stage Manager: Pat Tolson, Charles Reif and David Hansen

Conducted by Terry La Bolt

Casting: Mark Reiner; Press: Solters / Roskin / Friedman, Inc. 

Featured: Carolyn DeLany, Jane Dorian, Michael Duran (Dancer), Mary Jo Anne Guinchard (Todaro)Singer, David Hansen (Stage Manager), Kevin Ligon, Kassira (Kim), McKee (Farmer) Singer/Ernestina Understudy,

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Sharon Wendrow was born, raised and started her dance career in Southern California. Her early teachers Maria Bekeifi, Paul Petroff, Nana Gollner, David Lichine, and Tania Raiboushinska  gave her the best early training she could have hoped for. Imagine learning partner work, along with Larry Long, who later was with Ruth Page, from Paul Petroff, of whom many ballerinas have said,  was the best partner ever. I She came to NYC at 16 and received a scholarship to Ballet Russe, where her training continued with Anatole Villzak, Leon Danilian , Maria Swoboda, Fredrick Franklin, and eventually went to audition for Radio City’s Corps de Ballet at 18, because a friend wanted company. It was a very difficult audition, but she made it at a time when no one was being hired because so many companies were going under and the Music Hall was one of very few places to work. Sharon then married a house manager at the Hall, had two beautiful children, and when her daughter was six, took her to the Hannah Kroner School of Dance to begin her dance training. Sharon went back to class, choreographed a few dinner theater musicals, helped out at public schools with their shows, and assisted Ms. Kroner with her school, and all that that entailed. She subsequently became director of the HK School, which became Ballet to Broadway. For the next twenty years, Sharon continued to choreograph many dances for the end of year shows. She then went to the sister school and for the last 19 years, under the direction of Carol Riley, taught, choreographed and performed. 

https://dancersover40.org/

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Bonnie Comley is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer. She has won an Olivier Award and two Drama Desk Awards for her stage productions. She is a member of The Broadway League and serves on their Audience Engagement and Education Committee. Comley was recently elected as President of the Board of the The Drama League and has served on their board since 2009. Comley was recognized as a Top Silicon Valley Entrepreneur to Watch in 2021. She has produced over 40 films, winning nine Telly Awards and one W3 Award. She is the founder and CEO of BroadwayHD, the world’s premier online streaming platform delivering over 350 premium live productions to theater fans globally. In 2016, Comley and BroadwayHD made the Guinness World Record for the First Live Stream of a Broadway Show. BroadwayHD is the 2020 recipient of the Global Business Excellence Award for Outstanding Innovation and Global Business Excellence Award for Outstanding Product/Service. Comley was selected as an Industry Leader in Cynopsis Women in Media Class of 2020. In 2019, Charlotte St.Martin, President of The Broadway League presented Comley with the Woman of Achievement Award from the WP Theatre. Comley is a Member of Portfolia and their Rising America Fund investing directly in early-stage and growth companies in the US where people of color and LGBTQ investors see opportunity for returns and market impact.  Comley’s educational honors include The Distinguished Alumni Award from Emerson College and The Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Massachusetts and the business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

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Jonathan Brielle wrote the music and lyrics for Foxfire with Jessica Tandy (Tony Award) Hume Cronyn, and Keith Carradine; Off-Broadway: Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics); Outer Critics Best Musical Nomination, Minetta Lane Theatre 2016; Circle Repertory Company, NY: dozens of scores as Composer in Residence under Marshall Mason; Regional: Himself and Nora: American Theater Group production. Earlier versions include NYMF, James Joyce Center, Ireland and The Old Globe; Nightmare Alley (book, music. lyrics): Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Director, and NYMF. 40 Naked Women, A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics) The Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. Las Vegas: Enter The Night (book, music, lyrics) Stardust Hotel 12 years; MadHattan (book, music, lyrics) New York, New York Hotel; US Tours: Rugrats, Live! (Executive Music Supervisor); Goosebumps, Live! (Producer, Music) TV. Charitable Organizations: Executive Vice President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF), creating programs for federally funded schools in New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta. Writer/Producer in Residence of the Johnny Mercer Writers’ Colony at Goodspeed Musicals and helps oversee the JMF Songwriting Project at Northwestern University. Jonathan is the former National Projects Director of the Songwriters Guild of America. Jonathan continues to work from Brielle Studios, a state of the art recording facility. His studios are now located in Tewksbury, New Jersey in a converted schoolhouse built in 1846. http://www.jonathanbrielle.com/

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In early Summer of 1982, Carol Channing would embark on a tour of the United States with HELLO, DOLLY! ; the Production would tour until closing at the Blaisdell Auditorium in Honolulu in early September, 1983. With this production, Carol and DOLLY would triumphantly play 28 cities across the U.S.For this celebration, Kassira McKee and Richard Skipper have brought together some of the Actors who played the principal characters in these Touring Productions of the Jerry Herman/Michael Stewart (oh, and let’s not forget Thornton Wilder!) musical. Produced by James M. Nederlander and Fred Walker; In conjunction with Charles Lowe Productions, Inc. Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion Book by Michael Stewart; Music by Jerry Herman; Lyrics by Jerry Herman; Based on the play "The Merchant of Yonkers" by Thornton Wilder; Dance arrangements by Peter Howard; Musical Director: Peter Howard Directed by Lucia Victor; Choreography re-created by Terry Lacy; Production Supervisor: Jerry Herman Scenic Design by Oliver Smith; Costume Design by Freddy Wittop; Costumes re-created by Gail Cooper-Hecht; Lighting Design by Martin Aronstein; Sound Design by Peter J. Fitzgerald General Manager: Theatre Now, Inc.; Company Manager: Marion Finkler Production Supervisor: Jeremiah J. Harris; Stage Manager: Pat Tolson, Charles Reif and David Hansen Conducted by Terry La Bolt Casting: Mark Reiner; Press: Solters / Roskin / Friedman, Inc.

Featured in this broadcast

Jane Dorian

John Gallogly

Kassira McGee

Robert Nolan

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Peggy Eason, known on the cabaret scene since 2009, has taken her talents from New York to Provincetown to beyond to great audience and critical acclaim.

Peggy has had successful runs at venues throughout NYC most notably Don't Tell Mama and The Iridium under the direction of Lennie Watts. She

also appeared at Tudor City Greens concerts and the Cabaret Convention. Miss Eason has thrilled audiences throughout New York with her version of “Defying Gravity” (Wicked), among other songs.

Miss Eason, blind since birth, has never let that interrupt her work or life. She has had an illustrious and varied career. She grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Mount Vernon, New York.

An accomplished vocalist, Miss Eason is classically trained and began singing professionally from a very young age. She earned her Master’s Degree in Voice and Music Education from the Manhattan School of Music, and pursued a career early on as a lyric soprano, singing in churches, at corporate and private events while working for the Division of Parole for the State of New York.

In 2009 Miss Eason opted for a full-time career as a cabaret

performer and the rest is history!

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Tina Walsh has truly dedicated her life to the stage, working with some of the most celebrated Broadway directors & choreographers: Hal Prince, Tommy Tune, Jerry Mitchell, Gillian Lynne, to name a few. Here are a few highlights. Tina originated the role, Donna Sheridan, in Mamma Mia! Las Vegas cast. She created two roles, Morgana/Bess Houdini, in three different spectacular productions of EFX! and EFX ALIVE! costarring opposite Michael Crawford (original cast), then Tommy Tune and followed by 80’s heartthrob Rick Springfield at the MGM Grand. Tina performed the role of Madame Giry for almost 8 years, traveling to 8 countries and 11 cities with the 25th Anniversary World Tour of the Phantom of the Opera and Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Recordings: Michael Crawford EFX! Original Cast Album including the duet “Tonight” with Michael Crawford. Tina is one of 70 people featured in Jim Bickford’s “Las Vegas Dreams” book. She is the inaugural recipient of the Leah & Jerome M. Fullenwider Award for the Dallas Summer Musicals HSMTA. For the past four years, Tina has enjoyed sharing her knowledge as a musical theatre instructor, private vocal coach, and a special guest director for Shine Performing Arts. She is a national judge for Showstopper, America’s first, longest running and most prestigious dance competition. Tina is super excited to be choreographing the showgirl number for the 12th Anniversary Spectacular Follies, Return to the 50s, this September at the Eisemann Center of Performing Arts.  The show that gave Tina her Equity card. A CHORUS LINE.