Archived entries for Glenn Casale

Announcing: Mandy Gonzalez Joins Cast of “Rockwell” Readings in NYC, January 10 & 11

MANDY GONZALEZ JOINS
JOHN DAVIDSON, ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS, KEVIN EARLEY, SEAN
HANKINSON, NANCY OPEL, AND RYANN REDMOND
IN THE CAST OF

ROCKWELL: LIFE ON A PALETTE

A NEW MUSICAL WITH BOOK & LYRICS BY
ELEANOR ALBANO & ANTHONY BARNAO
AND MUSIC BY RON ABEL
DIRECTED BY GLENN CASALE

STAGED READINGS IN NEW YORK CITY
JANUARY 10 & 11, 2013

Rockwell: Life on a PaletteMandy Gonzalez has joined the cast of Rockwell: Life on a Palette, a new musical based on Norman Rockwell’s covers for the Saturday Evening Post, which will receive staged readings in New York City on January 10 and 11, 2013. With book and lyrics by Eleanor Albano and Anthony Barnao, and music by Ron Abel, this reading of Rockwell will be directed by Glenn Casale.

On Broadway, Gonzalez has appeared in Wicked, In the Heights, Lennon, Dance of the Vampires, and Aida. She also won an Obie Award for her performance in Eli’s Coming. Gonzalez joins the previously announced John Davidson, André De Shields, Kevin Earley, Sean Hankinson, Nancy Opel, and Ryann Redmond.

Norman Rockwell’s stories transcend color and time. His work is undeniably successful by any measure … popularity, longevity, commerciality, and mass appeal. Rockwell: Life on a Palette will bring Rockwell’s stories into a brand new arena, musical theatre. From ragtime innocence through the roaring 20s, to the tap dancing 30s, World War II big band and swing, Broadway show tunes, a rousing gospel chorus, and contemporary country, Rockwell has a score that reflects the sounds of the entire 20th century.

Eleanor Albano (book & lyrics) has been a theatre marketing and advertising design consultant for regional and commercial houses in Los Angeles since 1983. Other writing credits include the stage musical It’s A Jungle Out There and the TV series The Music Shoppe, and with Dale Gonyea, the animated musical holiday fable Christmas Is For Everyone. Anthony Barnao (book & lyrics) is the founding artistic director of the highly acclaimed Blue Sphere Alliance, a Los Angeles theatre company known for presenting new work. He has directed numerous original plays, including award-winning productions of The Big Voice (moved off-Broadway), Home Sweet Hell, a hip-hop version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and In the Bargain starring Catherine Keener. Ron Abel (music) is a multi-award-winning composer, producer and musical director who has composed the scores for Bricktop, Re-Introducing Laurette Bishop, the award-winning Twist of Fate, and the upcoming Hazel. Abel has worked with Jessye Norman, Taylor Dayne, Lucie Arnaz, Michele Lee, and Valarie Pettiford, among many others.

On Broadway, Glenn Casale directed Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Tony Award nomination). Off-Broadway, his work includes The Property Known as Garland, and Dragapella at Studio 54 (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Best Production). He recently directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Casale is the Artistic Director of California Musical Theater in Sacramento. The January staged reading of Rockwell will also have, as part of the creative team, choreographer Patti Columbo, who has Broadway, national tour, and regional credits including Peter Pan (with Casale), Dr. Doolittle, Seussical, the Musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, On the Town, Can-Can, and White Christmas.

These staged readings are presented by Pisces Productions with the permission of Curtis Publishing, Inc., and Norman Rockwell Licensing Company. The stage manager is Bonnie Panson, and general management is by Bespoke Theatricals.

The staged readings of Rockwell: Life on a Palette will be on Thursday, January 10 at 4pm, and Friday, January 11 at 11am and 4pm, in New York City. For more information and reservations, email info@bespoketheatricals.com, or call (212) 221-1122, ext. 110.

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01-02-13

‘Rockwell: Life on a Palette’ A New Musical, Set for NYC Readings January 10 & 11, 2013

ROCKWELL: LIFE ON A PALETTE
A NEW MUSICAL WITH BOOK & LYRICS BY
ELEANOR ALBANO & ANTHONY BARNAO
AND MUSIC BY RON ABEL
DIRECTED BY GLENN CASALE

FEATURING JOHN DAVIDSON, ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS,
KEVIN EARLEY, SEAN HANKINSON,
NANCY OPEL AND RYANN REDMOND

SET FOR STAGED READING IN NEW YORK CITY
JANUARY 10 & 11, 2013

Rockwell: Life on a Palette, a new musical based on Norman Rockwell’s covers for the Saturday Evening Post, will receive a staged reading in New York City on January 10 and 11, 2013. With book and lyrics by Eleanor Albano and Anthony Barnao, and music by Ron Abel, this reading of Rockwell will be directed by Glenn Casale.

Norman Rockwell’s stories transcend color and time. His work is undeniably successful by any measure … popularity, longevity, commerciality, and mass appeal. Rockwell: Life on a Palette will bring Rockwell’s stories into a brand new arena, musical theatre. From ragtime innocence through the roaring 20s, to the tap dancing 30s, World War II big band and swing, Broadway show tunes, a rousing gospel chorus, and contemporary country, Rockwell has a score that reflects the sounds of the entire 20th century.

Featured in January’s staged reading will be (in alphabetical order) John Davidson (Broadway credits include State Fair and Oklahoma!; he is currently appearing off-Broadway in The Fantasticks), André De Shields (Broadway’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Play On!, The Wiz, The Full Monty), Kevin Earley (Broadway’s Les Misérables, Death Takes A Holiday, Thoroughly Modern Millie, A Tale of Two Cities), Sean Hankinson (Bat Boy at Musical Theatre West, The Sound of Music at Actors Co-op, and Emmy Award nominee for the WB series Prom Queen), Nancy Opel (Memphis, Fiddler on the Roof, Triumph of Love, Anything Goes, Tony Award nominee for Urinetown), and Ryann Redmond (who recently made her Broadway debut in Bring It On!).

Eleanor Albano (book & lyrics) has been a theatre marketing and advertising design consultant for regional and commercial houses in Los Angeles since 1983. Other writing credits include the stage musical It’s A Jungle Out There and the TV series The Music Shoppe, and with Dale Gonyea, the animated musical holiday fable Christmas Is For Everyone. Anthony Barnao (book & lyrics) is the founding artistic director of the highly acclaimed Blue Sphere Alliance, a Los Angeles theatre company known for presenting new work. He has directed numerous original plays, including award-winning productions of The Big Voice (moved off-Broadway), Home Sweet Hell, a hip-hop version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and In the Bargain starring Catherine Keener. Ron Abel (music) is a multi-award-winning composer, producer and musical director who has composed the scores for Bricktop, Re-Introducing Laurette Bishop, the award-winning Twist of Fate, and the upcoming Hazel. Abel has worked with Jessye Norman, Taylor Dayne, Lucie Arnaz, Michele Lee, and Valarie Pettiford, among many others.

On Broadway, Glenn Casale directed Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Tony Award nomination). Off-Broadway, his work includes The Property Known as Garland, and Dragapella at Studio 54 (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Best Production). He recently directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Casale is the Artistic Director of California Musical Theater in Sacramento. The January staged reading of Rockwell will also have, as part of the creative team, choreographer Patti Columbo, who has Broadway, national tour, and regional credits including Peter Pan (with Casale), Dr. Doolittle, Seussical, the Musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, On the Town, Can-Can, and White Christmas.

This staged reading is presented by Pisces Productions with the permission of Curtis Publishing, Inc., and Norman Rockwell Licensing Company. Stage manager is Bonnie Panson, and general management is by Bespoke Theatricals.

The staged readings of Rockwell: Life on a Palette will be on Thursday, January 10 at 4pm, and Friday, January 11 at 11am and 4pm, in New York City. For more information and reservations, email info@bespoketheatricals.com, or call (212) 221-1122, ext. 110.

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12-21-12

Announcing: Additional Cast Announced for “The Prisoner of 2nd Avenue” Starring Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht

ANNIE KORZEN, RON ORBACH, DEEDEE RESCHER & CAROLE ITA WHITE
SET TO JOIN JASON ALEXANDER AND GINA HECHT IN
THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE
BY NEIL SIMON
DIRECTED BY GLENN CASALE

PERFORMANCES BEGIN APRIL 21 AT THE EL PORTAL THEATRE
OPENS SATURDAY, APRIL 23 FOR THREE WEEKS ONLY

Actors Annie Korzen, Ron Orbach, DeeDee Rescher, and Carol Ita White will join stars Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht in the special three-week engagement of the comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon, it was announced today by producers Tom Brocato, Butterfield Road Productions in association with Charles A. Eisler, Producers Network. Directed by Glenn Casale, the production will begin performances at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood on April 21 for three weeks only. Opening is set for Saturday, April 23 at 8pm. Performances will continue through May 15.

Annie Korzen has appeared in many films and on television, but she is perhaps best known for her two solo shows, Yenta Unplugged and The Yenta Cometh, both of which have enjoyed engagements in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada. Ron Orbach has been seen both on and off Broadway in productions such as Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Never Gonna Dance, and Chicago; Neil Simon’s Hotel Suite, Pal Joey (Encores!), and Harry Chapin: Lies and Legends. He has also made guest starring appearances on countless television series. DeeDee Rescher’s television credits include My Name Is Earl, Malcolm in the Middle, Friends, The Nanny, and Party of Five, among many others. Her local theatre credits include How The Other Half Loves (ICT in Long Beach), Red Herring, The Pursuit of Happiness, and The Underpants, all at the Laguna Playhouse, and El Grande de Coca Cola in New York City and The Pasadena Playhouse. Carole Ita White has appeared in many feature films, including Falling Down, Grand Canyon, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and The Witches of Eastwick, among others. Los Angeles stage work includes Jeannie Fitzpatrick Is Angry, Borderline, Equus, and The Seahorse.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of New York City. Mel Edison (portrayed by Alexander), has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike, which just exacerbates Edison’s plight to no end as he and his wife Edna (Hecht) deal with noisy neighbors, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets, and even a robbery of their apartment in broad daylight. Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown from the whole affair, and it is up to the loving care of his brother Harry, his sisters and his wife Edna to bring Mel back to a firm reality. Neil Simon’s 1971 play walks a tightrope between comedy and drama in this bittersweet tale. The play is perhaps more relevant today than it was when it first debuted on Broadway 40 years ago.

The set design for The Prisoner of Second Avenue is by Stephen Gifford, lighting design is by Jared A. Sayeg, costume design is by Kate Bergh, and Philip G. Allen has joined the team as sound designer. The production stage manager is John Lovick. The Prisoner of Second Avenue is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Jason Alexander is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing on the sitcom from 1989 to 1998. He began his acting career on the New York stage, appearing in several Broadway plays and musicals, including Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, Kander and Ebb’s The Rink, Rupert Holmes’ Accomplice, Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, for which he won the 1989 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Alexander appeared in the Los Angeles production of The Producers with Martin Short at the Pantages Theatre, and is currently the artistic director of the Reprise Theatre Company.

Gina Hecht has enjoyed a wide and varied career on stage, in film, and on television. In prior collaborations with director Glenn Casale, Gina appeared in productions of Wrestlers, Circle of Will, as well as in a production of Night Owls, winning Drama-Logue and LA Weekly Awards along the way. She has been in over a dozen films, including Night Shift (with Henry Winkler) and more recently Seven Pounds (with Will Smith). Television work includes recurring roles on Mork & Mindy, Heartbeat, Everything’s Relative, Life Goes On, The District, Any Day Now, Seinfeld, and Hung.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue will play two lower-priced preview performances on Thursday, April 21 and Friday, April 22 at 8pm, and opening night is set for Saturday, April 23 at 8:00. The regular performance schedule is Wednesday (except May 4) through Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm, with matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. There will be two special performances on Tuesday, May 3 at 2pm and 8pm, and the three-week-only engagement will continue through Sunday, May 15. All preview seats are $40, and regular ticket prices range from $45 – $55, with a limited number of VIP seats available at $75 and $80, which include a post-performance meet-and-greet with Jason Alexander and a voucher for two drinks at intermission. To purchase tickets, visit www.elportaltheatre.com, or call (866) 811-4111 or (818) 508-4200. For group sales, call (818) 301-5181 or (818) 986-2908. Visit The Prisoner of Second Avenue on Facebook and follow us on twitter @prisoner2ndave.

The El Portal Theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Ample parking is available around the theatre.

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04-03-11