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

Mandy 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: Rebuild Japan: A Benefit Concert, at the Pasadena Playhouse, Monday 4/4 at 7:30pm

REBUILD JAPAN:
A BENEFIT CONCERT AT THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
PRODUCED BY PATTY ONAGAN AND RONN GOSWICK
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011 AT 7:30PM

In response to the devastating events in Japan, producers Patty Onagan and Ronn Goswick have announced Rebuild Japan: A Benefit Concert at The Pasadena Playhouse, a one-night-only event on Monday, April 4 at 7:30pm. Proceeds will support the American Red Cross and its efforts to assist overseas as Japan begins to rebuild.

A veritable who’s who of Los Angeles and Broadway theatre talent will be coming together to show their support, entertain, and help raise money to assist with Japan’s monumental crisis. The performers, in alphabetical order, include Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys/The Temperamentals), Doug Carpenter (Life Could Be A Dream/Camelot/Summer of Love), Davis Gaines (The Phantom of the Opera), Julie Garnye (Les Misérables), Adam Halpin (Rent/Glory Days), Cliffton Hall (Wicked), Deedee Magno Hall (Wicked), Alvin Ing (Flower Drum Song/Pacific Overtures), Dale Kristien (The Phantom of the Opera), Jodi Long (Flower Drum Song/Miss Saigon), Megan McGinnis (Dangerous Beauty/Daddy Long Legs), Adam Michaelson (Movin’ Out/Baby It’s You!), Marc Oka (Flower Drum Song/Miss Saigon), Adam Pascal (Aida/Rent), Jennifer Paz (Miss Saigon/The Last Five Years), Valarie Pettiford (Fosse), James Snyder (Cry Baby/Dangerous Beauty), Gwen Stewart (Rent), Yuka Takara (Rent), Lea Thompson (Cabaret), Jennifer Leigh Warren (Little Shop of Horrors/Having It All), and the cast of Glory Days: Derek Klena, Matthew Koehler, Ian Littleworth, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, and Alex Martinez Wallace. All appearances are subject to availability.

Said Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, “I have always found my fellow members of the theatre community to be enormously generous and always willing, ready, and eager to lend their great gifts to worthy causes, and especially to those who are suffering in extreme circumstances. This is proving to be true once again. It is a great honor for The Playhouse to participate in this tremendous effort by offering the use of our beautiful theatre in support of this benefit. I thank all of those who are participating, and all of those who will take advantage of this opportunity to aid those in need as a result of this devastating event.

The evening will feature The Playhouse’s first ever mainstage cabaret seating concert. The mainstage will “extend” over the orchestra, seating an intimate 300 patrons. Tickets are $75 for cabaret seating (which also includes two drinks), and $30 for balcony seating. All tickets are sold as general admission.

Pre-show activities begin at 6:30pm with a raffle (items donated by theatres and businesses all over Southern California), refreshments, and entertainment in The Engemann Family Courtyard in front of The Playhouse. Rebuild Japan: A Benefit Concert at the Pasadena Playhouse will be directed by Meredith Greenburg, with Adam Michaelson, James May and Ron Abel serving as musical directors.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (626) 356-7529, by visiting www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, or in person at The Playhouse box office, located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena.

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03-29-11