Author: actors temple theatre

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(CLOSED Aug. 20, 2011) Kimberly Faye Greenberg stars in “One Night With Fanny Brice”

“One Night With Fanny Brice” officially opened at St. Luke’s Theatre on April 3, 2011 and played its final performance Off-Broadway on Aug. 20, 2011 [CLOSED]

Kimberly Faye Greenberg starred as the original funny girl, Fanny Brice, in a new musical at St. Lukes Theatre.  Musical numbers include “Bill Bailey”, “I Am Always Chasing Rainbows”, “Second Hand Rose”, “My Man”, and “You Made Me Love You”.

Kimberly was also currently playing Sylvia in Danny & Sylvia: The Danny Kaye Musical.  The NY Times reviewer wrote “Sylvia is nimbly portrayed by Kimberly Faye Greenberg as loving, yet with a ruthless edge. Greenberg sings beautifully, conveying (Sylvia) Fine’s love for the most undisciplined Kaye along with her astute, apparently shark-like business aptitude.”

“One Night with Fanny Brice delivers what it promises… This may be as close as devotees will ever get to (Fanny Brice) … An interesting look back.”
– Sun Gazette Newspapers

“One Night with Fanny Brice brings Fanny’s historical contemporaries to life : Flo Ziegfeld, Eddie Cantor, Gypsy Rose Lee, Billy Rose, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson and all the lowlifes associated with Nicky Arnstein” – The Washington (DC) Examiner (CLOSED)

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(CLOSED Dec. 11, 2010) “Dietrich & Chevalier: The Musical”

“Dietrich & Chevalier: The Musical” made its Off-Broadway premiere at St. Lukes Theatre on June 5, 2010 with its official opening on June 20, 2010 . Produced by Edmund Gaynes, written by Jerry Mayer, starring Jodie Stevens and Robert Cuccioli with Donald Corren, was directed by Broadway veteran, Pamela Hall with musical staging by Gene Castle. “Dietrich & Chevalier: The Musical” closed on  December 11, 2010.

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CLOSED April 30, 2009: “Lansky” (NY Premiere)

Mike Burstyn, whose Broadway credits include Barnum and Ain’t Broadway Grand, starred in the New York premiere of Lansky, which began previews at the St. Luke’s Theatre on Jan. 23, 2009, was penned by Joseph Bologna and Richard Krevolin.  Lansky — about the life of mobster Meyer Lansky – starred the legendary American and Israeli star Mike Burstyn and officially opened Feb. 5, 2009. Bologna also directed. (Lansky CLOSED April 30, 2009)

lansky-with-pic

About The Play: Lansky, The Story of the Brains Behind the Mob was the American premiere of a new play about Meyer Lansky, the infamous ganster and gambler and complicated man who masterminded some of the most ingenious wealth managenent systems for his gangland brethren. And, like so many ambitious first generation Americans had to wonder if his ill-gotten gains were going to send him to hell or up the river. The play also dealt with Lansky’s little-known efforts to become an Israeli citizen and used his life story as a crucible to explore Jewish identity and the choices first-generation Americans made in order to achieve wealth and success. This tour-de-force starred the legendary Mike Burstyn who was recently seen in New York in On 2nd Avenue, for which he received his second Drama Desk nomination. Mr. Burstyn has been acclaimed on and off Broadway in Barnum, Jolson, and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and is the recipient of 3 Israeli “Oscars.”

Mike Burstyn in Lansky.

The play is directed by Joseph Bologna who is best known for his classic comedies such as Made For Each Other and Lovers & Other Strangers written with his wife, Renee Taylor (Mom on TV’s “The Nanny”). Lansky CLOSED April 30, 2009

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CLOSED Sept. 28, 2008 : Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group NYC debut at St. Luke’s Theatre

ZOMBIE JOE’S UNDERGROUND THEATRE GROUP made it’s NYC debut at St. Lukes Theatre on August 27, 2008 (AND OPENED OFFICIALLY ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 ) with Edgar Allan Poe’s “MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH & THE TELL-TALE HEART & THE BELLS”. [ CLOSED on Sept. 28, 2008]

The company brought three of Poe’s infamous tales of terror and intrigue to life with its ‘tastefully macabre’ theatrical style. (www.ZombieJoes.com) The two-act, mini-Poe Fest, serves up torture and madness in its ‘bloody-shoestring’ style of stylized physicality and strange soundscapes – all in under two hours with intermission. [CLOSED]

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(CLOSED) A Brush With Georgia O’Keeffe … Color of Flesh and Give ‘Em Hell, Harry

A Brush With Georgia O’Keeffe – 2008  (Closed Sept. 28 2008)

A Brush With Georgia O’Keeffe began previews June 14, 2008 at St. Luke’s Theatre and Closed Sept. 28, 2008

A BRUSH WITH GEORGIA O’KEEFFE by Natalie Mosco was produced by  Earl Productions LLC and Briana Seferian in association with Edmund Gaynes and Julia Beardsley and directed by Robert Kalfin. Featuring David Lloyd Walters, Virginia Roncetti, and Natalie Mosco as Georgia O’Keeffe; Set Design: Kevin Judge; Lighting Design: Paul Hudson; Costume Design: Gail Cooper Hecht; Composer and Sound Design: Margaret Pine,;Projections Design: Marilys Ernst and General Management: Jessimeg Productions

“Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh” (2008) Closed Sept 12, 2008

     “Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh” began previews at St. Lukes Theatre on June 26th,2008 and closed Sept. 12, 2008.  Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh, by Joel Gross, was directed by Robert Kalfin.

About the play: “Spanning 20 years during the dramatically charged build to the French Revolution, the play is a fictionalized triangle between Queen Marie Antoinette, her portraitist, the renowned beauty, Elisabeth Louise Vigee-Le Brun and Count Alexis de Ligne, an aristocrat and political radical. Once a target for the ambitions of her social climbing portrait painter and the politically obsessed Count, the vain but vulnerable Queen demonstrates surprising courage and humanity as the years pass, inspiring both to show genuine love for her even while Marie Antoinette’s bitter people use her as a masthead for their hatred and discontent.”

“Only three characters inhabit ‘Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh,’ but this impeccably acted play has the sweep of a historical novel. The history in this case is the French Revolution: its real events swirl outside, while inside at Versailles, emotions swirl just as vigorously around a triangle of love and friendship imagined by the playwright, Joel Gross.”

“Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” (2008) played along with “Color of Flesh” and “A Brush With Georgia O’Keeffe”  (CLOSED September 28, 2008)

“Give Em Hell Harry!” starred Bix Barnaba as Harry S Truman. It opened at St. Lukes Theatre on July 20, 2008. Written by Samuel Gallu and directed by Stan Mazin, it closed on Sept. 28, 2008

Bix Barnaba starred as President Harry S Truman in the comedy Give Em Hell Harry!, by Samuel Gallu.

About the play: The play covers various milestones throughout Truman’s life including his legendary encounters with the press. Mr. Barnaba said “Truman was an ordinary man who was thrust into the position of making extraordinary decisions – some that continue to affect our lives to this very day. Some men are overwhelmed in those circumstances but Mr. Truman grew to meet the challenge. His personal integrity sustained and strengthened him. He is as relevant today as he was 60 years ago.” Among other things Truman said “There is nothing worse than a liar in public office, because the people might believe him, and if they catch a fellow like that they should give him about as much compassion as he gave the Constitution of the United States.” He also said “I never gave anybody Hell. I told the truth and they thought I was givin’ ‘em Hell.” CLOSED

 

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(CLOSED May 25, 2008) “Welcome Home, Marian Anderson”

Curb Gardner & Cynthia Newport, Candela Entertainment, along with Jeff Britton, Broadway Bound Productions presented a Limited Run of , “Welcome Home Marian Anderson”, a play with music, at St. Luke’s Theatre. PREVIEWS were May 13, & 14 , 2008. with the official OPENING May 15, 2008. It closed on May 25, 2008. ( CLOSED)

” About the play: “As she anxiously anticipates the controversial Easter morning concert at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, world-famous opera concert diva Marian Anderson reflects on the events that have brought her from her meager childhood in Philadelphia to this momentous occasion in our nation’s history.” Playwright Vanessa Shaw takes us on Marian’s journey through the racism, public triumphs, personal challenges and the private passions of a woman who was dubbed “The Voice of the Century.”

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(CLOSED March 30, 2008) ‘Fabulous Divas of Broadway’

(CLOSED April 19, 2008) The musical Fabulous Divas of Broadway, written, directed and performed by Alan Palmer, opened at St Luke’s Theater on 27 Feb 2008, following previews from 13 Feb, 2008 through to 30 Mar 2008.

Congratulations, Alan on 17 previews and 61 performances. It was a great run, and you made many new fans here in New York!

Fabulous Divas of Broadway: Opened at St Lukes Theatre, direct from Los Angeles, where it enjoyed an extended 5-month run.  About the show: “What to do when you’re a male musical theater performer with a big belting voice and an affinity for Broadway’s greatest leading ladies? Since Broadway shows aren’t casting men in traditional women’s roles � if you’re resourceful, you create your own one-man ‘woman’ musical!

A hilarious and touching look at growing up in the business while portraying 18 different stars of the stage. In rapid succession and a non-stop turnover of gorgeous costumes, he brings to life such legends as Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews, Judy Garland and Chita Rivera and such Tony-winning stars of today as Christine Ebersole, Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth and Beth Leavel.

Performing 25 songs in each lady’s singular style, he weaves together reminiscences of growing up in a small town obsessed with musical cast albums, auditioning for shows in New York City, performing during onstage and backstage mishaps, raising his young son and interacting with many of the ladies represented in the show.”

Alan Palmer was accompanied by Curtis Jerome.The creative team was comprised of Jessa Orr (sets), C. Bucky (costumes) and Peter Ray (lighting).

Alan as Liza

Click here to read the piece on NY1’s website or you can download the actual footage. (Click on the dial up/broadband icon.) Congratulations, Alan- you look fabulous!

A new off-Broadway solo show takes audiences on a journey through the world of musical theatre as seen through the eyes of 18 “Fabulous Divas of Broadway.” NY1’s Donna Karger filed the following report.The new show, “The Fabulous Divas of Broadway,” is a revue that pays homage to some of the most memorable musical leading ladies to grace the Great White Way.All of the actors are brought to life by the show’s writer and director — Alan Palmer — who developed the piece in Los Angeles before bringing it to New York.

“I had a theatre in Los Angeles in Sherman Oaks, California, and we were trying to keep the doors open, and so I had written this piece as a kind of workshop sort of piece and we decided to try and throw it into the season to keep the doors open,” said Palmer. “Within a week, all the tickets sold out and we kept extending the show and it ran for five months in Los Angeles.”

Beginning with Andrea McArdle’s “Tomorrow” from “Annie” and ending with Carol Channing’s “Hello Dolly!,” Palmer embodies almost two dozen “fabulous divas,” singing their signature numbers and telling show biz tales in between. Palmer, who grew up listening to Broadway cast recordings and performing shows on a makeshift stage in his basement, says his diva devotion began with Ethel Merman.

“My first experience was “Annie Get Your Gun,” the album of “Annie Get Your Gun,” which I listened to on our turntable downstairs over and over, and I decided to go to my local library and checkout everything that Ethel Merman recorded after that,” said Palmer. “So she was my first big diva.”

Once the show begins, Palmer is on stage the entire time, going from one diva to the next — while telling stories behind a small dressing wall.

“When you finally have all the elements together, the costume, the makeup, and everything, you can’t help but become those characters,” said Palmer. “I’m going into Betty Buckley, because every single time I put on that Norma Desmond gown I feel exactly the pains that they feel and I try to see the show through their eyes.”

And so, in this one man/multi-woman show, “With one look” you’ll get to see some of the greatest stars of all.

– Donna Karger [CLOSED]

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(CLOSED Jan. 27, 2008) “The Rise of Dorothy Hale”

the original cast of The Rise of Dorothy Hale with playwright Myra Bairstow

Above: the original cast of The Rise of Dorothy Hale with playwright Myra Bairstow. (from left) Laura Koffman, Sarah Wynter, Myra Bairstow, Mark LaMura, Sarita Choudhury, Patrick Boll, Michael Badalucco.

dorothyhalelogo

The Rise of Dorothy Hale , directed by Pamela Hall, played 137 performances – officially opening on October 4, 2007 and running through January 27, 2008.  Producing partners were Edmund Gaynes and Aridyne Productions. The Rise of Dorothy Hale featured set design by Josh Iacovelli, lighting design by Graham Kindred and costumes by Rebecca Bernstein.

Myra Bairstow’s drama centers on Dorothy Hale, a film actress once married to famed American muralist Gardner Hale. Hale threw herself from her 16th-story apartment on Central Park South in 1938.

About the play: “The Rise of Dorothy Hale explores the life and death of Dorothy Hale through the creative process of Frida Kahlo and enables the contradictions in history to stand face to face. Did the alleged suicide note that Clare Boothe Luce claims to have received even exist? Why did Harry Hopkins involve the White House and two key players of the Roosevelt Administration to handle damage control around Dorothy’s death? What possible secrets did Dorothy know about Harry Hopkins and Clare Luce before she was found dead? Was Dorothy Hale’s death a suicide or a murder made to look like a suicide? Decades later the story of Dorothy Hale became legendary when Mrs. Luce confirmed that she had commissioned Frida Kahlo to paint Dorothy in November 1938 and intended the painting to be a beautiful portrait as a gift for Dorothy’s grieving mother. Clare was so horrified when she received Frida’s rendition of Dorothy’s death that she placed the canvas in a storage area for nearly thirty years before donating it ‘anonymously’ to a museum in the 1960’s.”