FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BSC Press Director, Charlie Siedenburg, 551-655-0968
Principal Casting Announced for
Barrington Stage Company Season Opener
On the Town, June 12 – July 13
Tony Yazbeck, Clyde Alves, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Elizabeth Stanley, Deanna Doyle,
Alysha Umphress, Nancy Opel, and Michael Rupert lead cast of 25
(PITTSFIELD, MA) Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to announce principal casting for the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town from June 12 through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening is Sunday, June 16 at 5pm.
On the Town will be directed by Tony Award-winner (Urinetown) John Rando and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner (TV’s SMASH) Joshua Bergasse, with music direction by Darren R. Cohen. Rando, Bergasse and Cohen are all BSC Associate Artists.
On the Town marked the Broadway debuts of the music of Leonard Bernstein, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on the ballet “Fancy Free” by Jerome Robbins.
Barrington Stage Company’s cast features Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) as Gabey; Deanna Doyle (Encores! On Your Toes) as Ivy Smith; Elizabeth Stanley (Million Dollar Quartet, Encores! Merrily We Roll Along) as Claire; Clyde Alves (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes) as Ozzie; Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hands on a Hard Body, Working) as Chip; Alysha Umphress (American Idiot, On A Clear Day…) as Hildy; Tony Award nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown, Hello, Dolly! at Ford’s Theatre) as Madame Dilly, Tony Award-winner Michael Rupert (Sweet Charity, Falsettos, Legally Blonde) as Judge Pitkin, and an ensemble of 17.
Actors returning to BSC are Jay Armstrong-Johnson (Pool Boy) and Alysha Umphress (Funked Up Fairy Tales).
The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (sets), Jennifer Caprio (costumes), Jason Lyons (lighting), Ed Chapman (sound). Renee Lutz is production stage manager.
On the Town is the story of three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City in 1944. Squeezed for time, they all manage to find love and incredible adventures in the Big Apple. On the Town features the first Broadway score by Bernstein, Comden and Green with such gems as “New York, New York,” “I Can Cook Too,” “Lonely Town” and “Some Other Time.”
Written in less than 8 months following the May 1944 premiere of the Jerome Robbins ballet “Fancy Free”, the musical comedy On the Town opened December 28, 1944, at the Adelphi Theatre with Betty Comden, Adolph Green, John Battles, Sono Osato, Cris Alexander, and Nancy Walker. The show was revived in 1971 (with Phyllis Newman, Donna McKechnie and Bernadette Peters) and 1998 (with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lea DeLaria). The 2008 NY City Encores! revival starred Tony Yazbeck, Leslie Kritzer and Justin Bohon. The 1949 MGM film starred Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen.
On the Town will be presented on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding 6/12, 6/14 and 6/19), Sunday at 5pm. Please note Thursday, July 4 there is no 8pm evening performance; there will be a 2pm matinee. Press Opening: Sunday, June 16 at 5pm. Tickets start at $20. Tickets to the Low Priced Preview Performances June 12-14 are $15/$20. Seniors: $39 & $34 all matinees. Tickets for youth ages 6-18 are $15 all performances (subject to availability).
There will be a Post-Show Discussion following the June 18 7pm performance of On the Town at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield.
On the Town is sponsored by Berkshire Bank. On the Town is also sponsored in part by Cranwell Resort, Spa, and Golf Club.
Free Conversations with… Event: A Helluva Guy! Adolph Green’s Broadway
Tony-winning composer/lyricist William Finn (…Spelling Bee) interviews the family of great American playwright, screenwriter and lyricist Tony Award-winner Adolph Green – Tony-winner Phyllis Newman, Broadway lyricist Amanda Green and Vogue theater critic Adam Green – on his life and career and his experience creating On the Town. A Helluva Guy! will be held Sunday, June 16 at 3pm at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. While all Conversations with…” events are free, reservations are highly recommended. All seating is general admission. Call the Box Office at 413-236-8888.
About Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity regional theatre located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield, MA, was co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage’s mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways to bringing new audiences into the theatre—especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention in 2004 when it workshopped, and premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which later transferred to Broadway, where it won two Tony Awards. In 2009/2010 Barrington Stage produced the world premiere of Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, which later moved Off-Broadway and played for two years. Barrington Stage was voted “Best Live Theatre” by The Berkshire Eagle readers in 2011 and 2012 and was named “Best Theatre Company” in Metroland’s Best of the Capital Region 2009-2012.
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