Howl! Arts Project Presents BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY
HOWL! Arts Project 2011 and The Actors Fund welcome Robert I. Rubinsky, a member of the original Broadway cast of HAIR, for one night only - Wednesday, October 19 at 8pm - to Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) in the autobiographical musical comedy BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL. Natalie Mosco directs.
BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL, composed and performed by Robert I. Rubinsky (aka Bobby), is one man's journey to become famous, a brand, a household name. Bobby has had many incarnations in this quest, almost getting to the top, then
falling flat on his face. As the years fly by, the show touches on his upward and downward climbs, and with his inspiring self-help tapes, culminates with superstardom and his entree into the political arena.
Mr. Rubinsky notes, "BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL is the almost true story of how I - a Jewish, gay man with Tourette Syndrome -- became the hottest young talent in America - no, make that the world. Along with my almost true story are 14 original songs that I wrote."
The production has musical direction by Larry Spivack (aka Mr. Spooch).
BOBBY... initially began workshop performances March 18, 2011 at the WorkShop Theater Company's Jewel Box Theater, where it played to SRO audiences.
Robert I. Rubinsky has been involved in performance for over four decades. He started writing songs at 14 so he could become a teen idol, then auditioning for The TEd Mack Amateur Hour on national television. But at 19, he somehow found himself in the original cast of HAIR on Broadway. Still trying to become a teen idol, he toured the world with HAIR, ultimately playing the Holiday Inn in Africa. After the obligatory dry spell in show biz, he made his first comeback as Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. During the next dry spell, he started writing the ill-fated Broadway bound DEMENTOS with Marc Shaiman (of HAIRSPRAY and every other fame). Time to reinvent himself again, so he became a poetry/monologue performance artist really before there was
the term performance artist, culminating with his show MY LIFE IN BED, directed by Mary Fulham, at LaMaMa. Dry spell, dry spell, dry spell, and he became a screenwriter signed to and dropped by almost every top Hollywood agent. His parody song "I Hate You Simon Cowell" from INSTANT CELEBRITY...JUST ADD WATER is available on iTunes.
Director Natalie Mosco has been a performer, writer, choreographer, director, and teacher on three continents. Her acting credits include leading roles on Broadway (THE MAGIC SHOW), London's West End (GRAND HOTEL), Paris' Boulevard (HAIR), and throughout Australia and New
Zealand (originating roles in TV, film and stage.) A member of the original Broadway cast of HAIR - just like Bobby! - she toured the world choreographing its productions in Toronto, Boston, Paris,
Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Performing highlights: partnering with Donald Saddler in Paper Mill Playhouse's revival of FOLLIES; the title role in her original play, A BRUSH WITH GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, in New York and at The Smithsonian Institute in DC; and originating the role of
"Sophie" for NJ Rep's production THE HOUSEWIVES OF MANNHEIM (at 59E59 Street, NJ Rep and in Santa Barbara.) She is a Doctor of Creative Arts through the University of Sydney.
Larry Spivack aka Mr. Spooch has composed scores for theatre, ballet and film and has performed as a percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera and 41 Broadway shows. He is also a co-inventor of "Cymbal Guy," a patented device that lets you play a loud crash from a pair of cymbals using a foot pedal.
HOWL! ARTS PROJECT 2011 - a unique month-long series of theater, performance art, music, dance, poetry, comedy, entertainment for the entire family, and much more - runs October 1-31 at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place). Proceeds benefit HOWL! HELP, an emergency services assistance and health fund for eligible and qualifying East Village artists, administered by The Actors Fund. Upcoming events include Manhattan Theatre Club's readings of Greg Keller's DUTCH MASTERS (Oct 17) and Laura Marks' BETHANY (Oct 24); SCRIBBLE: A NIGHT OF FUNNY
ONE-ACTS (Oct 18); Jim Rado's SUN (AUDIO MOVIE) (Oct 22); the return of San Francisco's Thrillpeddlers in VICE PALACE: THE LAST COCKETTES MUSICAL (Oct 21-22); and Rosie's Theater Kids in STUDENTS ON STRIKE (Oct 22 & 29), plus Halloween events, burlesque, music, dance and much more through October 31.
BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL runs as part of HOWL! Arts Project 2011 at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) on Wednesday, October 19 at 8:00PM. Tickets are $15 and available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200439. Cash only at the door. For more information, visit www.howlfestival.com
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