Laurie Beechman Welcomes Ric Ryder 6/30
By: BWW News Desk
The Laurie Beechman Theatre is very pleased to welcome Broadway veteran Ric Ryder for a one night only concert event on June 30th. The seasoned performer (Blood Brothers, The Music Man, Starmites, Grease, A New Brain), is joined by composer/musician Steve Marzullo (I Hid My Love, Somedays, Musical Director of Once on This Island, etc.) and musicians Mary Ann McSweeney (Avenue Q Swings) and Everett Bradley (Broadway's Swing!, tours with Darryl Hall, John Bon Jovi, Chris Botti, Cyndi Lauper), as well as vocalists Michelle Blakely (Broadway's Senator Joe, Grease and Annie Get Your Gun) and Holly Hylton (Hello, Dolly with Mimi Hinds).
For reservations, which are strongly recommended, please call 212 695 6909. There is an $18 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/beverage minimum (a full dinner, bar and appetizer menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within The West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd St., in the heart of New York's Theatre District. The evening begins at 9:30pm, and doors will open at 9pm.Ric Ryder made his Broadway debut in Senator Joe, directed by the legendary Tom O'Horgan. Immediately following, he was cast in the original company of the Tony-nominated Starmites. Mr. Ryder replaced Shawn Cassidy in the smash hit Blood Brothers, starring opposite singer/songwriter Carole King and then Helen Reddy. He was also seen as "Doody" in the revival of Grease! starring Rosie O'Donnell until it's closing. Mr. Ryder joined the company of the hit revival of The Music Man singing the role of "Jacey Squires," directed by Susan Stroman. Off-Broadway, Mr. Ryder starred in the New York premier of the stage adaptation of the famous Al Jolson film The Jazz Singer at Jewish Rep. Variety called him …a truly thrilling singer… in his boyish attitude and appearance he recalls Donald O'Connor. The NY Daily News said …a pretty potent singer. With a powerful tenor, Ryder brings the house down at least once when he pulls out all the stops… and Time Out New York said Ric Ryder has a sweet, brassy voice that flows out into the auditorium like a river of honey. Also off-Broadway; he appeared as "the Priest" in William Finn's A New Brain directed by Graciella Daniele at Lincoln Center, the revival of Chess and starred as "the narrator" in the Lamb's Theatre annual production of The Gifts of the Magi by Mark St.Germain and Randy Courts. On Film, Mr. Ryder can be heard as one of the "Henchman" in Walt Disney's animated feature Hunchback of Notre Dame. On television he's had featured appearances on CBS's 1997 Tony Awards, NBC's The Today Show, Fox After Breakfast, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and also can be heard on commercial voice-overs.