McArdle, Moriber & More Star in NYMF's Behind the Limelight

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and the Chaplin Corporation present BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT, a new musical about the life and art of Charlie Chaplin by Christopher Curtis. Directed by Michael Unger, BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT features a distinguished cast that includes Luther Creek (Rent, Urinetown) as Chaplin, as well as Andrea McArdle (Tony Award nominee for Annie, Beauty and the Beast), Janet Metz (Falsettoland, Bingo:The Musical) and Garrett Long (The Spitfire Grill), among others. BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT will play a strictly limited, six-performance engagement as part of the third annual New York Musical Theatre Festival. Performances begin on Tuesday, September 19th at The Theatre at St. Clements (423 West 46th Street).

BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT explores the life and art of Charlie Chaplin, one of the world's most beloved performers, who had one of Hollywood's most turbulent careers. The musical examines Chaplin's upbringing and the effect it had on his groundbreaking work behind and in front of the camera; and follows his rise from humble beginnings to one of the richest and most famous artists of his time. Also following his forced exile due to Hollywood's gossip mill and the House Un-American Activities Committee, BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT shows how Chaplin, through the love of his dear Oona O'Neill, is able, in the end, to realize the gifts in the hardship of his past which have allowed him to leave a better story to his children than the story that was left to him.

BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT had its world premiere last summer, presented as part of the Vassar and New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Season.

The cast of BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT features Luther Creek (Rent, Urinetown, Shockheaded Peter) as Charlie; Andrea McArdle (Annie, State Fair, Beauty and the Beast) as gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper; Janet Metz (Marie Christine, Joseph…, Falsettoland) as Charlie's mother, Hannah and Garrett Long (Spitfire Grill, Seussical) as Oona O'Neill. Also included in the cast are Brooke Sunny Moriber (Threepenny Opera, The Wild Party, Caligula) as Edna Purviance; Michael Farina (Seussical, In My Life, My Fair Lady) as Fred Karno and Attorney General, James McGranery; Joel Hurt Jones as Mack Sennett; (Robert Langdon-Lloyd (RSC, Amadeus) as Older Charlie and Sean Palmer (The Boyfriend, Fosse, Saturday Night Fever) as Charlie's brother, Sydney. Scott Barnhardt, Randy Blair, Molly Curry, Sarah Darling, Danny Hallowell, Tommy Hallowell, Kristin Knudsen and Robert Rokicki complete the cast.

BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT has music direction by Bryan Perri and Brian Cimmet. The musical features scenic design by Dan Meeker, costume design by Chloe Chapin and lighting design by Joel Silver.

BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT will be performed at The Theatre at St. Clements (423 W. 46th Street). The performance schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 8:00 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 1:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 23 at 9:00 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 9:00 PM
Thursday, Sept. 28 at 1:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1:00 PM

Individual tickets for BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT are $20.00 and are available online at www.NYMF.org or by calling TheaterMania.com at 212-352-3101 beginning September 1, 2006. NYMF Memberships – securing tickets to multiple NYMF productions and events - are currently available (Silver Membership - $60, including a $20 tax-deductible donation; Gold Membership - $100, including a $30 tax-deductible donation; and Platinum Membership -$250, including a $45 tax-deductible donation). For more information, visit www.NYMF.org.

Biographies

Christopher Curtis (Book, Music and Lyrics) is a singer and composer who has performed in Los Angeles, New York, Japan, London and Ireland with Stevie Wonder, Rita Coolidge and others. He is also a house pianist at the legendary restaurant, Chez Josephine. As a composer he wrote and sang the theme song for the popular Learning Channel TV series "A Wedding Story," as well as the songs for the Discovery Channel's "Travelers" and "On the Inside." He wrote and sang the theme song to the Trimark Pictures film, The Break, starring Martin Sheen.

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