Nancy Opel, Andre de Shields and More Set for ROCKWELL: LIFE ON A PALETTE Reading

Rockwell: Life on a Palette, a new musical based on Norman Rockwell's covers for the Saturday Evening Post, will receive a staged reading in New York City on January 10 and 11, 2013. With book and lyrics by Eleanor Albano and Anthony Barnao, and music by Ron Abel, this reading of Rockwell will be directed by Glenn Casale.

Norman Rockwell's stories transcend color and time. His work is undeniably successful by any measure ... popularity, longevity, commerciality, and mass appeal. Rockwell: Life on a Palette will bring Rockwell's stories into a brand new arena, musical theatre. From ragtime innocence through the roaring 20s, to the tap dancing 30s, World War II big band and swing, Broadway show tunes, a rousing gospel chorus, and contemporary country, Rockwell has a score that reflects the sounds of the entire 20th century.

Featured in January's staged reading will be (in alphabetical order) John Davidson (Broadway credits include State Fair and Oklahoma!; he is currently appearing off-Broadway in The Fantasticks), André De Shields (Broadway's Ain't Misbehavin', Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Play On!, The Wiz, The Full Monty), Kevin Early (Broadway's LES MISERABLES, Death Takes A Holiday, Thoroughly Modern Millie, A Tale of Two Cities), Sean Hankinson (Bat Boy at Musical Theatre West, The Sound of Music at Actors Co-op, and Emmy Award nominee for the WB series Prom Queen), Nancy Opel (Memphis, Fiddler on the Roof, Triumph of Love, Anything Goes, Tony Award nominee for Urinetown,), and Ryann Redmond (who recently made her Broadway debut in Bring It On!).

Eleanor Albano (book & lyrics) has been a theatre marketing and advertising design consultant for regional and commercial houses in Los Angeles since 1983. Other writing credits include the stage musical It's A Jungle Out There and the TV series The Music Shoppe, and with Dale Gonyea, the animated musical holiday fable Christmas Is For Everyone. Anthony Barnao (book & lyrics) is the founding artistic director of the highly acclaimed Blue Sphere Alliance, a Los Angeles theatre company known for presenting new work. He has directed numerous original plays, including award-winning productions of The Big Voice (moved off-Broadway), Home Sweet Hell, a hip-hop version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and In the Bargain starring Catherine Keener. Ron Abel (music) is a multi-award-winning composer, producer and musical director who has composed the scores for Bricktop, Re-Introducing Laurette Bishop, the award-winning Twist of Fate, and the upcoming Hazel. Abel has worked with Jessye Norman, Taylor Dayne, Lucie Arnaz, Michele Lee, and Valarie Pettiford, among many others.

On Broadway, Glenn Casale directed Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Tony Award nomination). Off-Broadway, his work includes The Property Known as Garland, and Dragapella at Studio 54 (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Best Production). He recently directed Disney's The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Casale is the Artistic Director of California Musical Theater in Sacramento. The January staged reading of Rockwell will also have, as part of the creative team, choreographer Patti Columbo, who has Broadway, national tour, and regional credits including Peter Pan (with Casale), Dr. Doolittle, Seussical, the Musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, On the Town, Can-Can, and White Christmas.

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