IRVING BERLIN'S AMERICA to Get Second Cast Album, 2/02

Most Off-Broadway shows don't get a cast album, but ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's show "Irving Berlin's America" is about to get its second cast album. And this one will be released on February 2nd as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The well-received premiere recording, featuring Michael Townsend Wright and Jack Saleeby, will continue to be available. The new album will feature-in his recording debut--Giuseppe Bausilio, who co-starred with Wright in "Irving Berlin's America" at the 13th Street Theater in 2014, and is expected to return as co-star in a future production. Bausilio previously starred in the Broadway musical "Billy Elliot" (playing the title role) and was featured in the Broadway musical "Newsies" (playing the role of "Race").

"We received so many requests from fans of Bausilio for an album with him on it, we were glad to get a chance to go back to the recording studio for this new album," Deffaa said. "Giuseppe is a unique talent. He's a world-class dancer-he's won gold, silver, or bronze medals in international dance competitions every year since 2008; and his singing and acting skills are equally strong. He's got 'star quality.' Audiences just eat him up! He found his own interpretation of the role, and I'm glad to have his interpretation preserved on disc. I love the idea that there will now be two different versions of the cast album out there. Heck! If we could find a way, we'd even make a third version, to preserve the work of Matt Nardozzi, who's also played the role with flair."

The album will be released digitally in the US on February 2nd, on CD Baby, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, etc. And all proceeds will go Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Co-stars Michael Townsend Wright and Giuseppe Bausilio, together with writer/director/producer Deffaa, have all chosen to donate their services, to help the charity. "I love the idea that this is a benefit for Broadway Cares, which has done so much good," said Bausilio.

"From time to time, I like to do something for Broadway Cares," noted Deffaa, whose own "Chip Deffaa Invitational Theater Festival" raised thousands of dollars for the charity, some years back. "Whether this album raises for Broadway Cares hundreds of dollars-or thousands of dollars--is up to the public; every sale will raise more funds for this good cause."

"I just love Irving Berlin's music, and the show. And it's so much fun to work with Michael and with Chip," Bausilio commented. "We want the world to know about Irving Berlin. That's why we're doing the show, and the album. That's our contribution-and hopefully it's a good contribution... Music nowadays is so techno-based, so computerized. The music Berlin put out there is simple, it's sweet, and it's awesome. I like all kinds of music. But Berlin really created beautiful music-and he did it all on his own, without much education."

Michael Townsend Wright, a stage/screen/TV veteran, with 40 years in the business, has high praise for Bausilio. "Even at his young age-he's just 17-he's as much a pro as anyone I've ever worked with. We always enjoy working together; we have a great rapport.... I'm glad there will be a record of his work. It's remarkable for someone of his generation to so effortlessly perform these vintage songs so well."

Producer Ted Kurdyla-a great believer in the project--is striving to develop "Irving Berlin's America" as a property not just for the stage, but for TV or film as well.

"Irving Berlin's America," which was recently published by Steele Spring Stage Rights, is one of five different shows that Deffaa-perhaps the foremost living authority on Berlin's music-has written about the famed songwriter. Deffaa's "Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue," which also played at the 13th Street Theater in 2014, is currently in the process of recording a cast album (at Slau Halatyn's BeSharp Studios in Astoria). Deffaa plans to record cast albums for all five of his Berlin shows, including "Irving Berlin & Co." (which is being published by Eldridge Plays), and his "Irving Berlin: In Person" and "The Irving Berlin Story" (being published by Leicester Bay Theatricals).

"Berlin was the most successful single songwriter in history. He composed the scores for 19 Broadway shows, 18 Hollywood musicals. He wrote more hits-and made more money-than any of his competitors," Deffaa said. "And then he became a recluse. He blocked all attempts to dramatize his life; he told anyone who proposed telling his life story on stage or screen, 'Not while I'm alive!' He was extraordinarily zealous about guarding his privacy.

"I'm glad to have opportunities now to celebrate Berlin's legacy via the shows I'm creating-and the albums we're recording. I'm very grateful that Edith O'Hara, the 97-year-old dynamo who runs the 13th Street Theater, is such a strong supporter of my Berlin project. She's encouraged me to do all that I can in celebration of Berlin at her theater, and we'll eventually do all five shows there," noted Deffaa, who has become the 13th Street Rep's most-frequently-produced playwright. "Berlin's legacy is so great, it will take multiple shows--a cycle of shows--to properly salute him. And we want to record all the shows, too--to help get the music out there, and help introduce Berlin's legacy to another generation."

In addition to Wright and Bausilio, the album also features music-director Richard Danley on piano, plus Grammy winners Vince Giordano (on bass) and Andy Stein (on violin).

Deffaa is taking a bit of time to launch the new "Irving Berlin's America" cast album now. And then he plunges into rehearsals for his next production, an original musical titled "Mad About the Boy," set to open at the 13th Street Rep on April 12th.

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