Annette Alicanti's Disco Musical THE ART OF THE HUSTLE Set for Industry Presentation Next Week
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 10, 2015
THE ART OF THE HUSTLE follows Anna, a woman trapped in an abusive marriage who escapes into the intoxicating world of night clubs where she gets swept away by the music and the people. THE ART OF THE HUSTLE is a new dance musical set against the pulsing beat of best music of the Disco era.
"As a successful competitive dancer and instructor, the music of the disco era speaks to me in a meaningful and alluring way. It seemed the perfect soundtrack to tell a story about a woman in a complicated situation looking for a place to fit in. I have been blessed to work with an amazing team including our director, noted Broadway veteran Jonathan Cerullo and our choreographers to tell this story in a visceral way and I cannot wait for audiences to see this production come to life." Playwright, Annette Alicanti.
The cast includes Zoey Anderson (Parsons Dance Company), Christopher Berioz, Ryan Bloomquist (NY: Bombshell. Regional: Les Mis, Next To Normal), Veronica Castilla (US Hustle Champion), Shay Dixon (Film: Kinesthesis), Lyman Y. Heung (UK: Wild Swans) , Brian Jones (Broadway: The Illusionists), Ivica Marc (When the Cats Away), Al Magliano, Maggie Politi (Regional: The Producers), Kristi Roosmaa (Carnegie Hall The Sound of Music), Rainere Martin (Legends in Concert), Siggi Schorr, Melanie Waldron (National Tour: Man of La Mancha, Chicago), Ryan Williams (Film: The Hurricane, Dead Presidents) and Zena Wood.
For more information about THE ART OF THE HUSTLE, go to TheArtoftheHustleMusical.com.
WHO'S WHO:
ANNETTE ALICANTI (Writer) never imagined that she would become a writer. A highly successful competitive ballroom dancer and instructor, she put her career on hold to raise three wonderful daughters who are the love of her life. She later became enthralled by the very special world of Hustle dancing. Calling upon her talent and training as a ballroom dancer, she soon mastered the Hustle and developed a grace and style in that dance that is uniquely hers. She is sought out by the very best Hustle dancers on today's scene as the perfect partner to complement their own talents on the dance floor. She still teaches dance and has become a top notch real estate salesperson while she continues to raise her daughters who admire and adore her. Drawing on her own fascinating life experience, she became inspired to write and discovered a great talent which is instantly recognizable by those who have been fortunate enough to read her work. In addition to "THE ART OF THE HUSTLE," which is currently being staged under the direction of noted Broadway veteran Jonathan Cerullo, she has written two screenplays, is putting the finishing touches on a third and has a fourth in development.
JONATHAN CERULLO (Director) recently Jonathan directed the wildly successful Windywoo and her Naughty Naughty Pets for the 2015 NY Musical Theater Festival. His theatre credits include: Associate Choreographer on Broadway; Band in Berlin, Anna Karenina, musical staging for Say Goodnight, Gracie, and Assistant to the Director on The Three Musketeers. He has directed and or choreographed the Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center, PBS Great Performances Boston Pops, Columbus and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, for Off-Broadway, symphony concert as well as regionally. His film and TV work include Associate Choreographer on, The First Wives Club and The Stepford Wives, Donny Osmond's, This Is the Moment and "Natalie Cole's Christmas Special." He appeared as a featured dancer on Broadway in Legs Diamond, in the national tour of CATS, alongside Donna McKechnie in Fosse's, Sweet Charity and has appeared at the TONY award winning, Goodspeed Opera House. Jonathan holds a BFA in Directing from Emerson College. He is proud member of both the Lucille Lortel Awards and the SDCFJoe A. Callaway Awards. Jonathan is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union, AEA, The Drama League, and the Dramatist Guild of America. www.jsctheatricals.com
KRISTINE BENDUL (Choreographer) is elated to choreograph for The Art Of Hustle! Just this year her choreography was featured in the International Hustle & Salsa Congress. This is hustle's largest annual event held in Miami in which she also took 1st Place in the Pro Cabaret Division. Kristine has choreographed for Broadway Care's Equity Fights AIDS with her work presented on the Broadway stage where she conceived, directed and choreographed Cinderella's performance in the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet. She was the assistant choreographer and partner consultant to Josh Rhodes for Rodger's and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" on Broadway. Kristine has also had the honor to present her choreography in the Westport benefit "The Full McNally: A Celebration of the Writing & Works of Terrence McNally" and Broadway Bares Fire Island. Her path to choreographing began early as she has assisted Josh Bergasse, Otis Sallid and even crossed over to work with Ballet Hispanico as assistant to Carlos Sierra Lopez for their 2008 world premiere of "Destino Incierto (Carmen Trio)" which was presented at the Joyce. www.KristineBendul.com
RALPH RAMIREZ (Choreographer) Born and raised in New York City, Ralph, affectionately known to his friends as "Ralphie," entered the world of Hustle dancing in 1977 at the height of the Disco era. He developed his craft working with legendary Hustle dancers, Arte Phillips and Eddie Vega among others. He received his formal dance training in the top studios of New York City and was a fixture in all the great dance clubs of the era in the City and Long Island. He toured with Arte Phillips in ballroom dance companies and has performed in night clubs, movies, theatre and television both here and abroad. His prodigious list of on and off Broadway stage credits includes: Dance Fever, Grand Hotel, From Ballroom to Broadway, An Evening with Gershwin, Gotta Dance and a command performance for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. He has choreographed for Joan Jett, Adam Ant, Stray Cats, Burt Bacharach, Dusty Springfield and MTV. He first met Kristine Bendul thru Arte and has now reunited with her as co-choreographers on THE ART OF THE HUSTLE.
OLIVER MARSH (Musical Director) a native of New York City, Oliver Marsh was an award-winning jazz pianist at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. He is a recent graduate of Princeton University, where he specialized in East Asian Studies and became fluent in both Mandarin and Japanese. Oliver and his brother, Nolan, have performed at many NYC jazz clubs, including Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar, Somethin' Jazz, and most recently Joe's Pub, where they shared the stage with Professor Cunningham and his Old School Band. He teaches piano to students of all ages and provides music transcription services to customers all over the world through his online business. www.facebook.com/omarshmusic
TONY MONTIGLIO (Producer) was greatly influenced by his father who instilled in him a love for the performing arts. Tony's home was filled with sights and sounds of the best popular music of the twentieth century. Show tunes, Popular Standards and Jazz as performed by the greatest artists of the day were ever present. The music of the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Lerner and Lowe, Johnny Mercer, Rogers and Hammerstein and a host of others captivated his imagination. When the Disco era ushered in a return to partner dancing, Tony's life-long passion for dancing the Hustle began. After a 25 year absence from the scene while he married, raised two sons and built his law practice, Tony returned to the world of social dancing where he met Annette Alicanti. They instantly recognized each other as soulmates and formed a bond of friendship, respect and mutual admiration for each other's talents, character and charisma. They soon began working together on Annette's writing career which has culminated in "THE ART OF THE HUSTLE," which Tony is currently producing for Broadway.
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