'Brel' Producer Announces Show Tour - & Singing T-Shirts

Producer Dan Whitten, recent Tony Winner for Jay Johnson: The Two And Only, has announced plans for the hit Off-Broadway show Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and the launch of "Showstoppers Musical" T-shirts, a new line of theatrical apparel.

Whitten just returned from The Marin Theatre, a 40 year old non-profit company just north of San Francisco, where the Off-Broadway Revival version of Brel will play next spring to close their subscription season.  Whitten and the Marin Theater are exploring moving the show directly to a commercial house following the Marin Theatre run.

He is also in talks with The Minniachi and New Vista theaters in South Florida about a December run as well as The Chocolate Factory in London, and soon-to-be-released theaters in Boston, Israel and South Korea.

"I'm thrilled to take our revival of Brel on the road" said Whitten. "Our CD, co-produced by Brel Musical Director Eric Svejcar, has helped our visibilty. To date we have sold more than 5000 CDS."

Another piece of merchandise is also helping:

Showstoppers Musical T-Shirts and Apparel, launched at The League of American Theater Producers Road Event in NYC last month. Showstoppers is a product of T-ink, the technology company that is the home of Whitten's New York Office. "With the touch of a finger, and the magic of T-ink technology, Showstoppers Musical T-Shirts magically 'sing' hits from the show," according to press materials.

In addition to Brel and The Two and Only, other shows in negoatiations to merchandise the T-Shirts include Spring Awakening, Jersey Boys (Whitten is a Ltd. partner) andLegally Blonde.

Photo of Dan Whitten by Ben Strothmann