The critically acclaimed comedic duo, The Calamari Sisters will perform a benefit performance of A MUSICAL COOKING LESSON on Sunday, April 19th for Emerging Artists Theatre in support of their mission to be an incubator for new voices from page to stage. Emerging Artists previous productions include Urban Momfare (FringeNYC Encores 2014), The Sensational Josephine Baker (Theatre Row), and the NY Times acclaimed Penny Penniworth.
The Calamari Sisters are local celebrities in Brooklyn, NY as the singing, dancing, and cooking stars of the public access cable cooking show, MANGIA ITALIANO. In A MUSICAL COOKING LESSON, Delphine (Jay Falzone) and Carmela (Stephen Smith) have taken their culinary expertise on the road to spread their unique brand of Italian teaching to the masses. With outrageous musical numbers, hilarious family anecdotes, and some help from some of you, these sisters will give you a cooking lesson that you'll never forget. Be prepared to eat your heart out and laugh until your sides hurt.
The Calamari Sisters was created by Jay Falzone, Stephen Smith and Dan Lavendar. The creative team includes musical supervisor Brandon James Gwinn, produced by
Lively Arts Productions.
The
Players Theatre is located at 115 MacDougal Street, between West 3rd and Bleecker Street. Tickets are $85.00 (tax deductible) and are available at
www.thecalamarisisters.com
Dan Lavender (Co-Creator) Off Broadway: Ethan Frome: The Musical (York Theatre), Swing For Victory (World Premiere - York Theatre). Off-Off Broadway: Cocktails With Coward (Don't Tell Mama), and Soar Like An Eagle (The Lion). Regional: Cocktails With Coward (Northern Stage) and Oh, Boy! (Berkshire Theatre Festival). National Tours: Swing For Victory!, Cooking With The Calamari Sisters, Christmas With The Calamari Sisters! Artistic Associate (Northern Stage), Resident Director/Choreographer (Northern Lights Playhouse). Dan is an associate member of the SSDC. He attended Pace University and Dartmouth College.
Jay Falzone (Co-Creator/Delphine Calamari) is a Rochester native and
Syracuse University alum, he grew up in a full-blooded Italian family and is grateful to have the opportunity to pay homage to the wonderful craziness of an Italian upbringing. Other writing credits: PARENTING 101 (Co-writer/ Director/ Choreographer), and YOU DON'T KNOW JACK (Book/ Lyrics), an adult retelling of the Jack & Jill nursery rhyme. Directing/ Choreographing credits: BUSH WARS (OffBroadway), AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' (National Tour), SNOOPY! (50th Anniversary National Tour), SHOUT: THE MOD MUSICAL (Chicago; National Tour), 42ND STREET (Naples, FL), and I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE (Rochester, NY - 9-year run).
Stephen Smith (Co-Creator/Carmela Calamari) is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. Stephen has worked with theatres across the country and internationally, even as far as Disney Tokyo. Dance credits: choreographing The Anderson County Maverettes & Swingin' Blue and working with Rockettes choreographer
John Dietrich. He designed costumes for AUTUMN MOON (a new werewolf rock opera), created puppets for AUTUMN MOON and FOOL'S PARADISE and has had artwork commissioned by Florida Power and Light Company, as well as several private buyers.
Brandon James Gwinn (Music Supervisor) His music for Underwear A Space Musical premiered in the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival. The show received 4 stars in Time Out, and has been produced subsequently around the country and as part of the American College Theatre Festival. Brandon is also the composer for the musicals: Hatter, The Happy Prince, If These Stalls Could Talk and Matchmaker, Matchmaker: I'm Willing to Settle. Brandon is a popular performer and accompanist for multiple acts in NYC such as
Molly Pope,
Cole Escola,
Erin Markey, and
Justin Sayre. He is a regular at Our Hit Parade at Joe's Pub, and can sometimes be found behind the piano sipping cocktails at the legendary piano bar Marie's Crisis.
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