Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, which for 12 years has been instrumental in developing new musicals including "Next to Normal," salutes its founder, Bick Goss, with a gala celebration on Monday evening, September 19 at a private penthouse apartment on Manhattan's east side.
Goss began his career almost 50 years ago as a
Bob Fosse dancer (original companies of "Little Me," "Sweet Charity," "Dancin" and "Chicago") and developed as a director-choreographer-producer during his five decades in the business. Performers saluting Goss at the Sept. 19th gala include
Jerry Lanning (original grown-up Patrick in "Mame" and Joe Hardy opposite
Gwen Verdon in a Goss-directed and choreographed production of "Damn Yankees,"
Jeanne lehman (Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast"),
Raissa Katona Bennett ("Phantom of the Opera"),
Rosemary Loar ("Sunset Boulevard."), and
Nancy Ringham (Eliza to
Rex Harrison's last production of "My Fair Lady"). Many other Broadway and cabaret performers will join in an evening of song, roasts, food, drink and toasts. Admission to the gala evening is $100.00. Proceeds go to help finance the not-for-profit organization's operation for the 2011-2012 season and beyond. For more information, location and tickets: www.musicalmondays.org.
Goss founded Musical Mondays Theatre Lab a dozen years ago at the Century Center for the Performing Arts. The organization currently presents previews of new musicals at the Snapple Theater Center where the record breaking long-runs of "The Fantasticks" and "Perfect Crime" currently play. Writers whose early work debuted at Musical Mondays include Tony® Winners
Robert Lopez and
Jeff Marx ("Ave Q"), Tony and Pulitzer Prize Winners
Brian Yorkey and
Tom Kitt ("Next to Normal"), Drama Desk nominee
Eric Weinberger and Kleban Prize Winner
Beth Falcone ("Wanda's World,"), Outer Critics Award Winner
Andy Monroe ("The Kid"). Performers in both readings and table readings have included
Norbert Leo Butz,
Rebecca Luker,
Liz Larsen,
Sal Viviano,
Tovah Feldshuh,
Jan Maxwell and
Tammy Grimes. Musical Mondays also presented a number of Master Classes including one led by
Gwen Verdon, one of the Broadway legend's last public appearances.
What: Bick Goss GALA: His Life & Career
When: Monday, September 19, 2011, 6:30-9:30PM
Why: Benefit Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, Inc.
Admission: $100.00 through musicalmondays.org
Press Contact: Frank Evans 917-279-2853; musicalmondays@aol.com
