New York Musical Theatre Festival will present the World Premiere of Richard Rodgers Award finalist SHE CAN'T BELIEVE SHE SAID THAT!, a new musical about the rise and fall and fall and rise of Kathie Lee Gifford. Featuring book, music and lyrics by Matt Prager (South Park, That's My Bush!) and directed by Josh Hecht (of the Drama Desk Award winning Christine Jorgensen Reveals), performances begin September 26 at TBG Theater.
SHE CAN'T BELIEVE SHE SAID THAT! recounts the true story of talkshow hostess
Kathie Lee Gifford. The show covers a 30-year time span, and, thematically, uses the story of someone often accused of being fake in order to examine the mechanisms by which we define our identities. While a musical about Kathie Lee probably brings to mind something campy, this show is more akin to Evita, but a cheesy Evita, a Velevita if you will!
The production stars
Heather Laws, most recently seen as Amy in the Tony and Drama Desk Award winning revival of Company, as Kathie Lee. Also in the cast are Brian Gallagher as Kathie Lee's first husband, Paul,
Charles Karel as
Regis Philbin,
Jan Pessano as Anita Bryant, Rob Sheridan as
Frank Gifford,
Paul Anthony Stewart (Fiddler on the Roof) as
Larry Gatlin, Tia Zorne (Beauty and the Beast) as the Therapist, Laura Beth Wells, Daryl Getman, Dustienne Miller, and
Patrick O'Neill. The creative team includes
Tara Jeanne Vallee (choreography), Howard Levitsky (music direction), Frank Perri (orchestration), Raquel Davis (lighting), Tei Blow (sound),
Robin Vest (scenic design), Jacob Hanson (props), Ryan Rossetto (costumes) and Aaron Rhyne (video/projections). Adam Fitzgerald is General Manager.
As a studio executive, Matt Prager made numerous films including Golden Globe winner The Rat Pack (
Ray Liotta, Don Cheadle) and Breast Men (
David Schwimmer,
Chris Cooper), working with directors including
Rob Cohen (The Fast and The Furious, xx) and Oscar winner
Bill Condon (Dreamgirls). As a writer, Matt has written on such shows as South Park, That's My Bush!, and the upcoming film remake of Valley of the Dolls. Matt has also sold a number shows to MTV, been a celebrity tarot card reader, starred as the sidekick on a cooking show pilot, and was once offered the job of temporary game warden at
Stephanie Powers' William Holden Wildlife Foundation (he declined).
Josh Hecht most recently directed Anna Ziegler's BFF (WET at the DR2) and Megan Mostyn-Brown's Lizards (Guthrie). His production of Christine Jorgensen Reveals (Dodger Stages) won the 2006 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience Other recent productions include: Megan Mostyn-Brown's Girl (Cherry Lane),
Bob Morris' Assisted Loving (MCC Theater), and
Winter Miller's The Penetration Play (13P).
Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize one of America's greatest art forms by discovering, supporting and promoting new musical theater artists, producers, and projects, and by introducing a diverse audience to the vibrancy of contemporary musical theater. Since its inception in 2004, the three-week annual festival has premiered more than 130 new musicals – many of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and on tour in 38 states, and nine countries worldwide. NYMF 2004 hit
Altar Boyz has played well over 1,000 performances off-Broadway and is now in its fourth year at New World Stages; fellow NYMF alum
[title of show] recently began performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. Widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery, NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by amNewYork, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos, HX Magazine, Jossip.com, King Displays, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Metromix.com, The New York Blade, Next Magazine, Panasonic Astrovision, Queerty.com, Tekserve, TheMENEvent, VOGA Italia, and The Zipper Factory. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
SHE CAN'T BELIEVE SHE SAID THAT! runs Fri. Sept. 26 at 8pm; Sat. Sept. 27 at 1pm; Mon. Sept. 29 at 8pm; Weds. Oct. 1 at 4:30pm; Sat. Oct. 4 at 4:30pm; and Sunday, Oct 5th at 1:00 pm. TBG Theater is located at 312 West 36th Street. Tickets are $20, available at 212-352-3101 or
www.nymf.org.
