Photo Coverage: POWER BALLADZ Opens Off-Broadway
By: Linda Lenzi Aug. 20, 2010
Some of the greatest rock anthems of the 70's, 80's and 90's take center stage in the new rock cabaret musical POWER BALLADZ, debuting Off-Broadway at the Midtown Theatre (163 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan, which opened officially last night, August 20th. Not your typical theater experience, POWER BALLADZ is a 90-minute rock tribute that gives audiences the chance to unleash their inner rock star: part comedy, part interactive game show, and a genuine joy ride through the music and legend of rock songs by powerhouse bands such as Guns 'N' Roses, Journey, Heart, Queen, Bon Jovi, Styx and more. POWER BALLADZ is created by Mike Todaro and Dan Nycklemoe with Peter Rothstein and written by Mr. Todaro and Mr. Nycklemoe.
POWER BALLADZ comes to New York following a sold-out premiere at The LABTheatre (formerly the Guthrie Lab Theatre) in Minneapolis, and is presented Off-Broadway by Bruce Johnson, Mike Todaro, and Dan Nycklemoe.
POWER BALLADZ is directed by Mike Todaro, and features a cast which includes Dieter Bierbrauer (VIOLET, FIGARO at The Guthrie), Scott Richard Foster (BROOKLYN on Broadway, SESSIONS), and Mary Mossberg (NEXT TO NORMAL,WONDERLAND: ALICE'S NEW MUSICAL ADVENTURE). Peter James Zielinski and Melanie Kann cover.
The design team for POWER BALLADZ consists of Bradley Clements (Lighting Design), Hilary Noxon (Lighting Design), Alex Ritter (Sound Design), Abbi Stern (Costume Design), Dan Nycklemoe (Video Design), and Jason Loffredo (Music Supervisor).
At POWER BALLADZ, audience members can celebrate the best music of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. The formula is simple: start with some blood-pumping arena rock songs by Motley Crue, Poison, Guns 'N'Roses, Journey and other arena bands, add some talented rock singers, give them a full band, lots of lights, a fog machine, a video projection screen, plenty of leather and long hair, and you've got a concert. And while the POWER BALLADZ band knows how to rock, the show takes an unexpected turn when the high school sweetheart of one of the musicians stumbles into the show after ten years apart, raising the question -- will he be man enough to finally score the girl of his dreams?
An evening at POWER BALLADZ begins 30 minutes prior to curtain with interactive trivia games, rock trivia contests and an opportunity for audience members to socialize and meet fellow concert-goers. Following the performance, ticket holders have access to a live-band rock anthem karaoke show during which they are welcome to perform on stage and realize their own POWER BALLADZ fantasies.
For additional information on POWER BALLADZ please visit www.powerballadz.com
Welcome to the Opening Night!
.jpg "Photo Coverage: POWER BALLADZ Opens Off-Broadway")
Dieter Bierbrauer
Mary Mossberg
Karen Dryer and Sean Driscoll
Sean Driscoll and Mary Mossberg
Dieter Bierbrauer, Scott Richard Foster and Sean Driscoll
Scott Richard Foster and Mary Mossberg
Mike Vanderpoel and Jason Bozzi
Avenue Q's Lucy The Slut and Becca Ayers introduced Producer/Creator/Director Mike Todaro to the stage
Mike Todero and Lucy The Slut
Mike Todero
Producer/Creator/Director Mike Todaro and Producer/Creator/Video Designer Dan Nycklemoe
Mike Todero
Dieter Bierbrauer
Dieter Bierbrauer
Mary Mossberg
Scott Richard Foster, Mary Mossberg and Dieter Bierbrauer
Scott Richard Foster, Mary Mossberg and Dieter Bierbrauer
Melanie Kann and Peter James Zielinski
Scott Richard Foster and Dieter Bierbrauer
Scott Richard Foster and Dieter Bierbrauer
Scott Richard Foster and Dieter Bierbrauer
Melanie Kann, Peter James Zielinski and Scott Richard Foster
Scott Richard Foster, Mary Mossberg, Lucy The Slut, Dieter Bierbrauer and Becca Ayers
Melanie Kann, Lucy The Slut, Peter James Zielinski and Becca Ayers
Melanie Kann, Lucy The Slut, Peter James Zielinski and Becca Ayers
Melanie Kann, Music Director Karen Dryer and Peter James Zielinski
Melanie Kann, Music Director Karen Dwyer and Peter James Zielinski
Check out Live Band Karaoke after the show!
Videos