Photo Flash: Broadway Legend Andre De Shields Visits GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER

The legendary André De Shields experienced the Sunday matinee of the new Broadway musical GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER at The Belasco Theatre, helmed by Tony Award winner John Rando and featuring choreography by Chris Bailey.

After the show, Mr. De Shields visited with the cast onstage and chose to share why he thinks you need to see GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER and HEAD OVER HEELS. Below, BroadwayWorld has photos of the star with Garth Kravits, Nehal Joshi, Marilu Henner, J. Elaine Marcos and more.

Mr. De Shields shared, "Dear colleagues, have you lately been experiencing the dissonance of pernicious cynicism? Whether emotional, psychological, financial, political or romantic, there is remedy to be had. I was recently twice inoculated against this scourge of populist hateration, which proved to be exceedingly therapeutic, exceptionally restorative and copiously joyful. The first of the two was a visit to the Hudson Theatre on Thursday, August 16 for the 7 PM performance of HEAD OVER HEELS, while the second was the Sunday, September 2 matinée of GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER at The Belasco Theatre. Each production deliciously cast dramaturgical caution to the wind, and aimed its arrows, with fierce accuracy, at the audience’s collective funny bone. Now, both theatres sit sufficiently close to one another on the block of 44th Street, between 7th Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, that the deep-gut howls of laugher could easily infect the respective audiences. I suggest you give yourselves a break from the lies that bind, and “become head over heels” about “getting’ the band back together."

The cast of GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER features Mitchell Jarvis (Mitch Papadopoulos), Jay Klaitz (Bart Vickers), Manu Narayan (Dr. Rummesh "Robbie" Patel), Paul Whitty (Michael "Sully" Sullivan), Sawyer Nunes (Ricky "Bling" Goldstein), Marilu Henner ("Mitch's Mom," aka Sharon Papadopoulos), Kelli Barrett (Dani), Becca Kötte (Tawney), Garth Kravits (Ritchie), Tamika Lawrence (Roxanne Velasco), Noa Solorio (Billie), and Brandon Williams (Tygen Billows). The cast also includes Lindsey Brett Carothers, Ryan Duncan, Scott Richard Foster, Jenny Hill, Nehal Joshi, J. Elaine Marcos, Rob Marnell, Jasmin Richardson, Ian Ward, and Tad Wilson.

Mitch Papadopoulos always wanted to be the next Bruce Springsteen, but he left those daydreams behind for a day job. When this big-shot banker is handed a pink slip on his 40th birthday, he's forced to move back in with his mom in New Jersey.

A run-in with his former music rival leads to a threat of foreclosure on Mitch's family home, unless he can win The Battle of the Bands-a rematch over 25 years in the making. So he dusts off his guitar, gathers his old gang, and sets out to win back his house, his pride-and maybe even the high school sweetheart he left behind-proving it's never too late to give your dreams one last shot.

Gettin' The Band Back Together has original music and lyrics by Mark Allen and a book by Ken Davenport and The Grundleshotz with additional material by Sarah Saltzberg. The creative team includes Tony Award winners Derek McLane (Scenic Design), Emily Rebholz (Costume Design), Ken Billington (Lighting Design), John Shivers (Sound Design) in addition to Music Direction by Sonny Paladino and Casting by Eisenberg/Beans Casting. Orchestrations are by Doug Katsaros and Sonny Paladino.

The cast recently gathered to record the cast album at Power Station and SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release it later this year.

GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER will close on Sunday, September 16 following the evening performance. It will have played 30 previews and 40 performances. Previews began on July 19 and the show opened on August 13.

You can get 2 for 1 tickets for GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER during Broadway week, Sept 3-16. Visit www.telechargeoffers.com
Code 1: BWAYWK - general 2-for-1 tickets
Code 2: BWAYUP - 2-for-1 upgrade: spend an extra $20 to get seats closer to the stage.

Photo credit: Lia Chang

Garth Kravits, BranDon Williams and Andre De Shields

Garth Kravits, Andre De Shields, J. Elaine Marcos and Nehal Joshi.

Marilu Henner and Andre De Shields first met when they were both on Broadway, in GREASE and THE WIZ, respectively.

Andre De Shields visits with the cast, band and crew of GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER.

Andre De Shields, Becca Kotte and Noa Solorio

A JUNGLE BOOK reunion for Nehal Joshi and Andre De Shields.

Noa Solorio, Lindsey Brett Carothers, Kelli Barrett, Jasmin Richardson, Andre De Shields, Tamika Lawrence, Becca Kotte and Jenny Hill.

Andre De Shields and Garth Kravits

Jay Klaitz and Andre De Shields

BranDon Williams, Andre De Shields and Garth Kravits

Kelli Barrett and Andre De Shields

Rob Marnell, Cherie Tay and Andre De Shields

Lia Chang, Garth Kravits, Andre De Shields, J. Elaine Marcos and Nehal Joshi.

Jasmin Richardson and Andre De Shields

Andre De Shields, Becca Kotte and Garth Kravits

Andre De Shields and Becca Kotte

Andre De Shields and Lindsey Brett Carothers

J. Elaine Marcos and Andre De Shields

Andre De Shields and Ryan Duncan

Andre De Shields and Tad Wilson

MouthFeel Band members Joe Bergamini, Garth Kravits, Andre De Shields, Ryan Duncan and Aurelien Budynek