Rogers, Lisitza and Colbert Set For Reading At Of New Musical Play Based On The Life Of Julian Eltinge At Woodstock Fringe 9/3
By: Gabrielle Sierra Aug. 14, 2009
Jay Rogers, Lorinda Lisitza and David Brian Colbert will be in a reading of a new musical play at the Woodstock Fringe Festival based on the life and career of Julian Eltinge. The play is a part of the "First Look" Series at the Fringe. This series gives audiences a look at works, as a reading, while they are still being written.
Julian Eltinge, a Female Impersonator, was one of vaudeville's most recognized luminaries in his day; reportedly the highest paid actor in America in 1912. He saw a career that no other female impersonator and few performers have seen since. He starred on Broadway in several musicals written specifically for his talents, toured the Vaudeville circuit and the world...including China and Australia, gave a command performance for King Charles VII of England and eventually made his way to Hollywood and Silent Films.
By 1940, the glitter had long since faded on the star that was once considered the "Most Beautiful Lady on the Stage". In Los Angeles, California, he attempted a come-back performance at the Café Rendezvous, a less popular night club, when he was denied permission to perform in the gowns that made him so famous. This denial by the City of Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners led to Eltinge taking the stage in a tuxedo with his parade of gorgeous gowns on dress manikins next to him as he sang his songs and told his stories.
This musical play, written by David Brian Colbert, explores the whirl wind career of this ground breaking performer and the circumstances by which this onetime star was denied to perform in the milieu that made him so successful.
Book, Music/Lyrics: David Brian Colbert
Director: Wallace Norman
Man One: Jay Rogers
Woman: Lorinda Lisitza
Man Two: David Brian Colbert
For additional information, calendar and tickets to this year's Festival, please visit us online at www.woodstockfringe.org, or call the box office at 845-810-0123.
Photo credit Genevieve Raftere Keddy
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