Ziemba and Bradbury Lead Abingdon Theatre's MARATHON '33, 10/19

Abingdon Theatre Company's Marathon '33 is a star-studded celebration and special presentation of a new stage show inspired by June Havoc's 1963 play of the same title for one night only on Monday, October 19, beginning at 6:30pm at Webster Hall.

As previously announced, Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba, star of Broadway's Curtains, Contact, Steel Pier and Never Gonna Dance, is set to participate in the evening co-directed and co-choreographed by Tomé Cousin and Peter Gregus. In the spirit of Miss Havoc's play, a cast of more than twenty performers jitterbug and jive to the sounds of bygone days. Ms. Ziemba will perform standards of the Depression Era.

The ensemble cast of MARATHON '33 includes Noah Aberlin, John Alix, Lisa Anthony Biagini, Peter Brouwer, Julie Connors, Mark Stuart Eckstein, Curtis Howard, Sonia Iannetti, Scott Larsen, Steve Luker, Bill Nabel, Ron Nahass, Cassandra Palacio, Rachelle Rak, Andrew Rannells, Francis J. Roach, Kelsey Robinson, Erika Shannon, Bara Swain, Laura Swanson and Kirstin Tucker.

Joining the evening, as special guests, will be the actresses who have portrayed Baby June or Dainty June, the roles based on Miss Havoc in the original Broadway cast and subsequent revivals of the landmark musical Gypsy.

Lane Bradbury, Broadway's original "Dainty June" (and an original cast member of Broadway's Marathon '33), and Merle Louise, Ms. Lane's replacement in Gypsy, will be on hand to celebrate Miss Havoc's life. Also set to attend are Jacqueline Mayro from the original Broadway cast; Bonnie Langford and Maureen Moore from the 1974 revival; Christen Tassin from the 1989 revival; Kate Reinders and Heather Tepe from the 2003 revival; and Leigh Ann Larkin and Sami Gayle from the 2008 revival.

In December, 1963, June Havoc's Marathon '33 opened on Broadway, starring Julie Harris. The play, which Miss Havoc also directed, recounted her experiences as a participant of dance marathons. In 1933, the entire country was amid the Great Depression, and unemployed, but a group of talented performers competed to see who could dance the longest -- and collect the much-needed prize money. Sixty couples began the competition. After five to six months of endless dancing, the field was narrowed to a handful. The marathoners danced for 45 minutes out of every hour, 24 hours a day. The 11-minute rest period and the two minutes to get to and from the dance floor were enough rest for the first 800 to 1,000 hours. Sleeping while leaning on one's partner was a necessity. Calluses developed after the first 500 hours. After the 1,000-hour mark, sprints, grinds and similar events occurred until contestants collapsed and fell by the wayside.

Miss Havoc, for whom Abingdon Theatre Company named its mainstage theater, began her career at the age of two as "Dainty June, The Darling of Vaudeville." At age 14, she danced in the first of her seven marathons. She also starred in twenty-two Broadway plays and penned two autobiographies, "More Havoc" and "Early Havoc," upon which her play Marathon '33 is based. Miss Havoc is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and a double-honoree on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Miss Havoc, along with her sister, the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee, and mother, Rose, were immortalized in the musical Gypsy.

Karen Ziemba won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Susan Stroman's Contact. Other Broadway credits include Tony-nominated performances in Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance and, most recently, Curtains. She has also appeared in A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Crazy For You, Chicago, And The World Goes Round, and I Do! I Do! in addition to her work on television's "Law & Order," and in the film version of "The Producers."

In addition to the entertainment, Abingdon Theatre Company will serve comfort foods of the era (and of today too) including hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, cotton candy and beer. Raffles, door prizes and other surprises add to the evening's fun. Vintage attire is encouraged. Marathon '33 begins at 6:30pm with swing lessons, taught by Myrna Caceres, who also teaches at the 92nd Street Y. The Mark Stuart Dance Theatre will perform a pas de deux at 7:30pm. The stage show begins at 8:00pm, followed by drinks and dancing.

Proceeds from Marathon '33 benefit Abingdon Theatre Company. The evening is set to honor five-time Tony Award-winner Julie Harris and Abingdon Board Chairman Emeritus Margot London.

Tomé Cousin's Broadway credits as a performer include Susan Stroman's Contact and Dreamgirls in Concert. He directed and choreographed Asolo Repertory Theatre's production of Contact. Peter Gregus' Broadway credits include Jersey Boys, Contact, and benefit presentations of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Funny Girl.

On October 14, Abingdon Theatre Company launched its 2009-10 Off-Broadway Season with the opening of Inventing Avi, a zany world-premiere comedy of theatrical manners by Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman, at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

Marathon '33 takes place on Monday, October 19 at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street); beginning at 6:30pm with Swing Lessons; Stage Show at 8:00pm, followed by drinks and dancing. Tickets begin at $50. For more information about individual tickets, please contact Sarah Rulfs at 212-868-2055 or visit www.websterhall.com and click on events.

For 16 seasons, Abingdon has been a home for creative writers and loyal audiences. Abingdon is proud to foster positive collaboration by emerging, mid-term, and established artists; perpetuate dialogues between audiences and artists; engage an ever-growing and diversfying audience; and, explore the fabric of the American story. For more information about Abingdon Theatre Company visit www.abingdontheatre.org.