Jennifer Holliday Stars in ZACH Theatre's SOPHISTICATED LADIES, Beginning Tonight

ZACH Theatre presents Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. ZACH Theatre Associate Artistic Director ABE REYBOLD will direct the musical in the Topfer Theatre on the Karen Kuykendall stage tonight, July 15, 2015 - August 23, 2015. A full onstage orchestra backs superb jazz vocalists, extraordinary tap dancers, dazzling deco costumes, and unforgettable torch singers who bring classics like "Mood Indigo," Take the A Train," "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" to vivid life in this grand Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

Joining Jennifer Holliday (Dreamgirls) will be KENNY WILLIAMS (A Christmas Carol, The Gospel At Colonus) as The Raconteur; BRIAN WHITTED as The Hipster; CHANEL HAYNES-SCHWARTZ as The Soubrette; J.P. QUalters as The Jazzbo; BRANDON O'NEAL as The Danseur; AFRA HINES as The Danseuse.

Ensemble members include Jennifer Young Mahlstedt (The Who's Tommy), Alana Maderal (The King and I) Christa Oliver (The Gospel At Colonus), Karly Powell, Jackie Strubberg, Leslie Hethcox, Michael J. Love, Tony Merriwether, Matthew Shields, Phil Young, Tommieleee Crutcher, and Dainique Jones.

ZACH Theatre's Associate Artistic Director, Abe Reybold (The King and I, The Three Little Pigs) will direct Sophisticated Ladies with choreography by tapper and dancer Dominique Kelley of Broadway shows Wicked; Hot Feet; Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; and Wild Women Blues. Musical Director will be Allen Robertson (A Christmas Carol, The Gospel At Colonus, Peter and the Starcatcher) and will be joined by Set Designer J. Aaron Bell (The Three Little Pigs), Properties Designer Scott Groh (Peter and the Starcatcher, In The Next Room, The Who's Tommy), Lighting Designer Michelle Habeck, Sound Designer Craig Brock, Costume Designer Susan Branch Towne (The Who's Tommy, The Gospel At Colonus, A Christmas Carol), and Stage Managers Cate Tucker and Shannon Richey. Sophisticated Ladies features a concept by Donald McKayle, based on the music of Duke Ellington with music and dance arrangements by Lloyd Mayers and vocal arrangements by Malcolm Dodds and Lloyd Mayers.

Special events in celebration of Sophisticated Ladies include:

. Press Night: Saturday, July 18, 2015.

. GLBT Wilde Party Night: Thursday, July 16, 2015

. Champagne Opening Night: Thursday, July 23, 2015

. Z Lounge: Pre-show musical entertainment in the Topfer
Theatre's Main Lounge.

Tickets start at $25 and are available online at www.zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541 ext. 1, or in person at the ZACH Theatre Box Office, in the Topfer Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd. (corner of Riverside Drive and South Lamar Blvd.) Monday through Saturday, 12 noon - 7 p.m. ZACH Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more. Student Rush Tickets are $18 one hour before show time (with valid ID).

A non-profit organization, ZACH creates intimate theatre experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. As Austin's leading professional producing theatre, ZACH employs more than 300 actors, musicians, and designers annually to create its own diverse array of nationally recognized plays and musicals under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Each year, ZACH serves nearly 115,000 Central Texans - 50,000 of which are children and youth who participate in our education and outreach programs, as well as inspiring camps and classes. ZACH Theatre is honored to host private and community events across the beautiful rental-ready spaces on our three-stage campus located in the heart of Austin. Founded in 1932 and in its 82nd season, ZACH is the longest continuously running theatre company in the state of Texas, and one of the ten oldest in the country. Visit www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

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