Joan Copeland and Diane J. Findlay to Star in Ziegfeld Society's THOU SWELL! THOU WITTY!

Joan Copeland and Diane J. Findlay headline The Ziegfeld Society of New York City's Thou Swell! Thou Witty!: The Songs of Rodgers & Hart, written and hosted by Aaron Gandy with musical direction and special arrangements by Mark York, at Lang Concert Hall at Hunter College (69th between Park and Lexington) on Saturday afternoon, March 25th, at 2pm.

 

The musical revue will chronicle the lives and collaboration of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart, authors of 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs from such classic Broadway musicals as Babes In Arms, A Connecticut Yankee, Pal Joey, Simple Simon, On Your Toes, Garrick Gaieties and others.

 

Joan Copeland is no stranger to the musicals of Richard Rodgers, having starred as Vera Charles in the 1976 revival of Rodgers and Hart's Pal Joey, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination, and opposite Danny Kaye in Rodgers and Martin Charnin's Two By Two. Ms. Copeland starring roles on Broadway also include The American Clock, in a role written especially for her by her brother, playwright Arthur Miller, for which she received a Drama Desk Award, Brighten Beach Memoirs, Checking Out, Coco, The Price, Tovarich, and Detective Story. Diane J. Findlay, who will appear as Mother Mucca in Tales of the City (the role she created in the San Francisco production) at The Music Box on March 27th, made her Broadway debut in the original production of Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing and most recently appeared on Broadway in Larry David's Fish in the Dark. She appeared in 70 Girls 70 and Follies for City Center's Encores, and received The Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year Award for Hallelujah, Hollywood. Rounding out the cast are Holly Butler (On The Town, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Grease), Sean Doherty (currently touring in Shades of Buble), Jessica Rose Futran (The Golden Bride), and Maurio Hines.

 

Thou Swell! Thou Witty! is written and hosted by Arron Gandy, a specialist in American musical theatre and American popular song. Mr. Gandy's Broadway credits include Disney's The Lion King, Urinetown, and Dora the Explorer Live! at Radio City Music Hall, and he was musical director for The Roundabout's Just Jim Dale. He has conducted recordings including Jule Styne in Hollywood, The Sherman Borthers' Busker Alley starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close, Kay Swift's Fine & Dandy starring Carolee Carmello, Alex Wilder's Miss Chicken Little, and a restoration of Walter Donaldson's jazz age romp Whoopee! Mr. Gandy restored the original film orchestrations for Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I and Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and his restoration of the original film orchestration for Oklahoma! was performed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He coordinated the restoration of Harold Arlen's St. Louis Woman and Cole Porter's DuBarry was a Lady for Encores, and concert presentations of the Gershwin's Tip-Toes and Irving Berlin's Louisiana Purchase for Carnegie Hall. He has worked on solo recordings for Kristin Chenoweth, Tomoko Shibata and Dawn Upshaw.

 

Musical direction and special musical arrangements are by Ziegfeld Society Executive producer and co-founder Mark York, Jim Dale's accompanist and on stage sidekick in the Roundabout's Just Jim Dale, Off-Broadway and in London, and musical coordinator for songwriter Jerry Herman and the estate of Cy Coleman.

 

All proceeds from admission will benefit The Ziegfeld Society of New York City, a not-for-profit organization that aspires to enlighten, entertain and educate current and future generations of theatergoers and young artists about the legendary performers, songwriters and creators of our vast musical theater heritage. Monthly performances featuring Broadway stalwarts performing alongside young up-and-coming artists, as well as presentations by authors and screenings of lost film and television musicals, are presented for seniors, students and the general public at modest, affordable prices.

 

The Ziegfeld Society's 2016-2017 season continues on April 29th with The Unsinkable Tammy Grimes: A Musical Life in Revue, a celebration of the life and musicals of the legendary Broadway star Tammy Grimes who passed away last December, featuring an All-Star cast of Miss Grimes lifelong friends and costars, written and directed by Walter Willison with musical direction and special arrangements by Mark York; Karen Oberlin stars in Secret Love: A Tribute to Doris Day on May 27th; and the season closes on June 24th with We'll Take a Glass Together: The Songs of Robert Wright & George Forrest from MGM to Grand Hotel written and directed by Walter Willison, with musical direction and arrangements by Mark York.

 

Tickets for the Thou Swell! Thou Witty!: The Songs of Rodgers & Hart are $23.00 for General Admission, $15.00 for Seniors, and $10.00 for Students. All contributions are tax deductible. Tickets are on sale online at www.theziegfeldsociety.com, or call 917-371-5509. To find out more visit The Ziegfeld Society on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ziegfeldsociety.

 

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