Liz McKendry Plays Broadway Legend Fay Templeton in One-Woman Comedy at Cape May Stage Today

New York cabaret performer and musical theater actress Liz McKendry (currently appearing the musical Boeing, Boeing at the Cape May Stage until September 13) has been cast to portray late 19th-early 20th-Century Theater legend Fay Templeton in Up in a Balloon, a one-woman comedy about Templeton's life and career, written by New York actress Karen McDonald. The show, which previously had successful workshops in New York and Toronto, will be performed today, September 1 at 3pm on the Cape May Stage at The Robert Shackleton Playhouse in Cape May, New Jersey. Admission is free. (Theater is located at 405 Lafayette Street.)

Up in a Balloon asks audiences to ponder a question about this long-forgotton actress in history: "If I was the most popular star on Broadway, how come nobody remembers me?" Templeton may be best remembered for starring in the 1906 Broadway show Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway, where she introduced both the title song and the hit "Mary," both depicted in the 1942 Academy Award-winning film Yankee Doodle Dandy starring James Cagney as Cohan and Irene Manning as Templeton. During an evening, of song, dance and comedy, Liz McKendry will bring the acclaimed actress to life with stories about Cohan and other legendary stars she inspired, including Bob Hope.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Liz McKendry got her start in Las Vegas performing in Donn Arden's Jubilee!" before landing a spot in the Broadway musical The Producers. After a wonderful run, Liz was also cast in the film adaptation of the show. Since then, she has collected a wide range of credits in off-Broadway and regional theater and television, including performances in Sleep No More and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum at The Paper Mill Playhouse. She was also featured in The Young & The Restless and Mad Fashion on Bravo. McKendry will also be performing her new cabaret show at the Metropolitan Room in New York on November 18 at 7pm.

Karen McDonald has been a working actor/singer/writer/director for 30 years, and has performed in major cities across North America, Europe and Asia. Most recently she was seen as Maggie Jones in 42nd Street, Emilia in Othello, Domina in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum and Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl. She is the first recipient of the Senator Dale Vulkar Award (former State Senator from New York) for Excellence in the Arts.

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