A long, long time ago, Stephen Hanks heard Don McLean's second studio album "American Pie" (which was released in late 1971 and hit number one on the Billboard album chart), and became a life-long fan. Now a cabaret show reviewer/columnist for BroadwayWorld.com and Cabaret Scenes Magazine, Stephen has decided to experience how the other half lives and will take the performing leap with his debut solo cabaret show, Beyond American Pie: The Don McLean Songbook. On May 31, Hanks brought his debut show to the Metropolitan Room and you can check out photo coverage below!
Stephen felt that there were thousands of people in New York City like him; amateurs who had always fantasized about performing in a Broadway show but had no outlet to live out their fantasy. In 2002, a group of more than 20 adults, ranging in age from 20 to 70, staged a performance of "Damn Yankees" (in which Stephen played both the young and old Joe Hardy). This was followed in 2003 with a staged-reading performance of "Guys and Dolls" (Stephen played the role of Sky Masterson), which was featured in The New York Daily News. In 2005, the BMFC staged "Fiddler on the Roof" at the 14th Street Y. In 2006 and 2007, Stephen produced and directed "South Pacific" and "Guys and Dolls (in the latter, also playing the role of Nathan Detroit). Stephen is also the Board President of Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, which workshops four to five new musicals each year at the Snapple Theatre Center.
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
Sean Harkness, Music Director, Ted Kooshian, Skip Ward, Rob Mitzner, Stephen Hanks
Metropolitan Room
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