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Breakdown
SATURDAY NIGHT
Dir: Stafford Arima
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Julius J. Epstein
Based on play Front Porch in Flatbush by Julius J Epstein & Philip G Epstein
Reh: 11/3-11/7/14
Runs: 11/8 - 1/16 (no shows on 10/10 & 10/11, 10 shows total)
Written in 1953 as the debut effort of a young Stephen Sondheim. Tells the unassuming story of a group of Brooklyn boys trying to make good in the stock market in 1929. Unfortunately, Gene, is so eager to climb the social ladder & impress his sweetheart, he invests his friends’ money in a swank apartment near the Brooklyn Bridge, even going as far as to sell the gang’s precious automobile. This forgotten musical notably features such classics as “So Many People” and “What More Do I Need?”
All should believably play early 20s, unless otherwise noted, & convincing as Brooklyn residents circa the 1920s. Actors with strong musical theatre voices, not pop-rock.
GENE GORMAN
Male, early 20s. Single. A champagne wisher & caviar dreamer, but also an attractively sly fox. Determined to make his dreams a reality but unable to do so. Clerk on Wall Street who can’t help but embellish & pretend he leads a more extravagant life in order to get taste of the finer things. Tenor
HELEN FOGEL
Female, early 20s. Single. Lover of lifestyles that come with the rich & famous, crafty & cunning. Beautiful dreamer full of idealistic love. Strong willed, quick to adopt other personas to appear more alluring. Mezzo/belter
ARTIE
Male, early 20s. Single. Fast talker & joker; quick on his feet, enthusiastic. Penny pincher; always dividing up the groups expenses. Tenor
RAY
Male, early 20s. Single. Movie enthusiast. Nerdy, neurotic; reminiscent of Woody Allen. Bari-tenor
DINO
Male, early 20s. Single. Somewhat hawkish. Delightfully witty smart aleck. Shoe clerk. Bari-tenor
BOBBY
Male, 18+ to play late teens–early 20s. Single. Youngest of the group; very 'experienced' for his age. Handsome; fancies himself an expert in the art of seduction. Bari-tenor
TED
Male, early 20s. Single. Energetic, easily excited. Has moxie & gumption. Bari-tenor
HANK / MALE VOCALIST
Male, early–mid 20s. Good friend to the other guys - knew them about 15 years. A good head on his shoulders. 'Happily' married to Celeste. Also has dreams of making money. Doubles as a big band vocalist at a popular night club; a smooth crooner. Bari-tenor
CELESTE
Female, early 20s. Hank's wife. A good head on her shoulders, but a hopeless romantic & can lose herself in that. Playful, sassy, entrancing. Bold & colorful, but sweet & thoughtful. Mezzo/belter
EUGENE GORMAN (Pinhead)
Male, mid 20s. Married. Gene's balding cousin – show-off who leads a very comfortable life. Not part of the gang. Quick to anger, much to the amusement of the others. Bari-tenor
MILDRED
Female, early 20s. Single. Friend of Celeste. A lady through-and-through, is charming almost to a fault, but not without an appealing quirkiness. Initially invited as a date for one or more of the guys, but quickly fits in as the token single girl of the group. Mezzo/belter
MR. FLETCHER / HEADWAITER
Male, 30s-40s. Fletcher is a staunchy real estate agent hoping to sell a luxury apartment to Gene. Headwaiter runs the show at a classy restaurant. Bari-tenor.
CLUNE/PLAZA ATTENDANT
Male, 30s-40s. Clune is a suspicious, hardnosed police detective. Attendant is an officious doorman at the Plaza checking tickets. Baritone.
MR. FISHER / LIEUTENANT
Male, 30s-early 40s. Fisher is a loan agent from a finance company who comes to repossess a car from Gene. Lieutenant is a cop at the police station trying to sort out the chaos the gang has created. Bari-tenor.
FLORENCE / FEMALE VOCALIST
Female, early 20s. Florence is a lovely young friend of Mildred’s who has been invited along as an additional date for the boys. Female Vocalist is a lounge singer at a popular night club. Mezzo/belter.
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MY FAVORITE YEAR
Dir: Dan Knechtges
Music Dir: David Holcenberg
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Book: Joseph Dougherty
Based upon the film, My Favorite Year
Rehearsal: 12/1-12/5/14
Runs: 12/5 @ 8, 12/6 @ 2:30 & 8 and 12/7 @ 2:30 & 7:30
It's 1954, and Benjy Stone, writers' assistant on TV's King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade, is assigned the daunting task of baby-sitting veteran Hollywood swashbuckler Alan Swann. The reckless Swann is in town doing a live guest appearance on the show & his antics & alcoholism nearly get Benjy fired. But when Benjy's given an unexpected glimpse into Swann's broken heart, he begins to discover a thing or two about life & love. Based on the film of the same name; opened on Broadway in 1993. This production will premiere a new, revised version by its award-winning creative team.
ALAN SWANN
Male, 40s-50s. Handsome, well-traveled Hollywood leading man. Swashbuckling 1940’s movie star ala Errol Flynn. Drinker & a ladies man, in need of constant supervision. Although charismatic & visible, now considered a sad has-been. Baritone. Character singer with great sense of rhythm.
ALICE MILLER
Female, late 30s-40s. Tough-talking gag writer on Comedy Cavalcade. Gutsy, dry, and quick-witted. Fearless comedian. Mezzo belter
BELLE MAY STEINBERG CARROCA
Female, late 40s-60s. Benjy's beloved mother. Substantial beacon of Brooklyn society, is generous of nature & proportion. Strong, but lovable personality. Big Broadway belt with optional comic soprano.
BENJY STONE
Male, 20s. Our story's charming, excitable protagonist. Young Jewish boy from Brooklyn looking to make it in show business. Freshman writer on King Kaiser's Comedy Cavalcade. Bari-tenor. Excellent singer.
K.C. DOWNING
Female, 20s. Bright, attractive career girl; assistant to the producer. Straight-laced, lovably awkward & unintentionally funny. Is misplaced in a crowded world of funny people. Mezzo belter
KING KAISER
Male, late 30s-50s. Brash & abrasive TV show host. Former Catskill Comic, now the host of America's number one TV show. Domineering man; alternately terrifying & hilarious, depending on his mood. Character singer.
HERB LEE
Male, mid 30s-40s. Rumpled & silent, yet seemingly expressive. Writer on the Comedy Cavalcade staff who usually communicates through Alice. Piano skills a plus. Baritone. Role doubles as Manhattanites, Brooklynites, one of Tess’s friends, etc. Good singer.
LEO SILVER
Male, mid 50s-60s. Grey-haired & well-dressed. Lead producer of the Comedy Cavalcade who boasts plenty of intimidation to make up for his shortcomings. Doubles as Manhattanites, Brooklynites, etc. Baritone. Good singer.
SY BENSON
Male, late 30s-50s. Head writer on the Comedy Cavalcade. Tough & ruthless. Bullies all except King. Deep down, is nothing more than a frantic pushover & wimp. Baritone. Doubles as Manhattanites, Brooklynites, etc. Good singer.
UNCLE MORTY
Male, 50s-60s. Benjy's loud Jewish uncle. Always full of life; knows how to have a good time. Baritone. Doubles as actors, stage crew, Manhattanites, etc. Character singer.
AUNT SADIE
Female, 50s-60s. Warm-hearted Brooklyn lady. Beny’s loopy, Jewish aunt. Mezzo. Doubles as actors, show personnel, Manhattanites, etc. Character singer.
TESS
Female, early 20s. Alan Swann’s high school aged daughter. Lovely girl who carries the baggage of having an unreliable famous father. Doubles as various other characters in the show, including showgirls, actors, stage crew, Manhattanites, Brooklynites, etc. Strong versatile singer.
ROOKIE CARROCA
Male, 40s-50s. Small Asian man, tough as nails. Belle’s husband, a former bantamweight boxer. Contrast in temperament & physique to Belle. Bari-tenor. Also plays people on King Kaiser show, Manhattantites, etc.
CHARACTER GIRL
Female, 20s-30s. Versatile actress & singer. Plays variety of roles including showgirls, Tess’s friend, sketch actors, secretaries, Manhattanites, etc. Strong versatile singer.
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