Actors Co-op Opens Stephen Schwartz's THE BAKER'S WIFE Tonight

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2015 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the first show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with THE BAKER'S WIFE, book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), musical direction by Jake Anthony, choreography by Julie Hall, produced by Kimi Walker and directed by Ovation Award-winner Richard Israel (110 in the Shade, Floyd Collins). THE BAKER'S WIFE opens tonight, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

What's more important to France than love? Great food! From the creator of Wicked comes the delicious musical about a French baker who stops making his mouth-watering bread when his young wife leaves him. Faced with the loss of the best food they have ever eaten, the town of misfits unites to rekindle the couple's love.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Music and Lyrics) was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play Butterflies Are Free; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well. In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for Godspell, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's Mass, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for Pippin and two years later,The Magic Show. At one point, Godspell, Pippin, and The Magic Show were all running on Broadway simultaneously.

He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's Working, to which he contributed four songs, and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series.

Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, Captain Louie, and a children's book, "The Perfect Peach." He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, Personals, lyrics to Charles Strouse's music forRags, and music and lyrics for Children Of Eden. He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features "Pocahontas," for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame." He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, "The Prince Of Egypt," for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe". He most recently collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's "Enchanted".

Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, "Geppetto," seen on The Wonderful World of Disney and recently adapted for the stage as Geppetto & Son. He has released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled "Reluctant Pilgrim" and "Uncharted Territory." Mr. Schwartz's most recent musical, Wicked, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the United States and the world. In 2008, Wicked reached its 1900th performance on Broadway, making Mr. Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1900 performances. A book about his career, "Defying Gravity" has recently been released by Applause Books.

Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also currently the President of the Dramatists' Guild.

JOSEPH STEIN (Book) started his career in television and was one of a noted group of writers on "Your Show of Shows" and "The Sid Caesar Show." His first work for the theatre was as co-author of Plain And Fancy, the hit musical about the adventures of a pair of sophisticated New Yorkers living among the Amish in Pennsylvania. His next show was Mr. Wonderful, starring Sammy Davis, Jr. He created the libretto for the Bock and Harnick musical The Body Beautiful. His next librettos were for Take Me Along, based on Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness.; and Juno, with score by Marc Blitzstein. He then wrote the adaptation for the hit stage comedy Enter Laughing. Fiddler on the Roofwas his next show, for which he won the Tony as well as the Drama Critics' Circle Award. He was also nominated for a Tony for his next show, Zorba, with score by Kander and Ebb. His other productions include King of Hearts, Irene, Rags (for which he also was nominated for a Tony), and The Baker's Wife, which was produced in London and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award. Mr. Stein is also the author of the screenplays for Enter Laughing and Fiddler on the Roof.

RICHARD ISRAEL (Director) is thrilled to be returning to Actors Co-op, where he directed last year's production of 110 In The Shade (LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Outstanding Musical in an Intimate Venue), as well as 1776, BigRiver, Leading Ladies and Merrily We Roll Along. Recent directing credits include the original Jeff Marx/Fat Mike musical Home Street Home, as well as Bronies! The Musical, Spring Awakening, and Floyd Collins (LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for Directing and Outstanding Musical in a Large Venue). Other directing credits include Kiss Me Kate for Cabrillo Music Theatre, Glorious! for ICT, Avenue Q for DOMA Theatre and the multiple-Ovation nominatedHaving It All for the Laguna Playhouse. For Third Street Theatre, he has directed the west coast premiere of The Burnt Part Boys, The Full Monty and Falsettos, and for West Coast Ensemble Theatre, he has directed Gypsy, Assassins, Big and the west coast premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins. For the Musical Theatre Guild he has directed Road Show, High Fidelity and Violet, among others. He is the recipient of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Career Achievement Award for Directing and is a proud member of SDC.

JULIE HALL (Choreography) Most recently choreographed The Mystery Of Edwin Drood at the Actors Co-op, having previously choreographed productions of 110 In The Shade, The Learned Ladies, The 1940's Radio Hour, Big River, Trails, Leading Ladies, The Freddy Wyatt Christmas Spectacular, Elephant Man, Much Ado About Nothing, and Yours, Isabel. Julie is a graduate of the Florida University School of Music.

JAKE ANTHONY (Musical Director) works as a composer, vocal coach, and Music Director in the Los Angeles area. Some of his favorite LA theater work includes The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Actors Co-op), Snoopy! (McCadden Place Theater), Little Women (Sustaining Sound Company), as well as the West Coast premieres of Splendora and Songs from an Unmade Bed at Celebration Theatre. He serves as Music Director of the Performers' Workshop, and conducts the new "theatrichorale" Perpetual Surrey. As a composer, Jake co-wrote the 15-minute musical Oh God, We're Gonna Die! with Jeff Marx (co-author of Avenue Q), and the three full-length shows Now and Then a Hero, Wanting Miss Julie, and New York Society for the Suppression of Vice.

The Cast of THE BAKER'S WIFE will feature (in alphabetical order): Greg Baldwin, Kelly Brighton, Tracey Bunka, Greyson Chadwick, Chelle Denton, Brian Dyer, Nick Echols, Larray Grimes, Rachel Hirshee, Tim Hodgin, Natalie Hope Macmillan, Christopher Maikish, Jeffrey Markle, Brandon Parrish, Michael Riney, Lindsey Schuberth, Treva Tegtmeier, Stephen Van Dorn and Michael Worden.

THE BAKER'S WIFE has assembled an award-winning design team. Set Design is by Rich Rose. Lighting Design is by Bill E. Kickbush. Sound Design is by Warren Davis. Costume Design is by Wendell C. Carmichael. Hair and Make-up Design is by Krys Fahervari. Property Design is by Hanna Mitchell. The Stage Managers are Kate Harmon and Samantha Thomas. THE BAKER'S WIFE is produced by Kimi Walker.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

THE BAKER'S WIFE will preview on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 25 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:30pm (with Saturday Matinees scheduled for Saturday, September 26 at & Saturday, October 24 at 2:30pm).

Ticket prices are $34.00 for all Performances. Seniors (60 and over) - $30 and Students - $25.00 - with Student Rush Tickets available at Friday performances (excluding opening nights) on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to availability. Rush tickets are priced at 1/2 off regular adult tickets price. Tickets may only be purchased 45 minutes prior to curtain at the box office window. Valid Student ID must be shown. One ticket per ID. Cash Only, please.

To learn more about Student Rush Tickets, please call the box office at (323) 462-8460.

Previews are Free to the Public. Group rates are available for parties of 6 or more.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at (323) 462-8460 or visit www.ActorsCo-op.org.

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