Graae, Grabeel, Harewood & More Set For Reprise's Broadway Under The Stars 6/27

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

"Broadway Under The Stars" will feature songs from shows playing on Broadway during the 2008-09 season including South Pacific, 9 to 5, Pal Joey, Next to Normal, West Side Story, Chicago and Wicked. The evening will also feature a few selections from Reprise Theatre Company's upcoming 2010 season, Carousel, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Tickets, priced at $40 are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1- FORD). Through the Ford's early buyer incentive, adults who buy tickets on or before June 20 pay only $35.

Jason Graae has appeared on and off-Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing; Falsettos; Stardust, Snoopy!; Patent Leather Shoes; Forever Plaid; Olympus on My Mind; All in the Timing; Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination); and more. He made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as the featured vocalist in Twyla Tharp's "Everlast" with American Ballet Theatre. Jason has performed his one-man show all over the U.S, including at Feinstein's, Birdland and the Plush Room. Recently, he won his second L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award - the 2008 Joel Hirschorn Award for Outsanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. He won an Ovation Award for Forbidden Broadway Y2KLA!, but didn't win one as Houdini in the U.S. premiere of Ragtime. For Reprise: Of Thee I Sing, The Boys From Syracuse, Anything Goes (Ovation nomination) and Kismet. TV: Six Feet Under, Rude Awakening, Friends, Frasier, Sabrina, Living Single, Caroline in the City, Providence, and more. Film: Title role in Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms (2008 Toronto and London Film Festivals), Disney's Home on the Range, and the upcoming Awakening of Spring. He has been heard on many cartoons and for five years was the voice of "Lucky, the Leprechaun" for Lucky Charms Cereal. Jason has recorded over forty CDs including original cast albums, concerts, compilations, and two solo CDs - "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile - Jason Graae Sings Charles Strouse", and "Jason Graae LIVE at The Cinegrill." This summer, he'll be seen in The Best is Yet to Come, a Cy Coleman revue at The Rubicon, and Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl.

Springfield, Missouri native Lucas Grabeel began his acting career when he responded to a call for the local high school's stage production of The Secret Garden. He soon began auditioning for plays and musicals at the community theater, starring in productions of Oliver!; Romeo and Juliet; and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, among others. In 2004, he made a trip to Los Angeles to look into becoming a professional actor. After landing a few commercial jobs, he was chosen for a role in Disney's telefilm Halloweentown High and reprised the part in Disney's Return to Halloweentown. He has guest-starred on such television series as Boston Legal, Veronica Mars, and Smallville; and appeared in such movies as College Road Trip and The Adventures of Food Boy. Cast as Ryan Evans in the 2006 Disney Channel telefilm High School Musical, he became part of an ongoing media phenomenon that has encompassed a 2007 telefilm sequel (High School Musical 2) and a 2008 movie sequel (High School Musical 3: Senior Year); all three features were directed by Kenny Ortega. Lucas' role as Danny Nicoletta in Gus Van Sant's MILK, starring Sean Penn, again brought him to the "big screen" in 2008. Lucas played Matt in the recent Reprise production of The Fantasticks.

Dorian Harewood has performed before Broadway theater audiences as well as live theater audiences across the country, having starred in the Tony Award winning musicals Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Jesus Christ Superstar, Over Here with John Travolta, The Pajama Game, Purlie, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and Crumbs From The Table Of Joy, for which he won his third NAACP Image Award. He starred in the Reprise production of The Pajama Game. He has also starred in the Broadway plays Streamers, directed by Mike Nichols, Don't Call Back, The Mighty Gents with Morgan Freeman and the fateful musical Miss Moffat, opposite the late great Bette Davis, the woman responsible for his decision to become an actor. Mr. Harewood has performed with the incomparable Gladys Knight and has also toured with the legendary Four Tops. Currently, he is touring the country promoting his just released revolutionary new instructional video, Strictly Blackjack, which teaches the strategies necessary to win consistently at the game of blackjack. In the world of television, Dorian Harewood holds the unique distinction of having portrayed the two largest roles in the most widely seen network AND non-network mini-series in the history of television! In the role of Simon Haley (father of author Alex Haley) in Roots: the Next Generations, he aged from 17 to 70 years old, creating the largest role in the combined 26 hours of Roots I and II. He is probably best known for his award-winning portrayal of 1936 Olympic champion and American hero Jesse Owens, in The Jesse Owens Story.

Jean Louisa Kelly Film: The Fantasticks (Luisa); Mr. Holland's Opus (Rowena Morgan); Uncle Buck (Tia). Broadway: Into the Woods (Original Broadway Cast). Off-Broadway: The It Girl (title role). LA: It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman (Lois Lane); Applause (Eve); Pippin (Catherine); Company (Amy); Merrily We Roll Along (Beth) and Follies (Young Sally) all Reprise and Sunset Boulevard, the screenplay, at the Hollywood Bowl. Ms. Kelly starred as Kim Warner on the CBS hit comedy Yes, Dear for six years and was a series regular on the NBC dramedy Cold Feet. Other television credits include appearances on Gary Unmarried, Surviving Suburbia, Eli Stone, Ghost Whisperer, Law & Order, Homicide and Ally McBeal as well as HallMark Hall of Fame's presentations of Breathing Lessons and Harvest of Fire, TNT's The Day Lincoln Was Shot, ABC Disney's The Ruby Bridges Story, the recurring role of Nurse Diane on Mad About You.

Vicki Lewis starred as Beth on the hit NBC series Newsradio and as Nora in Three Sisters, also for NBC. She has had recurring and guest-starring roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, Surviving Suburbia, Til Death, Grey's Anatomy, Dirt, Seinfeld, Caroline In The City, Murphy Brown, Norm, Grace Under Fire, The Five Mrs. Buchanans, Phenom and Home Improvement. She starred in Bye Bye Birdie on ABC and in The Huntress for TNT. Her film work includes The Ugly Truth, California Dreamin, Last Day Of Summer, Mousehunt, Godzilla, Pushing Tin, I'll Do Anything, and Breakfast Of Champions. She starred as Velma Kelly in the Broadway and Los Angeles productions of Chicago, and as Gloria Thorpe in the Tony-nominated Damn Yankees on Broadway. She also starred in Pal Joey for Encores! with Patti LuPone and Peter Gallagher, The Crucible for the Roundabout Theatre, and as a soloist with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. She received the 2007 Ovation Award for her performance in the world premiere of Michael John LaChuisa's Hotel C'est L'amour. She performed in the Reprise productions of City of Angels, My One and Only, and I Love My Wife. Her animated work includes Pixar's blockbuster Finding Nemo, Justice League: The New Frontier, Wonder Woman, Alpha And Omega (2010), Doctor Doolittle, Ben 10, Alien Swarm, Phineas and Ferb, King Of The Hill, Mission Hill, Hercules, Rugrats, An Extremely Goofy Movie, and Betsy's Kindergarten Adventures.

Valarie Pettiford recently guest starred on Criminal Minds and continues her recurring role on the House of Payne as Sandra Lucas. Other TV and Film credits include; The District, Frasier, The West Wing, One Life To Live, The Wiz, The Cotton Club, Glitter, CSI MIAMI, Bones, CSI, and as Aunt Jackie in Stomp the Yard. Broadway/Tour credits: Fosse (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations); Chicago opposite Chita Rivera (London West End debut); Sophisticated Ladies (original cast and understudy for Judith Jamison); Grind; Dancin'; Big Deal; Show Boat (NAACP, LA's Robby, Vancouver Sun Reader's Choice Awards, and Ovation and Jessie Richardson Theater nominations); Des McAnuff's production of The Wiz; and The Wild Party (NAACP Theatre and Garland Awards for Best Actress, Ovation nomination). Valarie performed in the Reprise production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In 2007, Valarie opened Summer Concert Series with The Pasadena Pops conducted by Rachel Worby and shot the pilot Anatomy of Hope (HBO) directed by JJ Abrams. In 2006, she completed her fourth season of the hit series Half & Half (now in syndication) that earned her three NAACP Image Award nominations. Her one-woman show was performed to sold-out audiences at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre, The Gardenia Room, the El Portal Theater, Mark's (presented by Upright Cabaret) in Los Angeles, The Metropolitan Room in NYC (2007 Backstage Bistro Award) and New York's Famous Birdland supper club. Valarie continues to lend her support and talents to many charities annually and is thrilled to have fulfilled a life long dream of recording an album titled "Hear My Soul," sold online at www.cdbaby.com

Lee Martino (Choreographer) is the resident choreographer for Reprise Theatre Company under the Artistic Direction of Jason Alexander. Choreography for Reprise includes The Fantasticks, Li'l Abner, On Your Toes, Damn Yankees, On The Town, Brigadoon, I Love My Wife and several of the summer events at The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Most recent credits include: directing this year's Alzheimer's Benefit; directing and staging American Stars In Concert starring Kimberly Locke, Melinda DooLittle, and Diana DeGarmo; choreography for the soon-to-be-released animated feature Alpha Omega; Kiss Of The Spider Woman for Havok Theatre Company, for which she just received the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Award; Fiddler On The Roof for the Rubicon Theatre Company; the Bravo series Step It Up and Dance. Other credits include: Beehive at the El Portal Theatre; All Shook Up for Musical Theatre West; I Do I Do and Side By Side By Sondheim for The Pasadena Playhouse; direction and choreography for several large-scale shows for Harley-Davidson throughout the country; Warner Bros.' animated feature The King and I; Universal Studios' New York Rascal Show; Disney's Santa Clause 3 Stage Show at the El Capitan Theatre; Disney International's Latin American Stage Tour, A Dream Is A Wish; the Opening Gala for Theatre Under the Stars, TUTS; Hobby Performing Arts Center, the Opening of Ford Field, the Detroit Lions football stadium, starring Gladys Knight; Lee's work has been seen in many S.T.A.G.E. (Los Angeles' longest-running AIDS benefit), Actor's Fund, and Alzheimer's benefits, as well as the CHOC Follies, an annual event for Children's Hospital of Orange County. Lee's choreography has won her three Los Angeles Drama Critic's Awards, two Ovation Awards, Garland awards, and many nominations for these awards. Her On Your Toes for Reprise won her the 2007 Ovation, LADCC and Garland awards. Lee is a member of SSDC.

Mary Ekler (Musical Director) has performed in various musical capacities around the globe. She has served as Musical Director, keyboardist, vocalist and arranger with Grammy Award artists Wilson Phillips, Helen Reddy, and Rita Coolidge. She continues to perform in concert with fine artists such as Little Anthony and the Imperials, Freda Payne, Deborah Gibson, Glenn Yarbrough, Dale Kristien, Bill Hutton, Jordan Bennett, The Diamond's, Michael Maguire, Phantom's Leading Ladies, Jason Graae, Vicki Lewis, David Engel, and Tami Tappan. Mary recently wrote all of the arrangements and served as MD and pianist for a wonderful one woman show performed by Stefanie Powers and for Lorenzo Lamas who debuted his cabaret act to rave reviews at Feinstein's in NYC. She can be seen and heard on television as pianist and Music Director for many of the wonderful PBS Doo Wop specials. Mary is an award-winning songwriter whose compositions have been performed and recorded by Sergio Mendes, Glenn Yarbrough, Helen Reddy, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Deniece Williams and Cheryl Barnes. She has also composed music for television, including the series Matlock, for Viewer's Choice Pay TV and numerous feature films. In addition, Mary composed the United States theme song for "Million Minutes for Peace," performing it at the United Nations, St. John's Cathedral, and the Hollywood Bowl. In the wonderful world of Musical Theatre, she has served as Associate Music Director for the Reprise productions of Company and Kismet. She has also been an orchestra member at the Pasadena Playhouse for their productions of 110 in the Shade, Purlie, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Ray and in numerous other productions in the Los Angeles area. In addition, Mary was Musical Director for the first annual "Hope for the Holidays" at the Key Club for APLA, the 2008 S.T.A.G.E. Benefit, "Blame it on Bacharach." and the 2009 "The Brothers Gershwin" S.T.A.G.E. Benefit. She was also co-Music Director for the REAF "Help is on the Way XIV" Benefit in San Francisco.

About the Ford Amphitheatre

The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink. The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request.

On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. For evening shows only, FREE non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the "kiss and ride" area.

This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2009 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series
produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.

Sat., June 27 at 8:30 p.m.
John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068

Tickets: Price - $40, $35 if purchased on or before June 20.
In person - Theatre box office, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East
On Line - www.FordTheatres.org
Phone - 323-461-3673.

 

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