Mary Birdsong, Diana DeGarmo, Tom Lowe and Tressa Thomas Announced for 'Back to Bacharach and David'

Theatre World Award-winner Mary Birdsong ("Reno 911!"), "American Idol" and Broadway star Diana DeGarmo, West End musical actor and "American idol" contestant Tom Lowe, and musical and film actress Tressa Thomas have been cast in "Back to Bacharach and David," the Off-Broadway hit having a 23-performance limited engagement, April 15 to May 17 (press opening April 19) at The Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

"We searched for four ultra-superstars for this show," said director Kathy Najimy, "funny, fantastic, with fabulous voices-- and we found them! It is the perfect 'Back to Bacharach and David' cast -- the show they were each meant to star in."

o Mary Birdsong is a 2007 Theatre World Award-winner for her Broadway debut in "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me!" and was seen Off-Broadway in Elaine May's "Adult Entertainment," directed by Stanley Donen. She recently co-starred in "Suburban Shootout" for HBO, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and is best known as Deputy Cherisha Kimball on Comedy Central's "Reno 911!"

o Diana DeGarmo shot to fame as a runner-up on "American Idol," and her debut single "Dreams" went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles Chart. She played Penny Pingleton in "Hairspray" on Broadway and the title role in the national tour of "Brooklyn: The Musical."

o On London's West End, Tom Lowe starred as Marius in "Les Misérables" and in over 1,000 performances of "Cats." Last August, he was Enjorlas in "Les Misérables" at the Hollywood Bowl and was the first non-American contestant of "American Idol" in its sixth season.

o Tressa Thomas appeared in Robert Townsend's film "The Five Heartbeats" and later played Ruth Brown in the NBC film "The Little Richard Story."

"Back to Bacharach and David" is a night of amazing voices, comedy, and a tribute to the brilliant songs that Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote from 1960 to 1970. Bacharach and David had more than thirty Top 40 US singles including "Don't Make Me Over," "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Walk On By," "Message to Michael," "Trains and Boats and Planes," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Alfie," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," "What's New Pussycat," "Wives and Lovers," "Always Something There to Remind Me," "Promises, Promises," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" - all of which are heard in "Back to Bacharach and David."

The show was originally created for a New York run in 1993. This production marks its Los Angeles debut. The three original creators of "Back to Bacharach and David" - co-conceiver-arranger Steve Gunderson, co-conceiver-director Kathy Najimy, and choreographer Javier Velasco - are reuniting to give the production a fresh vision for 2009. For this new version, Najimy, Gunderson and Velasco give a new dose of comedy and a new life to their work.

Ben Toth is announced as musical director and conductor of "Back to Bacharach and David." Toth has worked with Mandy Patinkin, Lea Salonga, Tommy Tune, Lea Michele, Eden Espinosa, Jane Monheit, Liz Calloway, Darius de Haas, Andrea McArdle, Melora Hardin and Billy Porter. He was associate conductor for the 2008 Hollywood Bowl production of "Les Misérables" and was music director for "The House of Blue Leaves" at the Mark Taper Forum.

Toth joins Obie Award-winning set designer Myung Hee Cho, Tony Award-winning Broadway costumer Gregg Barnes, Ovation Award-winning sound designer Martin Carrillo and Obie Award-winning, theatre/rock concert lighting guru -- Anne Militello.

Gregg Barnes, who originally worked on "The Kathy and Mo Show," which brought Kathy Najimy to prominence, will have four shows mounted in succession on Los Angeles' stages -- "The Drowsy Chaperone" (2006 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Award, Olivier nomination); Broadway-bound "Minsky's" at the Ahmanson Theatre; "Legally Blonde" (2007 Tony nomination) at the Pantages Theatre; and "Back to Bacharach and David."

Kathy Najimy, who directs and conceived the show with musical arranger Steve Gunderson said, "These songs defined 'cool' then and define 'cool' now. Every generation since this music was created, has found relevance in it, been drawn to it, and recreated it. This show is a blast to work on -- sexy, moving and funny - with brilliant arrangements. We approach the Bacharach-David catalogue with tons of humor and awe, updated with a modern twist -- with four of the most kick ass voices around - and we are thrilled to have the encouragement of Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David themselves for our new production."

Burt Bacharach said, "I saw this show in San Diego a couple of years ago and was quite impressed with the presentation and the musicality. I have always been very particular about how my music is presented on stage and have had some disappointments in the past. Steve Gunderson's musicality and Kathy Najimy's direction makes this a very exciting prospect for me."

Gunderson said, "After Burt saw the show, I didn't know what he would make of it. The original recordings are masterpieces of arrangements. But he just took me aside and became our instant champion. The next thing I knew, we were chatting about those 'crazy chords' I used in 'Walk On By.'"

"Soon after, Kathy and I then found ourselves in a meeting with Burt and his agent. Burt put in a call to Hal David, who had been a supportive force behind the original New York production. And then both Bacharach and David were behind this new production."

Tony Award-winning producer Joan Stein said, "'Back to Bacharach and David' will open in Los Angeles, with a new look and new all-star cast --- enhanced by the party, rock-concert, festive food and drink, night club atmosphere that the Music Box provides."

Of the original production, Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, "It is too good a show not to have many other lives. Three decades ago, Burt Bacharach and Hal David began creating a series of hits for Dionne Warwick that fused the worlds of Cole Porter and Motown in songs so supercharged they threatened to jump out of their skins. And in 'Back to Bacharach and David,' Steve Gunderson, a gifted arranger, has stitched about thirty of these songs into a spirited musical tribute ... directed by long-time friend Kathy Najimy, it regards 1960's pop with playful eyes ... what lifts it, is the show's nearly perfect balance between tribute and comedy."

In 1992 Newsday said, "Back to Bacharach and David" is "A pinball game that whizzes, rings and lights up with high spirits from beginning to breathless end."

The New York Native said, "Under the innovative direction of the multi-talented Kathy Najimy, this celebration of the team of Bacharach and David, while at times wildly irreverent, is so filled with high points that, this new musical revue may prove to be the most outstanding offering this year - on or off Broadway. This is one glorious pastiche, deliciously packaged. It deserves to run forever - it's that good."

Tickets are available through www.etix.com. "Back to Bacharach and David" is produced by Jim Gunderson, Steve Gunderson, and Kathy Najimy. The executive producer is Joan Stein.

 

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

To post a comment, you must register and login.