Kyle Dean Massey, Jenni Barber & More Set for Lexington Theatre Company's 'Concert With The Stars'
By: Tyler Peterson Jan. 04, 2016
Performing alongside these seasoned veterans will be a "Featured Ensemble" of collegiate artists, studying theatre and music. This group includes Lexington natives Virginia Newsome (studying at Oklahoma City University) and Colton Ryan (studying at Baldwin-Wallace University); University of Kentucky students Michael Pandolfo (UK Opera Theatre) and Casey Jame Shuler (UK Theatre & Dance); and from University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music (CCM), Louis Griffin and Casey Wenger-Schulman.
Also, new for this year is the "Concert With The Stars" Choir, featuring an outstanding group of local talent, including Ryan Barr, Jessica Bayne, Glenda Creech, Jenna Day, Katie Feola, Sloan Gilbert, Cooper Fitch, Jessica Pearl French, William Mason, Katie Owen, Lily Rasmussen, Darian Sanders, Demetrius D. Walker and Ron Wilbur. The announcement of the 2016 Summer Production will also feature the "Concert With The Stars" Dancers: Olivia Eckert, Rachel Eckert, Mara Farris, Kelsey Hutchison, Samuel Jolly, Quinn Lehmann, Emily McGuire, Shanna Robinson, Tamaira Robinson and Taylor Robinson.
The Concert is directed by Lyndy Franklin Smith and Jeromy Smith. Musical Direction is by Brock Terry and the "Concert With The Stars Band" features Brock Terry, Paul Reich and Casey DeMattina.
The Stars and Featured Ensemble will sing songs of "growth" in their personal and artistic journeys - helping to represent the growth that The Lex is hoping for as they aim to move from one summer show to a three-show summer season.
The Lexington Theatre Company is under the direction of Jeromy Smith (former associate at Richards/Climan, Inc.) and Lyndy Franklin Smith (A Chorus Line, The Little Mermaid), who are hoping to create a new kind of theatrical experience for Lexington. The nonprofit company brings its leading players from New York and Los Angeles to work alongside college students from the region, as well as local community members, who will help to round out the supporting players and ensemble.
The Lex successfully debuted its first musical production in July 2015 with 42nd Street, starring Tony Award winner, Karen Ziemba, alongside Darien Crago, Nicolas Dromard and Matthew Shepard. They were joined by a supporting cast of collegiate and local talent, including Lexington favorite Robert Parks Johnson and University of Kentucky alums Michael Sheehy and Rachel Marie Snyder. Additionally, The Lex's Apprentice Program afforded many local high school students the opportunity to work and perform alongside these seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents.
"Concert With The Stars," is set for Saturday, January 16, 2016, at the Lexington Opera House, and is sponsored by KentuckyOne Health, Media Sponsor WKYT-Channel 27, with additional grant/subsidy support from the Opera House Fund.
For more information and to buy tickets or make a donation, please visit the organization's website, www.lexingtontheatrecompany.org. Tickets may also be purchased at The Lexington Center Box Office, please phone (859) 233-3535.
Bios for the Stars of "Concert With The Stars":
Jenni Barber's Broadway credits include Wicked (Glinda), The Nance, Annie (Grace Farrell), The Performers and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky). New York and regional credits include Private Lives (Hartford Stage), As You Like It & The Tempest (Sam Mendes' The Bridge Project), From Up Here (Manhattan Theatre Club), Paint Your Wagon and A New Brain (Encores!), Oklahoma! (The MUNY), and 9 to 5 (Music Theatre of Wichita). Television credits include "Master of None," "Elementary," "Smash," "Law & Order: SVU" and "The Electric Company." Proud University of Michigan graduate.
Stephen R. Buntrock, in the last 25 years, has been blessed to have a successful career on Broadway and off. His latest role was in the critically acclaimed revival of A Little Night Music, staring as Fredrick Egerman opposite Bernadette Peters. Earlier in the run he was honored to play the same role opposite the show's original leading ladies Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury. Other starring Broadway credits include Curly in Oklahoma!, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, St. John in the original cast of Jane Eyre, Barrett in Titanic, Enjolras in the Tenth Anniversary Cast of Les Miserables, performing the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, and creating the role of Teen Angel for the latest revival of Grease! He has toured extensively across the United States and Canada as Rueben in Joseph...Dreamcoat, starring Donny Osmond, originating the role of Arnaud du Thil in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Martin Guerre and, The Phantom of the Opera. He has performed with numerous acclaimed regional theatres including Paper Mill Playhouse, Marriott Lincolnshire, The MUNY, the Guthrie Theatre, Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Stephen has enjoyed many concert appearances as well, most recently performing alongside Dame Julie Andrews in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Cleveland Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Knoxville Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl.
Erin Dilly was recently seen starring in the Off-Broadway world premiere of Michael Kimmel and Lauren Pritchard's critically acclaimed new musical Songbird at 59East 59 Street Theater. Dilly created the role of "Mother" in the Broadway musical A Christmas Story after a turn starring opposite Matthew Broderick in Broadway's Nice Work If You Can Get It. Dilly garnered Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for her performance as "Truly Scrumptious" in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other Broadway credits include: Into the Woods, The Boys from Syracuse and Follies. Acclaimed Encores! starring performances in Fiorello, and Babes in Arms. Regional/National Tours: Into the Woods (MUNY), Mary Poppins (PCLO), In the Mood, (BERKSHIRE THEATRE FESTIVAL) Leading Ladies (ALLEY THEATRE) and the national tours of South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast, Martin Guerre (Helen Hayes Award Nomination). On television, Dilly has guest starred on: "Person of Interest" "Boardwalk Empire," (recurring role, final season) "The Good Wife," "Elementary," "Gossip Girl," "Nurse Jackie," "Canterbury's Law," "12 Men Of Christmas," and all 3 "Law & Orders". Film credits include: Julie and Julia, Too Big to Fail, Everyday People, and The Diary of Preston Plummer. Erin is the founder of THE LIVING STUDIO, an acting studio in NYC, and created the Summer Musical Theatre Intensive 6 DAYS OF BROADWAY at the Segerstom Performing Arts Center.
Kyle Dean Massey is a best known for his work on Broadway in Pippin, Next to Normal, Wicked & Xanadu and to television audiences as Kevin Bicks from ABC's Nashville. Other credits include The Good Wife (CBS), Inside Amy Schumer (CC), High Maintenance, Up All Night (NBC), Hart of Dixie (CW), Cupid (ABC), Sex And the City 2 (HBO Films) & Contest. He has also performed on Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, Regis & Kelly & The 62nd Annual Tony Awards and lends his voice as a voice-over artist for many popular cartoon shows. As a vocalist Kyle Dean has performed across the country in pops concerts with symphony orchestras and in more intimate cabaret settings with his one-man show. He also tours with his concert group The Broadway Tenors.
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