Jody Briskey Stars As Judy Garland In GARLAND IN WORD AND SONG at The Willow Theatre

When Judy Garland stepped out onto the stage at Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961, the raucous standing ovation that greeted her was just the start of what has been called "the greatest night in showbusiness history." Award-winning actress/singer Jody Briskey will channel Garland and recreate that night's iconic performance in Garland in Word and Song at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The production, produced by Black Box Booking (The Jazz Singer, Danny Kaye & Sylvia), will run from January 26th through February 11th.

Judy Garland was a mega-star before the term was coined. She made her first film appearance at age 7, and during her career earned three Oscar nominations, the first for what is listed by the American Film Institute as the 6th best film of all time - The Wizard of Oz. Over the years she progressed from movies to Vaudeville and concert appearances, but her difficulties with drug and alcohol abuse seriously impacted on her health and her career. However, in 1960-61, after a long recovery, she toured Europe and North America with a program labeled 'Just Judy', and the Carnegie Hall performance was the culmination of what had turned out to be a highly successful comeback. The recording of that concert was a huge success. It spent 73 weeks on the Billboards charts, including 13 weeks as number one. It also received four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1962. (Garland was the first woman to receive that award.)

Actress Jody Briskey has portrayed Judy Garland before, most notably in History Theatre's world premiere of Beyond the Rainbow, a role she reprised at Florida Stage, and for which she received a 2006 Carbonell nomination, and at the Theatre at Arts Garage.

Garland in Word and Song is a show that Briskey found evolved naturally over the years: "Judy has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl, although I may not have known it at the time," she explains. "I knew there was something about her, especially when she sang, that latched on to my soul. As I developed my own passion for singing, I always made sure I sang something of Judy's. She had a way of singing a standard song you may have heard a dozen times by other performers but by the time she enveloped it with her heart it became uniquely hers. It's this heart that I feel as I bring her songs to my audiences. Over the years I've been given more opportunities to embrace Judy's music and it has led to this show of songs and stories."

Musical Direction and Accompaniment for Garland in Word and Song is by four-time Carbonell Award-winner David Nagy. The production's Set Design is by B.I.G. Creative Services; Sound Design is by Andres Allessandro Beuses Casasanta, and Lighting Design is by Nicole Stav and Laura Fulton. Costumes are by Rich Hamson and Christine Frank, and Wig Design is by Robert Dunn.

Garland in Word and Song will run from January 26 through February 11 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $35; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $30. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.willowtheatre.org or by phone at 561-347-3948.

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