'Judy Garland Musical' E. Coast Premiere at Manalapan's Florida Stage

Go Beyond the Rainbow!

Florida Stage, Florida's award-winning regional theatre dedicated to
new and developing works, is proud to present the East-Coast
Premiere of William Randall Beard's Beyond the Rainbow, the new Judy
Garland musical, Friday March 17 through April 23, 2006 at the
theatre's facility in Manalapan's Plaza del Mar.

Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert will provide the backdrop
for Beyond the Rainbow, William Randall Beard's original musical
based on the legendary star's fascinating and all-too-brief life.
Garland, born in Minnesota as Frances Gumm, is played in the piece
by two actresses, one who embodies her performance persona at her
electrifying comeback concert at age 43, and the other who portrays
her complex younger self from age 4 to age 30.

Remembering an Icon...

William Randall Beard, whose career spans 15 years as a diverse
writer, working in Opera, Children's Theatre and adapting the
classics, paints a portrait of survival and celebration of Garland's
life and music with this current piece. "I wanted to put a human
face on the public image. These songs trigger the memories of her
personal life. The Carnegie Hall performance is her quintessential
moment of triumph," Beard said.

Among the 27 songs to be accompanied by Beyond the Rainbow's hopping
four-piece band, are such classics as "Get Happy," "Come Rain or
Come Shine," "Swanee," "Stormy Weather," "The Man That Got Away,"
and the quintessential Garland standard, "Over the Rainbow."

Beyond the Rainbow originated at the Great American History Theatre
in Minnesota, the first developmental home of last summer's hit
musical Sisters of Swing. History Theatre's Artistic Director Ron
Peluso, whose celebrated career includes 11 years with American
History Theatre and over 150 directorial credits, will serve as
director for Rainbow's east-coast bow as he did for its world
premiere production.

Jody Briskey, portraying Judy Garland at age 43, will head the cast.
Stage, concert and recording artist Briskey will be reprising what
the twin-cities' Star Tribune called the "POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCE"
she originated at The American History Theatre. Joining her as the
younger Garland is her original co-star, Norah Long, who along with
Briskey was named best actress by The Star Tribune for the 2005
theatrical season.

MORE ABOUT... BEYOND THE RAINBOW
CAST: Jody Briskey, Clark A. Cruikshank, Cathleen Fuller, Norah Long
& Peter Moore; DIRECTOR: Ron Peluso; MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jimmy Martin;
SET DESIGN: Kate Sutton-Johnson; LIGHTING DESIGN: Chris Johnson

SHOWTIMES: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00
p.m.; Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
afternoons at 2:00 p.m.
Previews are Tuesday March 14 at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday March 15 at
8:00 p.m. and Thursday March 16 at 8:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: THE CORRECT PHONE NUMBER FOR ALL FLORIDA STAGE TICKET
PURCHASES IS (561) 585-3433 (INSIDE PALM BEACH COUNTY) AND 1-800-
514-3837 (OUTSIDE PALM BEACH COUNTY).  Florida Stage | 262 South Ocean Boulevard | Manalapan | FL | 33462

http://www.floridastage.org/

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