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, Now 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. 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 | 33462http://www.floridastage.org/
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