MNM Productions' THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND Gets Carbonell Recommendation

MNM Productions today announced that its current production of THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, a musical revue showcasing the music of legendary Broadway songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb, has received "Recommended" status for the Carbonell Awards, South Florida's most prestigious award for professional theater. This prestigious status means that the show will be seen by Carbonell judges and is eligible for nominations. The revue is running through August 21 at the Kravis Center's Rinker Playhouse in West Palm Beach.

"While this is only MNM's fourth production, Michael Lifshitz and I have been actively involved within South Florida's theatrical community for many years, so we are both delighted that THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND is now Carbonell recommended," says co-producer Marcie Gorman-Althof. "This means that three of four MNM productions so far have been declared Carbonell eligible and one - Side By Side By Sondheim - did receive a Carbonell nomination for Best Ensemble."

Professional theatre reviewers have unanimously praised MNM's production of THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND. The Sun-Sentinel called it "inspired" and "a show with dramatic depth, lighter-than-air comedy and superb interpretation of songs." The Palm Beach Post headline called it "a summer delight," and The Palm Beach Daily News hailed both the five-person cast "who are as versatile as they are talented" and the show's "powerhouse five-piece band."

The online reviewers were equally ecstatic: Mary Damiano called it "magnificently staged" and "a wildly inventive piece of theater." Bill Hirschman hailed the "golden-voiced quintet of performers," and Skip Sheffield described the show as "funny, moving and always entertaining."

The talented cast of THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND includes Clay Cartland, who was recently seen in 1776 at Palm Beach Dramaworks; Jinon Deeb and Michael Scott Ross, who appeared in MNM's recent highly acclaimed production of HAIR at the Kravis Center; and Shelley Keelor and Leah Sessa, who co-starred in MNM's production of Side By Side by Sondheim.

The show was helmed by three MNM veterans: director Bruce Linser, who directed Side By Side By Sondheim; choreographer Kimberly Dawn (KD) Smith, who directed and choreographed A Chorus Line and HAIR; and musical director Paul Reekie, who had the same position on Side By Side By Sondheim and HAIR.

Reserved seating tickets for THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND are $45 each, or $60 for stage-side cocktail table seats. They are now available for purchase at the Kravis Center box office, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach; by phone at 561.832.7469; or online through the Kravis Center's official website at kravis.org.

The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Over 25 professional theater companies in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties participate in the awards process every year. Each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on our area stages. The Carbonell Awards also celebrate the accomplishments of our artistic leaders by presenting 'Special Awards' and support the next generation of artists and journalists by awarding scholarships. Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation's senior regional arts awards and predate others, including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards are named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, the signature trophy that is given to Carbonell Award winners. For more information, go to www.carbonellawards.org.

This Production Company is the latest venture by two experienced theatrical producers and arts consultants: Marcie Gorman-Althof and Michael Lifshitz. THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND is the fourth major musical produced by MNM Productions over the last two years, following A Chorus Line, Side By Side By Sondheim and HAIR.

Pictured: Shelley Keelor, Clay Cartland, Jinon Deeb, Michael Scott Ross and Leah Sessa in THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND. Photo by George Wentzler.

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