Nicky Wood to Host THE RAT PACK NEW YEAR'S CONCERT

Research indicates that experiences make us happier than things do. If you are one of the smart holiday shoppers who are looking for experiences that your friends and family can enjoy that will last a lifetime, Nicky Wood, a South Florida-grown budding producer, director, and performer, has just what you're looking for...THE RAT PACK NEW YEAR'S CONCERT.

His swinging, musical revue spectacular showcases his love for the golden-age of music, when the Vegas Strip was filled with live entertainers who knew how to work a crowd. The show promises to be an evening of spellbinding performances, light-hearted banter, and melodies in tribute to the world's most iconic entertainers.

The celebration includes 34 unforgettable songs, including: "New York, New York," "Come Fly With Me," "That's Life," "Luck Be A Lady," "You Make Me Feel So Young," "Come On-A My House," "Strangers in the Night," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "The Lady is a Tramp," "Ain't That a Kick in the Head," "On the Street Where You Live," "That's Entertainment," "Let's Fall in Love," "Dancing in the Dark," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Mambo Italiano," "Volare," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "My Way," and more!

THE RAT PACK NEW YEAR'S CONCERT will mark Wood's 10th production as a producer/director and will run at his childhood playground, The Barn Theatre, December 28-31, 2017. Previous crowd-pleasing SOLD OUT engagements include WELCOME TO MANHATTAN, WELCOME TO VEGAS, and WELCOME TO BROADWAY.

This time, four of Wood's prior UCF classmates and one of his former students reunite to share the stage with him in this one-weekend-only concert. The cast includes Julian Anthony Kazenas (Tampa), Joseph Edward Herr (Riverview), Lauren Stromak (Orlando), as well as Martin County locals, Colleen Broome and Eliza Levy (Palm City). Wood and his talented cast will bring to life the personalities and works of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Rosemary Clooney, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland.

To stuff your stockings with a toe-tapping experience and memories that will last a lifetime, call The Barn Theatre at 772-287-4884 or visit www.Barn-Theatre.com. Get your tickets before it's too late!

Cast features:

NICKY WOOD - A nationally acclaimed actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, producer, and playwright, Nicky has performed on stages from Palm Beach to Beverly Hills to the British Virgin Islands. Through the Broadway Theatre Project, where Nicky serves annually as the Assistant Artistic Director, he has been mentored by Debra McWaters (CHICAGO) while collaborating with industry legends, such as Donna McKechnie (A CHORUS LINE), Mandy Gonzalez (HAMILTON), and Ben Vereen (PIPPIN). His favorite stage credits include Perchik in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (StarStruck Performing Arts Center), Willard in FOOTLOOSE (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Hugo in BYE BYE BIRDIE (Palm Beach Principal Players), Tulsa in GYPSY (StarStruck Performing Arts Center), A-Rab in WEST SIDE STORY (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), and Gabriel in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (The University of Central Florida). A UCF graduate, Nicky focused in Direction and Choreography under the tutelage of Earl Weaver, earning two Kennedy Center ACTF Nominations for Direction and Choreography. Nicky works for Norwegian Cruise Lines Creative Studios as an assistant to all productions under the direction and guidance of Robert Dean Hertenstein.

JULIAN KAZENAS - Julian is a performer and artist from the greater Orlando/Tampa areas. From simple beginnings in Plant City, Florida, he now works as an entertainer across the United States. He has recently worked as an entertainer at Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, the Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Improv show, and has participated in Orlando Fringe Fest. Julian spent an extraordinary summer in Cannes, France, representing his film, The Curious Case of Jeff Jefferson, at the Cannes International Film Festival. He currently works for the Walt Disney Company as JJ in The Muppets Great Moments in History while working on his new podcast, The Julian Kazenas Show, as well as several comedy projects for LA-based online distribution. Stage highlights include Kodaly in SHE LOVES ME and Tybalt in ROMEO AND JULIET (The University of Central Florida), Hugo in BYE BYE BIRDIE and Rod/Bear in AVENUE Q (James McCabe), Brad in HAIRSPRAY and Henrik in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Porthouse Theatre).

JOESEPH EDWARD HERR - Joseph is originally from Tampa, Florida, and is currently a junior in the UCF BFA Musical Theatre program. He has previously performed in various plays with the Music Showcase and The Florida Academy of Performing Arts as Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES and Pirate King in PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Joseph has been in multiple Theatre UCF productions, such as Hector Malone, Jr. in MAN AND SUPERMAN, Kodaly U/S in SHE LOVES ME, Monster in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Lord Capulet in ROMEO AND JULIET, and John P. Wintergreen in OF THEE I SING. He will be in multiple upcoming UCF shows such as THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY and Leonard Bernstein's MASS.

Colleen Broome (Marilyn) - Colleen Broome is thrilled to be making her debut at the Barn Theatre! She is Stuart native, but currently resides in Orlando pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Central Florida. Some of her favorite credits include Natalie in NEXT TO NORMAL (Curtain Call Productions), Amalia U/S in SHE LOVES ME (University of Central Florida), Deb in Ordinary Days (Curtain Call Productions), Maureen in RENT (StarStruck Performing Arts Center), and Lucille in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), which won a Carbonell Award for Best Choreography.

LAUREN STROMAK (Rosemary) - Lauren is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida and is earning her BFA in Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite stage credits include: A CHORUS LINE (Maggie), CHICAGO (Annie), LEGALLY BLONDE (Enid), 13: THE MUSICAL (Charlotte), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Golde), THE LITTLE MERMAID (Andrina), GYPSY (Toreadorable/Caroline) and her UCF debut in OF THEE I SING. She is a four-year apprentice of the Broadway Theatre Project and has performed with BTP from New York to Tampa to the U.S. Virgin Islands. This past January Lauren made her New York City debut singing at Feinstein's 54 Below.

ELIZA LEVY (Judy) - Eliza is a 10th-grader at Martin County High School. She has studied at StarStruck Academy and Theatre since she was three! Eliza's previous credits include Nicky Wood's GERSHWIN AND FRIENDS (Self), CHICAGO (Roxie Hart), CHILDREN OF EDEN (Yonah), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Belle), SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL (Cat in the Hat), CATS (Demeter), BYE BYE BIRDIE (Nancy), and many more! Her professional stage credits include GYPSY (Angie/Marjorie May), and her all time favorite, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Hodel).

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