Julie Budd to Lead Surflight Theatre's 'SOME ENCHANTED EVENING,' 6/11-15

Award-winning vocalist Julie Budd stars in Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, kicking off Surflight Theatre's 65th Season of 'Broadway at the Beach' from June 11-15.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were the dynamic duo of the golden age of Broadway, writing such masterworks as Carousel, The King and I, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound of Music and more. Some Enchanted Evening showcases their greatest hits boasting over 30 songs performed by Julie Budd and members of the Surflight 2014 acting company.

Some Enchanted Evening is directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder, with music direction for Julie Budd by Herb Bernstein and music direction by Henco Espag.

Tickets are $45 and on sale now by (609)492-9477 or online at www.surflight.org.

Performances of Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein will be presented Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15 at Surflight Theatre, 201 Engleside Avenue in historic Beach Haven on Long Beach Island. Matinee performances Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are at 2pm with evening performances Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm.

Surflight Theatre's 65th Anniversary Season continues with Jekyll and Hyde (June 18-July 6); Fiddler on the Roof (July 9-27); Monty Python's Spamalot(July 30-August 24) and A Chorus Line (August 27-September 14).

Julie Budd is considered to be one of the most exciting singers on the scene today. While enjoying a multi-faceted musical career, Julie's credits range from television to film, the NY stage and symphonies all over the country, along with the most lavish casinos and showrooms everywhere.

She began her professional career at the tender age of twelve, after meeting record producer/orchestrator Herb Bernstein. He immediately took Julie under his wing and introduced her to Merv Grif?n at a recording session in New York City. After hearing Julie sing, this "Mini Girl with the Maxi Voice "was invited to appear on more than 100 of Merv's shows.

From there Julie went on to appear on "The Tonight Show", "Entertainment Tonight" and every major TV show. In the years that followed Julie co- starred with such legendary performers as Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnett, and Liberace.

As Julie recalls. "What a way to grow up and start in this business! These people were wonderful to me. Some kids went to school, but I went to work and learned from the best each one of these performers was a professor to me, and I was lucky to have had the opportunity to know them all."

While touring in her one-woman shows, Julie's concerts have included performances at: Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The London Palladium, Tel Aviv's Israel Performing Art's Center, venues in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and major symphony halls in the United States.

Julie Budd has become a favorite to many of the Symphony Orchestra's including: The Baltimore Symphony, The National Symphony, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Austin Symphony, The Alabama Symphony, The Philadelphia Symphony, The Boca Pops, The Milwaukee Symphony, and The Dallas Symphony.

Julie Budd has also pursued an exciting acting career having appeared in productions with: the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York City, Playwrights Horizon in NYC, appearing on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, and in Neil Simon's They're Playing Our Song.

Moviegoers will remember Julie starring role in "Disney's The Devil & Max Devlin" with Bill Cosby and Elliot Gould. Along with this role, Julie once again had the pleasure of working with the late and brilliant, Marvin Hamlisch, who together with Carol Bayer Sager penned the title song "Roses and Rainbows" for Julie, which she has recently re- recorded and released on her CD "The New Classics."

Julie Budd has also recently appeared in the motion picture, "Two Lovers" with Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Julie's CD "Pure Imagination" {After9 Touchwood label} was named "Top Ten CD's" by Entertainment Today, and received a 4-star rave from "Stereo Review."

Julie followed that up with another CD "If You Could See Me Now." Her third release "The New Classics" has been acclaimed as one of her best musical works to date. Julie's newest CD "They Wrote the Songs" [just released] is one of Julie Budd's most exciting musical projects, and is a tribute to some of the most important and interesting composers/lyricists of our generation.

Julie is also writing a book about her days, as a child prodigy alongside the greatest entertainment legends of all time.

Julie Budd has also added the title of "Master Class" teacher to her interests and brings her method of "The Art of Vocal Technique" to students and universities all over the country. Julie supports the Variety Children's Charity, and appears each season as one of the hosts of its telethon. She also supports MDA and the Saint Jude Children's Hospital Organization. Julie Budd has contributed generously to various other charities and telethons.

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