13th Street Repertory Theater to Host IRVING BERLIN TEACH-IN, 11/23

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will present an "Irving Berlin Teach-In," immediately following the Sunday (November 23rd) matinee performance of Chip Deffaa's "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue." The "Ragtime Revue," which has been selling out at the theater, will begin at 3 pm. The teach-in is expected to begin at 4:30 pm. Michael Townsend Wright, who previously co-starred at the theater with Giuseppe Bausilio in "Irving Berlin's America" (as seen in the photo) will be one of the special guests at the teach-in, singing a rare Berlin ballad as well as sharing recollections and insights. (Wright may also be heard on the cast album for "Irving Berlin's America," which includes some never-before-recorded material.) Surprise guests with ties to Berlin and his world will be joining Wright, the cast of "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue," pianist Richard Danley, and playwright Chip Deffaa in the teach-in.

Edith O'Hara, the 97-year-old founder/artistic director of the 13th Street Rep (50 W. 13th Street, NYC), has long maintained that the theater exists to educate, as well as entertain and nurture the development of young talent. The "Irving Berlin Teach-In"-in which audience members can learn more about Berlin--is in keeping with the theater's traditions. When Deffaa's "Irving Berlin's America" proved to be one of the theater's biggest hits, O'Hara gave Deffaa the go-ahead to mount other shows about Berlin at her theater. "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue" is the second of five different shows by Deffaa about Berlin that the theater plans to present.

But why the need for an "Irving Berlin Teach-In"? "As famous as Berlin was in his lifetime-and he was the single most successful songwriter in history-times change, and there's always a need to educate the next generation," commented Deffaa, the award-winning author of eight published books on music and pop culture and 15 published plays. "This was brought home to me strongly at an early rehearsal. The wonderful Brandon Pollinger--a terrifically talented young man in our company who studies at a renowned performing-arts school--told me that he'd never even heard of Irving Berlin before being cast in this show. And then another talented castmate, Timmy Thompson, told me the same thing. That seems incredible to me, because Berlin wrote more hits and made more money than any of his so-called competitors. And he should be part of the curriculum at every performing arts school."

Richard Danley, who's served as music director for both Deffaa's "Irving Berlin's America" (which has now been published by Steele Spring Stage Rights) and "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue," notes that some conservatories, such as the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA), where he teaches, do include the music of Berlin in their course of studies. He feels strongly that all performers (and aspiring performers) ought to be familiar with the works of master songwriters such as Berlin, the Gershwins, Cole Porter.

Michael Townsend Wright, who played Berlin on stage and on disc, is certainly no newcomer concerning Berlin. "I wrote him letters, telling him how much I appreciated his work," notes Wright.

"I'm delighted that Michael Townsend Wright will be able to join us for this 'teach-in' on Sunday, taking questions from the audience, and singing Berlin's first mature ballad as a kind of bonus," Deffaa adds. "He was actually part of the original workshop; he participated in the first reading of 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue.' Scheduling conflicts prevented him from being in this production; but having us join him for this special teach-in is perfect. And we'll have as very special surprise guet or two."

Sandra Nordgren, who's produced both "Irving Berlin's America" and "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue," has great confidence in the future of Deffaa's ongoing Irving Berlin Project, noting that respected commercial producers, such as Ted Kurdyla, have been coming in to see the work at the 13th Street Rep, expressing interest in developing further Deffaa's Berlin work, not just for the stage but for film or TV.

"The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue"-which is running in repertory at the theater with Deffaa's long-running "One Night with Fanny Brice" and Israel Horovitz' "Line"--features Michael Czyz, Maite Uzal, Michael Kasper, Rayna Hirt, Jonah Barricklo, Emily Bordonaro, Ken Adams, Missy Dreier, K.W. Andersson; Andrew Lanctot, Ann Marie Calabro, Brandon Pollinger, Timmy Thompson. Tyler DuBoys and Alex Acevedo are co-choreographers. Peter Charney and Bam Donnenberg are co-directors. Kate Solomon-Tilley is the stage manager. And Megan Ulan and Matthew Nardozzi are production associate. The "Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue" will be recording a cast album shortly, for Original Cast Records.

For more info, please visit: www.13thstreetrep.org.

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