Newcomer Junior Mendez Scores Lead in WILDCAT, 12/19

Junior Mendez, a recent Florida State graduate, has been hand-picked to star in Wildcat alongsideLuba Mason and Robert Cuccioli in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund.

Mendez joins the previously announced Mason(Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde), Cuccioli (Jekyll and Hyde), Beth Fowler (The Boy From Oz, Beauty and theBeast), Lenny Wolpe (Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone), and Jenn Gambatese (All Shook Up, Tarzan).Mendez, who was a finalist on the 2006 CBS special My Broadway Debut, humbly states, "I am thrilled tointeract, work and learn alongside such a talented cast. I am grateful to be given this opportunity."

Director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox states, "We are overjoyed to be able provide a wonderful young actor witha role like this is in a benefit for the incredible Actors Fund.

Theatrical Gems is dedicated to the future oftheater and actors such as Junior are the future.

"Wildcat, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and book by N. Richard Nash, tells the storyof a frontier woman named Wildcat Jackson (Mason) who arrives in a border town in the Americansouthwest with dreams of striking oil and tricks foreman Joe Dynamite (Cuccioli) into helping her. Not-for-profit Theatrical Gems produces the first New York revival of the show since 1961.The event will be held at The Julia Miles Theatre at the Women's Project, 424 West 55th Street onSunday, December 19 at 7:00 PM.

Theatrical Gems Artistic Director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox directs, withmusical direction by Steven H. Taylor.The 29-person cast also features Vincent D'Elia (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Grease), Lawrence E. Street(Urinetown), Pierce Cravens (Ragtime, A Christmas Carol), Kenneth Kasch, Tony Castellanos, Gregory Couba, Michal Salonia, Spencer AnDrew Taylor, and Michael Puglia.

The ensemble is made up of Lital Abrahams, Andrea Andert, Kiarri D. Andrews, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Christopher DeRosa, Jonathan Juarbe,James LaRosa, Nolan Muña, Alison Rose Munn, Tara Novie, Erin O'Neil, Tony Ramos, Jillian Schochet, and Bradley Vile.Wildcat was Cy Coleman's first musical.

It opened on December 16, 1960 and is best remembered forbeing the sole Broadway appearance of comedienne Lucille Ball, although the cast also featured Keith Andes, Paula Stewart, Edith King, and a young Valerie Harper (Rhoda) in the dance ensemble. Wildcatclosed on June 3, 1961 after two hiatuses and 171 performances.

Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by emailing tickets@theatricalgems.org.

Tickets will be purchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the Actors Fund.The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performingarts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are inneed, crisis or transition.

Theatrical Gems strives to educate audiences about the past, present, and future of theater.

Through the entertaining and engaging presentation of popular classics, new works, and underappreciatedrelics, we hope to expand horizons and tastes with the goal of preserving these works of art for futuregenerations of theatergoers.

Theatrical Gems is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit artsservice organization.For more information, visit: www.theatricalgems.org

 

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