Jason Kravits Hosts Sing-a-Long at BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE Tonight, 7/22

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) will present their July Cabaret Series and "Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music" this weekend. Broadway and television actor Jason Kravits (Relatively Speaking, "The Practice") will host "Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music", a little over one week after what would have been Oscar Hammerstein II's 117th birthday, tonight, July 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street). The presentation will be preceded by a special outdoor BBQ Style dinner hosted by Hamilton's Grill Room beginning at 5:00 p.m.

A full-screen Technicolor showing of the classic Julie Andrews film, based on the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music" comes complete with subtitles so that the whole audience can sing along. After more than 10,000 performances in 9 countries, the fun-filled show finally comes to Bucks County. "Bucks County was such an important place in the life of Oscar Hammerstein II, and at Highland Farm he had a retreat where he did much of his creative work," commented Ted Chapin, President and Executive Director of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

Other local establishments including, The Logan Inn, Giant, Pineville Tavern, and Walker's Wine & Spirits will also be supporting the festivities. The show will start with a vocal warm-up led by the evening's host, who will also take the audience through their complimentary 'magic moments pack', containing various props to be used at strategic points throughout the film. Then of course there is the famous fancy-dress competition in which everyone who has come in costume is invited onto the stage to show off their fantastic tailoring skills.

Tickets are on sale now. Tickets to the event (movie and dinner) are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12 years of age. To purchase tickets, visit bcptheater.org or call 215-862-2121.

The cabaret series will invite Playhouse cast members and other special guests to step outside their traditional roles to perform in a 45 minute cabaret style show.

In addition to hosting, Durang will be joined by actors Sherry Anderson and John Augustine to perform selections from his hit variety act, "Chris Durang and Dawne". "Chris Durang and Dawne" was a 10:30 p.m. show at the Criterion Center Nightclub in New York City in 1989 and became a surprise hit, extending several times. It was featured as part of "Varieties," a weekly variety show at the Rainbow Room in 1990. In 1991 it was performed at the Bay Street Theatre and the Williamstown Theatre Festival Cabaret. In 1994 the act hosted its own variety show at Caroline's Comedy Club. Among the guests were Sigourney Weaver, Al Franken Jr., Julie Hagerty, Savion Glover, Reno, and Julie Halston. And in 1995 an updated version of the act was presented at the Triad Club in Manhattan, winning a Bistro Award shared by all three performers. Their most recent performance was on January 30, 2012 at Town Hall when they received a Special Nightlife Award for their "legendary nightclub act." The Nightlife Awards honor the best in cabaret, comedy and jazz, and differs from other award shows in that it features no acceptance speeches. Instead of speeches, the winners perform.

Advanced tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non members. Tickets at the door are $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To purchase tickets, visit bcptheater.org, call 215-862-2121 or visit The Playhouse box office. Host of the August series, Thursday, August 16 – Saturday, August 18 at 11:00 p.m., and dates of the December series will be announced shortly.

The first production of the Bucks County Playhouse 2012 summer season, Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing, is currently in performances and has been extended through Sunday, July 29th (70 South Main Street).

Directed by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Lonny Price, Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing features over 30 of Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest hits, from "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" to "Some Enchanted Evening." This 1994 Tony Award-nominated musical revue is "something wonderful" for all lovers of classic musical theater.

The cast features a line-up of some of Broadway's most seasoned performers including Courtney Balan (Broadway: [title of show], Cry-Baby), Ron Bohmer (Broadway: Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime), Greg Bosworth (Atlanta: Xanadu, Clyde and Bonnie: A Folktale), Erin Davie (Broadway: A Little Night Music, Grey Gardens), and Kenita R. Miller (Broadway: Xanadu, The Color Purple). These top Broadway performers have appeared in critically acclaimed New York productions and have collectively played over 4,000 Broadway performances, underlining The Playhouse's commitment to featuring the best performers available.

The summer will continue with Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. First seen on the BCP stage nearly 50 years ago prior to its original 1963 Broadway run, this iconic and beloved play about the trials and tribulations of two newlyweds on the top floor of a New York brownstone has been leaving audiences breathless with laughter for generations. Directed by Tony® Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (2010's Tony Award-nominated new play, Next Fall) this timeless comedy provides a breath of fresh air for the dog days of summer. Performances are Tuesday, August 7th through Sunday, August 26th.

The cast of Barefoot in the Park will feature veteran performers Jonathan Hadary (Spamalot, Gypsy), Candy Buckley (Cabaret), Lee Aaron Rosen (The Normal Heart), and Robert John Biedermann (Wizard of Oz), who will be joined by the recipient of Julliard's 2011 John Houseman Prize, Virginia Veale.

The third production of 2012 will open in December. Full details for this production are forthcoming.

Tickets are on sale now! Regular single ticket prices range from $29 to $54, subscription prices range from $55 to $153, and groups of 10 or more range from $21 to $41. Members will receive discounts on both subscriptions and single tickets along with other benefits. For full details, and to purchase tickets, please visit bcptheater.org or call 215-862-2121.

A Grand Night for Singing plays the following schedule: Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays at 4:00 and 8:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Barefoot in the Park will play on Fridays at 8:00p.m.

A Grand Night for Singing has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Musical arrangements are by Fred Wells with orchestrations by Michael Gibson and Jonathan Tunick. It was originally produced at Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City in 1993 and conceived by Walter Bobbie.

Barefoot in the Park is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

The Bucks County Playhouse 2012 Season is generously supported by Flemington Car and Truck Country, Princeton Automobile Company and Vincent DiBianca & Patty Oceanak. A Grand Night for Singing is graciously sponsored in part by Jones Lang LaSalle and Princeton Global Asset Management.

For more information about employment, internships or auditions at the Bucks County Playhouse please contact us at info@bcptheater.org.

Located 90 minutes from New York City, the Bucks County Playhouse opened in 1939 on the site of a grist mill dating from the late eighteenth century. Ironically, the structure was at that time in danger of demolition; however playwright Moss Hart and the local community rallied to save the building and re-opened it as a theatrical venue, which quickly became one of the country's most famous regional theaters. In continuous operation until December 2010, a veritable who's who of American theatrical royalty has trod its boards, including Kim Hunter, Helen Hayes, Kitty Carlisle, Colleen Dewhurst, Shirley Booth, Lillian Gish, June Lockhart, Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, Bert Lahr, Leslie Nielsen and Walter Matthau.

 

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