Pittsburgh CLO Opens 42ND STREET, 5/31

Audiences will be left tapping their toes all summer long with Pittsburgh CLO's production of 42nd Street, May 31-June 9 at the Benedum Center. The production will feature *N SYNC legend, Joey Fatone, musical theater veteran Patrick Ryan Sullivan, and an incredible supporting cast including Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

Broadway razzle-dazzle at its best! Fired from her first Broadway show, starry-eyed actress Peggy Sawyer thought she'd never see her name in lights, but fate had other plans! Come and meet those dancing feet in this Tony Award-winning musical. This toe-tapping, foot-stomping score includes such classics as "We're in the Money," "42nd Street" and "Lullaby of Broadway."

ABOUT THE CAST

Joey Fatone (Bert) is perhaps best known as a member of the mega-hit band *N SYNC; however, he also counts among his many credits starring roles in Broadway's RENT and Little Shop of Horrors and a critically-acclaimed appearance in Pittsburgh CLO's The Producers as Franz Liebkind. His television credits include: "Dancing with the Stars," "Family Feud," "The Price is Right Live!" "Hannah Montana," "Robot Chicken," "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off," "Chopped: All-Stars" and NBC's "The Singing Bee" in both the United States and Australia, where he served as the show's host.

Ephie Aardema (Peggy Sawyer) has countless credits ranging from Chava in Fiddler on the Roof and Liesl in The Sound of Music at Theatre of the Stars to the world premiere of A Room with a View at The Old Globe. Additional credits include: Laurey in Oklahoma!, Little Red in Into the Woods,Natalie in Next to Normal, Patsy in Crazy For You, Gertrude in Seussical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Under the Bridge, Titanic, Singin' in the Rain, HAIRand Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

George Dvorsky (Pat Denning) is currently starring as El Gallo in New York's Longest Running Musical, The Fantasticks and returns to Pittsburgh CLO for his 10th production. Broadway credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Passion, Marilyn: An American Fable andThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He also starred as Prince Charming in the NYC Premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway: Revival of Closer Than Ever, Pete N Keely, the revival of Dames at Sea and 'And the World Goes Round. His solo CDs, "All Through the Night" and "In the Still of the Night" are available on the JAY Records label. www.georgedvorsky.net

Tyler Hanes (Billy Lawlor) has an extensive list of Broadway credits including: A Chorus Line (Larry, Original Revival Company),Hairspray (Link Larkin), Sweet Charity (Charlie), The Frogs, The Boy From Oz, Urban Cowboy and Oklahoma! Other favorites includeOn The Town (Gabey), All Shook Up (Chad), Cabaret (Clifford Bradshaw), Juno (Johnny Boyle), The Drowsy Chaperone (Robert Martin), The Studio (Jackie), Footloose (Ren McCormick) and Fosse (first national tour). TV/Film: "In The Blood," "30 Rock," "Dancing With The Stars," "Phoebe in Wonderland," "One Life To Live," "Rose" and "The Tony Awards."

Jeffrey Howell (Mac/Thug/Doctor) was recently seen as the Captain in The Sound of Music (PMT). Pittsburgh CLO shows include Sunset Boulevard (DeMille), Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas), Jekyll and Hyde (Poole), A Musical Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), Beauty and the Beast(Cogsworth), Bells are Ringing (Dr. Kitchell) and Pajama Game (Prez). Other credits include Candide (Dr. Pangloss), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Tribute to Lerner and Loewe with Marvin Hamlisch and the PSO.

Charis Leos (Maggie Jones) is making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. Most recent roles include Singin' in the Rain (Dora, Dinsmore) Maltz Jupiter Theater; Gypsy (Electra ,Cratchitt) The Fulton Theatre; 42nd Street (Maggie), Legally Blonde (Paulette) Maine State Music Theater, and Nunsense(Sister Hubert) Northern Stage. Her numerous credits include Portland Stage, The Palace Theater, Gateway Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Casa Manana, Stage West, North Shore, Mountain Playhouse, The Plaza Theater, among others.

Mara Newbery (Anytime Annie) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after her last appearance in Cats. Additional credits include: A Christmas Story, the Musical (Broadway), On Your Toes (New York City Center) and Shrek the Musical (1st Nat'l Tour).

Paul Palmer (Abner Dillon) returns to the Benedum stage for his 56th Pittsburgh CLO summer show, reprising the role he performed in the 2006 production. A veteran of 34 CLO summer seasons, Mr. Palmer last appeared as LT. Ward and Cordell Hull in the 2012 production of Annie.

Gavan Pamer (Andy Lee) Mr. Pamer is a Pittsburgh CLO veteran. His Pittsburgh CLO credits include: Joseph... (Reuben), Carousel (Heavenly Friend), Me and My Girl (Bob Barking), My Fair Lady (Boxington), Funny Girl (Renaldi), Crazy for You (Custus/Perkins), Annie (Ickes), Bye, Bye Birdie (Shriner), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas) among others. National Tours: CATS (Mungojerrie), 42nd Street and A Chorus Line. For CLO Cabaret: My Way (Choreographer) and Forever Plaid (PSM). Mr. Pamer is the Artistic Director of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, PA.

Patrick Ryan Sullivan (Julian Marsh) Mr. Sullivan has many Broadway credits including: Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and various roles in Titanic. Regional (2013): Oberon in Mid-Summer, Victor in Empty Plate..., Serge in Art and Arles in Tuna Christmas. His favorite roles include: Billy in Chicago, Sweeney in Sweeney Todd Lockstock in Urinetown, Harold in Music Man, Ruthledge in 1776, Sky in Guys and Dolls, Billy in CarouseL, Michael in I Do I Do, Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, Tito in Lend Me a Tenor, Beau in Auntie Mame (with Charles Busch) and El Gallo in The Fantasticks.Telivision/Film: "Law and Order S.V.U," "Pursued."

Luba Mason (Dorothy Brock) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after starring last in Hairspray. Broadway: Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, Paul Simon's The Capeman,How To Succeed In Business..., Trevor Nunn's Sunset Blvd., The Will Rogers Follies directed by Tommy Tune, played opposite legendary comedian Sid Caesar in Sid Caesar & Co Television: Person Of Interest, Law & Order, Raines, NYPD Blue. As a Recording Artist, Luba has "a voice as big and rich as a star-filled sky". (Jazz Times) She has released two critically-acclaimed albums : Collage (PS Classics) and Krazy Love ( Sunnyside Records), debuting her impressive song writing skills. Graduate from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (Drama).

42nd Street is complete with an exceptional ensemble including: Keely Beirne, Sarah Bishop, Sara Blodgett, Jesse Carrey-Beaver, Max Clayton, Rachel Fairbanks, Lucas Fedele, Mike Greer, Rodney Jackson, Stephanie Maloney, Isabella McCalla, Connor McRory, Rob Montgomery, Allie Pizzo, Jonalyn Saxer and Andrea Weinzierl. They will be joined by 12 local teens: Rachel Beaver, Christine Brown, Nicole Conrad, Annette Elphinstone, Stephanie Franciscus, Tressa Holodnik, Kayla Kozlowski, Heidi Murr, Sidney Popielarcheck, Maria Scherer, Stefanee Sybo and Gabriela Zucckero.

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