Sally Struthers Joins Pittsburgh CLO's ANNIE; Creative Team Announced

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the creative team for the 2012 Summer Season, running June 5 through August 5 at the Benedum Center.  Three Pittsburgh CLO veterans and one newcomer highlight this group selected to helm the organization's 66^th year of bringing Broadway's best to Pittsburgh's Cultural District.  The season includes the National Tour of Come Fly Away (June 5-10), A Chorus Line (June 15-24), Annie (June 29-July 8),  Fiddler on the Roof (July 13-22), Sunset Boulevard (July 24-29) and the National Tour of The Addams Family (July 31–August 5). 

Pittsburgh CLO will also welcome Sally Struthers back to Pittsburgh in 2012 to star as Miss Hannigan in the family favorite Annie.  Ms. Struthers last appeared as Carmen Bernstein in Pittsburgh CLO's 2010 production of Curtains.  The remainder of the cast for Annie will be announced in the coming weeks. 

 

2012 Pittsburgh CLO Summer Season Creative Team (in alphabetical order):

Jack Allison (Director, Fiddler on the Roof) returns to Pittsburgh CLO after directing over a dozen productions for the organization between 1978 and 1987.  He has directed at most of the major regional theaters in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including: The Walnut Street Theatre, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Cincinnati Opera and the North Shore Music Theatre. In New York, he has staged acclaimed productions at the Manhattan Theatre Club and The Circle Repertory Company. He premiered Cabaret at The National Theatre of Belgium.  Mr. Allison has received prestigious awards for his direction, including three Florida Carbonell Awards and three Boston Globe Best of Season Awards.  He received a B.A. degree from New Jersey City University.  He received his M.A. degree from Catholic University and studied for a Ph.D. degree from the University of Denver.  Mr. Allison serves as Head of Musical Theatre at Point Park University, is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and was recently inducted into the National Society of Arts and Letters.

 

Mark Esposito (Choreographer, Fiddler on the Roof) has choreographed several Pittsburgh CLO productions includingThe Sound of Music, Brigadoon, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, The Music Man, Tommy, Carousel andOklahoma!  He has also choreographed for North Shore Music Theatre in MA, Sacramento Music Circus in CA, Blowing Rock Stage Company in NC, The York Theatre Company and Signature Theatre Company in NYC and in LA at The Hollywood Bowl choreographing South Pacific starring Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell. He is also the choreographer for the annual holiday show Yuletide Celebration starring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with Sandi Patti and has served as associate director/choreographer for the Radio City Christmas Show starring The Rockettes. Mr. Esposito also served as the consultant choreographer for Walt Disney Global Casting and hired talent for their shows in Tokyo Disney Resorts. He has performed in over 16 Broadway and National Tours and has assisted or worked for Jerome Robbins, Michael Kidd, Agnes De Mille, Michael Bennett, Rob Marshall and Bob Fosse.

 

Tom Helm (Music Director: A Chorus Line, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Sunset Boulevard) returns for his 17^th season with Pittsburgh CLO. His theater credits include the Broadway productions of Souvenir, Les Misérables, Me and My Girl, Catsand Brigadoon. He has also contributed his talents to television programs such as "Crazy For You" and the "Today Show." Mr. Helm has conducted at Radio City Music Hall, Paper Mill Playhouse and many other regional and national theaters.

 

Barry Ivan (Director and Choreographer, Sunset Boulevard) directed Pittsburgh CLO's first production of Les Misérablesin 2010 after also directing the show for North Shore Music Theatre, where he served as artistic director and executive producer. Mr. Ivan has directed and choreographed numerous other Pittsburgh CLO shows, including Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Smokey Joe's Café, The Full Monty, A Little Night Music, Company, Anything Goes, and West Side Story.  Mr. Ivan's productions of Hairspray and The Full Monty have received Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards for  Best Musical and Mr. Ivan has been IRNE nominated as Best Director for his productions of Les Misérables and Nine.

 

Baayork Lee (Director and Choreographer, A Chorus Line) created the role of Connie in A Chorus Line and has performed in a dozen Broadway shows. As Michael Bennett's assistant choreographer on A Chorus Line, she has directed many national and international companies. Her directing credits include The King and I and Bombay Dreams (National Tours), R&H'sCinderella (NYC Opera), Barnum (Australia), Carmen Jones (Kennedy Center), Porgy and Bess, Jesus Christ Superstar(European Tour), Gypsy and A New Brain. As a choreographer, she has choreographed productions of Cocoanuts, Camelot, Damn Yankees, Animal Crackers (Helen Hayes nomination), South Pacific, Goya, Sly, The Merry Widow, among others. She is the co-author of "On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line" and recipient of 2003 Asian Woman Warrior Award for Lifetime Achievement from Columbia College.

 

Michael Lichtefeld (Choreographer, Annie) has choreographed more than a dozen Pittsburgh CLO productions, includingWhite Christmas, 42^nd Street, Funny Girl, La Cage aux Folles and Cinderella. His Broadway choreography credits includeLittle Women, The Secret Garden, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Laughing Room Only and the City Center Encores production of Music in the Air. Mr. Lichtefeld has also performed in the Broadway productions ofEvita, Sophisticated Ladies and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. His choreography has been nominated for Drama Desk, Ovation and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He also earned a 2008 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Best Choreography Award in 2008 for North Shore Music Theatre's production of Bye Bye Birdie.

 

Charles Repole (Director, Annie) has directed numerous productions for Pittsburgh CLO including Jesus Christ Superstar, Curtains, Barry Manilow's Copacabana, Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Carousel andCinderella. He also directed the critically-acclaimed production of 42^nd Street in 2008 at North Shore Music Theatre. His New York City and Broadway directing credits include the highly-acclaimed concert versions of Dubarry Was a Lady, Call Me Madam and the revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, among others. As an actor, Mr. Repole has appeared on Broadway inDoubles, Whoopee! and Very Good Eddie, which earned him a Tony Award® nomination and a Theatre World Award. Mr. Repole is presently the Chairman of the Drama, Theatre and Dance Department at Queens College and was the recipient of the 2001 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

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