The Band Wagon 1931

For their 2016-2017 season, American Classics takes a novel approach, drawing all three programs on great literature.  They open with Shakespeare in Song, in honor of the 400th anniversary of his death, with songs from The Boys From Syracuse (Rodgers & Hart, based on The Comedy of Errors), Kiss Me Kate (Cole Porter, based on The Taming of the Shrew), West Side Story (Bernstein and Sondheim, based on Romeo and Juliet), The Lion King (Tim Rice and Sir Elton John, based on Hamlet), and some unusual songs from drawn from Shakespeare.  Caroline Musica, Cynthia Mork, Eric Bronner make up the quartet of singers, with Bradford Conner presiding at the keyboard.  

Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) has joined the cast of the Encores! Special Event The Band Wagon in the role of Jeffrey Cordova, an egotistical British director. (Roger Rees, previously announced in the role, is no longer available.) The Band Wagon cast stars Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse and Don Stephenson. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will star in The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event based on the classic MGM movie of the same title, from November 6 - 16, 2014 at City Center. The show has a book by Douglas Carter Beane adapted from the screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz. The Band Wagon will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall with music direction by Todd Ellison. The Band Wagon will run for 12 performances, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

For their 2013-2014 season American Classics brings three 'firsts' to their programming. For the first time American Classics will present a guest performer in their own concert, acclaimed entertainer John O'Neil in his popular salute to Danny Kaye, 'So Kaye, a one man 'tongue-twisting tour-de force' showcasing songs, stories and monologues culled from Kaye's illustrious career. 'So Kaye was nominated for the prestigious IRNE award in 2001; since that time O'Neil has performed the show up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida. 'Adding John O'Neil and 'So Kaye to our season is exciting for us. John has appeared with us in the past, but we are delighted to be able to showcase him in one of his most popular shows,' says Producing Director Benjamin Sears, who notes, 'this is Kaye's centenary year, so it's a perfect time to feature John in an American Classics season.'

For their 2013-2014 season American Classics brings three "firsts" to their programming. For the first time American Classics will present a guest performer in their own concert, acclaimed entertainer John O'Neil in his popular salute to Danny Kaye, 'So Kaye, a one man "tongue-twisting tour-de force" showcasing songs, stories and monologues culled from Kaye's illustrious career. 'So Kaye was nominated for the prestigious IRNE award in 2001; since that time O'Neil has performed the show up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida. "Adding John O'Neil and 'So Kaye to our season is exciting for us. John has appeared with us in the past, but we are delighted to be able to showcase him in one of his most popular shows," says Producing Director Benjamin Sears, who notes, "this is Kaye's centenary year, so it's a perfect time to feature John in an American Classics season."