Jimmy Ferraro's Studio Theatre Opens AMERICAN HEARTBEAT! Tonight

After the hilarious musical/comedy hit, "AIN'T FOOD WONDERFUL", Jimmy Ferraro's Studio Theatre, 5732 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL presents, the Musical Play , "AMERICAN HEARTBEAT!", by director/writer/composer Dr. Martha Velez, PHD, the author of the award winning play, "Power of the Powerless!".

The 2 act musical stars GEORGE DWYER, SCOTT TILSON, VICTORIA STINNETT, DeANNA ZACARRIA, DEE ETTA ROWE, and GARY DEPP.

Opening Night is tonight, MAY 15th and the production runs FRIDAY, SATURDAY evenings and SUNDAY matinee's through MAY 31, 2015.

Opening Night will include a champagne reception to meet the cast, following the show. The Opening Night performance will begin at 7:30 PM.

Performance Schedule: Friday and Saturday evenings: Doors open at 7:00 pm / show at 7:30 pm; Sunday matinees: Doors open at 1:30 pm / show at 2:00 PM. Tickets $25.00 (tax included). Call 727-409-0293 or visit www.ferrarostudiotheatre.com. "AMERICAN HEARTBEAT!" will be presented in 2 acts with a 15 minute intermission.

" AMERICAN HEARTBEAT" is a musical play, poignantly spotlighting the thrilling promise of America. It is in consideration for a Pulitzer Prize and headed for a New York presentation. With exceptional singing, acting and writing, it touches your heart and mind. Developed locally with the guidance of Mr. Jimmy Ferraro, heralded Artistic Producer of Jimmy Ferraro's STUDIO THEATRE in New Port Richey. He encouraged this production of American Heartbeat, "in the round", which sparked the imagination of director/writer/composer, Martha Velez, PhD. This exciting concept has attracted wide acclaim and has accelerated ticket sales. Dr. Velez worked on Broadway in HAIR, TV in ER and Falcon Crest, in Film with Julianne Moore, Patrick Swayze, Halle Berry, and has recorded multiple albums with Eric Clapton, John Lennon,Bob Marley, Christine McVie, Van Morrison, just to cite some superstar names with whom she has performed!! AMERICAN HEARTBEAT uses the songs influenced by those blockbuster musicians and weaves a powerful contemporary story. In addition, the incredible Dee Etta Rowe, Broadway artist, spices up this show with intrigue and her lovely voice.

It's 1992, Jarvis (Viet Nam Vet) and Marco, find themselves on a street corner in Los Angeles competing for the same opportunities. First they fight, they laugh, they pray, they sing! They both have wild imaginations and vivid memories, so they conjure the women they love for a dance on the work site! They imagine their women are with them, and boom, there they are - dancing and loving them up! Is it all fantasy or reality or a little of both? These vigorous men change each other's lives, but what is real? Did their beautiful wives ever come to them? Did they ever save them? And, who is The Woman? YOU will answer those questions!!

Don't miss this once in a lifetime theatrical experience that appeals to both men and women!

Producing Artistic Director, JIMMY FERRARO is presenting the production. Director/Writer/Composer - DR. MARTHA VELEZ, PHD with Choreography by TONI MERCHANT, Musical Director/Orchestrations - BOB BOYD and Producers: JAMES REID and ED BRADY for ProComm. Production Coordinator - TARA ANDRUS, Technical Director/Lighting Design - KEITH SNYDER, Sound Design - DANIEL WASHINGTON, Set Design - ProComm, Costumes - MYNDEE FLEURY WASHINGTON.

CAST BIOS:

George Dwyer: (Jarvis) over 24 productions: Leads / Featured /Regional. Including American Heartbeat, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Proof,1776, Camelot, A Funny Thing...,Guys and Dolls. Plays: Black Coffee,Table Manners, Equus, Beckett, Waiting for Godot, Whistle Down The Wind, Much Ado About Nothing, Jesus Christ Superstar, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, Barefoot in the Park, West Side Story, Romeo & Juliet, Cabaret, Oedipus at Colonus, Godspell, Peter Pan. Multiple award winner.

Scott Tilson: (Marco) multiple productions: Leads / Featured / Regional including, the Straz production of the Opera Carmen, American Heartbeat. He is a trained operatic singer, voice consultant, and owner of the full service Music School in Spring Hill, All About Music Lessons. He has been singing for over 25 years, developing a round, robust vocal sound.

Victoria Stinnett: (Bonnie) 12 productions: Leads/ Featured /Regional. Including Sweet Charity, Camelot, She Loves Me, Sound of Music, Pippin, Willie Wonks, Annie, Finian's Rainbow, Mikado, Music Man, Lil' Abner, Crazy for You and also Ain't Retirement Grand at Jimmy Ferraro's STUDIO THEATRE

DeAnna Zaccaria: (Magdalena) 16 productions: Leads/ Featured/Regional. Including Rocky Horror Show, 9 to 5, Run For Your Wife, Pirates of Penzance,Company, Pajama Game, Pride and Prejudice, Rumors, Urinetown, Music Man, Rocky Horror Show. Films: Vengeance,These Bones, Paranoid. Artistic Director: Musical Artists/ Dramatists Cabaret LLC.

Dee Etta Rowe: (The Woman) Broadway debut: The Most Happy Fella starring Georgio Tozzi. Dee Etta created the role of Olga Von Sturm on Broadway in Nine opposite Raul Julia, Bert Convy, and Sergio Franchi. Off-Broadway: What's New with Nathan Lane. National Tours: Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, Showboat with Eddie Bracken and Lainie Kazan and The Sound of Music with Ann Blythe, Sally Ann Howes, and Patrice Munsel. Starred as Golde in the 2012 National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof opposite her husband, Broadway actor Jimmy Ferraro. Eight year National tour with Menopause the Musical. Regional: starring roles in Nunsense and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera, Ethel Banks in Barefoot in the Park and Essie Rubin A Majority of One, opposite Mimi Hines. Jimmy Ferraro Studio Theatre: Church Basement Ladies, Coupled, The Singing Divas, A Christmas Cabaret and more.

Gary Depp: (Interrogator) 10 productions: Lead/Featured /Regional Musicals: American Heartbeat, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Harvey, Sex Please We're Sixty, Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., Bus Stop, The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Arsenic and Old Lace, Everything in the Garden, To Kill A Mockingbird.

Pictured: Scott Tilson and George Dwyer. Photo by Daniel Washington.

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