Saint Michael's Playhouse Opens WOODY GUTHRIE'S AMERICAN SONG Tonight

Producing Artistic Director Chuck Tobin previously announced the opening Woody Guthrie's American Song, an exuberant musical celebration of America, running evenings at 8 p.m. tonight, July 29, and August 1, 4 - 8 and matinees at 2 p.m. on August 1 & 8, 2015.

Woody Guthrie's American Song tells the life of the rambling folk singer through his words and music. From the dust storms of Texas to the promised land of California to the streets of New York City, Guthrie spins the tale of the land that 'was made for you and me'. Tobin refers to this Playhouse season finale as "a roof-raisin', heart-breakin', soul-soarin' musical journey straight into the heart of America." Conceived and adapted by Peter Glazer, Woody Guthrie's American Song had its world premiere at the American Stage Festival and has since been produced by hundreds of theaters across America to rave reviews.

The show includes over two dozen songs, including This Land Is Your Land, So Long It's Been Good To Know Yuh, Pastures Of Plenty, Hard Travelin', and Bound For Glory, performed by a cast of five actor, singer, musicians; Andrew Ross Crowe, Janice Landry, Kathryn Markey, Nick Plakias, and Mike Rosengarten.

Woody Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. His best-known song, This Land Is Your Land, is regularly sung in American schools. Guthrie traveled with migrant workers from Oklahoma to California and learned traditional folk and blues songs. Many of his songs are about his experiences in the Dust Bowl era during the Great Depression. Guthrie served as a figurehead in the American folk music movement, providing inspiration to a generation of new folk musicians, including mentor relationships with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan. He was the father of American folk singer Arlo Guthrie. Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress.

Woody Guthrie's American Song has won dozens of awards, including two Bay Area Drama Critics awards, three Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago, and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations in New York.

THE CAST

Andrew Ross Crowe is honored to be back in Vermont and paying tribute to Woody Guthrie. He was last seen at Saint Michael's Playhouse in Ring Of Fire. Andrew has performed all across the country on the National Tours of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, and Stand by Your Man. He has also appeared in NYC's Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night, the world premiere of Amazing Grace: The Musical, and over 40 regional theatre productions around the country.

Janice Landry recently toured Japan with Disney on Classic and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Anna in Frozen and Nala in The Lion King. Off-Broadway/NY credits include: National Pastime at Playwrights Horizons (Karen), Deployed at NYMF (Emily), and Dear Edwina at The DR2 (Edwina). As an actor/musician, Janice has been involved in various concerts, readings, and full productions, including Galway Girls (Bucks County Playhouse)The Irish... And How They Got That Way (The Kimmel Center and Davis Square Theater), How To Break (Hartbeat Ensemble), and Son Of A Gun (IAM Conference).

Kathryn Markey has appeared in Young Frankenstein, Nunsense, The Drowsy Chaperone, the Brighton Beach trilogy, Pirates of Penzance, (Saint Michael's Playhouse), Holidays with The Chalks (Alliance Theatre), A Christmas Story (Engeman), American Family in 3 Chords (Bay Street), Over The Tavern (Penguin Rep), God of Carnage, Dancing at Lughnasa (Northern Stage), Selected Shorts (NPR), Moonlight & Love Songs (GayfestNYC),Separation (English Theatre of Stockholm.) On-screen: SVU, Law and Order, Premium Blend, All My Children, Filmic Achievement, DutchWestTV, CollegeHumor and Amateur Hour. Kathryn appeared on Broadway in 3 From Brooklyn and is a featured artist at In Your Face New York, and the Broadway Playhouse series in NYC.

Nick Plakias' New York Theater credits include Most Dangerous Man in America (New Federal Theatre), Moby Dick--Rehearsed, The Miser (Brave New World Rep), The Waiting Room (Billie Holiday Theatre), School for Husbands (NY Classical Theatre), The Cure (Ubu Rep), Jewish Stories (Jewish Rep). Regional Theater: Diamond Studs (Ford's Theater), Largely/New York, The Tempest (Seattle Rep), The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, The Left Hand Singing (Arkansas Rep), The Cherry Orchard, Beast on the Moon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Terra Nova (Capital Rep), Bus Stop, Smoke on the Mountain (Pennsylvania Stage), Floyd Collins (American Music Theater Festival). Television: Brotherhood, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Another World.

Mike Rosengarten's Off Broadway credits include The Three Penny Opera (Drama Desk Nominated, Marvell Rep), The Dybbuk (Marvell Rep), Blood Wedding (Marvell Rep), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (Prospect Theatre Co.) Nat'l Tour: Cabaret. Selected Regional: Ring of Fire (Saint Michaels Playhouse), Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Flat Rock Playhouse), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (LTOTS), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Chenango River Theatre), I Love my Wife (Montgomery Theater), Man of La Mancha (Wayside Theatre), The Producers (Seven Angels). Mike is also an accomplished musician, having performed in pits both on Broadway and off, as well as around the country.

THE PLAYWRIGHT - Peter Glazer has won dozens of awards, including two Bay Area Drama Critics awards, three Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago, and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations in New York. Other works and collaborations include O'Carolan's Farewell to Music; Heart of Spain - A Musical of the Spanish Civil War; and Foe, adapted from Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee's novel. Additional directing credits include José Rivera's Marisol, Big River,My Fair Lady, Brad Fraser's Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Howard Barker's Seven Lears, William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Harold Pinter's Silence, and Maria Irene Fornes' Springtime. Glazer holds a doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at UC Berkeley.

THE DIRECTOR - Larry Tobias is delighted to be returning to Saint Michael's Playhouse, having served on the creative team and performed in last season's Ring Of Fire. As an actor, he recently appeared in Here's Hoover: The Historic Herbert Hoover 2014 Comeback Special in New York , which was directed by Alex Timbers and written by Sean Cunningham with music and lyrics by Michael Freidman . As a director, he has recently directed and performed in Harry Chapin's Cotton Patch Gospel at the Mountain Playhouse as well as many side projects. Larry is also the creator and lead singer for The Grand Tour, a live band project that pays tribute to the late great "King Of Country Music", George Jones.

THE CREATIVE TEAM - The creative team, lead by director Larry Tobias, includes John Paul Devlin (scenic & lighting design), Alexis Foster (costume design), Kevin Semancik (sound design), Theresa Pierce (property design).

THE THEATER - Saint Michael's Playhouse is an Actors' Equity Association theater company operating as an auxiliary enterprise of Saint Michael's College. The Playhouse produces its productions with theater artists from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theater nationwide, along with Vermont-based professional actors, directors and designers. Actors' Equity Association is the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Tobin adds "We rehearse our shows right here in our theater and design and build our scenery, costumes and props on location with our crew of approximately 70 professional theater artists."

This season marks Producing Artistic Director Chuck Tobin's thirtieth year with the professional theater company. Tobin first worked at the Playhouse in 1986 as an actor appearing in numerous productions and soon after became Associate Producer. In 1997 he became Managing Director and in 2007 assumed full leadership as the theater's first Producing Artistic Director.

"For the past three decades it has been an honor to entertain, educate and enrich Northern Vermont with dynamic and vibrant professional theater." Tobin continued "Twelve years ago I became the theater's Producing Artistic Director and during that time have had the extraordinary experience of seeing the Playhouse blossom into "One of the best regional theaters in America" (NYC Drama League) while continuing its historic role as one of the oldest professional theater companies in Northern Vermont."

Single tickets range from $34 to $44. The Playhouse is located at McCarthy Arts Center on the campus of Saint Michael's College, Route 15, Colchester, Vermont. Tickets may be purchased at the Playhouse box office, by calling 802-654-2281, or online at saintmichaelsplayhouse.org.

Photo credit: Brian MacDonald

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