St. Michael's Playhouse Presents FOREVER PLAID, Now thru 8/11

Saint Michael's Playhouse stages FOREVER PLAID, tonight, August 1 through August 11. A "sensational Off-Broadway musical," FOREVER PLAID, created by Stuart Ross, staged by Saint Michael's Playhouse, McCarthy Arts Center, is one of the most popular musicals in recent history.

Now in its 65th season of professional summer theater, Saint Michael's Playhouse has been named "One of the best regional theater companies in America" by The Drama League of New York City, and hailed by Yankee Magazine as "The Best of New England."

The CAST in their own words:

KEITH ANDREWS (Director/Choreographer) is so amazingly excited to be back at Saint Michael's to direct and choreograph both Nunsense and Forever Plaid. Previously at The Playhouse, Keith directed last year's The Drowsy Chaperone and The Marvelous Wonderettes, as well as the productions of Spelling Bee, Always Patsy Cline, Dames at Sea, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Barnum, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Suds, My Way, The Pirates of Penzance and Big River. Keith has directed the National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh and other recent directing/choreography credits include: Avenue Q, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (starring Joe Piscopo), The Wedding Singer, Cold as Ice (starring Oksana Baiul), Urinetown, Happy Days, the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and Forever Plaid, to name just a few. As a choreographer, Keith has recently worked on the world premiere of Love, Incorporated and has received a New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Production of a Musical and nomination for Best Choreography for his work on the new show, Like You Like It. On the ice, Keith has directed and choreographed Home for the Holidays- a Celebration on Ice, starring 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist, Evan Lysacek, and Silver Medalists, Charlie White and Meryl Davis, as well as two productions of Stars, Stripes and Skates, the yearly benefit to help survivors and families of the 9/11 tragedy. In educational theater, Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.

Keith Andrews directed the smash-hit opening show of The Playhouse season NUNSENSE.

Tom Cleary (Musical Director) has long-term performing associations with artists including Ray Vega, Ellen Powell and recently, bassist Mike Gordon. He has been featured as a pianist on recordings by trombonist Rick Davies (Salsa Norteña) and vocalist Hillary Capps (A Perfect Dozen and Playlist), and as an arranger on the album Hey Sadie by singer/songwriter Amber deLaurentis (all available on iTunes). As a composer he was recently commissioned by the group Social Band (his piece ?Three Seasons? will be included on their forthcoming third CD). As a musical director he has worked on many productions at Saint Michael's Playhouse, including Into the Woods and The Drowsy Chaperone, as well as many productions by the theater department at UVM, where he is also on the faculty of the Music Department?s Jazz Studies program.

Wade Dooley (Sparkey) is excited to be making his Saint Michael's Playhouse debut! As a performer, some favorite credits include: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Tour); Scott Alan's Monday Night New Voices (NYC) along with regional productions of Grease, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Forever Plaid, CATS, and Crazy for You. As a writer, you can find his web series, Pzazz 101, on YouTube directed by Isaac Klein. Also, Wade is the creator and book writer of a new musical, Sunset City, with lyrics by Brett Teresa and music by Bobby Cronin.

Andrew Pandaleon (Franky) is thrilled to be making his Saint Michael's Playhouse debut! NY Theater: The City Club (Chaz Davenport), The History Of War. Regional: Sunset Blvd (Artie), Happy Days (Richie) at The Gateway, Romeo & Juliet (Paris), Laughter on The 23rd Floor (Brian), History Boys (Scripps) at Northern Stage, Play It Cool (Will) at the Celebration Theater. Andrew is a graduate of UCLA.

Joel Pellini (Smudge) is thrilled to be a "Plaid" at Saint Michael's Playhouse. Joel has been seen at regional theatres around the country, including the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Repertory, Cortland Repertory, and the Thin Air Theatre.

HERNANDO UMANA (Jinx) is so happy to be part of the Plaids once again. Some previous credits include Rocky Horror, The Full Monty, A Year with Frog and Toad and many new projects in NYC.

Tickets available on line and at the box office in McCarthy Arts Center. Single tickets from $28 - $38. For more information, go to www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org

Playhouse background:
From its beginnings in 1947, Saint Michael's Playhouse has blossomed into an award-winning, highly-regarded equity theater company. The Playhouse features talent from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters nationwide, presented right here in Vermont. Housed in the Saint Michael's College McCarthy Arts Center, one of the finest theater facilities in the state, The Playhouse attracts approximately 16,000 theatergoers each season.

Saint Michael's Playhouse is a professional theater company operating as an auxiliary enterprise of Saint Michael's College. The Playhouse is Greater Burlington's only actors' equity resident theater company and as such operates under contract with Actors' Equity Association in New York City. At the same time, Saint Michael's College students have the opportunity to learn from the pros through internships in technical theater, costuming, lighting, set construction, and publicity.

Photo credit: Buff Lindau

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