Reagle Players Salute Jerry Herman
With "Dolly!," "Mame" and "La Cage"

For its 41st summer season, Waltham’s Reagle Players will present a salute to Jerry Herman with a season consisting of three of the master composer's most popular musicals -- "Hello, Dolly!," "Mame," and "La Cage aux Folles."

The company has been preparing this tribute season for months with the generous cooperation and counsel of Mr. Herman. They were delighted when they learned that Jerry Herman, affectionately known as “the poet of the show tune,” would be honored on June 7 with a special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.

Things kick off June 18 - 27 with "Hello, Dolly!," starring (at left) Broadway’s Rachel York ("City of Angels," "Victor / Victoria," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels") as the witty and iconic Dolly, an ever-wily widow who "arranges" everything from flowers to marriages.

Based on Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker," the original production of "Hello, Dolly!" (book by Michael Stewart) was produced by the legendary David Merrick and directed and choreographed by the equally legendary Gower Champion. In addition to winning the 1964 Tony Award as Best Musical, the show went on to become the longest running musical in Broadway history (up to that time).

The original production starred Carol Channing and featured Eileen Brennan, Charles Nelson Reilly. In addition,the chorus featured a young David Hartman.

Known for his ingenious publicity schemes, David Merrick continued to inject new life into the show during its long run by bringing in a series of top leading ladies to star as Dolly once Channing, had left the show. From Mary Martin to Pearl Bailey, Martha Raye, Betty Grable, Phyllis Diller, and Dorothy Lamour, the revolving door of stars at the St. James Theatre kept audiences interested and lining up at the box office. His "icing on the cake" was signing Ethel Merman, arguably a Broadway icon, to become the final Dolly to play Broadway. The show closed on December 27, 1970, after playing 2844 performances.

This regional production will see the addition of "Love, Look In My Window," a Herman ballad written specifically for Ethel Merman and added to the show when Merman joined the New York company to bring the show to its final performances.

Directed by Reagle producer and artistic director, Robert J. Eagle and choreographed by Susan Chebookjian, the cast also includes theater veteran Jamie Ross ("42nd Street," "Gypsy," "Woman of the Year," "La Cage aux Folles") as Horace Vandergelder, Sarah Pfisterer ("Show Boat," "Phantom of the Opera") as Irene Molloy, Rick Hilsabeck ("Chitty Chitty Bang Bang") as Cornelius Hackl. Sean McLaughlin as Barnaby Tucker and Danielle Naugler as Minnie Fay. Other principals include Sarah Landry as Ermengarde, Patrick Dillon Curry as Ambrose Kemper, Angela Richardson as Enerstina and Tom Frates as Rudolph.

Reagle follows Dolly with one of Herman's other larger than life ladies, "Mame," playing July 16-25. Directed by Frank Roberts and choreographed by Susan Chebookjian, the cast features Lee Meriwether (at left) as everybody's favorite outrageous aunt.

The eccentric Mame Dennis first came to life in the novel Auntie Mame, by Patrick Dennis. The book was turned into a successful Broadway play starring Rosalind Russell which, in turn, became a successful Warner Brothers film, also starring Russell. From book to stage to screen, the public fell in love with the story of a single woman left to raise her young nephew during the Depression. With avante garde friends, gallons of bathtub gin, and a tony Manhattan townhouse on fashionable Beekman Place, Auntie Mame gave young Patrick Dennis the education of a lifetime.

The musical version hit Broadway in 1966 with a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. ("Hello, Dolly!" was still running at the St. James when "Mame" exploded on stage at The Winter Garden.)

Starring Angela Lansbury, and with Bea Arthur as Vera Charles, Mame's boozy best friend, the show was nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won three -- for Lansbury, Arthur, and Frankie Michaels, who played young Patrick. Among the show's best known numbers is the ballad, "If He Walked Into My Life."

Meriwether -- a former Miss America, "Today" show veteran and co-star of the popular "Barnaby Jones" television series with Buddy Ebsen -- has played the free spirited aunt twice in the past. Meriwether's recent credits include playing Mary Tyrone in a West Coast staging of "Long Day’s Journey into Night."

Joining her in the breezy Herman classic is the Tony nominated Maureen Brennan ("Candide") as Agnes Gooch and Boston’s three time IRNE Award winner Maryann Zschau as Vera. They will be joined by Troy J. Costa as the young Patrick, Kai Chao as Ito, R. Glen Michell as Beauregard, Rick Sherburne as Dwight Babcock, Stan Alger as Lindsey Woolsey, Harold “Jerry” Walker as Claude Upson, Linda Lodi as Doris Upson, Thayer Surette as Gloria Upson, Aurelie Alger as Sally Cato, Johanna Perri as Pegeen Ryan, Peter Sewell as Peter and Angela Richardson as Madame Branislawski. Casting will be announced soon for the role of the adult Patrick.

The summer season will come to a colorful close with Herman's romp, "La Cage aux Folles," playing from August 13-22. The production will be directed and choreographed by David Scala, who played Phaedra in the show's original Broadway run.

Based on the foreign film classic of the same name, "La Cage" tells the story of a gay couple in St. Tropez. Georges is the owner of a local nightclub, and his partner Albin, is Zaza, the club's star drag performer. The couple faces an obstacle when George's son from a previous relationship arrives on the scene to introduce his fiance, who brings along her two conservative parents.

With a book by Harvey Fierstein, the musical won six Tony Awards including those for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Among the memorable musical numbers: "I Am What I Am," The Song On The Sand" and "The Best Of Time Is Now."

The original company starred Gene Barry as Georges and George Hearn as Albin. The show had its pre-Broadway world premiere here at Boston's Colonial Theatre in the summer of 1983.

At Reagle, the show will star David Engel (above) and Jamie Ross (at left), veterans of the Broadway hit. Engel ("La Cage aux Folles," "Putting it Together," "Seussical"), a six time recipient of LA’s Ovation Award -- and Hanna in the original "La Cage" cast -- will be Albin, a role he's previously played. He will be joined by Jamie Ross ("42nd Street," "Beauty and the Beast," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes") as Georges, a role he performed opposite George Hearn in the initial run.

Featured are Jessica Azenberg as Anne, David Carney as Jean-Michel, Catherine Lee Christie as Mme. Dindon and Betsy Foley as Jacqueline. The supporting cast includes Paul Reynolds as Francis, Jean-Alfred Chavier as M. Renaud, Angela Richardson as Mme. Renaud.

With an unbridled optimism, Jerry Herman’s music and lyrics affirm love and inclusion and reveal life’s unnoticed joys and delights. What better time to hum a Herman tune, celebrate a parade, open a new window and remember that the best of times is now.

For tickets and information, call 781-891 5600 or visit www.reagleplayers.com. Reagle Players perform at Robinson Theater, 617 Lexington Street in Waltham MA. Parking at the theater is free.

-- OnStage Boston

05/30/09

 

 

 
 
 
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