Flashdance US National Tour comes to Dallas!

Posted on June 18th, 2013

Flashdance_300x250US National Tour Makes its North Texas premiere presented by
DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS
at MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK JUNE 25-JULY 7

FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals June 25-July 7 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.  Tickets, priced from $15-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster locations. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768).

With electrifying dance at its core, FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream.

Joining Jillian Mueller as Alex and Matthew Hydzik as Nick are Katie Webber as Tess, Kelly Felthous as Gloria, DeQuina Moore as Kiki, Jo Ann Cunningham as Hannah, David R. Gordon as Jimmy, Matthew Henerson as Harry and Christian Whelan in the role of C.C.

Also joining the company are Claire Camp, Derek Carley, Ryan Carlson, Natalie Caruncho, Lynorris Evans, Thursday Farrar, Haley Hannah, Charlene Hoffman, Holly Laurent, Jakob Karr, Dan Kohler, Nick McGough, Ariela Morgenstern, Shane Ohmer, Rebecca Riker, Andrea Spiridonakos, and Lawrence Street.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the original Paramount Pictures film was a worldwide smash hit that became a pop culture phenomenon, grossing over $150 million and featuring a Grammy Award-winning soundtrack. FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL features a score including the hit songs from the movie, all of which became Top Ten hits on the radio around the world  including the Academy Award-winning title song “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “Gloria,” “Manhunt,” “I Love Rock & Roll.” In addition to these hits, 16 brand new songs have been written for the stage with music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth.

Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), FLASHDANCE features a book by Robert Cary and Tom Hedley (co-writer of the original screenplay with Joe Eszterhas),

In addition to the US touring company, a second company will be assembled for the creatively reworked production of FLASHDANCE on Broadway for an open-ended engagement.

Creative Bios:

TOM HEDLEY (Book, original screenplay for the Flashdance movie). As editor-in-chief of Toronto Life, Tom Hedley turned it into the “magazine of the year” and published, among others, Margaret Atwood,Leonard Cohen, Robertson Davies and won national magazine award for fiction by Alice Munro. He was the youngest ever editor of Esquire Magazine during the magazine’s golden age, working for thelegendary Harold Hayes in New York. During his four-year tenure, he worked with important writersand artists of the time including Tom Wolfe, Michael Herr, Diane Arbus, Jean Genet, William Burroughs, Gay Talese and Robert Coover. He produced a number of celebrated cover-sections including: “The Decline and Fall of the American Avant Garde” in which he commissioned a play by Sam Shepard that was eventually performed at Lincoln Center, Claes Oldenburg’s last happening and a photographic essay on The New Theater by Andy Warhol. He commissioned and published essays by Fedrico Fellini, Francois Truffaut, Michelangelo Antonioni among others, and asked the great directors to direct their own self-portraits. He produced and directed four documentaries for the CBC’s flagship current affairs program and wrote a number of produced screenplays including, among others: Circle of Two, directed by Jules Dassin, starring Richard Burton and Tatum O’Neil, Mr. Patman, starring Kate Nelligan and James Colburn, Double Negative, starring Michael Sarrazin, Tony Perkins and John Candy, Fighting Back, starring Patti Lupone and Tom Skerrit and Flashdance, an international hit which won an Academy Award for best-song and has since become a film classic. He has written screenplays for Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, David Geffen, Jean-Paul Goude, Sean Penn, among others. In 2001 he completed a three-year period in London as an editor and publisher of Duckworth, the venerable publishers of Virginia Woolfe and D.H. Lawrence. His titles were generally well received and garnered both awards and books-of-the-year status in leading British journals and newspapers. He also created a new imprint called Duck Editions. Tom Hedley received the Humanitas Prize 2002 award as executive producer of the movie Iris, directed by Richard Eyre, starring Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent and Kate Winslet. The film won any number of international awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. He is currently President of The Hedley Media Group LLC in New York City. He will both write and direct The Last Laugh, an independent film centered around the 1980’s comedy scene in Los Angeles.

ROBERT CARY (Book and Lyrics) is the director of the feature films Ira and Abby, Save Me, and Anything But Love. Ira and Abby received the Audience Favorite award following its premiere at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2007; Save Me, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US 2008. Robert is also the director and co-writer of Anything But Love, starring Andrew McCarthy, Isabel Rose and Eartha Kitt, released by Samuel Goldwyn in 2003. Anything But Love appeared in over a dozen film festivals internationally, and received numerous audience and jury awards. In addition to his film work, Robert is co-book writer with ZZ Top of the musical Sharp Dressed Man, directed by Andy Fickman and the lyricist and co-librettist of Palm Beach, produced in 2005 by the La Jolla Playhouse and directed by Des McAnuff, and he is also the co-author and lyricist of musical adaptations of The Thomas Crown Affair and Heartbreakers, both commissioned by MGM On Stage.

ROBBIE ROTH (Music and Lyrics). Robbie Roth’s music has been heard on stage, screen, and radio all around the world. His songs have graced the Billboard charts in America, and appeared on record alongside Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, and many others. His work has been featured on “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” and in a number of films and documentaries. Robbie is most often hired to write and produce for established and upcoming recording artists. In the theatre world, Robbie has been hired as composer on a number of new musicals, and has written and produced records for Tony Award® nominee, Gavin Creel.

SERGIO TRUJILLO (Director and Choreographer) Broadway: Choreographed the 2010 Tony Award® winning Best Musical Memphis (OCC Award, Astaire and Drama Desk Award Nominations); 2006 Tony® and Olivier Award winning Best Musical Jersey Boys (Olivier, Drama Desk, Dora, OCC Award nominations.); The Addams Family; 2010 Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal; All Shook Up, Guys and Dolls (Astaire Award nomination) and Leap of Faith. Off Broadway: Saved (Playwrights Horizon, Lucille Lortel Nomination); The Capeman, Romeo & Juliet (Public); A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Kismet (Encores!); Salome (NYC Opera). Regional: The Wiz, Zhivago (La Jolla); Mambo Kings; The Marriage of Figaro (L.A. Opera); Chita and All That Jazz. International: Disney’s Tarzan (World Theatre Award Nomination); West Side Story, The Sound of Music (Stratford); Peggy Sue Got Married (West End); Kiss Me, Kate (Japan). TV: Judging and choreographing on “So You Think You Can Dance: Canada” (CTV), “Broadway: The American Musical” (PBS), “The 14th American Comedy Awards” (ABC), “Triple Sensation” (CBC). Ovation Award for Empire: A New American Musical and four Dora Award nominations in Canada. Upcoming: Director/Choreographer: Havana; First National Tours: Memphis, Next to Normal and The Addams Family.

JILLIAN MUELLER (Alex Owens). What a dream come true this is! Last seen in the first national tours of Memphis and American Idiot. Broadway: Bye Bye Birdie, two holiday seasons of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. TV: “A Gifted Man” (CBS). Much gratitude to Sergio, Kaitlin and the whole Flashdance team for trusting and believing in me! Love to Erin and everyone at CESD, Liz and Aimee for being the best. And of course my wonderful, supportive parents and brother. Twitter: @ jillimueller

MATTHEW HYDZIK (Nick Hurley), a Pittsburgh native, Matthew feels that it’s perfectly fitting to launch Flashdance’s US tour amongst friends and famly in the hometown that he loves dearly. Matthew was last seen on Broadway starring as Tony in the revival of West Side Story, as well as Kenickie in Grease. Off-Bway: John in Tomorrow Morning. National tours of Rent, Fame and Grease. Go Steelers!

KELLY FELTHOUS (Gloria). National Tours/Off-Broadway: Grease (Marty), Seussical (Mayzie), Max and Ruby (Ruby), The Sound of Music. New York/Regional: Legally Blonde (Elle), Bring It On (Eva), A Chorus Line (Val), Boeing Boeing (Gloria). Singing in the Rain (Kathy), Jane Eyre (American Premiere), Gypsy (June), Urinetown (Little Sally), West Side Story (Anybodys), Dames at Sea (Ruby). International: Fame (Serena), Trip of Love (Caroline). NYU/CAP21. Thanks to Mom, Charns, Henderson Hogan and the entire Flashdance family!

DEQUINA MOORE (Kiki) Broadway: Legally Blonde (Pilar), Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Ens., u/s Sylvia), Happy Days (Joyce/Lola), Hair (Actor’s Fund Concert). Film: Joyful Noise (Devonne), Madea’s Big Happy Family (Singer), Ghost Town (Chontelle), Rachel Getting Married (Rachel’s stylist), Camp (D.Q.). TV: Law & Order: SVU (Sapphire), Racing For Time (Tonya), Third Watch (Tania Monroe: recurring), All Falls Down (Nycole). B.F.A. NYU/CAP21. Thanks be to God! Love to Mom, Dad, Eron, family/friends, KMG/BridgeDaGap, Sarah Ministries & my Flashdance fam!

KATIE WEBBER (Tess) Katie is absolutely grateful to be performing in Flashdance! Broadway: Rock of Ages, Catch Me If You Can, Memphis, and Wicked. Other favorites: Jerry Mitchell’s “Peepshow,” NBC’s “Smash,” and The Onion News Network (K’Ronikka). This summer Katie can be seen as Britney/Charlotte in Kristen Wiig’s “Girl Most Likely,” July 19th 2013. Thanks to Sergio, The Mine, and my glorious Family! Special thanks to my dance teacher, Elaine McCarthy!

JO ANN CUNNINGHAM (Hannah). Broadway: The King and I, Anna Karenina. Off-Broadway: The Show Goes On, Night Seasons, Ladies of the Corridor, Edward the King, Swan Song. Tours: Into the Woods, Meet Me in St. Louis, Carousel, A Little Night Music. Regional: Full Gallop, The Dining Room, Follies, Chemin De Fer, Hello Dolly, Kismet, How the Other Half Loves and lots more.

DAVID GORDON (Jimmy), is beyond excited to be a part of his 1st National Tour and the 1st touring company of this iconic show! Favorite roles include: Roger (Int’l Tour of Grease), Abraham (Altar Boyz), and Bobby Strong (Urinetown). Special thanks to The Roster, Sergio and the entire creative team, Tara Rubin and this awesome cast! This one’s for my support team Ali, Momma, my bog ol’ family and friends. We did it!! www.DavidRossGordon.com

MATTHEW HENERSON (Harry). Theatre: Ahmanson, Romeo and Juliet; ACT, Indian Ink; La Jolla Playhouse, Good Person of Szechwan; Marin Shakespeare, King Lear (Fool), Northern Stage, Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit), San Diego Repertory, Romance, Brooklyn Boy; South Coast Repertory, Hamlet; Utah Shakespeare, Fiddler on the Roof (Teyve); Film/Television: Hung, Bernie Mac Show, Christmas Carol, Mars Needs Moms.

CHRISTIAN WHELAN (C.C.). Broadway Tours: Mamma Mia! (Sam), Little House on the Prairie (Brewster), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence), Aida (Zoser), Ragtime (Conklin), Camelot (Arthur). Off-B’way/Regional: Ministry of Progress (Poole), Portofino [Cast CD], Little Mermaid (Triton), 110 in the Shade (Starbuck). TV/Film: General Hospital, Guiding Light, All My Children, Dellaventura, Skindeep, Outlaws, Angel Town, Tomcats, Celebrity.”www.christianwheelan.com  

CLAIRE CAMP (Ensemble, Chorus Understudy, Ballerina). Gradauted May 2011 with a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Credits include: CATS (Cassandra). Gateway Playhouse; Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2012 (Dancer); Broadway Workshop Super Fly (Ensemble). Claire is thrilled to have the opportunity to be on tour with Flashdance, and  would like to thank her loved ones and educations for her successes.

DEREK CARLY (Swing, u/s Nick, u/s Jimmy, u/s C.C., u/s Joe, u/s Andy), is so happy to be a part of this production! Regional credits include Titanic (Charles Clarke) at the MUNY and Gay Bride of Frankenstein (Thad) at Seacoast Rep. Proud graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre Program; Go Blue! Huge thanks to everyone at Harden-Curtis and Tara Rubin Casting. For Jenna.

RYAN CARLSON (Ensemble) Douglas Anderson School of The Arts, Rasta Thomas’s “Bad Boys of Dance”, Lightwire Theatre, Americas Got Talent, Jacobs pillow, BET’s “Best Dance Crew.

NATALIE CARUNCHO (Swing, u/s Alex, Kiki, Louise, Miss Wilde, Ballet Dancer), is so excited to be joining the company of Flashdance!  Favorite credits include: 1st National Tour In the Heights (Ensemble, u/s Nina, Vanessa, Carla), A Chorus Line (Diana),  Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), The Bluest Water (Young Lizzy).

LYNORRIS EVANS (Ensemble; u/s Joe; u/s Andy). A graduate of Fordham University, he was last seen on the 1st National Tour of Memphis, the Musical. Other credits include Leap of Faith on Broadway, Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis, Santa Fe Opera and BalletMet.

THURSDAY FARRAR (Louise; u/s Hannah). Broadway: Aida, Parade, Once Upon a Mattress. Off-B’way: The Man Who Came to Dinner, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Golden Boy. Nat’l tours: Les Miserable (Fantine), Carousel. Regional: First Wives Club (Old Globe), Merrily We Roll Along (Kennedy Center), Harmony (LaJolla). TV: “Ugly Betty,” “30Rock.” Film: “Brother,” “Only Time Will Tell.” Recordings: “You Oughta Be On Broadway.

HALEY HANNAH (Ensemble; u/s Alex; u/s Tess; u/s Gloria) is thrilled to join the National Tour of Flashdance! Broadway: Bring It On The Musical. Tours: Bring It On The Musical. Regional: Cutman – A Boxing Musical (Goodspeed). TV: “Good Morning America” (Back up singer for Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers), “American Comedy Awards” (Comedy Central). BFA: University of Michigan. Much love to Mom, Dad, and friends.

CHARLENE HOFFMAN (Ensemble; u/s Ballet Dancer) has performed in numerous stage shows including the 50th Anniversary International Tour of West Side Story (Marguerita). Along with appearances on “Glee” (Cheerio), she has recently shared the stage with Kanye West, Chris Brown and P!nk. When she isn’t cutting a rug you can find this self-proclaimed tomboy cheering on her favorite NFL teams or cruising in her 1970 Ford Mustang.

JAKOB KARR (Ensemble). “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 6 Runner Up. Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at the Aria in Las Vegas. Rasta Thomas’ Rock the Ballet in Australia, Germany, France, Spain, India, Russia, Portugal, Monaco and Japan. Education: The Ailey School at Fordham University. Love to my family.

DAN KOHLER (Andy; u/s Nick; u/s Harry; u/s Jimmy). Theatre: Blue Man Group (New York, Berlin, Las Vegas), Godspell (Jesus), Legally Blonde (Emmett), Les Enfants de Paris (Claude Frollo). Television: Law and Order: SVU” (S12E05). Chef/Host of RenegadeKitchen.com, online cooking show. Follow along! @RenegadeKitchen. Thanks to Poppy for teaching me to sing on the staircase.

HOLLY LAURENT (Swing, u/s Alex, u/s Gloria) is beyond excited to jump back into the 80’s again! National tours include Rock of Ages (1st Nat’l starring Constantine Maroulis), The Wedding Singer (1st Nat’l) and Hairspray. Love and gratitude to my amazing and supportive family and friends, Michael Rodriguez, Tara Rubin Casting, the creative team and cast! For JPN.

NICK MCGOUGH (Swing). Credits: Off-B’way – Silence! (Dream Hannibal). Tours – Movin’ Out (Eddie, u/s James), CATS (Tumblebrutus, Misto). Regional – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – Encores! (Ensemble), Tarzan (Aerialist), HMS Pinafore (D/C, Swing), Crazy For You (Wyatt), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Ensemble). Thanks to friends, family and Grandma and Grandpa for everything!

ARIELA MORGENSTERN (Miss Wilde; u/s Hannah; u/s Louise). Off-Broadway credits: Adding Machine, The Threepenny Opera, I Married Wyatt Earp. Regional highlights include The Light In the Piazza (Arena Stage & Theatreworks), The King & I (Theater of the Stars), Man of La Mancha (Flat Rock Playhouse), and the title role in Carmen (SF Lyric Opera). Ariela is also a member of Studio 42, a company dedicated to “unproducible” NY theatre. Much love to her new husband! www.arielamorgenstern.com

SHANE OHMER (Ballet Dancer; Ensemble). Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Shane has performed as the Lead in Rasta Thomas’ Rock the Ballet for two years around the world, Les Grand Ballet Canadiens, River North Chicago Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and has been a guest artist/teacher for companies around the world. Thrilled to be part of Flashdance. Special thanks to my family! @ ShaneOhmer

REBECCA RIKER (Ensemble; u/s Alex; u/s Tess; u/s Kiki; u/s Miss Wilde), is stoked to be a part of Flashdance! Tours: The Addams Family (u/s Morticia), A Chorus Line (Cassie & Diana), The Wedding Singer (u/s Linda). New York: The Sphinx Winx, The Tenth Floor & Autumn Moon. Thanks to The Mine, Dennis and NCT. Love to friends, family & troops overseas. I heart Duce.

ANDREA SPIRIDONAKOS (Ballet Dancer, Firebird). So excited to be a part of Flashdance! Native of Winsted, CT. Trained at the School of American Ballet full-scholarship & Nutmeg Conservatory. Danced as a soloist with the Miami City Ballet & Morphoses/The Wheeldon Co. Thanks to Sergio, everyone at Tara Rubin, DDO, and my amazing family. www.itsandrea.com

LAWRENCE E. STREET (Joe; u/s Harry; u/s C.C.). Broadway: Urinetown (Billy Boy Bill). Off-Broadway: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe (Cleante); Urinetown (Billy Boy Bill). Actor’s Fund of America: Chess in Concert (Ensemble). Carnegie Hall, NYC: South Pacific in Concert (Starring Reba McEntire) also filmed for PBS Great Performances. Member of Actor’s Equity Association. Special thanks to Avalon Artists and Tara Rubin.

For more information, please visit www.flashdancethemusical.com Or Follow us at: http://facebook.com/FlashdanceMusical or  Instagram User: flashdancemusical

Dallas Summer Musicals continues with State Fair of Texas musical, Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20,  Experience the phenomenon of Disney’s  THE LION KING, Broadway’s Landmark Musical.  Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you’ll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score, including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.”

DSM will continue its 73-year tradition of setting the standard in musical theatre entertainment as their 2014 season begins in December, 2013, with Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Music Hall.

Season sponsors and partners for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News,  WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, The Original Cupcakery, the Frontiers of Flight Museum and Texas Instruments.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent non-profit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas.  DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through community outreach and education, and enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

DSM is the largest producer and presenter of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the fourth largest non-profit theatre company.  In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours productions, and is involved in developing new works.  Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call (214) 421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org.

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For media information about any of the individual shows or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 214-413-3977, or email joannholt@gmail.com.