Dallas Summer Musicals

Jay Johnson wins Tony Award for "Best Theatrical Experience"

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:28:28 +0000

6/10/2007 11:28am CST YouTube.com Jay Johnson wins Tony Award for "Best Theatrical Experience" Here is the footage of the acceptance speech for Jay Johnson. The award is presented by comedian Eddie Izzard.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl8Zt5DYQ4A&w=425&h=344]

Texas Theatre Set To Reopen

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:39:11 +0000

October 12, 2007 Oak Cliff People Texas Theatre Set To Reopen by Chuck Cox Staff WriterOne of the most famous landmarks in Dallas is about to be open for business for the first time in nearly 20 years. Final preparations are being made for the Texas Theatre to be ready to open Nov. 18 for a screening of the Public Broadcasting Service’s documentary Oswald’s Ghost. Staff photo: Allison SlomowitzThe renovated Texas Theatre is set to open Nov. 18. The film will be presented by the Sixth Floor Museum as part of this year’s 44th anniversary remembrance of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested at the theater Nov. 22, 1963, and charged with the assassination. The theater’s reopening comes after six years of efforts by the Oak Cliff Foundation, which is taking out a $600,000 loan to have the building ready to go next month. Hosting the movie helped the foundation decide to take out the loan. “We’ve been working toward that slowly for about six months,” said Oak Cliff Foundation board member Ninette McDonald. “This just escalated things and boosted us into getting the job done. “The situation with our foundation is that every board member is also an employed person in a fairly highly-placed position, so they only have a certain amount of time to add to this theater,” she said. “The fact that funding has also been very slow — there are so many needy causes out there that it’s difficult to get the finish-out work — that’s why we opted to do the loan.” Once the theater opens, McDonald expects funding to pick up steam quickly. The foundation has spent $1.6 million in federal grant money to restore the theater but still needed between $400,000 and $500,000 to complete phase one of the project. After Oswald’s Ghost is shown, the Texas Theatre, which opened in 1931, will host live performances run by Dallas Summer Musicals Management, which will also handle the day-to-day operations. “We’re hoping to generate interest and generate donations that will hopefully retire that loan sooner than we planned, as well as operating capital to do the performances and the further enhancements that will be necessary to get this into a full-blown live performance theater,” McDonald said. “Right now, it will be a rented sound system and lighting, which is coming over by way of DSM Management. We will also need to purchase a curtain.” Once the theater is open again, it will also be available for weddings and other special events within the community. McDonald also hopes to have tours available, especially around the anniversary date of the assassination. “It’s our mandate to not only do the live performances ... but we’re also obligated through our loan from the federal government to open the theater to non-profit organizations, local entities, special events, and that sort of thing — full usage,” McDonald said. “It’s exciting as well as kind of a relief. The burden will shift more toward Dallas Summer Musicals, which will leave us to do what we need to do and put a face out there and raising money.” Several Oak Cliff residents are thrilled by the reopening. Alice Reece, for example, grew up in Oak Cliff and was a regular at Saturday matinees. “It was an all-day mix of cowboy movies, serials, cartoons, and on-stage events,” Reece said. “It looked like snow with balcony dwellers tossing popcorn over the balcony edge. “On the Texas stage were yo-yo contests sponsored by the Cheerio or Duncan Yo-Yo companies. The most memorable were the personal appearances of cowboy movie stars including Alan ‘Rocky’ Lane [who scared everyone by firing his six-shooter], Sunset Carson, and even ‘Hopalong’ Cassidy. Lash Larue gave a demonstration with his whip … “I’m very pleased that the theater is re-opening, and I plan to check out the renovated Oak Cliff landmark,” she said. E-mail chuck.cox@peoplenewspapers.com View article on their website here

Texas Theatre Air Conditioning Units Airlifted by Helicopter

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:34:39 +0000

11/01/2007 Oak Cliff Tribune Texas Theatre Air Conditioning units Airlifted by Helicopter By Jo Ann Holt, Columnist Oak Cliff residents and early morning commuters were treated to an air show last Tuesday Oct. 23, when a helicopter airlifted a 60 ton AC unit and two 20 ton AC units to the Texas Theatre between 7:30-8:30 a.m. The AC units were too heavy to be delivered via flatbed, so the alternative is to airlift them directly to the Texas Theatre, 231 West Jefferson Boulevard, which has been undergoing an extensive renovation and restoration process since 2002.When the Texas Theatre was built in 1931, its systems were state of the art. The cooling and ventilation system, which blew 200,000 cubic feet of air per minute through a water-cooled system pumped from a 4,000-gallon tank, made “The Texas” the first theater in Dallas with air conditioning. Since that time, the theater has had many owners and somehow escaped the wrecking ball after falling into disrepair in the late 1990’s. In the latter part of 2000, Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group, a division of Dallas Summer Musicals, made a proposal to the City of Dallas to develop the theater into a critically needed community performing arts center. Preferring to stay in the theater management business as opposed to theater ownership, Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group, along with the City of Dallas approached the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce and its philanthropic arm, the Oak Cliff Foundation, with a plan to manage the theater if the foundation would purchase it. In 2001, the Oak Cliff Foundation was awarded $1.6 million from the City of Dallas Neighborhood Renaissance Partnership Program to purchase and renovate the theater. The foundation agreed to raise additional funds to complete the renovation and contract Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group to manage the performing arts center. An extensive renovation and restoration project began in 2002 and continues today. On November 22, 1963 at approximately 1:45 p.m., nearly 15 Dallas police officers converged on the Texas Theatre in search of a man who had entered without paying. That man was Lee Harvey Oswald—President John F. Kennedy’s accused lone assassin. Commemorating the 44th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza has joined WGBH Educational Foundation, Oak Cliff Foundation, and Dallas Summer Musicals to stage a free public screening of Oswald’s Ghost Monday, at 7 p.m. November 19 at the Texas Theatre. Produced by acclaimed director Robert Stone (Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, Radio Bikini) for American Experience in association with the BBC, the documentary film blends historical footage and contemporary interviews to create a thorough account of the Kennedy assassination and aftermath, while examining why this event continues to haunt the nation. After the screening, the Museum’s curator, Gary Mack, moderates a question-and-answer session with Stone, American Experience executive producer Mark Samels, author Josiah Thompson, and journalist Hugh Aynesworth.For more information about the free public screening of Oswald’s Ghost, visit www.jfk.org or call the Museum at 214-747-6660. For more information about American Experience, visit www.pbs.org/americanexperience.

Grand Re-Opening Set for Texas Theatre

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:33:14 +0000

11/04/2007 WFAA-TV Grand re-opening set for Texas Theatre By Dan Ronan DALLAS — The historic Texas Theatre has a brand-new look. The movie house will forever be remembered as the place where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured, 90 minutes after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Oswald also shot and killed Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit before seeking refuge in the darkened auditorium. For years, the icon on Jefferson Boulevard in the heart of Oak Cliff has been in a state of disrepair—but no longer. The Texas Theatre reopens Nov. 19 with a screening of the PBS movie Oswald's Ghost. Standing just a few feet from the seat where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured, Oak Cliff Foundation Chairman Monte Anderson said the nine-year, $3.5 million renovation is nearly complete. "This blighted theater what it was, back in action, is very important for the culture of this neighborhood and the restoration of this neighborhood," Anderson said. The Oak Cliff Foundation says a professional management company hopes to book the Texas Theatre 200 dates a year, with concerts, movies and other events—even Broadway showson tour. "When you come to a theater, you're coming there for fun and excitement, enthusiasm, and Jefferson Boulevard needs that," Anderson said. "It's already on its way up." The Texas Theatre was built by Howard Hughes during the depths of the Depression. It was the first air conditioned theater in Dallas, and one of the biggest. Now its 665 seats have been restored; the cushions will be installed in a few days. New carpeting is also on the way. Restoring the balcony and adding those 400 seats is the next big project. The movie theater with a rich legacy is getting another chance to entertain a new generation. "It can't ever be torn down, so we've saved it from that," Anderson said. "It kind of gives me goose bumps to think about it a little bit." View article on their website here.

'Oswald's Ghost' Looks at JFK Assassination's Lasting Grip

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:07 +0000

11/20/2007 12am CST The Dallas Morning News 'Oswald's Ghost' looks at JFK assassination's lasting grip by Michael Granberry mgranberry@dallasnews.com The newly renovated Texas Theatre was home Monday night to a gripping new movie, by a director named Stone, about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But not that Stone. The writer-producer-director in this case is Robert Stone, whose terrific documentary Oswald's Ghost was shown to an admiring audience in a setting that was both breathtaking and slightly bizarre. It marked the Southwest premiere of Mr. Stone's film, which will be shown Jan. 14 on PBS. It's in the midst of a limited theatrical release, with openings scheduled for Nov. 30 in New York and Dec. 7 in Los Angeles. But no future dates have been set for Dallas. That's a shame. It may well be one of the best movies ever offered about the assassination, and it took on an eerie power being shown in a handsomely renovated theater that will forever be central to the darkest moment in Dallas history. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested Nov. 22, 1963, in the Texas Theatre, on Jefferson Street in Oak Cliff, moments after investigators say he gunned down Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit and about an hour after he killed Mr. Kennedy in Dealey Plaza. By the end of his movie, Mr. Stone comes to his own dramatic conclusion about who killed the president. But it's the getting there that's remarkable. In an interview before the screening, he said the trigger for him was seeing that other Stone's movie in 1992 and watching the firestorm it created. "This in itself is an interesting story" is how he characterized his reaction to Oliver Stone's JFK. "Why, after all these years, are we still fighting over this? What is it about the story that keeps us so passionate, so engaged?" What he didn't want to make was a movie putting forth yet another conspiracy theory or a debunking of all previous conspiracy theories. Rather, he longed to examine something deeper and far more psychological about the American character. "Nobody had stepped back and told the story of the debate itself," he says. "How did these ideas come about? Who propagated them and why were they so widely believed? And what had they done to this country? Seventy percent of Americans still believe the government was involved in the Kennedy assassination or has worked to cover it up. And that's had a huge impact." In the end, a seemingly disparate chorus of voices – including the late Norman Mailer – accomplish the filmmaker's objective. As he says, Oswald's Ghost is "a way of explaining the '60s. We're not arguing anymore about what happened in Dealey Plaza. It's an argument about explaining what came after ... and how did everything go so wrong." View article on their website here

The Two and Only is one-of-a-kind fun!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:10 +0000

11/28/2007 CST The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram 'The Two and Only' is one-of-a-kind fun by Mark Lowry mlowry@star-telegram.comDALLAS -- In this age of countless forms of electronic entertainment, Jay Johnson's one-man, multidummy show The Two and Only! isn't likely to persuade any youngsters to carry on the craft he has been doing for so long: ventriloquism. (Probably not even fellow ventriloquist Terry Fator, who reached millions more than Johnson has thanks to the reality show America's Got Talent, can accomplish the feat of popularizing an antiquated art.) But in exploring ventriloquism's history and telling his own, with the help of several very animated friends, Johnson does convince us that the talent is rare and special. The show almost feels like his own way of convincing himself that he's not crazy, as some have concluded about practitioners of this craft. Johnson's show, which won a Tony Award this year and is directed by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel, played its first of eight performances at Dallas' Majestic Theatre on Tuesday. Big D kicks off its national tour, fitting for a West Texas guy who went to the University of North Texas and spent many years performing here. On a striking set (by Beowulf Boritt) of stacked trunks, suitcases and baskets on the horizontal and a swooped-up vertical floor, Johnson spends time with several of his pals, including a tennis ball named Spaulding, a loud, wiry monkey named Darwin, Nethernore the vulture, Amigo the snake and the disembodied head of Long John La Feat. Their voices are thrown by Johnson, some with superfast repartee between human and creation, and each is amazing. His most special "wooden Americans" are his first major dummy, Squeaky, handcrafted by ventriloquism legend Arthur Sieving, and Bob, who was his puppet when he played a ventriloquist in the TV series Soap. Squeaky's response when Johnson tells him that he wasn't cast in Soap because he's too sweet-looking is one of the show's many priceless moments. Johnson gets that misty-eyed, shaky voice when speaking nostalgically of Sieving, and in these segments the show almost becomes overly sentimental. But at the same time, it's a sweet love letter to the art form. And by the end of The Two and Only!, we are convinced that what Johnson does is exactly that. Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!8 p.m. through Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and SundayMajestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St., Dallas$15-$67817-467-2787 or 214-631-2787www.dallassummermusicals.org Be advised: Some strong languageRun time: One hour, 35 minutes with no intermissionBest reason to go: The one and only Johnson View article on their website here

Jay Johnson and his 'wooden Americans' bring new vigor to a nostalgic art form

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:12:25 +0000

11/28/2007 8:12am CST The Dallas Morning News Jay Johnson and his 'wooden Americans' bring new vigor to a nostalgic art form by Michael Granberry mgranberry@dallasnews.com As a shy, dyslexic kid growing up in Abernathy, Texas, Jay Johnson had trouble fitting in. He didn't like sports and was hardly the most outgoing kid in the vast, lonely expanse of West Texas. So at age 6, when he found a broken Jerry Mahoney doll in his cousin's closet and proved he could make it talk, it didn't take long to figure out he had also found a career. Now 57, Mr. Johnson is the star of The Two and Only!, his Broadway tour de force that earlier this year won a Tony Award. It opened Tuesday night at the Majestic Theatre. It's tempting to say it's a one-person show, but that feels so wrong and so utterly unfair to the puppets that steal more than their share of moments during a 95-minute adventure. Who knew that even a disembodied wooden head (Long John La Feat) could draw belly laughs from humans? What Mr. Johnson takes you on is nothing less than a spiritual journey. Surrounded by trunks and boxes, out of which appear his alter egos, he also indulges you in a Discovery Channel-like odyssey about the bizarre history of ventriloquism itself. It's an art form that means everything to this man, who moved to the Dallas area when he was 16 and who graduated from Richardson High School. Ventriloquism even got him into trouble during his college years at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). There, he was confronted by representatives of the Campus Crusade for Christ, who told him to stop doing ventriloquism – or he would go to hell. Thank goodness Mr. Johnson didn't listen. Ventriloquism carried him to a regular role on the sitcom Soap during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It's wild, years later, to watch him dazzle a crowd with the back-and-forth pingpong match between ventriloquist and "dummy" – a term he abhors, by the way. He prefers the politically correct "wooden Americans." Like fellow ventriloquist Terry Fator, Mr. Johnson can sing without moving his lips. But more than anything, he's a gifted storyteller capable of carrying a Broadway show alone (sorry, puppets). The most moving part of the evening is a story that unfolds like a singer's heartbreak ballad. It's about meeting Arthur Sieving, a ventriloquist 60 years his senior who became his mentor and friend. Mr. Sieving was a master carver of puppets and agreed to carve one more after his retirement – Squeaky, who became the centerpiece of Mr. Johnson's act. It would be heresy in a review to say what happened to Mr. Sieving and the role he played in Mr. Johnson's life, even after their last meeting. That alone is reason enough to see The Two and Only! Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! runs through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Performances at 8 tonight, Thursday and Friday, and at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $17 to $65. 214-631-2787, Ticketmaster.com. View article on their website here

Cirque Eloize's 'Rain' Twists Into the Imagination

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:22:39 +0000

12/12/2007 12:22PM CST The Dallas Morning News Cirque Eloize's 'Rain' twists into the imagination by Lawson Taitte ltaitte@dallasnews.com If you've been waiting for the new-style circus to blossom into high art, check out Cirque Éloize's Rain. If there's a circus in heaven, and Federico Fellini and Merce Cunningham got together to stage it, this might be the one. Every time I see Cirque du Soleil or one of its offspring, I'm tantalized by the hints of something beyond. The elaborate sets and costumes and the sketchy story line arouse hope that the show will break through the boundaries of technique and routine to become a new kind of epic. The show that the Dallas Summer Musicals' Broadway Contemporary Series opened at the Majestic Theatre on Tuesday doesn't quite do that. Much more modest in scale, it's more like modern dance or vaudeville or performance art. But it never lapses into automatic drive; it's full of imagination and poetry throughout. Daniele Finzi Pasca wrote and directed this piece, which begins with a spoken prologue about memories of childhood freedom. A later, hugely funny, monologue questions the pretensions of these new circuses, asking why they so pretentiously explore the unconscious only to end in a virtual pratfall.

Of course, these French-Canadian circuses don't have elephants or tigers. This one dispenses with painted clowns, as well – but that doesn't mean it lacks humor. Even the most virtuosic acrobatic flips involve a joke or two. The cast is always acting, always dancing, always delightfully human. The Majestic turns out to be a superb place to watch these high-flying trapeze and tumbling acts. That ironically pretentious prologue soon gets a counterpoint – a woman bouncing from stage to proscenium height behind a scrim. It's a simple enough trick, but seeing the speed and vertiginous motion in such an intimate setting gave me intense butterflies each time the woman defied gravity, only to be pulled back to earth again. In one number, a man lyrically spins around and around inside a hoop to the strains of strings and accordion (no nasty electronic sounds here). Several bits involve a live pianist: First, some of the strongmen hoist the piano player to a horizontal position, then revolve both player and instrument together. In the second act, the music, lighting and subtle performances turn what might have been conventional trapeze and balancing acts into a waking dream. "Unearthly beauty touched with wit and charm: Rain is fantastical. And fantastic." Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Runs 130 mins. $15 to $67. Ticketmaster at 214-373-8000 or 972-647-5700, http://www.ticketmaster.com/. View article on their website here

Pegasus News Wire Theater Spotlight of the Week: Judy Kaye

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:56 +0000

12/13/2007 Pegasus News Wire Theater Spotlight of the Week: Judy Kaye By Shawn Parikh Email Shawn here The live touring production of Sweeney Todd could not come at a better time with the hype surrounding the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film releasing on Christmas. Dallas Summer Musicals' Broadway Contemporary Series is bringing the musical to the Majestic Theatre from January 15-20 with Judy Kaye as Mrs. Lovett and David Hess as Sweeney Todd. Judy Kaye has won a Tony Award for her role as Carlotta Giudicelli in The Phantom of the Opera, and was nominated as Best Featured Actress in Mamma Mia!. I start off the interview by asking her how she got her start in musical theatre, and how she decided this is what she would do for the rest of her life. Since she has played Mrs. Lovett five times, I ask her what her attraction to the role is and how she manages to keep it fresh for every performance. Also, I ask her about her views on the movie version and what the audience can expect out of the live production. I ask her whether she prefers touring over a one-venue production. We end by talking about her dream role(s) and whether she has been able to play them. Tickets to Sweeney Todd can be purchased online or by calling 214-217-1536. View article on their website here

Stage Revival Promises to Be Even Better Than the Movie

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:29 +0000

1/16/2008 12:00AM CST The Dallas Morning News Stage revival promises to be even better than the movie by Lawson Taitte ltaitte@dallasnews.com Sweeney Todd: You've seen the movie. Now see the real thing. Actually, Tim Burton's screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's bloody musical masterpiece was faithful to the 1979 stage original, in its fashion. But it left quite a bit out. And a musical almost always works better when it's being performed by genuine singing actors rather than by well-coached but essentially voiceless movie stars. The stage version that the Dallas Summer Musicals' Broadway Contemporary Series brings to the Majestic Theatre on Tuesday has considerably more going for it than mere completeness. This is the production by director John Doyle that won plaudits first in London and then a 2006 Tony Award in New York. Its eccentricities have become famous. All the onstage performers play musical instruments. In fact, they're the only band there is. The show is apparently taking place in an insane asylum, and the inmates are the actors. A certain amount of blood is part of the action – although even Mr. Doyle's production can't rival the film in the gore department. The story, of course, remains the same. A mysterious man, Sweeney Todd, returns to London from abroad in search of vengeance. His new ladylove, Mrs. Lovett, owns a pie shop near the barbershop where Sweeney once worked. The two find a new supply of meat for the pies – in the bodies of the men whose throats Sweeney cuts in his quest for revenge. Five performers from the New York revival are part of the tour. The live cast is strongest, however, in the role that suffers most in the movie. Helena Bonham Carter is too glamorous, and not nearly dotty enough, to make a credible Mrs. Lovett. The tour stars one of Broadway's most talented performers, Judy Kaye, in the role. Ms. Kaye won a Tony Award as Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera and was nominated for another as one of the female sidekicks in Mamma Mia! Those roles didn't begin to show her real powers as a performer. Mrs. Lovett is a perfect fit. Opens Tuesday at 8 p.m. and runs through Jan. 20 at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Continues Wednesday through Jan. 18 at 8 p.m., Jan. 19-20 at 2 and 8 p.m. Ticketmaster. http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/. $17 to $62. View article on their website here

Leading Lady's Performance Delicious to the Last Bite in 'Sweeney Todd'

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:03 +0000

1/16/2008 12:00AM CST The Dallas Morning News Leading lady's performance delicious to the last bite in 'Sweeney Todd' by Lawson Taitte ltaitte@dallasnews.com THEATER REVIEW: Kaye cooks up humor, passion in 'Sweeney Todd' Judy Kaye is a wonder as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. She's all the reason you need to run downtown to the Majestic Theatre. Otherwise, the touring version of the recent Broadway revival, which the Dallas Summer Musicals' Broadway Contemporary Series brought to town on Tuesday, has its issues. But, as I always say, pretty much any Sweeney Todd is a good Sweeney Todd. Stephen Sondheim's 1979 masterpiece, subtitled The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, recounts an old horror story. A barber, deported for a crime he didn't commit, returns to Victorian London to get his revenge. After the first man whose throat he slits, Sweeney's girlfriend, Mrs. Lovett, gets the bright idea of using the meat from the carcasses in the meat pies she sells. The tale is gruesome, but onstage the bloody bits are a great deal less bothersome than in Tim Burton's current Golden Globe-winning movie version. Mr. Sondheim's witty lyrics keep the mind amused, while his nearly operatic score accumulates overwhelming momentum and power. The British revival by John Doyle, imported to Broadway two seasons ago, cuts the epic musical down to size. Only 10 actors play all the roles, and they double as the orchestra. Ms. Kaye, for instance, plays the bright percussion instruments and occasionally wanders in with a tuba. The compression is all very clever, but it smacks more of thrift than of inspiration. Setting the whole action in an insane asylum doesn't really work, either. The locale is all too obviously a metaphor; we don't believe for an instant that this is a cooperative production by the staff and the inmates. Unfortunately, the gimmick encourages the actors to go off the deep end. The young lovers, Johanna and Anthony, sometimes seem as loony as the truly crazy old beggar woman. Frankly, all this doesn't matter much. The material is so strong, and the performers sufficiently competent, that Sweeney Todd survives in all its glory. I did find David Hess' performance of the title character somewhat problematical, in that he lacks the obsidian voice the part needs. He's also among the worst offenders in the acting-loony department. Yeah, Sweeney is more than slightly off his rocker. But the story does require him to be able to pass for normal. But ah, Ms. Kaye. The first requirement for a Mrs. Lovett is a quirky sense of humor, and Ms. Kaye is as funny as they come. Her vocal technique has held up as well, so she can warble daintily or go as deep as her tuba, as required. This whole cast manages to make its words heard in the often intractable Majestic, but no one else uses language like Ms. Kaye. Every rhyme in the remarkably clever "A Little Priest" gets a laugh. But you also believe in the woman's passion for her lover and in her absolute determination to give him what he wants. Since Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs. Lovett is the Sweeney Todd film's biggest problem, seeing Ms. Kaye is an ideal supplement – or antidote – for the film. It's a great performance by one of the great ladies of the American theater. • Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Runs 150 mins. $16 to $72. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/. View article on their website here

Janis times two is one terrific theater experience

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:33 +0000

2/20/2008 12:00AM CST

The Dallas Morning News

Janis times two is one terrific theater experience

by Lawson Taitte

ltaitte@dallasnews.com

Love, Janis gives you two Janis Joplins for the price of one. Both terrific. Randal Myler (Hank Williams: Lost Highway) conceived, adapted and directed the show, which the Dallas Summer Musicals' Broadway Contemporary Series brought to the Majestic Theatre Tuesday for a week's run. Inspired by the book of the same name by Janis' sister Laura, it alternates spoken excerpts from the singer's letters to her family and from interviews with dynamic renditions of the songs that made her famous.

Joplin's shooting-star career in the 1960s, as her strong cadre of fans well knows, took her from Texas to San Francisco as the acid-rock scene in the California city was jelling. Within a few months of her arrival, she was a nationally known recording star. Love, Janis tells us the story in her own witty, vulnerable, frequently apologetic words.

Marisa Ryan speaks them as if she were the tragically short-lived singer reborn. As the play develops, we worry for this psychologically fragile waif. But we aren't asked to pity her. Rather, we participate in her exultation as she tells her folks how Paul McCartney showed up at one of her concerts, or as she tells an interviewer that money has always been what she had a little of in her pocket – "So what's that stuff in the bank?"

It's a bit of a shock when the singing Janis joins the speaking one in some of the scenes – but the device helps the piece from seeming too schematic in its back-and forth patterns. Mary Bridget Davies, who performed the singing role on Tuesday, alternates with Katrina Chester. I can't vouch for Ms. Chester, but Ms. Davies nails Joplin's idiosyncratic style and physical mannerisms. The illusion is all the more remarkable because Joplin and Ms. Chester are such different physical types.

Back in the day, I never fully gave into that unique Joplin sound, based on classic blues. I succumbed completely to Ms. Davies, perhaps because there's more honey in her tone, less of Joplin's anger and aggression. Ms. Davies does screech and wail passionately, though – in the precise way that the show's heroine could sound like an electric guitar played with lots of rough feedback.

It's both a bad thing and a good thing that Love, Janis is all in the singer's own words. The limitation is that the show can't really have a controlling theme or give us an interpretation of just why the star was so tortured and self-destructive. The benefit is that we don't feel we're being manipulated or that the subject is being betrayed. We like Janis Joplin a lot more – maybe even give her the love she so strongly missed – after seeing Love, Janis. It's terribly sad that she's not around to see it herself.

•Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Runs 145 mins. $15 to $67. 214-631-2787, www.ticketmaster.com. View article on their website here

Love Janis in D Magazine Online

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:02 +0000

2/20/2008 12:00AM CST D Magazine OnlineCalendar Listing We are legitimately excited about this production. There’s nothing like the portrait of an artist’s struggle with alcohol and drugs to warm the cockles of our jaded heart. Told through Joplin’s interviews and letters to her family, Love, Janis, tells the story of the iconic singer’s rise to fame. Songs performed include “Piece of My Heart,” “Me and Bobby MGee” and “Mercedes Benz,” to name a few. •Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Runs 145 mins. $15 to $67. 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/. View article on their website here

Love Janis review by EDGE Dallas

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:53 +0000

2/22/2008 12:00AM CST Edge Dallas Love, Janis by Alexandra Bonifield EDGE Contributor The main problem with a biopic is that everyone already knows how the story ends. There’s no suspense or dramatic conflict to resolve. Case in point is the national Columbia Artists Theatricals’ touring show Love, Janis playing through February 24 at the Majestic Theatre under the auspices of Comerica Bank and Dallas Summer Musicals. The music is beyond fabulous. The additional stuff is, well, stuff. Randal Myler, director/co-author of the award-winning "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" biopic conceived of and directed this musical, drawing inspiration from Laura Joplin’s biography of her sister, "Love, Janis." The program states that the "entire spoken text comes directly from Janis, herself", gleaned from family correspondence and media interviews. What comes across is the disparity between the average, insecure, small town girl desperate for love and approval that Janis was and the consummate blues/rock singer she became, an ideal disaffected, drug-addicted icon for the late 60’s era. The audience is initially lulled to attention by black and white family photos from Janis’ childhood projected in muted tones across a huge scrim behind the stage, accompanied without explanation by a recording of Odetta singing "I Know Where I’m Going". Without pause the frenetic, psychedelic rock show launches in full force, The lights come up bright and full on a rockin’ out four piece band and there she is-- it’s Janis in signature 60’s garb, large as life, pouring everything she’s got into "Piece of My Heart" on a downstage mike. Psychedelic-inspired patterns swirl and gyrate across the upstage scrim. All that’s missing is the odor of stale, cheap beer mixed with the heady perfume of marijuana smoke wafting through the crowd. And the singing Janis is breath taking. She’s precisely what everyone came for, to catch a glimpse of a memory, a sense of what it must have been to experience the genius of Janis Joplin in all her earthy, heartfelt, rough-edged glory. Stomping, swaying, clapping, on their feet, cheering-the audience welcomes her rebirth. Tuesday night’s performance featured accomplished blues, rock and soul singer Mary Bridget Davies as the singing Janis, fresh from performing the role in San Francisco and Houston. Her sustained re-creation of Janis’ style, tone and unique delivery is a masterful feat of interpretation and mimicry. To spend an entire evening basking in her performance as Janis makes a fantastic experience indeed. Unfortunately, this biopic follows a different path. Inexplicably, there are two Janis Joplins in Love, Janis: the singing Janis and a speaking one, portrayed by New Yorker Marisa Ryan. The wear identical costumes and frequently share the stage at the same time, awkward audience to respective spoken or sung scenes. Near the end they huddle together downstage and singing Janis croons to speaking Janis, followed by a shamelessly schmaltzy hug. Two Janises might work very well if speaking Janis revealed all aspects of the offstage life while singing Janis enlivened the larger than life rock star aspect, an intriguing dramatic dichotomy. Costuming them like twins destroys the dual persona effect and detracts from the play. One woman is petite, while the other is full-figured. Matching colorful velvet bell-bottoms with flashy white trim and fringe make the larger woman appear grotesquely large standing next to the petite "twin", while the matching pastel feather hairpieces worn by both performers later in the show overwhelm the petite performer’s face and make her look silly. Speaking Janis reveals a lonely, intellectual, pensive woman, one who loves her pets and writes longingly to her mother in Texas, ever seeking approval and attempting to justify her West Coast existence. It’s not the wild, party girl Janis her fans know, the one the media creates and hounds. She doesn’t fit wearing the garish garb, which belongs solely as a planned effect on Janis’ rock star persona. The on-stage band grows from four pieces (two guitars, bass, drums) to include keyboards and a two-piece horn section. Listed musicians in the program are: Mark Alexander, Ben Nieves, Eric Massimino, Jim Wall and Tim Brawn. They definitely know their rock and blues. The sound mix is excellent, loud enough to give the sense of a rock show but not so blaring as to injure eardrums or drown out singing Janis. The band plays seventeen numbers, providing rousing accompaniment to singing Janis’ dynamic performance. The tunes gain daring, raw edginess as the show unfolds. High musical point comes at Act One’s conclusion, with a tantalizing rendition of Willie Mae Thornton’s "Ball and Chain". There’s curiously scant reference to Janis’ long history of drug abuse; neither performer ever exhibits the ravages of besotted, drug-induced behavior. Asked about Jimi Hendrix’s death by overdose, speaking Janis comments, " Some people die and some are survivors. People like their blues singers miserable and drunk." Self-justification, apology? No apology needed for the musical performance part of Love, Janis. Go to thrill to the inner light and sound of a super energized rock icon or experience her musical mastery for the first time. It’s impossible to not love Janis View article on their website here

CATS Interview with Michael A. Jenkins

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:22:16 +0000

5/2007

WRR 101.1 FM Radio

CATS interview with Michael A. Jenkins

Interviewed by Christopher Hackett

Audio recording of President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins interview about the Andrew Lloyd Webber show CATS, which opens Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/2007/media/mj_interviews/01%20CATS.mp3

National tour of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' outdoes Broadway version for charm, poignancy

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:12:00 +0000

6/4/2008 12:00AM CST The Dallas Morning News National tour of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' outdoes Broadway version for charm, poignancy by Lawson Taitte ltaitte@dallasnews.com If you fret that they don't make comedies like they used to, The Drowsy Chaperone will ease your pain. And give you a laugh or two. This musical about a fictitious old musical won more Tony Awards than any other Broadway show in 2006. I was a naysayer back then, but I have repented. The national tour that the Dallas Summer Musicals brought to town on Tuesday is the reason for my conversion. It's not just a matter of affection growing on closer acquaintance. Role for role, the road version is much better cast than the New York original. Charm – a scarce commodity on Broadway – now abounds. Take the central role, Man in Chair. Even before the lights go up, this namby-pamby narrator is talking to the audience. He has invited us into his living room, where he's about to play a beloved old LP of a 1920s musical named, naturally, The Drowsy Chaperone. He sets the scene and puts on the overture – as the show comes to life behind him. Bob Martin, who co-wrote the book with Don McKellar, performed the part himself originally. Here it is his old friend and fellow Canadian Jonathan Crombie, familiar to American audiences as Gilbert Blythe on the TV version of Anne of Green Gables. Mr. Crombie makes Man in Chair lovable in spite of, or perhaps because of, his theater-obsessed neuroses. He's realer and more poignant than Mr. Martin was. I found several of the principal performers on Broadway downright annoying, but that doesn't happen with the touring cast. Andrea Chamberlain projects a lovely 1920s quality as Janet, the stage star ostentatiously giving up her career to marry the heir to a petroleum fortune, Robert (Mark Ledbetter). Wistful and glamorous by turns, Ms. Chamberlain reminds you of Betty Boop as interpreted by a young Bernadette Peters. Georgia Engel, the one New York performer carrying over on the tour, gently sells the songs Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison wrote for the show. As her comic butler, Dallas favorite Robert Dorfman clowns it up magnificently and displays an unsuspected talent for tap dancing. James Moye even makes the nearly insufferable fake-Italian lover boy, Adolpho, entertaining. Best of all, one of Broadway's top comedians, Nancy Opel, plays the title role with a broad insouciance that takes us into her confidence. The chaperone – whose sole function is to make sure the bride doesn't see the groom before the wedding – brings along her own liquor cabinet. It's Prohibition, after all. Ms. Opel can belt and croon and mug hilariously while doing one of the best drunk acts you'll ever see. The original performer in this role won a Tony; if there were any justice, Ms. Opel would be given a pair of them to balance on her mantelpiece. Die-hard musical theater fans must not miss The Drowsy Chaperone. This touring version is so good you can have a good time even if you couldn't tell Cole Porter from Stephen Sondheim in a crowd of two. View article on their website here

Superiority of the Drowsy Chaperone tour

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:51:12 +0000

6/4/2008 3:51PM CST overthetopblog.dallasnews.com Superiority of the Drowsy Chaperone tour by Lawson Taitte mailto:Taitteltaitte@dallasnews.com

I get kidded sometimes for maintaining that something we see here in Dallas -- either a tour or a local production -- is often superior to the original Broadway show. I don't think I've ever seen such a marked difference, though, as in The Drowsy Chaperone, which the Dallas Summer Musicals opened last night.

In my review, I detailed some of the cast members I think genuinely superior to the Broadway originals. I left out the specifics of the female lead role, Janet, though I praised the current performer, Andrea Chamberlain. But you wouldn't believe how much better she is than Sutton Foster -- who first came to Broadway stardom by winning a Tony Award for the lead in Thoroughly Modern Millie. In that role, and every role since, Ms. Foster has projected a brassy, knowing professionalism that lacks a spark of sincere feeling or charm. The one time I have liked her is in the current Young Frankenstein, which doesn't need feeling or charm.

It has been very hurtful to Broadway in recent years that producers hire the same people over and over because they believe the performers have a following. Some of those performers just aren't very good, I'm afraid. View article on their website here

The Drowsey Chaperone, The Column Review

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:08:31 +0000

6/4/2008 1:10PM CST The Column The Drowsy Chaperone by John Garcia *THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (National Tour)Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg MorrisonBook by Bob Martin and Don McKellar Dallas Summer MusicalsDirected and Choreographed by Casey NicholawCostume Design by Gregg BarnesScenic Design by David GalloLighting Design by Ken Billington and Brian Monahan

*REVIEWED 06/04/08 PERFORMANCE THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Musical theater is a unique, fickle, and engrossing art form. It runs the gamut in regards to emotion, originality, structure, and whether a certain musical is "art" or "commerce". Suffice to say history has shown us both in abundance. Broadway and out of town tryouts is littered with the failures and successes in regards to putting a story set to music and dance, call it art, and make a buck in the process. But then to create that special musical that is lavished with critical praise, awards, and sold out houses-well that takes a miracle. Many fail, so few succeed.

Personally I can sit through a dark, emotional piece like SPRING AWAKENING and savor the power of its message and painful, brutal raw honesty. But I can also sit back and enjoy the colorful fluff of LEGALLY BLONDE. The snooty naysayers will thrust their noses so high up into the air and with a cold response dismiss some musicals as "Pure dribble. It's not art." Jeez, loosen up those panties and just sit back and enjoy the fluff. What's so wrong with that?

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE may be fluff-but oh what a delicious, scrumptious, and glorious piece of musical theater confection it is!

TDC opened at the Marquis Theater in May 2006, where it sipped champagne and tapped away for 674 performances, closing in December 2007. It would go on to receive 12 Tony nominations, winning five awards- including Best Book and Score. It would lose the Best Musical trophy to JERSEY BOYS.

The musical opens to reveal a man in his New York apartment, ready to cozy up to his record player and enjoy one of his favorite cast recordings ever-"The Drowsy Chaperone". Serving as commentator and narrator, he takes the audience along a hilarious journey into the musical as well as provides wicked bon-bons of backstage stories and gossip of the various stars within the production. It's a musical within a musical.

This is by no means an "internal" musical, everything is grand and over the top-which fits the piece beautifully. They play to the back of the house, wringing every last drop of laughter they can squeeze out of the material. The book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar is full of wacky, zany set ups, outlandish subplots, and loaded with never ending jokes. Sure some of the punch lines and set ups are groaners, but you groan with a huge smile on your face. And yet so many of the tongue in cheek, "wink wink" jokes are absolutely hysterical and provide so much dazzling comedy to the piece. I will not spoil the riches of side splitting laughter here for you. But suffice to say you will leave with your face aching from laughing so much. Martin and McKellar even add towards the very end a wonderfully touching moment that does tug at the heart. It's a solid book that pays off big time within the framework of this musical.

The loopy, toe tapping score is provided by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. Some songs work better than others. But many of the big, splashy company numbers are a sublime homage to those wild and over the top musical numbers from roadway's golden age. Some of the best songs include "Cold Feets"; "Show Off"; "As We Stumble Along"; "I Am Aldolpho"; "Message from a Nightingale"; and "Bride's Lament".

Casey Nicholaw's direction and choreography are spectacular in both areas. He knows when to allow the over the top wackiness go at full throttle, and then pull back for a heart warming moment. His marvelous choreography is full of eye popping dancing, from some grand tap numbers to delightful jazz flavored ones. The staging & choreography really glow brightly here.

From the design elements, it is David Gallo's delightful sets and Gregg Barnes gorgeous costumes that serve as yummy eye candy. The main set is the New York apartment, but throughout the evening Gallo brings it set pieces, furniture, back drops, staircases, and so on to bring to life the musical within the musical theme. Barnes drapes his cast in magnificent, 1920s period costumes that are dripping in layers of beads, sequins, and rhinestones. His color palette is an array of blinding colors that actually add another level of energy to the stage. I did notice that some costumes have been designed differently for some characters. Such as the costume worn by the Drowsy Chaperone for her big solo. Nonetheless, these costumes are ravishing and will leave you drooling in your seats from its splendor.

The entire cast delivers outlandish, side splitting performances, with some who chew the scenery like famished wolves, with the audience savoring along with them every morsel.

Within the large company providing crowd pleasing performances include Georgia Engel (Mrs. Tottendale); Robert Dorfman (Underling); George (Richard Vida); twins Paul & Peter Riopelle as the Gangsters disguised as pastry chefs; and Fran Jaye as "Trix", the female pilot.

Andrea Chamberlain gives the ingénue role of "Janet" equal amounts of sass and purity. "Janet" is a famous star who is willing to give it all up for marriage, and is wondering if her groom truly does love her. Chamberlain brings to the stage a sweet disposition with a lilting nightingale soprano that can belt with the best of them. Her facial expressions are priceless during some of the mad cap comedic scenes that's she involved in. If you saw Sutton Foster (who originated the role on Broadway) on the Tony telecast perform Janet's big solo "Show Off", let me tell you that Ms. Chamberlain will make you forget that performance in a heartbeat with her hilarious characterization and divine singing voice.

As the groom to be "Robert Martin", Mark Ledbetter taps like there's no tomorrow in his big, show stopping number "Cold Feets". His interpretation of his character's voice reminds you a little of Dudley DoRight, which works perfectly within the framework of his hysterical characterization. A tall, handsome redhead, he sings beautifully and has wonderful chemistry with Ms. Chamberlain.

James Moye gives such a hilarious, scene stealing performance that he should be arrested! He portrays the Latin star "Aldolpho", using a Spanish dialect that is just so, so bad, it has the audience rolling in the aisles. A tall, swarthy fellow who wears a pepe Le Pew skunk like hairdo, he commands and devours the stage with his comedic brilliance. I wish though his character had more than one song, because Moye's performance is so downright hysterical, you want even more of him on stage.

Jonathan Crombie just wins the audience's heart with his hilarious, yet moving performance as the "Man in Chair". Sadly he has no major solo, but he serves as our guide into the musical. Crombie's sublime comedic delivery, timing, and pace is jaw dropping amazing from beginning to end. Even the throw away lines create loud laughter from his hypnotic performance. Throughout the evening he glides in and out within the musical providing comments, quips, and gossip revolving around the stars and the show-which result in ear splitting laughter. But then towards the end, he touches the heart with a soft, melancholy approach to musical theater in regards to his life. Crombie is outstanding in this tour.

My first exposure to Nancy Opel was in the Broadway production of URINETOWN. The production had its entire original cast still intact, but it had a very special and significant position in my life. For you see I saw it in November 2001, less than two months after that horrific tragedy we know as 9/11.

It was on a cold, rainy, and grey matinee that I attended along with a friend. The previous day we went down to where the World Trade Center once stood. It was overwhelming emotionally to say the least. So quiet. URINETOWN opened on September 20th, the first musical to open since 9/11. They thought about postponing the opening because of the tragedy, but New York would not allow that. The show must go on. So when I saw it, this cast gave it their all, leaving the audience laughing from beginning to end. Ms. Opel portrayed "Pennywise", and had me crossing my legs to prevent me from peeing on myself from laughing so hard because of her comedic riot of a performance. She would go on to earn a Tony nomination for this role.

So when I opened my program last night and saw Ms. Opel's name, I felt a soft ache in my heart, and I quickly wiped a tear from my face so that my friend who came along did not see me. The emotions of actually seeing ground zero when it was still so fresh (the outer skeletal frame of one of the towers was still there) and watching Ms. Opel give such a great performance all came back to memory for me right then and there.Opel portrays the title role and walks-no- runs away with the show! She again brings to the table that magnificent comedic timing, delivery, and pace that radiates from her talents like blinding gold. She is one of those true talents that even when she is standing there, doing nothing but reacting, she still generates ear shattering laughter. The role requires her to be a grand diva of the stage, even though she brings her own liquor cabinet (fully stocked!). Her big solo "As We Stumble Along" is a sublime, comedic, tour de force gem that sparkles exquisitely thanks to this comic firestorm of a lady. Opel gets some of the loudest laughs of the night and rightfully so! She is superb from the second her bejeweled pump touches the stage boards.

If you work in musical theater or if you love musical theater-this glittery bauble of a musical was created just for you! You will be kicking yourself non-stop if you miss this spectacular touring production. It is fresh, exciting, hysterical, dazzling, and fillsyour heart with song and laughter.

The man in chair says something that is so, so, so true. Musicals that are full of color, song, and dance allow us to forget the world outside, if just for a brief two hours.We are in the midst of an ugly war, soaring gas prices, food is now costing more, airfares are through the roof, constant politics on the news, earthquakes, tornados, and so forth.

Take it from me: Go NOW to the Music Hall, buy a ticket for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and let this dynamic company take you away from all that for two hours. Trust me; it is worth every dollar of that ticket! GRADE: A+

View article on their website here

'Chaperone' brings bygone stage musicals back to life

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:01:04 +0000

06/05/2008 CST The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram 'Chaperone' brings bygone stage musicals back to life by Mark Lowry mlowry@star-telegram.com View article on their website here DALLAS -- On its champagne-fizzy surface, The Drowsy Chaperone is a homage to the kind of musicals they just don't make anymore. But if you're a true musical theater buff -- you wouldn't think of trading your vinyl copy of Pal Joey for 100 special-edition CDs of Wicked -- then this love letter to the theater is so much more. And the vibrant, tremendously good tour at Fair Park Music Hall is bound to tickle you every shade of pink. The show won five Tonys in 2006, and it's easy to see why. It spoofs the broadly comic situations and sometimes perplexing lyrics of Jazz Age shows, and sets it up ingeniously. A narrator, simply called Man in Chair (Jonathan Crombie), is home alone, about to play his double LP of one of his favorite musicals, a fictional one called The Drowsy Chaperone. As he does, the 1928 characters come to life in his apartment. He frequently pauses for asides about musicals, theater, intermissions and overly silly comic relief. And the more he drinks, the more he gets into it. And so do we. The confection he loves so much centers on the decidedly uncomplicated plot of actress Janet Van De Graaff (Andrea Chamberlain), who will give up her career to marry the rich and dashing Robert (Mark Ledbetter). Satellite roles include the ditzy Mrs. Tottendale (Georgia Engle from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, reprising the role she played on Broadway), a tap-dancing best man (Richard Vida), the stereotypical Latin lover Adolpho (James Moye) and the tipsy-but-wise title character (Nancy Opel). They're all fantastic, capturing that 1920s spirit. Crombie is funny, sad and utterly real, immersing himself in the role of a man who would be lonely if not for his collection of cast recordings. If you've ever caught yourself singing along in the car -- and in various character voices -- to, say, A Little Night Music, then you'll identify. I, of course, know no one like that. The Drowsy Chaperone Through June 15 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and June 8; 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and June 12 Fair Park Music Hall, 909 First Ave., Dallas $18-$84 817-467-2787 or 214-631-2787; www.dallassummermusicals.org Be advised: Nothing offensive Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission Best reason to go: The show itself and this cast. Funny, energetic and moving. Mark Lowry, 817-390-7747 mlowry@star-telegram.com

The Drowsey Chaperone interview with Michael A. Jenkins

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:36:25 +0000

6/2007

WRR 101.1 FM Radio

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE interview with Michael A. Jenkins

Interviewed by Christopher Hackett

Audio recording of President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins interview about THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, running June 3 - 15, 2008 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/2007/media/mj_interviews/080603_drowsychaperone.mp3

Dallas Summer Musicals garners two more Tonys!

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:31:32 +0000

6/15/2008 Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals garners two more Tonys®! posted by Steven Hall

2 MORE TONY AWARDS® FOR Dallas Summer Musicals:

BOEING - BOEING!

PRODUCED IN PART BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS "BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY"WINNER! "BEST PERFORMANCE by a LEADING ACTOR in a PLAY"WINNER!

Michael Jenkins, President & Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, pictured at the left of the group.

'Hairspray' keeps its bounce at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:09 +0000

6/25/2008 12:00AM CST The Dallas Morning News

'Hairspray' keeps its bounce at Fair Park Music Hall

by Lawson Taitte mailto:Taitteltaitte@dallasnews.com

View article on their website here

Nearly six years after it debuted on Broadway, Hairspray is turning out to be the most influential musical of the decade. To figure out why, check out the touring version that the Dallas Summer Musicals opened Tuesday.

Three things make Hairspray special: The stage adaptation of John Waters' cult movie adds just the right dash of sincerity so that the formerly tongue-in-cheek story about an overweight teen determined to integrate 1962 Baltimore taps into a deep American mythos, the pursuit of happiness. The score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman forges 1960s pop styles into beautifully crafted Broadway songs, and Jerry Mitchell's choreography (lovingly re-created here by Danny James Austin) keeps the fizz in the phosphate for all 2 ½ hours.

Here's the plot: Plus-size Tracy Turnblad (Brooklynn Pulver) tries out for a local TV dance show but is rejected by the evil producer. In detention, she picks up new steps from some black kids. Her new routine catches the TV host's eye and gets her a berth on the show, where the heartthrob, Link (Taylor Frey), eventually realizes he likes Tracy better than the producer's haughty daughter. But when Tracy insists that the black kids should be able to appear on the tube more than the one day a month to which they've been consigned, trouble erupts.

The big gimmick, carried over from the film, is that Tracy's mom, Edna, is played by a man in drag. Edna is so sensitive about her weight that she hasn't left the house in years, but Tracy fixes that, too. The point of the show is the people who've been discriminated against win out in the end.

Although this tour features a young, non-Equity cast, it maintains standards. Ms. Pulver seems so competent and practiced that she skirts falling into routine, but her singing is exceptional. In fact, most of the performers show off strong voices. It's a good thing, though, that a lot of the audience has already seen the musical movie remake, because the lyrics are even harder to understand than usual in the intractable Music Hall acoustics.

The performers zip through all the dance numbers as if their shoes were filled with helium, too.

For me, the most memorable aspect of this edition of Hairspray is Jerry O'Boyle's Edna. More than anyone else I've seen do the role, he really acts it. He never affects a self-consciously feminine gesture, but you believe him as a woman. He's got great comic timing, too – and his big number with his stage husband, Wilbur (Dan Ferretti) – "(You're) Timeless to Me" – brings down the house.

Even though the incessant, smarmy double-entendres clash with the musical's intrinsic sweetness and social conscience, Hairspray is beginning to feel pretty timeless itself.

Plan your life Through Sunday at Fair Park Music Hall. 155 mins. $18 to $80. 214-631- 2787, www .ticketmaster.com

'High School Musical' the class favorite at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:28 +0000

7/3/2008 12:00AM CST The Dallas Morning News 'High School Musical' the class favorite at Fair Park Music Hall

By JOY TIPPING

jtipping@dallasnews.com

View article on their website here

Whatever its artistic merits, Disney's High School Musical has accomplished something special at the Music Hall at Fair Park: throngs of children and teens lined up, giddy with excitement over live theater. We're talking jumping up and down with glee. The kids even got into a "dress for the theater" spirit – cute sundresses with matching tights and color-coordinated sneakers for the girls, nice pants and shirts for the boys. Frankly, I've rarely seen adults dressed that well for Dallas theater, or that well-behaved. HSM takes its spot in the pantheon of musical theater as the place where theater geekdom becomes the epitome of cool. It's the theatrical version of the fair midway: full of flash and frivolity, color and movement, with all the substance of cotton candy. But honestly, when you're having that much sheer fun, who needs substance? For those who've been watching only HBO for the last couple of years, HSM (which began as a movie on the Disney Channel) tells the story of "freaky math girl" Gabriella Montez (played by Arielle Jacobs) and "playmaker dude" basketball star Troy Bolton (John Jeffrey Martin). They bond over a summer-break karaoke session and then meet again when Gabriella transfers to Troy's digs, Albuquerque's East High School. Much to the disdain of their respective cliques, Gabriella and Troy both secretly long for stardom of a different sort: the title roles in the winter musical, Juliet and Romeo, a "delicious neofeminist adaptation ... with three tap numbers!" as drama teacher Ms. Darbus (a wickedly funny Ellen Harvey) describes it. Tension, trauma and many musical numbers ensue, and of course everything works out in the end for the big finale of "We're All in This Together." This is a true ensemble show, with no breakout star roles, although Ms. Jacobs and Mr. Martin show warmth, charisma and decent voices as Gabriella and Troy. Heléne Yorke also stands out as the irritating Sharpay, the school's drama queen – in more ways than one – who has a tinny, screechy voice that perfectly matches the bark of her namesake dog. This isn't Les Misérables, or even Grease (which it resembles somewhat). But it's a genuinely sweet-spirited, infectiously enjoyable reason for the whole family to see theater together – without once making the parents cringe.Plan your life Through July 13 at Fair Park Music Hall, $18.50 to $78.50. 214-631-2787, http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/.

'Jersey Boys' transfixes eyes and ears at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:59 +0000

12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, July 26, 2008 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com View this article on their website here

Talk about a buildup: We are two-thirds of the way through the first act of Jersey Boys before the Four Seasons come together for their first big hit. When "Sherry" finally does erupt, it's as if a skyscraper-sized bottle of champagne exploded. The 2006 Tony Award winner for best musical opened at the Dallas Summer Musicals on Friday (after a couple of previews). The show doesn't miss a beat in its transfer from Broadway to the road. You've probably never heard the names of any of the performers, but no matter. Jersey Boys doesn't need stars, it creates them. Marshall Brickman and Rick Ellice wrote one of the all-time great show librettos in telling the story of four working-class Italian boys who became one of the most successful musical groups ever. Take that example of the long buildup: Hearing the cover songs the boys sang as they established their career gives the tale a context. So do the pop-art and video projections Michael Clark designed for Klara Zieglerova's ingenious set. Each of the four group members narrates – and dominates – a quarter of the show. Tommy DeVito (Erik Bates) is the deal maker – and corner cutter, stealing when he needs to and gambling away his earnings during the good times. The baby-faced Bob Gaudio (Andrew Rannells) writes the music and doesn't really feel part of the neighborhood. In his segment, Mr. Rannells proves that white bread can be charismatic and nearly steals the show. Nick Massi (Steve Gouveia), the quiet one, gets tired of touring and wants to go back home. Of course, the frontman is Frankie Valli (Joseph Leo Bwarie). Tommy treats him like a lowly kid brother, but Bob knows that that strange, high-flying voice is the one he was destined to write for. After intermission, we see the group falling apart. The emergence of Frankie's solo career is the second act's trajectory – and once again the build to the huge hit "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" is tremendously exciting. Director Des McAnuff wove all the elements of Jersey Boys into a swirling, precisely choreographed showpiece that keeps on gaining momentum. Entertainment doesn't get any slicker – or more accomplished. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Aug. 16 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 155 mins. $25 to $124. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, www.ticketmaster.com.

2008-09 DSM Season Being Announcing This Weekend

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:24:43 +0000

DSM 2008-2009 Season Announcement

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:05:09 +0000

You've been patiently yet eagerly waiting to see the blockbuster shows that are coming 2008-09--Well here they are! For full details, visit our homepage at http://www.dallassummermusicals.org!

Performances overcome a lackluster score in 'The Color Purple'

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:56:35 +0000

By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News

ltaitte@dallasnews.com

view this article on the original website

Epic novels often have a rough transition to the stage: Events fly by so fast they feel like a historical pageant rather than a play. Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple, the stage musical adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, exhibits such symptoms early on. The Dallas Summer Musicals opened the area premiere, its 2008 State Fair show, on Tuesday at Fair Park Music Hall.

The childhoods of the heroine, Celie (Jeannette Bayardelle), and her sister are over after two short choruses of the opening song. Horrors of domestic violence bump rudely against stylized comedy, even in the scenes in which Sofia (Felicia P. Fields) begins to show Celie she doesn't have to accept the abuse that has been heaped on her all her life.

The show really doesn't come to life, though, until the notorious Shug Avery (Angela Robinson) returns to town. Shug was the true love of Celie's cruel husband, Mister (Rufus Bonds Jr.), but convention prevented them from marrying. Mister takes his disappointment out on Celie for years. During one of Shug's periodic visits home, though, Celie nurses her back to health and the two women develop a sisterly relationship that eventually turns sexual. As this happens over the last half hour of the first act, we finally get characters interacting with one another.

The second acts ratchets things up by finding some creative solutions to the problems of long-range storytelling. To begin with, a dream – or rather a letters – ballet, spectacularly set in Africa, shows Celie what has become of her long lost sister. The successive stages of Celie's evolution into a free woman each get a neatly turned scene or song, or both.

The score doesn't have many grab-you tunes, a disappointment given the rich musical styles of the early 20th century, in which the story is set. But the performers are uniformly terrific, dramatically as well as vocally. The gorgeously designed sets and costumes envelop the actors in swirling color. Donald Byrd, a significant modern dance choreographer, has the entire cast moving and shaking.

Occasionally Ms. Bayardelle's gestures and expressions seem modeled a little too closely on Whoopi Goldberg's in Steven Spielberg's film version of The Color Purple. But Ms. Bayardelle does create a character that evokes sympathy and, eventually admiration.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Oct. 19 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 170 mins. $25 to $77. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Internet Explorer and you get "Trusted Site" errors?

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:02:49 +0000

Internet Explorer, "IE", has a great many security protocols built in to it. Depending on how you have it set up, when you click on a link on our site, it may give you this message: It is simply a precaution and, when you're on a DSM site, you can simply click YES. DSM takes the uptmost care in ensuring that our sites are always safe for our patrons to freely come and go on, without worry or concern. Now, if you would like to change a setting so you don't see the above message in the future, then follow these easy steps. It should only take 30 or 40 seconds: 1. Go to the TOOLS menu 2. Select OPTIONS (at the bottom of the list) 3. Select the SECURITY tab. 4. Select TRUSTED SITES (the big green check-mark) 5. Once selected click on the button entitled SITES 6. Click on the ADD button to add http://dsmnewsroom.blogspot.com/. This will add our news room as a trusted and safe site. 7. In the "Add this website to the zone" box which should now be empty, type in: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/, and then click the ADD button again. This will add our main website. 8. Select the CLOSE button9. Select the OK button.10. You're all set! approximate time for this task is about 30-45 seconds.

In 'Purple', story is the star

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:39:25 +0000

In 'Purple', story is the star By PUNCH SHAW Special to the Star-Telegram permalink to the post on Star-Telegram website DALLAS — In the end, it is the story that prevails. The Color Purple, a musical retelling of Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that opened at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Tuesday night, is an outstanding production in almost every regard. The cast is stellar, and the vocal work is especially first-rate, but no one forgets the acting chores, either. Every visual detail — sets, lighting, costuming — is also right on the money. The music, by a committee of three, is solid and serviceable, and only occasionally rises above the ordinary. The quality of the singing in this production, however, elevates it. But, while this show wows with its "big musical" trappings, it is ultimately Alice Walker’s vivid characters and heart-wrenching story that carry the day. Book author Marsha Norman has done a superb job of capturing the straight-to-the gut emotions of the source material. And, better still, she has peppered the show’s grim story of loss and oppression with just enough humor in just the right places. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that director Gary Griffin’s cast is led by three of the finest musical theater actresses to be found in one show. It is hard to image anyone doing more with the central role of Celie than Jeannette Bayardelle. Her character moves from scared and beaten-down at the opening curtain to confident and empowered in the closing numbers. Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields provides the desperately needed comic relief for the show as Sofia. A more subtle performance is turned in by Angela Robinson as the Bessie Smith-like Shug Avery. She explores all of the corners of her complex, free-spirited character and sings up a storm in the process. Mention must be made of LaToya London as Celie’s sister, Nettie. Many will remember that this AmericanIdol competitor of a few seasons back was championed by Elton John when she failed to win.The only real problem with this show is its length. Stretching two hours and 45 minutes, it really loses steam in the second of its two acts. It needs to be at least 30 minutes leaner. But fans of the Walker book or the movie will be delighted with this gorgeously mounted musical. Finally, don’t forget that this show takes place close enough to the State Fair of Texas to be able to smell the cotton candy. Traffic and parking can be issues. The Color Purple Through Oct. 19 Music Hall, Fair Park, Dallas 8 p.m. Tues-Sun; 2 p.m. Sat-Sun 214-691-7200; http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/ Run time: 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission Be advised: There is little objectionable language, but this is a mature story unsuitable for preteens. Best reason to go: Alice Walker

Hot Shows Around The Stage World - Do you know about FROST / NIXON?

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:46:41 +0000

THE FACE-OFF OF THE CENTURY, LIVE ON STAGE Direct from Broadway “A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.” Nixon’s secret of overcoming adversity - written in a private note to Ted Kennedy after the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969. “If an individual wants to be a leader and isn't controversial, that means he never stood for anything.” Nixon’s take on leadership, 1978. “The American people are entitled to see the president and to hear his views directly, and not to see him only through the press.” Said by Nixon at a press conference on December 10, 1970. IN SHORT: Q: How did David Frost, a famous British talk-show host with a playboy reputation, elicit the apology that the rest of the world was waiting to hear from former President Richard Nixon? Award-winning actor Stacy Keach and Alan Cox lead a cast of 10 in this fast-paced Tony Award® nominated new play which shows the determination, conviction and cunning of two men as they square off in one of the most monumental television interviews of all time. Frost/Nixon is written by Peter Morgan, writer of The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, & HBO's "Longford", and directed by Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage.

For awards, key historical players, timelines, bio's and more, keep reading!

AWARDS & NOMS Tony Award Nominations: Best Play (Peter Morgan) Best Direction of a Play (Michael Grandage) Drama Desk Award Nominations: Outstanding New Play (Peter Morgan) Outstanding Director of a Play (Michael Grandage) Outstanding Music (Adam Cork) Drama League Award Nominations: Distinguished Production of a Play Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations: Outstanding Broadway Play Outstanding Direction of a Play (Michael Grandage) Outstanding Lighting Design (Neil Austin) KEY HISTORICAL PLAYERS IN "FROST/NIXON" Jim Reston American university lecturer and staunch critic of Nixon. He joins David Frost’s team as a researcher and acts as narrator in the play. Jack Brennan Nixon’s Chief of Staff and loyal supporter, a tough negotiator in setting up the interview with Frost. Evonne Goolagong Tennis player, the first Aboriginal Australian to win Wimbledon and a guest on Frost’s show. John Birt Head of Current Affairs at London Weekend Television and Frost’s producer. Manolo Sanchez Nixon’s manservant Swifty Lazar Legendary Hollywood agent representing Nixon, brokers the deal with Frost securing an unprecedented $600,000 for the interview. Caroline Cushing Frost’s girlfriend Bob Zelnick Veteran American reporter, well-known in the Washington scene and a key member of Frost’s team. Jack Anderson Journalist, Washington Post Alexander Butterfield Deputy Assistant to Nixon (1969-1973) Charles Colson White House Special Counsel (1969-1972) John Connally Secretary of US Treasury (1971-1972) Bob Haldeman Chief of Staff (1969-1973) Pat Grey Acting Director of the FBI (1972-1973) Henry Kissinger US Secretary of State (1973-1974) Mike Wallace Anchorman of CBS news show “60 Minutes” HISTORICAL TIMELINE: January 21, 1969 Richard Nixon is inaugurated as the 37th President of the United States June 13, 1971 The New York Times and the Washington Post begin publishing the Pentagon Papers, the Defense Department’s secret history of the Vietnam War. June 17, 1972 Five men, one of whom says he worked for the CIA, are arrested at 2:30am trying to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel. October 10, 1972 FBI agents establish that the Watergate break-in stems from a massive operation of political spying & sabotage conducted on behalf of the Nixon re-election campaign. November 7, 1972 Nixon is re-elected in one of the largest landslides in American political history. April 30, 1973 Bob Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Attorney General Richard Kleindienst, Nixon’s top White House officials resign over the scandal. White House Counsel John Dean is fired. May 18, 1973 The Senate begins its nationally televised hearings regarding Watergate. June 13, 1973 Watergate prosecutors find a memo addressed to John Ehrlichman describing in detail the plans to burgle the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist. Alexander Butterfield, Deputy Assistant to the President, reveals that all conversations and telephone calls in the Oval Office have been recorded since 1971. July 18, 1973 Nixon orders White House taping systems to be disconnected. July 23, 1973 Nixon refuses to relinquish tape recordings to the Senate Watergate Committee or the Special Prosecutor. October 20, 1973 “The Saturday Night Massacre”. Nixon fires Archibald Cox, the Special Prosecutor whose colleagues resign in protest. Pressure for impeachment mounts in Congress. November 17, 1973 Nixon declares “I’m not a crook,” maintaining his innocence in the Watergate scandal. December 7, 1973 The White House can’t explain an eighteen-and-a-half minute gap in one of the subpoenaed tapes. April 30, 1974 The White House releases edited transcripts of the Nixon tapes but the House Judiciary Committee insists the actual tapes be handed over. July 24, 1974 The Supreme Court rules unanimously that Nixon must hand over the tape recordings of sixty-four White House conversations, rejecting the President’s claims of executive privilege. July 27, 1974 The House Judiciary Committee takes the momentous step of recommending that the President be impeached and removed from office. August 8, 1974 Richard Nixon becomes the first US President to resign. Vice President Gerald. R. Ford assumes the country’s highest office and later issues an unconditional pardon for any offences Nixon may have committed as President. May 2005 Former FBI Deputy Head Mark Felt revealed as “Deep Throat”, the anonymous source who helped Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein uncover the Watergate Scandal. STACY KEACH (Richard Nixon) John Huston once said of Stacy Keach that “Stacy is not a star. He is a constellation. The audience will come to see whatever character he portrays.” Keach, who has excelled in many of the classic and contemporary stage’s greatest roles, has been called one of America’s pre-eminent interpreters of Shakespeare. Mr. Keach began his professional career with the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1964. He received the first of his three Obie Awards for his work in the off-Broadway political satire, MacBird. Broadway credits include Indians (Tony Award nomination); Deathtrap; the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kentucky Cycle (Helen Hayes award for Best Actor) and Solitary Confinement. One of the most versatile stars of film, television and stage, Keach next appears in Oliver Stone’s cinematic portrait of George W. Bush, W. He has appeared in numerous films, including: The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, The New Centurions, Doc, Fat City, The Longriders, Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams, The Ninth Configuration, Escape from L.A., Honeydripper and American History X. He is celebrated worldwide for his hit series as hard-boiled detective, Mike Hammer, as the irascible, hilarious Dad on Fox’s comic sitcom, Titus and as the warden on Prison Break. He won a Golden Globe award and an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Ernest Hemingway. Following his triumphant recent title role performance in King Lear for the prestigious Goodman Theatre in Chicago, directed by Robert Falls (which he will reprise in June 2009 at Washington D.C.’s new Shakespeare Harmon Center), Keach has recently starred in such films as Rob Nilsson’s Imbued (for which he also composed the music) Ring of Death, The Boxer, The Assistant and Meteor. ALAN COX (David Frost) Before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Alan worked extensively as a child actor, most memorably in A Voyage Around My Father with Sir Laurence Olivier and as Young Watson in Young Sherlock Holmes. Moving to the US in 2007, he made his Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated production of Translations by Brian Friel for the Manhattan Theatre Club and also appeared in Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago. He made his London West End debut at the age of thirteen in Strange Interlude and more recently appeared there in The Creeper and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other work in the UK includes: Natural Selection (Theatre 503), The Rubenstein Kiss (Hampstead), The Fence (Wrestling School), The Earthly Paradise (Almeida), The Flu Season (Gate), An Enemy Of The People (National Theatre), The Lady's Not for Burning (Chichester Theatre), The Seagull (National Theatre) and several productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has appeared in Flahooley and 50 Million Frenchmen for the Discovering Lost Musical series and Chu Chin Chow in the Celebrating British Music Theatre series. He directed the surprise hit of the 2004 Edinburgh Festival, Dirty Fan Male (Gilded Balloon) as well as Flanders Mare (Sound Theatre), The Riot Act (the Gate) and A R (Theatre 503). He is delighted to be appearing alongside Stacy Keach whom he worked with previously on a radio adaptation of “The Plutocrat” by Booth Tarkington. Film and television credits include: August, Ladies In Lavender, The Auteur Theory, Mrs Dalloway, An Awfully Big Adventure, The Odyssey, Midsomer Murders, Not only But Always, Housewife 49, Custer’s Last Battle, John Adams and Margaret. TRIVIA Nixon made his famous 'you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more' comment after he unsuccessfully ran for: -Governor of California Who gave Nixon the nickname ‘Tricky Dick’? - Congresswoman Helen Gahagan Douglas What law school did Nixon attend? - Duke University of Law In what branch of the military did Nixon serve during World War II? - The Navy – he was a Lieutenant Commander How many US presidents has David Frost interviewed? - Seven What was the name of Frost’s groundbreaking satirical show that aired on the BBC from 1962-63? - That Was the Week That Was How did Frost commute from the UK to the US during the 70s? - By Concorde What were the documents the Washington Post & The New York Times published from the Defense Department that told the secret history of the Vietnam War named? - The Pentagon Papers Five men were arrested breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel on what date? - June 17, 1972 One of the subpoenaed White House tapes caused controversy when it was discovered to be missing how much of its recording? - Eighteen-and-a-half minutes What was the name of the man who in 2005 revealed himself as the informant ‘Deep Throat’? - Mark Felt All the President’s Men, the movie based on the book written by Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein based on their experiences during Watergate, starred what two actors? - Robert Redford & Dustin Hoffman What does it mean to be impeached? - To charge a public official with an offence committed in office. Who were the only two presidents to be impeached? - Andrew Johnson (In 1867, Congress passed laws placing restrictions upon the President. When Johnson allegedly violated one of these, the Tenure of Office Act, by dismissing Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, the House voted eleven articles of impeachment against him. He was tried by the Senate in the spring of 1868 and acquitted by one vote.) - Bill Clinton (In 1998, as a result of issues surrounding personal indiscretions with a female White House intern, Clinton was the second US president to be impeached. He was tried by the Senate and found not guilty. He apologized to the nation for his actions and continued to have unprecedented popular approval ratings for his job as president.) Why wasn’t Nixon impeached? - He resigned to avoid it, making him the first & only president to ever resign from office. Which president signed the Resource Recovery Act to encourage recycling? - Nixon

TX-OU Weekend PARKING ALERT

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:34:46 +0000

Dear Music Hall THE COLOR PURPLE patrons, Fair-goers, and Footballers: We expect record heavy traffic for the TX-OU football game this Saturday. Please consider arriving early than you may have planned to avoid traffic (at least 2-3 hours early). The State Fair is opening their gates at 7 AM. Football fans will probably take up all of the available parking spaces in and around Fair Park between 7AM and 11AM, as well as causing serious traffic congestion in the area. Please be aware that the State Fair of Texas does not reserve any parking spaces exclusively for the Music Hall. We ask that as many patrons as possible will take advantage of DART's TX-OU "Park-n-Ride" opportunity to minimize the actual number of vehicles in the vicinity: 1. Instead of going to the fair grounds, head to the downtown and park in the available paid parking lots near the DART Pearl St. Station. 80 shuttle buses will be on a non-stop rotation taking people to the fair grounds. 2. You will be dropped off at the fair grounds, at Pennsylvania & 2nd avenue where fair-ground-shuttles will be taking patrons to the Music Hall. 3. Fair-ground shuttles will return patrons to the DART shuttle buses, which will return them to the Pearl St. station downtown. 4. DSM has confirmed with Fair Park officials that these shuttle buses will be running until MIDNIGHT. Alternatively, The Box Office is selling 2008 State Fair of Texas Prepaid Valet Parking tickets. The tickets are $30 each, must be purchased in person at The Box Office and guarantee the bearer to a valet parking space in the State Fair's valet lot (enter at Grand or MLK). There are some still available for your performance, but they must be purchased by 6 PM on Friday in order to ensure the correct number of parking places are reserved. (No day-of sales are allowed.)Thank you! DSM

"Hilarious" comes to Dallas: The Second City

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:39:51 +0000

THE SECOND CITY NOVEMBER 11-16, 2008 The Majestic Theatre Chances are if you're not from Chicago, you may not know about THE SECOND CITY. However, you've been laughing with/to their comedians for years. Recognize any of these guys?

Performing a special medley of classic scenes, songs, and improvisation, THE SECOND CITY TOURING COMPANY is always original, daring, and hilarious. Their alumni list is a veritable "Who's Who" of comedy including Peter Boyle, Bill Murray, John & Jim Belushi, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George Wendt, Ryan Stiles, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Tim Meadows, Joan Rivers, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis and so many more.

"Brilliant" -Time Magazine

"Legendary" -New York Times

"A Comedy Powerhouse" -Chicago Tribune

Buy one get the SECOND free* for THE BEST OF SECOND CITY

Go to this link:http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/jgd4cw During the purchase process you'll see a box to enter a promotional code; enter SECOND (case sensitive)

Good For: All performances Price Levels: All Offer good at: online or at the DSM Box Office at Preston Royal Shopping Center, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail locations and Charge-by-Phone 214-631-ARTS Restrictions: *Tickets subject to availability and prior sales; some restrictions may apply. Performance prices and dates subject to change without notification. Offer expires Sunday, November 16 at 8p(CST). No refunds or exchanges. Additional service and handling charges apply. Tickets must be purchased in multiples of twos. Does not apply to previously purchased tickets. Dates valid: Now through – November 16, 2008

Have you seen THE SECOND CITY before? On tour? In Chicago? Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought!

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards. Achievement by a southwest regional non-profit theatre group is unprecedented

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:31:29 +0000

DSM Special Events and Announcements Contact: Sharon Adams 214-343-4402 Adamscomm1@aol.com

Dallas Summer Musicals Shows PR: Jo Ann Holt 214-421-5678 ext 109 joannholt@charter.net

(November 1, 2008 - Dallas) It all began in June 2007 when Michael Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) were bestowed with the incredible honor of winning the 2007 Tony Award® for Best Special Theatrical Event for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. He joined the esteemed group of Broadway and Hollywood stars on stage to bring two medallions back to Big D, accepting a Tony Award® both on behalf of DSM and himself as a producer of the award-winning show. The DSM medallion is proudly showcased in the lobby of its rightful home at The Music Hall at Fair Park. The news for 2008 is even better! Boeing-Boeing, produced in part by Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins, won two Tony Awards®, one for Best Revival of a Play and one for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Play, Mark Rylance. Both Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins played a huge part in producing this hilarious play revival on Broadway, resulting in Jenkins bringing home two more Tony Awards® to Dallas. Boeing-Boeing continued to win awards, most recently being named the winner of two 2007 – 2008 Drama Desk Awards® for Outstanding Revival of a Play: Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti and Outstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance, resulting in two Drama Desk Awards brought home to Dallas, one for Dallas Summer Musicals as a producer and one for Michael Jenkins as a producer. Most recently, The Drowsy Chaperone and Jersey Boys each earned a Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award in the Touring Production category, resulting in six major theatrical awards to DSM and Jenkins in the past few months. A visionary leader in Dallas’ entertainment community, Michael A. Jenkins consistently brings the “Best of Broadway” to Dallas Summer Musicals. This season is no different with a sensational line-up featuring 16 Broadway hits beginning November 11th with The Second City on Tour at the Majestic Theatre. “We guarantee our Dallas audience always has the most current shows,” Jenkins said. “DSM is committed to bringing 71 productions, plays and musicals, to Dallas between 2009 and 2012 to the historic Majestic Theatre and the Music Hall at Fair Park. Dallas Summer Musicals is a producer or major investor in many musicals and plays on stage now in London, such as the recent production of Gone with the Wind and Lord of the Rings and on Broadway, including A Catered Affair (nominated for two Tony Awards®) and Gypsy, in which Patti LuPone won a Tony Award® for Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Musical; Boyd Gaines, won a Tony Award® for Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Musical and Laura Benanti won a Tony Award® for Best Performance By a Featured Actress in a Musical. “DSM also has major interests in many other future shows, including 9 to 5, First Wive’s Club, Happy Days and Walt Disney’s Tarzan,” Jenkins added. “The newest show, Vanities, is one of the most successful plays of all time. It’s been made into a musical and will open on Broadway this fall.” Dallas Summer Musicals presented by Comerica Bank gratefully acknowledges the support of sponsors American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News and WFAA.Visit the website for photos from the Tony Awards® , videos and more: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/ About Dallas Summer Musicals Winner of 4 Tony Awards®, 2 Drama Desk Awards® and 2 Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Awards, Dallas Summer Musicals is now celebrating its 69th season. DSM is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States and the sixth largest non-profit theatre company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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, the historical Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas and the remodeled historical Texas Theater, scheduled to open in 2009. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs.Visit the website at http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/ About The Tony Awards® The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. About The Drama Desk Awards® The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 to explore key issues in the theater and to bring together critics and writers in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater in New York. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and it is the only critics organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition between Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions in the same categoriesParticipating members of Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum: Glenn Arbery, People Newspapers and D Magazine; Martha Heimberg, Turtle Creek News; Arnold Wayne Jones, Dallas Voice; Elaine Liner, Dallas Observer; Mark Lowry and Perry Stewart, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News. The article is located here: http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/columnists/ltaitte/stories/DN-forumawards0910gl.State.Edition1.14d7579.html

Give the Gift of BROADWAY!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:08:16 +0000

DSM Benefit Auction on eBay

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:03:47 +0000

Benefiting the DSM Academy of Performing Arts

$1500 value

Go to: http://bit.ly/LChS

Hey everyone, here's your chance to win the ULTIMATE BROADWAY PACKAGE!

One lucky winner will receive 2 Opening night tickets to:

-Happy Days -Wizard of Oz -Chitty Chitty Bang Bang -A Chorus Line -Legally Blonde -Mamma Mia! -Mary Poppins

They'll also receive VIP passes to each of the opening night cast parties, and dinner for 2 before each show at the newly renovated "Dining at the Music Hall" gourmet restaurant!

Go to: http://bit.ly/LChS

MAMMA MIA! to replace TARZAN due to tour cancellation

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:04:48 +0000

Here is the official release from President and Managing Director, Michael Jenkins regarding TARZAN:

With deep regret Dallas Summer Musicals announces that Disney’s TARZAN will not be coming to Dallas this year. The touring production of TARZAN has been canceled due to circumstances beyond the control of Dallas Summer Musicals and the DSM team is just as disappointed as our patrons that it will not be on our stage this spring. However, we are very pleased to announce that Dallas Summer Musicals will be able to bring MAMMA MIA! back to Dallas in August as a seventh show in our season package. One of our favorite musicals, MAMMA MIA! is the story of a mother, a daughter, 3 possible dads, and a trip down the aisle you'll never forget! Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! This summer you will join the over 30 million people all around the world who have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show when MAMMA MIA! comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park, August 18-30, 2009. Sincerely, Michael Jenkins

If you have already placed a subscription order you will be receiving additional information about this change.

THE MAJESTIC SERIES released for single ticket sales

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:43:13 +0000

After many inquiries and requests, we have just decided to release the THE MAJESTIC SERIES to go on "soft-sale" this Friday morning, Dec. 19 at 10am. So that will be only these shows: BOB THE BUILDER Feb. 21 - 22, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre Bob the Builder Show Page RAT PACK LIVE AT THE SANDS (my pick for one of the best shows...) March 3 - 8, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre The Rat Pack Live at the Sands Show Page PAJAMA GAME March 10 - 15, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre The Pajama Game Show Page FROST/NIXON April 28 - May 3, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre Frost / Nixon Show Page Friday morning, 12/19 at 10am, you'll be able to purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com. This link is live now, but they are currently updating the page, switching the onsale dates from January 26th to December 19th, so don't let that throw you off. The homepage on our website will also be reflecting this later today, so you'll be able to get details there: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/. You can also email us at webinfo@dallassummermusicals.org if you have questions, or just to say hello! Happy Holidays, DSM PS: If you haven't already, we'd LOVE to have you follow us on TWITTER.COM: http://twitter.com/dsmusicals Our twitter account is like a giant conversation of DSM announcements, facts, questions etc... and also one of the most consistent ways to hear of what's happening at DSM before anyone else!

A message from Mary Poppins!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:05:10 +0000

Sing along to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in the annual Walt Disney World Christmas Parade. MARY POPPINS National Tour stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee will perform the classic tongue-twister on Main Street, U.S.A. along with hundreds of dancers. Here are some interesting fun facts regarding our appearance: • Ashley and Gavin will be joined by Neil McCaffrey (“Michael Banks”), Cassady Leonard (“Jane Banks”), 20 "cast members" who perform at the Walt Disney World Resort, AND 450 kids from dance groups representing 35 states—and even Canada. • The group that traveled the furthest was from Washington state and they traveled over 3000 miles. • They rehearsed separately for over two months and practiced together for over 15 hours onsite. • It was not until the morning of the Christmas Show taping that all 465 performers (MP cast, WDW cast, and 450 Cheer kids) actually danced together for the first time! • Our segment was the largest production ever staged in the 25 year history of the parade broadcast! • The production filled the entire length of Main Street U.S.A.--360 feet!! The Parade will also feature performances by Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana"), the Jonas Brothers and Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical"). Gather the family, and tune in to ABC on Thursday, December 25 at 10am EST/9am CST (check local listings). With sugarplum thoughts and wishes...

In a season marked by giving and glad tidings, it's better to give wisely.

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:39:27 +0000

Giving to worthy causes makes a huge impact on the community. It improves the lives of those who are giving and those who are receiving. Your 2008 year-end gift can significantly reduce your income taxes, while providing meaningful support to DSM.

Annual fund contributions close the gap between ticket sales and operating costs. In light of the challenging economic times, we hope that all who share our passion and vision for Dallas Summer Musicals will consider making a contribution to the full extent of their ability. Every donation large or small will help DSM gift a child with the magical experience of musical theatre and the community with the highest caliber of performing arts.

This season, we have made it even more rewarding for you to make a generous donation by giving additional special benefits in recognition of your gift. It's our way of saying thank you for your support. Visit our donation site to make your donation and for gift details. Of course you can also call the Year-end donation hotline at (214) 413-3957.

You may also support DSM by underwriting the upcoming Curtain Call Gala featuring Dionne Warwick on April 18, 2009.

http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

FROST / NIXON: Movie vs. Stage Production

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:47:44 +0000

Happy New Year all, Here is a re-post from the Minneapolis Post regarding the hit show that is coming to The Majestic Theatre. (Tickets are not yet on sale--stay tuned for the on sale date!)

Minneapolis Post Review: ‘Frost/Nixon’ (the play) packs a lot of punchBy Ed Huyck Published Wed, Jan 7 2009 You can take in the film version of "Frost/Nixon" at a lower price than the touring production inhabiting the State Theatre in Minneapolis, so why choose the play? I could go on about the connection between the performer and the audience, maybe even toss out fancy words like "gestalt,” but the answer is pretty simple: Stacy Keach (as Richard Nixon) and Alan Cox (as David Frost) fully inhabit their roles to the point that the verbal battles between the two at the show’s climax feel as intense as the real thing. The film explores the aftermath of Nixon’s presidency via the famed TV interviews conducted by Frost in 1977. As one of the characters notes, the two spar like fighters. Playwright Peter Morgan has a knack for exploring the human toll of politics (past work includes "The Queen,” about Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II and the death of Princess Diana) and that’s in full effect here. While it gets off to a slow start, "Frost/Nixon" finds its pace and drive once the two characters begin their on- and off-screen battles. Keach certainly gets the meatier role here, and takes full advantage of it, making his complex character come to life. Cox has a tougher role, as Frost buries his doubts beneath his playboy image. This comes into sharp focus in the play’s final quarter as the men share a late-night phone conversation. Frost asks Nixon the questions that everyone wants answered, and the disgraced former president obliges. In the end, this smart and well-paced production scores with the intensity and immediacy of the two main performers -- and that’s something you can never get on the movie screen.

There have been a number of presentations that have graced both stage & screen--what is your preferred medium?

RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES Returns to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:16:12 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE February 16, 2010 ELECTRONIC IMAGES AVAILABLE From Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road… RETURNS TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK IN SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT FOR DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS MARCH 16-21, 2010--- 8 SHOWS ONLY! TICKETS ON SALE NOW The award-winning Beatles concert, RAIN – A Tribute To The Beatles, returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park in a special engagement for Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, March 16-21, 2010 for eight shows only. In a show the Denver Post calls “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles,” RAIN boasts a repertoire of nearly 200 Beatlemaniac favorites, ranging from such beloved songs as “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude” to classic hits including “Revolution” and “Come Together.” RAIN covers the Fab Four from their very first Ed Sullivan Show appearance through the Abbey Road album, through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. RAIN is a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience...a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups. For the four longtime band members – Joey Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Joe Bithorn (George Harrison), Ralph Castelli (Ringo Starr) and Steve Landes (John Lennon), with a little help from their friend Mark Lewis (keyboards, percussion) – the music is first and foremost. For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences. “On their feet, with arms raised high above their heads, all in the audience were swaying and singing along in blissed-out, nostalgia-powered unison! -- Chicago Sun-Times “The enraptured audience relives the soundtrack of its life!” -- Chicago Tribune "RAIN nails the full glory of those heavenly vocal harmonies and thrilled an all-ages crowd with note-perfect renditions of songs from the mightiest canon in all of popular music history." -- Buffalo News “RAIN creates musical nirvana…makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up! A thrilling bit of time-warping nostalgia...Boomer Heaven!” -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram “Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right…as The Beatles, they triumph!” -- The Boston Herald “An adoring Valentine to The Beatles!” -- The Washington Post “RAIN is a spectacular extravaganza…did the audience love it? Yeah, yeah, yeah!” -- The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Parents (and grandparents) and kids were on their feet bopping like crazy!” -- The Courier Post Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right. www.raintribute.com Single tickets are available now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center. Tickets are priced from $15-$71, and will also be available online at Ticketmaster.com or at any Ticketmaster outlet, including The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street, or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787). Tickets for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 214-426-GROUP. All performances will be at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following schedule. Tuesday March 16 8 p.m. (opening night) Wednesday March 17 8 p.m. Thursday March 18 8 p.m. Friday March 19 8 p.m. Saturday March 20 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday March 21 2 and 8 p.m. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be XANADU, April 6-18; THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, April 20-25; LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” May 11-23; WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 68th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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 and the historic Majestic Theatre. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

DSM and Social Networking

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:03:14 +0000

Are you curious about this increasingly ever-present catch phrase called "Social Networking"? ...About Facebook, Twitter, Myspace & Yelp, to name a few of the more than 1000+ and growing networks online? Think of all the ways you network in real life--jobs, friends, family, etc... Social networking sites are simply a way to contact and connect people more quickly online; like a giant interactive phone book! Here is a quick 1:48 long video entitled "Social Networking in Plain English" that may also help to illustrate this type of networking. How does DSM use Social Networking? Like most any technology and marketing, there are nearly unlimited ways to use Social Networking. DSM uses it to carry on conversations with our patrons: Advance special announcments, alerts, customer care questions, and also simply for performing arts enthusiasts to have another way to interact with one another. We primarily use Facebook, Twitter, Yelp & Myspace as a way to bring information to where people are. We know life is very busy and you may not always have an opporunity to get to our website. And we also know that millions of people are daily checking their "social sites" daily like email. As a convenience we have established a presence on the sites listed above, not to replace our site by any means, but to enhance the ease of our value patrons being able to quickly gain the information they are looking for. Below, you'll find basic primers about the Social Networking sites we use: FACEBOOK From Wiki: Facebook is a popular, free-access social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profile to notify friends about themselves. The website's name refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of a campus community that some US colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff as a way to get to know other people on campus. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University. Website membership was initially limited to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Ivy League. It later expanded further to include any university student, then high school students, and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over. The website currently has more than 140 million active users worldwide.

Facebook on Reuters Download 7 things to know about Facebook 7 more thing to know!

TWITTER From Wiki: Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, or email, or through applications such as Tweetie, Twinkle, TwitterFox, Twitterrific, Feedalizr, and Facebook. Four gateway numbers are currently available for SMS: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, and a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and, by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008, a fivefold increase in a month. Twitter on Time.com Download 7 things to know about Twitter

YELP From Yelp.com: Yelp is...

...the ultimate city guide that taps into the community's voice and reveals honest and current insights on local businesses and services on everything from martinis to mechanics.

...just real people, writing real reviews, and that's the real deal.

...a fun and engaging place for passionate and opinionated influencers to share the experiences they've had with local businesses and services.

...the definitive local guide in the Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle... But really, we're everywhere in the U.S. and now Canada & the U.K.! From Austin to Edmonton and everywhere in between, reviews are coming in from all over! ...word of mouth marketing - amplified. Savvy local marketers now have a great channel to effectively target local consumers.

MYSPACE Myspace is kind of grand-daddy of modern social networking sites. From Wiki: MySpace is a free social networking website with an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos for teenagers and adults internationally. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media; which is owned by News Corporation, which has its headquarters in New York City. In June 2006, MySpace was the most popular social networking site in the United States. According to comScore, MySpace was overtaken internationally by main competitor Facebook in April 2008, based on monthly unique visitors. The company employs 300 staff and does not disclose revenues or profits separately from News Corporation. The 100 millionth account was created on August 6, 2006 in the Netherlands and the site counted approximately 106 million accounts on September 8, 2006. MySpace.com attracts 230,000 new users per day.

Shortly after MySpace was sold to Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox news and 20th Century Fox, in 2005 they launched their own record label, MySpace Records, in an effort to discover unknown talent currently on MySpace Music. Regardless of the artist already being famous or still looking for a break into the industry, aspiring artists can upload their songs onto MySpace and have access to millions of people on a daily basis. Some well known singers such as Lilly Allen and Sean Kingston gained fame through MySpace. The availability of music on this website continues to develop, largely driven by young talent. Over eight million artists have been discovered by MySpace and many more continue to be discovered daily.

Theater Review: 'The Rat Pack - Live at the Sands' is almost as good as being there

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:50:36 +0000

12:05 AM CST on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com Original post

An airline ticket can get you to Las Vegas quite reasonably these days. A time machine that'll get you there a half-century ago is another matter.

That's the goal of The Rat Pack – Live at the Sands, the London hit that Dallas Summer Musicals brought to the Majestic Theatre on Tuesday. You can guess the format from the title: Singers portraying Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. cover the stars' greatest hits. A 16-piece band (something of a luxury in the theater these days) plays onstage, and three curvaceous backup singers add a considerable amount of what in those days was called sex appeal. This may sound like a dubious proposition, but people apparently are still eager to hear numbers out of the great American songbook (alongside tunes of lesser pedigree) sung by voices of substance and backed by choirs of actual saxes, trumpets and trombones. Of the three leading performers, only Stephen Triffitt's Sinatra provokes the occasional internal double take, providing reassurance that this is only a latter-day impersonator rather than the real thing. At first, he's almost too successful in duplicating Sinatra's every rhythmic and phonetic inflection. Eventually, he makes us forget the mechanics and just listen to the music – especially the torch song "Angel Eyes." He's also got the physical manner, at once regal and offhand, down pat. His pretend buddies both boast fine voices, but the illusion is weaker. Davis sometimes trod perilously close to self-parody, which makes things doubly hard for David Hayes. He's lively and he can hoof it, but he lacks the grit under the original star's larger-than-life exterior. Mark Adams projects Martin's macho appeal, and the voice evokes the star without imitating him slavishly. But Adams works too hard at ingratiating himself with the audience, whereas you could always see a dead chill of indifference in Martin's eyes. The Rat Pack brims with the buddies' horseplay (complete with sexist, racist and boozy jokes authentic to the period). What it leaves you with, however, are meditations on Frank Sinatra's unique career. Not only does Triffitt bring him to life, he sings the questionable later material, especially "My Way," with genuine feeling that we didn't always get from the man himself. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Sunday at the Majestic Theatre. Runs 140 mins. $12 to $71. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, www.ticketmaster.com.

Entertainment Bailout Special Discount on THE PAJAMA GAME

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:52:58 +0000

Hello to all the DSM fans! As I mentioned yesterday, I was blown away by THE PAJAMA GAME on Tuesday night. #1 -- I couldn't believe they fit a set that elaborate on to that stage, because the Majestic stage is considerably smaller and intimate than the Music Hall stage. #2 The choreography, singing and acting were superb -- parts of act 2 are very reminiscent of CHICAGO! At ANY rate -- with the economy being a bit *oy*, DSM is offering a 50% discount for THE PAJAMA GAME. Times are tough, but we also know that's when our patrons may need their spirits lifted, so we want to help!Here's the details: -visit this link:http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/h3b715?camefrom=DALLASSUMMER_PAJAMA_ONLINE_FB2 -Use password SAVE (case sensitive) -Enjoy the show at half price! the normal legal stuff: Tickets are subject to availability. Service charges and handling fees will apply. Facility fees may apply. Performance prices, dates, and times subject to change without notification. This offer is available through ticketmaster.com, Charge-by-Phone 214.631.ARTS. Offer expires on 3/15/09 at 8pm. No refunds or exchanges. This offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with any other offers.

Theater review: Stacy Keach is a marvel in 'Frost/Nixon' at the Majestic

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:40:16 +0000

11:20 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009 By Lawson Taitte / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com President Richard M. Nixon may never have achieved the rehabilitation in public esteem he so craved in his lifetime. He's got it now, though, at least as Stacy Keach plays him in Frost/Nixon. Peter Morgan's play about the TV interviews Nixon gave to talk-show host David Frost had its origin in that most fecund of London theatrical enterprises, the Donmar Warehouse. The show then traveled to Broadway and went on to become a major film, winning Tony Awards and Oscar nominations both for the vehicle and the star who played the president, Frank Langella. If there's any actor on the American stage with more stature, more sheer talent, than Langella, it's Stacy Keach. He headlines the touring version that the Dallas Summer Musicals brought to the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday. The marvelous Langella brought depth and tragic dignity to the role of the disgraced President three years after his unparalleled resignation from office. But he also brought a certain smarminess to the role and a whiff of parody in the ways he adapted some of Nixon's well-known mannerisms and vocal patterns. Smarmy is not a word you'd ever use to describe Keach's Nixon. Tortured, self-regarding, yes, perhaps even venal. But this figure projects a fallen grandeur and canny, self-possessed intellect that command respect – and maybe even affection. The touring version (directed, like the original, by Michael Grandage) does have its own quota of smarminess. Alan Cox's Frost oozes slime right up to the final moments when he at last gets Nixon to confess wrongdoing on camera (something that never actually happened in real life, by the way). Even that formidable journalist Jim Reston in this young incarnation (as played by Brian Sgambati) is lightweight and petty in comparison with the wounded-bear Keach as Nixon. It's too bad that Keach probably won't be touring his version of King Lear (to be seen in Washington, D.C., this summer) and that he hasn't been seen more frequently in great plays in New York and around the country. He commands the stage as only a couple of American actors of his generation do. Whatever your politics, don't miss the chance to see him do his stuff in Frost/Nixon.

Theater review: RENT brings New York polish to Music Hall stage

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:48:50 +0000

By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com 12:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 A little distance brings things into focus: Rent is incomparably the greatest Broadway musical in, say, the last 30 years, and the farewell tour that the Dallas Summer Musicals brought to Fair Park Music Hall on Tuesday is probably your last chance to see it in pristine shape, as good as when in opened in New York 13 years ago. The back story, of course, is so sad and perfect it seems made up. The young genius who wrote Rent, Jonathan Larson, died of an aneurysm right before the triumphant first performance. His transposition of the story of La Boheme to downtown Manhattan won every prize going, and this tangled skein of sex and romance (straight, gay and bi) in which half the characters are trying to live with AIDS won a whole new generation of fans to the theater. From the screeches that greeted the first two actors onstage Tuesday, you'd think all those fans were in attendance to greet the show's original stars. Anthony Rapp, as detached filmmaker Mark, looks just like he did in 1996; if anything, his timing and diction are sharper and his performance more engaged. Adam Pascal, playing alienated songwriter Roger, looks leaner and meaner, neither inappropriate to the character; his singing voice has taken on a rasping rocker's edge that works well, too. Original director Michael Greif has knit the rest of the cast into a tight ensemble. Amazingly, you can hear almost every word in this often intractable space. Former American Idol contestant Lexi Lawson eases her way uncomfortably through Mimi's precarious dance on the fire escape, but her voice and her onstage presence are both gorgeous. Nicolette Hart makes a hilarious Maureen, and Michael McElroy brings his sonorous voice and vast stage experience to Tom Collins. Unfortunately, Justin Johnston doesn't have that seraphic aura you ideally want in the role of Angel, but he dies magnificently. Ultimately, it's Larson's tingling melodies and handcrafted lyrics (and his skill at building large forms out of both) that make Rent so special. Its frankness about sex and drugs means it's not for everyone. Still, if you are curious or perhaps already know the score, but have never seen the show (or have only seen the dispiriting 2005 screen version), you owe yourself a trip to the Music Hall. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Sunday at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 165 mins. $15 to $85. Buy tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/vf0c6y?camefrom=DSM_WEB_RENT_BLOG

Theater review: Topol stays in character for Dallas Summer Musicals' 'Fiddler on the Roof'

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:31:15 +0000

10:15 AM CDT on Thursday, May 21, 2009 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

Nobody finds it odd when a violinist or pianist is still playing a favorite concerto at the end of a 40-year career. So why be surprised that Topol is still playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof?

The Israeli actor had racked up a number of stage performances even before he made the 1971 movie. Now the total is around 2,500. In what is billed as his final tour, he arrived in Dallas for a one-week run at the Dallas Summer Musicals on Monday.

The performer still has what the role requires. That sonorous bass-baritone peals magnificently through the low notes. The stately, if world-weary, bearing and the soulful countenance, blazing eyes clearly visible in the back rows of the huge theater, give Topol, 73, a patriarchal aura. He could as easily be playing Moses or Rasputin – if it weren't for all the droll bits of low humor he tosses off so nonchalantly.

It must be said that spontaneity is not a factor here. Every mournful growl at a bit of bad news, every joyful roll of the eyes, appears calculated and polished to the nth degree. Naturalism also goes out the window in favor of this delicately calculated theatrical flair.

Many old-fashioned masters of comic shtick destroy their material by sending it up. Not Topol. No shred of cynicism or self-indulgence gets in the way of Fiddler's emotional journey. Before empty-nest syndrome had a name, this great musical explored the agonies of letting go – and the star plays them for all they are worth.

The current tour has selling points beyond its leading man. Susan Cella as Golde and Mary Stout as Yente are also masters of the broad comic style. Among the lovely daughters, Jamie Davis' Hodel stands out for her soaring voice. Steve Gilliam's storybook set invests the village of Anatevka with a quaint charm.

Best of all, director-choreographer Sammy Dallas Bayes has reproduced Jerome Robbins' exuberant first-act dances with fiery precision. An important secret of Fiddler's success is the sheer animal energy that drives these sequences. They keep this tale of loss and aging young and vital.

As young and vital as its septuagenarian star.

5th Anniversary STAGE RIGHT Press Conference

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:17:38 +0000

Dallas TX 11:15am Breaking News Steven Hall, Webmaster, DSM We just completed the press conference for the 5th Anniversary of our "Stage Right" youth outreach program. Mayor Leppert and Chief of Police Kunkle spoke along with co-founders of the program DSM President Michael Jenkins & Dallas Police Detective "Monty" Moncibais. Details on the "Stage Right" below. Also in attendance were many more VIPs such as City Manager Mary Suhm, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia, KLUV's Jody Dean and CBS's Ginger Allen. Very cool that in their busy schedules everyone could come together for this outreach initiative! ABOUT STAGE RIGHT Stage Right Raises the Curtain for Education and Spotlights Appreciation of the Arts through Experience and Positive Quality Lifestyles. Dallas Police Department Assistant Chief Ron Waldrop and Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), held a press conference on June 4, 2008 in the lobby of the Music Hall at Fair Park to discuss the objectives and success of the Stage Right program that introduces at-risk youth ages 12-15 to arts and culture events as well as introducing them to “Positive Action” self improvement and self esteeming building summer curriculum. Both Mr. Jenkins, the grass-roots visionary who helped create the Stage Right initiative to reach out to at-risk students and DPD Narcotics Detective Monty Moncibais, who heads up the program for DPD, will speak. Stage Right Steering Committee members also attended included Chris Hawkins, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Victor Burke President, North Texas Crime Commission; Gail Gray, Phoenix House; Lori Sirmen, Dallas Summer Musicals; Carolyn Jordan, Boys and Girls Club; Herbert Moncibais, Hispanic Business Alliance; Gloria Moncibais, Hispanic Business Alliance; and Susan Moncibais, community activist. Also present at the conference were Gary Hodges, DISD, Assistant Chief; Mike Hathcoat, Director, the Phoenix House; Anita N. Martinez, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico Company; Charles English, Dallas Boys & Girls Club; Reginald Hurd, Dallas Parks and Recreation; Paul Monroe, the Dallas Mavericks; Steve Colmus, KIPP Truth Academy; Billy Walker, Coca Cola Bottling of North Texas; and Eddie Campbell and Ed Campbell, Campbell Concessions. Stage Right’s mission statement is “Raising the curtain for education and spotlighting the appreciation of the arts through experience and positive quality lifestyles.” The students are recommended by DISD teachers and counselors and other youth programs including Boys & Girls Clubs, Girls Inc., and Dallas Recreation Centers as part of their ongoing efforts to keep students from joining gangs or engaging in other activities that prevent their enjoying success in school. Stage Right seeks to raise awareness of the arts, increase appreciation for different lifestyles and also increase self esteem. This year, over 800 students are participating in the program! For more information about Stage Right, please contact DPD Detective Moncibais at 214-537-8954.

Theater review: 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is a fun ride for the family at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:49:51 +0000

12:36 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News mailto:Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com Cute kids. A quartet of hilarious villains. A whole pack of trained dogs. A production number with a samba that sizzles. What more could a family musical possibly need? How about a magical car that floats, flies and makes people ask it nicely if they want a ride? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang chugged, sailed and soared into Fair Park Music Hall for the Dallas Summer Musicals on Tuesday. This road version more than lives up to the standard the Broadway version set in 2005. Largely overlooked in a bumper year for musicals, it struck me as the best Broadway family show since The Lion King. This tour, adapted and directed by Ray Roderick, sacrifices a bit of grandeur but gains in comic spontaneity. Ian Fleming, an unlikely children's writer, shows his hand as the original storyteller in various ways: There are spies, though they're played for laughs. And recall that James Bond's cars always had tricks up their sleeves, just like the title vehicle here. Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman's songs are almost as infectious as the ones they created for Mary Poppins. And, frankly, the plot in this show is more appealing. The father, hapless inventor Caractacus Potts (Steve Wilson), has boundless affection for his children (Jeremy Lipton and Camille Mancuso at Tuesday's performance). They all look after the grandfather (Dick Decareau), and the kids know before the dad does that there's chemistry brewing with a motorcycle-driving heiress (Kelly McCormick). None of the performers are household names, but they're all solid pros and often more aptly cast than their Broadway counterparts. Dirk Lumbard is delightfully oily as the taller of the bumbling spies, and Scott Cote is his even dumber sidekick. As the evil baron and baroness, George Dvorsky and Elizabeth Ward Land are silly and sinister at the same time. Oliver Wadsworth may be entirely too sinister for younger children as the hideously creepy Childcatcher, although the happy ending defuses most of the terror. You don't have to be a kid to have a truly scrumptious time at Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But feel free to bring a couple of tykes along if you think you'll feel conspicuous without them. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through July 5 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 150 mins. $12 to $71. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/. Original Dallas Morning News Post

Theater review: 'A Chorus Line' reclaims its energy at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:07:57 +0000

11:55 PM CDT on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com

A Chorus Line is a unique musical, a perfect musical. I'm not sure, in retrospect, it's one of the great musicals. The tour based on the recent New York revival arrived at Fair Park Music Hall on Tuesday. It has restored the show's vivid energy and sharp characterizations, and it makes nearly as good a case for the piece as possible. To paraphrase one of Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban's songs, it scores dance 10, acting 10, singing maybe a six. At one point the longest running show in Broadway history, A Chorus Line grew out of workshop-style discussions organized by director-choreographer Michael Bennett. He asked professional dancers, gypsies from Broadway chorus lines, to talk about their lives. Then he, with librettists James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, made a show out of their stories. The musical, without an intermission, is built around a day of auditions. It also takes its shape from the process of putting together a big production number, from the first rudimentary steps to the high-strutting, show-stopping climax. The personalities of the individual characters are indelible, but over the years productions have tended to blur or exaggerate them. Bob Avian and Baayork Lee, both part of the original process in 1974 and '75, have whipped things back into shape beautifully. Emily Fletcher, for instance, nails Sheila's aggressive sensuality without making her too hard, and Bryan Knowlton, as Paul in the first week of the current run, keeps his dignity while making his sometimes shocking self-revelations. I've never seen a completely satisfactory Cassie. Robyn Hurder at least dances the role better than most. Part of the problem is inherent: The starring role in this musical is that of a woman who keeps insisting she doesn't have star power or star pretensions. Hamlisch's tunes retain their hummability, albeit in very '70s fashion. Kleban's lyrics tell the dancers' stories with considerable wit. Most of all, Bennett knew how to build a dance number. Still, a nagging little voice keeps telling me that a really great musical should have characters who interact with each other and should be about something other than getting a job, even if the people do their jobs for love. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through July 19 at Fair Park Music Hall. 130 mins. $15 to $85. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

'Legally Blonde' shimmys to the stage at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:28:59 +0000

12:06 AM CDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning Newsltaitte@dallasnews.com You may not come out of Legally Blonde humming the tunes, but this show will leave you as pumped as a two-hour cardiac workout. The stage adaptation of the popular movie, a modest hit on Broadway, arrived at the Dallas Summer Musicals on Tuesday. It keeps up a breathless pace as heroine Elle Woods, the seemingly shallow blond bombshell who follows an ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School, discovers a whole new perspective on life. Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, who rewrote their Sarah, Plain and Tall for the Dallas Theater Center this spring, tell the story mostly in song. Their lyrics, as cute and clever as Elle herself, are worthy successors to those of their great Broadway predecessors. They give us good tunes, too, but the incessant melodic patterns seldom relax and luxuriate. They just keep percolating like a triple shot of espresso. The real mover of this theatrical whirlwind, though, is director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Over the last decade, he has established himself as one of the American theater's great storytellers through movement. Like the score, the dancing seldom settles into a stand-alone number, at least before intermission. Throughout the musical someone onstage is stepping, shimmying or gyrating in ways that move the plot along. The second act finally gives us some release with production numbers based on exercise videos, sexy poses and, of all things, Irish step dancing. As Elle, Becky Gulsvig looks a lot like the film's Reese Witherspoon. She sounds even more like Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. (Those with strong negative reactions to squeaks and other high pitches may find themselves at risk.) Gregg Barnes' costumes expand the boundaries of pink, mauve, hot pink and not-quite-crimson. Gulsvig wears them smashingly. For those who crave a bit of old-fashioned fun from their musical comedies, preferably with a smidgeon of uplift and optimism, with a bevy of shapely young bodies to boot, Legally Blonde is guilty as charged. PLAN YOUR LIFE Through Aug. 2 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 160 mins. $15 to $85. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, http://www.ticketmaster.com/. Trackback to original review post on dallasnews.com

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:59:05 +0000

Three DSM shows were invited to send performers to sing the National Anthem at a Texas Rangers home game this summer. When WIZARD OF OZ's Dorothy (Cassie Okenka) wasn’t able to arrive in time for the June 8th game, her understudy Lauryn Ciardullo donned the Dorothy wig, red shoes and pinafore costume and charmed the audience with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. For CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the four child performers (Aly Brier, Camille Mancuso, Jeremy Lipton and Zachary Carter Sayle) sang the National Anthem at the Monday night game June 30. Here is a video of their Texas Ranger performance: For LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, sports fan Becky Gulsvig (Elle Woods) was thrilled to sing the National Anthem as the Rangers trounced the Tigers at the ballpark Monday, July 27th and received a great response from fans. Quite a few people dropped by the suite to congratulate the star on her performance, with several saying it was “one of the top 10 anthem performances of all time.” They also thanked Becky (who’s originally from Minnesota) for bringing the unusually cool weather.

Thanks to DSM marketing director Paulette Hopkins and Texas Rangers VP of marketing Andy Silverman, a number of company members were able to watch the game and Becky’s performance from one of the two suites made available for their use. A Fox Sports TV News reporter interviewed Becky Gulsvig in the Mickey Mantle suite at the top of the fourth inning, and Becky and other female cast members did an impromptu version of “Bend and Snap” for the sports network’s audiences. Becky's husband Tyler, who could be found selling Legally Blonde merchandise in the lobby for each performance, also enjoyed the game. Tyler, Becky and their Golden Retriever bring their own van on the national tour, driving from city to city so they can really enjoy the scenery. Delorie and past DSM Chairman O. Paul Corley, Jr. (resplendent in pink from head to toe) with Guild President Michelle Lemay-Patten at the Legally Blonde party at Thompson-Knight’s offices.

BLONDE Cast's Video Blog - DALLAS!!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:58:48 +0000

The LEGALLY BLONDE cast weighs in on their North Texas run in a recent YouTube release of their ongoing video blog series. Check it out and find out what Warner really things about Elle chasing him down at Harvard!!

The entire video series following this talented cast across the country, can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/legallyblondeontour

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS PARTNERS WITH THE FAIRMONT DALLAS TO CREATE DSM BROADWAY SUITE

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:49:07 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jo Ann Holt

469-363-7371

joannholt@gmail.com

DALLAS, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals has entered into a partnership with The Fairmont Dallas to create an exciting new DSM Broadway Suite.

Lavishly decorated with scenery, set pieces, photos, memorabilia and posters from Dallas Summer Musicals productions, the Broadway suite is available for booking by the public. Currently the Broadway Suite is celebrating the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, Flower Drum Song. Book your stay and be surrounded in the delight and wonder of San Francisco’s Chinatown, without ever leaving Dallas. The show theme will change seasonally as new shows open. Overnights in the Broadway Suite include two tickets to the current Dallas Summer Musicals production and a CD of the original cast recording. Guests may customize their package to include a pre-theatre supper in the elegant Pyramid Restaurant, transportation to and from the performance and a backstage tour of Fair Park Music Hall. A portion of all proceeds from the Broadway Suite will be donated to the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts.

“Our mission,” says DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins, “is recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience. The DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally.”

The Academy, founded in 1999, helps to prepare the amateur and professional for involvement in the performing arts. It is comprised of 75% teens and 25% adults ranging in age from 7 to senior citizen and prides itself on a diverse, ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships.

Evidence has shown that arts education has a powerful effect on student achievement and that students who participate in arts programs along with the core subjects of math, science, language, and social studies are three times more likely to be elected to class office; four times more likely to participate in math and science; three times more likely to win an award for school attendance; four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem and four more times likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

“As part of our ongoing support of the arts,” said the hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing Shannah Milstead, “The Fairmont Dallas is extremely pleased to announce that we will donate a portion of the proceeds from each reservation in the Broadway Suite to the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts.”

To learn more about The Fairmont Dallas and the DSM Broadway Suite, visit www.fairmont.com/dallas. To enjoy both the wonders of this unique accommodation as well as a DSM production, call the Reservations Department at (214)720-5290.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theater entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/.

# # #

For media information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. • Music Hall at Fair Park • P.O. Box 710336 • Dallas, Texas 75371-0336 (214) 421-5678 • FAX (214) 426-2994 The Box Office • 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center • Dallas, Texas 75230 • (214) 691-7200 • FAX (214) 691-8755 • www.dallassummermusicals.org

DSM Temporarily Operating The Majestic Theatre At No Cost To City

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:05:28 +0000

Michael Jenkins Email Inquiries

On June 30th the long time lease between the City of Dallas and DSM Management Group expired. The Dallas Summer Musicals (a not for profit) has subsidized the Majestic of over one million dollars in the last ten years and temporarily is operating the building at no cost to the City until the City implements the new RFP.

###

MARY POPPINS OFFICAL PRESS RELEASE

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:06:44 +0000

Jo Ann Holt, Publicist joannholt[at]gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2009 CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present

MARY POPPINS FEATURING ORIGINAL BROADWAY STARS ASHLEY BROWN & GAVIN LEE DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS’ LIMITED PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT BEGINS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas, TX…Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce full casting for the Dallas Summer Musicals engagement of MARY POPPINS. Dallas’ most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Thursday, September 24, 2009 for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, October 18. The official opening night is Friday, September 25, 2009 at 8 p.m. The entire creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the word’s most famous nanny to audiences across North America. Original Broadway stars, Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, will reprise their roles as “Mary Poppins” and “Bert” respectively. For her portrayal of “Mary Poppins,” Ashley Brown received Drama League®, Drama Desk® and Outer Critic Circle® nominations for Best Actress. Upon graduating from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Ms. Brown landed a leading role in the touring production of Disney’s On the Record. Soon after she was offered the chance to star in Beauty and the Beast and made her Broadway debut as “Belle” in September 2005. Upcoming projects include concerts with Marvin Hamlisch, the New York Philharmonic and a debut album of American Songbook standards. Gavin Lee made his Broadway debut with MARY POPPINS after originating the role of “Bert” in the world premiere production in London’s West End. Lee received critical acclaim for his portrayal of “Bert,” both in NY and London, and was the recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor. Lee also received Tonyâ, Outer Critic Circle® and Olivier Award® nominations for Best Actor. His London theatre credits include Peggy Sue Got Married, Contact, Oklahoma!, Sondheim’s Saturday Night, Crazy For You, and Me and My Girl. In addition, he has appeared in the recent film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera and Beyond the Sea. Joining Brown and Lee will be Karl Kenzler as “George Banks.” Mr. Kenzler’s Broadway credits include Twelve Angry Men, The Caretaker, Dinner At Eight and The Heiress. “Winifred Banks” will be played by Megan Osterhaus, who comes straight from the Broadway company of Mary Poppins. Her other stage credits include Mamma Mia, Martin Guerre, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Children Of Eden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Gypsy. Valerie Boyle will portray “Mrs. Brill.” Ms. Boyle has been seen in a wide variety of leading roles in Canada and Europe including Sophie Tucker, Shirley Valentine and Nunsense. Andrew Keenan-Bolger, who will play “Robertson Ay”, has previously appeared on Broadway in Seussical, Beauty and the Beast and A Christmas Carol and in the National Tours of Spelling Bee, The Grinch and Ragtime. Ellen Harvey will play “Miss Andrew.” Ms. Harvey’s Broadway credits include The Music Man and Thou Shalt Not and she has appeared in the National Tours of Disney’s High School Musical, Mamma Mia, Doctor Dolittle, and Sunset Boulevard. “The Bird Woman” will be played by Mary VanArsdel, who has appeared in productions of Cole Porter's Paris, Mass, Camelot (with Jeremy Irons), 110 In the Shade, and Gypsy. “Admiral Boom” will be portrayed by Mike O’Carroll, a stage veteran whose past credits include White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, Showboat, Will Rogers Follies, Henry IV, Inherit the Wind, and Ragtime. Performances in the role of “Jane Banks” will be alternated between Kelsey Fowler and Aida Neitenbach. Performances in the role of “Michael Banks” will be alternated between Bryce Baldwin and Zach Rand. Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Carol Angeli, Gail Bennett, Kiara Bennett, Brandon Bieber, Troy Edward Bowles, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Michael Gerhart, Geoffrey Goldberg, Emily Harvey, Tiffany Howard, Kelly Jacobs, Wendy James, Justin Keyes, Sam Kiernan, Brian Letendre, Laird Mackintosh, Vanessa McMahan, Koh Mochizuki, Shua Potter, Dominic Roberts, Nick Sanchez, Q. Smith, Jesse Swimm and Tom Souhrada. MARY POPPINS, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006. Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics. Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour’s creative team includes Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director James Dodgson. Consistently among the top-grossing shows on Broadway, MARY POPPINS continues in its 3rd smash year at the New Amsterdam Theatre and recently celebrated its 1000th performance – a milestone reached by only a rare few number of shows in Broadway history. The Broadway production has grossed over $132 million to date, and has been seen by over 1.6M theatergoers. Simultaneously, the show’s popularity grows around the globe. Following a successful three year run (December 2004 - January 2008) at the Prince Edward Theatre on London's West End, a U.K. tour of MARY POPPINS commenced in summer 2008 and concluded its acclaimed run in Cardiff in April 2009. The Australian debut of MARY POPPINS is planned for next year. An open-ended run of MARY POPPINS will take residence at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam. The show will open in April 2010 at the Circus Theatre following TARZAN’S record setting run there. MARY POPPINS will be produced in Holland by Stage Entertainment in association with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh. In Dallas, MARY POPPINS will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Saturday and selected Thursday matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday performances will be at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $85. Special VIP Producers Circle Ticket Packages are available for $135 at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Tickets are available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, all Ticketmaster outlets, and online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets, call 214-631-ARTS (2787). For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP. The Dallas engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is a subscription offering of their 2009 season

# # # # National Press Representative: Local Press Representative: Scott A. Hemerling, Jo Ann Holt New Amsterdam Theatre Music Hall at Fair Park 214 West 42nd Street 909 First Avenue New York, New York 10036 Dallas, TX 75210 Telephone: 212.703.1080 469-363-7271 Facsimile: 954.212.2483 email joannholt@gmail.com

Broadway Leading Lady Rachel York to Star as Cruella De Vil in “The 101 Dalmatians Musical”

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:43:04 +0000

Jo Ann Holt, Publicist joannholt[at]gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

York Signs on as the Villainous Lead in First National Stage Production Of One of the Most Popular Stories of All Time; National Tour Starts Oct. 13 Special engagement for Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-20, 2009

Dallas, TX…August 25, 2009 – Drama Desk Award® Winner Rachel York has joined the cast of the highly anticipated national stage production of The 101 Dalmatians Musical, based on the 1956 classic story written by Dodie Smith. Announced today by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika General Management and international producer Luis Alvarez, York joins an impressive creative team in the starring role as the sinister Cruella de Vil, notorious for kidnapping Dalmatian puppies for their distinctive spots, in a one-of-a-kind musical adventure for the entire family about what it means to be a family, canine and courageous. York makes her debut in The 101 Dalmatians Musical when the North American tour kicks off at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on October 13, 2009. Best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award®) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rachel York also turned heads with her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie, Lucy. Recently, York co-starred opposite Jeff Daniels in the world premiere of the new Broadway bound musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. York’s addition further builds upon the extraordinary creative team behind The 101 Dalmatians Musical including four-time Tony Award winning director Jerry Zaks (A Bronx Tale, Smokey Joe’s Café, Guys and Dolls), acclaimed bookwriter and co-lyricist BT McNicholl (Billy Elliot, Spamalot, The IT Girl), and composer and co-lyricist Dennis DeYoung, best known as the founding member of the legendary rock band STYX. “Rachel’s high energy performances have really made her in our minds one of Broadway’s true standout leading actresses. Her versatility in both dramatic and comedic settings, as well as her powerful scene-stealing voice really offer us a Cruella that we believe will help make The 101 Dalmatians Musical a truly special theatrical event,” said Lee D. Marshall, Co-Founder of Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions. York added, “Growing up, 101 Dalmatians was one of my favorite children's stories and Cruella De Vil, one of my all time favorite characters. Ironic I should say, because I am a huge animal lover. It will be so much fun to bring such a fabulously dynamic villain to life. Cruella is unlimited in her treachery, and yet, you can't help but love her. The opportunity to collaborate with the enormous talents of Jerry Zaks, Warren Carlyle, Dennis DeYoung and BT McNicholl, well, that’s just icing on the cake.” The production follows Dalmatians spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their “pets” Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly “dognapped” by the villainous Cruella de Vil, they summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups. There’s a happy ending for all with laughter, mayhem and music along the way. The 101 Dalmatians Musical also stars fifteen real Dalmatians, many of which were rescued from animal shelters across the country, in a surprise grand finale that will leave audiences cheering. Dallas Summer Musicals will present The 101 Dalmatians Musical at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-20, 2009. For more information about this special performance, please visit http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/. For more information about the national tour, please visit: http://www.the101dalmatiansmusical.com/. About Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions Magic Arts & Entertainment has been bringing hundreds of thousands of people to their feet each year throughout their 25 years in the entertainment industry. Led by business partners Lee D. Marshall and Joe Marsh, the duo began by producing David Copperfield’s first-ever tour in 1983. The partnership then grew to produce, manage, book and promote a versatile roster of live entertainment events that expanded to include such high-grossing concerts such as the North American tours for Janet Jackson, Cher, N Sync, Britney Spears, Barry Manilow, The Backstreet Boys and many others. Current tours include The Magic of David Copperfield, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, Mannheim Steamroller, and Jesus Christ Superstar staring Ted Neeley. In 2008, Magic Arts & Entertainment was acquired by the Tix Corporation (Nasdaq: TIXC), with Marshall and Marsh assuming the roles of Co-CEO of Tix Productions, a newly-formed subsidiary of Tix Corporation. About Troika General Management Troika General Management has over two decades experience producing shows of all types and sizes throughout North America and the world. International venues include Russia, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Korea and Japan. Troika was most recently involved in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China with productions of The Sound of Music, 42nd Street and Chicago. Current and upcoming productions in North America include Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, The 101 Dalmatians Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Ted Neeley and Cats, running “now and forever.”

About Luis Alvarez Luis Alvarez, the youngest theatrical producer and director in Madrid, is responsible for one of the most successful shows in Spain. 101 Dalmatians: The Musical premiered at the Wonderland Theatre in 2001. In 2002, Mr. Alvarez received an award for Best Theatrical Producer in Spain. Mr. Alvarez and 101 Dalmatians: The Musical broke all records for sponsorship deals in Spain. Kellogg’s, Kodak, Iberia, Haagen Dazs and many other well known companies sponsored the World Premier of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical.

# # #

We are very excited about this news! She will be the best Cruella ever! thanks, Jo Ann

DSM presents "Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09"

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:18:17 +0000

by Steven Hall Webmaster, DSM

UPDATE:

CLICK HERE FOR THE WINNERS CIRCLE

NOW - SEPTEMBER 4 Voting 10 A.M. - 10 P.M. Daily

Currently on Battle 11 of 15 (Round 2) LES MISERABLES vs. THE LION KING

For 15 days, we are pitting one Broadway musical against another Broadway musical, 1 battle per day, and letting our Facebook fans vote the daily winner until, after 4 rounds of historic musical battles, we will crown the 2009 “Best All-Time Musical”! We've chosen 16 Broadway musicals to battle each other.Each was chosen for a combination of the number of awards won, combined with the longest runs on "The Great White Way" -- BROADWAY. 1 Broadway musical will be voted the best of all time ... and one lucky contestant will win*: >4 tickets to attend MARY POPPINS >Dinner for 4 at “Dining at the Music Hall” >A show poster from this season, signed by the show's cast >A CD from one of this season's shows >Backstage tour for MARY POPPINS While it's too late to turn in a contest bracket -- it's NOT too late to join the 100's of fans voting their choice of winner, each weekday en route to crowning the 2009 Champion! To vote go to www.facebook.com/dallassummermusicals

Read all of the details about the contest and daily battles here!

* After The Championship has concluded September 4th, the person whose bracket has scored the most points will win the MARY POPPINS package!* The winner* will be announced on Facebook once office personnel have had a chance to tally all of the points on each bracket form and determine a winner! In the event multiple people have the same identical high-score, the contest winner will be determined by choosing, from that group of same-score brackets, the individual who correctly predicted the most battles. In the event a tie still exists at that point, a winner will be selected, from those remaining in the tie, by our company President. Brackets not filled out completely will not be considered.

"Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09" Contest Winners Announced!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:20:57 +0000

by Steven Hall Webmaster, DSM

WE HAVE CONTEST WINNERS! For 15 days, we pitted one Broadway musical against another Broadway musical and let our 3400+ Facebook fans vote the daily winner until, after 4 rounds of historic musical battles, we crowned WICKED 2009's “Best Musical of All Time”! 16 Broadway musicals were chosed to battle each other. Each was chosen for a combination of the number of awards won, combined with the longest runs on "The Great White Way" -- BROADWAY.

WICKED became the best of all time ... Now one lucky contest has won the GRAND PRIZE for correctly predicting ALL the battle winners: Congratulations to our:

Grand Prize Winner Chris Hill (34 /34 pts)

2nd place Becky Niederstadt (26 /34 pts)

3rd place Shelly Vatteroni (25 /34 pts)

Out of 100s of contestants, Chris was the ONLY perfect bracket! As the Grand Prize Winner Chris won:

-4 tickets to attend MARY POPPINS -Dinner for 4 at “M, Dining at the Music Hall” -A WICKED poster signed by the cast

-A CD from one of this season's shows -Backstage tour for MARY POPPINS

-and more!

We hope we'll see even more of you all for future contests at DSM & Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/dallassummermusicals http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

Audience quotes from MARY POPPINS

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:02:21 +0000

If I could, I would try to explain exactly how much people we're blown out of the water by MARY POPPINS... then I though, "why not simply let the people themselves tell everyone?" "Mary Poppins was a great experience. The set and special effects were unbelievable. The cast was outstanding. It was an unforgettable experience." "This being my first time to see the stage musical, I was unsure what to expect. The story was unique! The sets were amazing! The acting, dancing, and singing were phenomenal! I truly felt transported to another world!" "Mary Poppins was an unforgettable experience. The performance was well polished, enchanting, and deserving of a standing ovation! I enjoyed every moment!" "Took my daughter for a birthday gift. It was amazing, wonderful and magical all wrapped up in one. Ashley Brown was beyond good as Mary Poppins. My daughter and I haven't stopped singing the songs since we stood up to go home!!" "Quite possibly the best musical I have seen in my life, and I have seen quite a few! The costumes, sets and special effects drew me right in, and the voices were consistently beautiful, even the children's voices. Altogether a wonderful evening's entertainment." "This was a truly magical production! We've seen many great musicals over the years -- this was one of our absolute favorites. If you have children (or even if you don't), do not miss this show. Absolutely magical." "The whole production of Mary Poppins was outstanding. My husband and I had seats way over on the right side of the theater but could still enjoy everything.All the preformers had wonderful voices, and the children were excepttional. I would love to see it again. It was fun, fun , fun" "I heard Mary Poppins was coming to DSM and it's my mother's favorite movie! I bought the tickets and surprised her with the show. The story line was a bit different from the movie but moved along well. All the important songs were there and sung beautifully! Great, gorgeous cast! " "Amazing sets and dancing!" "We were blown away by the quality and creativity in every area--singing, acting, choreography, lighting, stage and props, costumes, backdrops, special effects.....each area was a delight in its own. After many, many musicals, this was simple the best." "WOW! Great show with outstanding sets and acting! The singing was beautiful!" "This was a wonderfully orchestrated event with talent that surpasses most that I have seen in the past. Mary Poppins has an amazing resemblance to Julie Andrews vocally. This is a wonderful event for children and adults alike." "Slightly different than the movie - and in a very good way. The house opens up like a doll-house - awesome. The choreography for Supercalif.... and Step in Time was delightful. Mary Poppins and Bert are amazing performers and so well supported by the rest of the cast. And, i think i was present with the most participatory Dallas audience ever. They clapped along, sang, sighed, and it was all wonderful." "Wonderful musical. Took 5 yr old grandson, maybe a little too young, but by the time it was over, he was captivated and loved it. Casting is perfect, those kids amazing. Such a fun, and uplifting story about the importance of family." "It was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The special effects were stunning." "Must see! Wonderful acting and singing! Amazing sets, costumes and lighting. Funny! And some great special tricks! Seen it twice, would go again if I could!" "Took the whole family and everyone loved it. They did a great job of doing all the favorite songs from the movie, and they also added new elements that made it exciting and fresh." "Absolutely amazing! We thoroughly enjoyed every single minute!" "I picked this play due to the fact that my wife loves Disney cartoons. I also did like Mary Poppins growing up as a kid. It was a great play from start to finish. I am still trying to figure out how they got all those items in her bag." "The singing and dancing was great. There were two favorite moments, the items that she pulled out of her bag and the end where she went up through the crowd and up through the whole in the ceiling. GREAT EXIT!!!!!." "The tickets were purchased for daughter, granddaughters and great granddaughter and was a hit. The ages ranged from 4year old to 50 years old and a wonderful time was had by all. " "I took my husband, my son (6months old), my two daughters 3 1/2 yrs., and 2 yrs. old, and it was an absolute THRILL for all of us!!! We are all fans of the movie, but were excited to see them in person. What a wonderful job. The entire experience was great, the ushers were wonderful, the vendors, everyone! Thank you for a wonderful experience. WE will be back next year for sure!!!" "Mary Poppins was the most fun I have had in a long time. What a fun event to go see with family and friends of all ages. I am ready to go see it again!" "The whole cast and crew did an amazing job of bringing one of my favorite musicals to the stage. As a former actor and techie, I was left questioning myself how some of the technical tricks were done. Regardless, this show--even on stage is full of mystery and magic. GREAT JOB TO EVERYONE." "Don't miss this fabulous musical. It was wonderful. Can't wait for Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert playing Ma coming next May." "We've seen several shows this season at the DSM, but this by far was the best! It was truly magical!" "Starting with very comfortable seats to outstanding sound and fantastic performances by each of the cast member this show is certainly a can't miss!" "The show was amazing, I loved all the music and new spin on the movie scenes. Mary Poppins is a must see for anyone who loves musicals." "I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked our tickets. Knew the Disney Movie and all the songs - and went for an evening of entertainment. What we got was so much more! Songs. Dancing. Glorious voices. Sets that knocked my socks off and dazzled me with every set change and special effects. The entire evening was magic! Disney is the master of production." "This was one of the best performances I've ever been too. The talent of the performers and special effects were top notch. It's a great family event that deserves to be seen by the masses. I would recomend it to anyone and everyone. If you've seen Disney's Mary Poppins, you must see this musical. It will take you more in depth into the world of Mary Poppins. It is a must see!" "This was a great show. I had read so much about Mary flying over the audience, but nothing was said about the tap dance around the room by the Sweep. That was absolutely amazing. How did you do it. I am so grateful for the 4 for $99 special which enabled me to purchase tickets. My granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and myself really enjoyed it. Thank you!"

PHANTOM Cast Announced!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:23:05 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CASTING ANNOUNCED! ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL DIRECTED BY HAROLD PRINCE THE LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN BROADWAY HISTORY! RETURNS TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, PRESENTED BY COMERICA BANK AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK FEBRUARY 17-MARCH 14, 2010 Dallas, TX… Final Dallas engagement! With some of the most lavish sets, costumes and special effects ever to have been created for the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, traces the tragic love story of a beautiful opera singer and a young composer shamed by his physical appearance into a shadowy existence beneath the majestic Paris Opera House. Adapted from Gaston Leroux’s classic novel of mystery and suspense, this award-winning musical has woven its magical spell over standing room audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide and is now the longest running show in Broadway history. For his final overture in Dallas, PHANTOM returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park to take your breath away. The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, returning to Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank at the Music Hall at Fair Park February 17-March 14, 2010, has announced casting for the production. Single tickets for all performances, ranging from $21-$86, are currently on sale at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center; all Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com; or by phone at 214-631-ARTS (2787). For groups of 20 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Tim Martin Gleason heads the 36-member company as The Phantom, with Trista Moldovan as the young soprano, Christine, and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. Also featured will be Kim Stengel as Carlotta Giudicelli, D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André, Michael McCoy as Monsieur Firmin, Nancy Hess as Madame Giry, David Gaschen as Ubaldo Piangi and Jessica Bishop as Meg. At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of Christine. TIM MARTIN GLEASON (The Phantom of the Opera). After completing a record-setting tenure as Raoul with 3 different American companies of Phantom, Tim returns to the national tour, this time as the masked man. He began his Phantom journey with this very company in 2001 as member of the ensemble. He quickly took over the role of Raoul, which he played for over three years. He then had the honor of playing Raoul for the record-breaking Broadway Company when Phantom became the longest-running show in Broadway history. Mr. Gleason next originated the role of Raoul for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular. In September of 2007 he rejoined the Broadway cast for an additional year and a half. With his time in all three companies, Mr. Gleason is the longest-running Raoul in American history, playing the role more than 2,600 times. Mr. Gleason received a BS in psychology from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and actually pursued a business career for 4 years before deciding to become an actor. Prior to Phantom, he has originated several roles, including Romeo in Terrence Mann's musical Romeo & Juliet at Goodspeed and Adam Gernstein in The Rhythm Club at Signature Theatre, a role for which he received a prestigious Helen Hayes Award nomination TRISTA MOLDOVAN* (Christine Daaé) is delighted to join the U. S. National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera. Most recently, she had the honor of working with Julie Andrews in the John Bucchino musical Simeon’s Gift. She also appeared as ‘Cosette’ in the regional premiere of Les Misérables at the Pioneer Theater Company. Off-Broadway/NYC: Sally in Me and My Girl (Musicals Tonight), Rachel in Paul Revere (Theatreworks) and Seffa in Faces of War (Makor Center). Regional credits: Gypsy (Louise), Nine (Carla), Born Yesterday (Billie Dawn), Carousel (Julie) and Cabaret (Sally). Television: “The Guiding Light,” “All My Children” and “As the World Turns.” Trista is a proud graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. MARNI RAAB* (Christine Daaé [02/17 - 02/21]) is delighted to return to the Music Box Company. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (Christine). International: The Phantom of the Opera World Tour (original cast, Christine) playing Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong, Cats in Hamburg, Germany (Jellylorum), recital work at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Off-Broadway/New York: Roberta (Musicals Tonight), Have a Heart (Musicals Tonight) and lots of readings. Regional: My Fair Lady (Eliza), Carousel (Julie), A Little Night Music (Anne), The Fantasticks (Luisa) Concerts: “Another Op’nin’, Another Show: A Tribute to Paul Gemignani” Wayne, NJ, Schuster Gala with the Dayton Philharmonic, San Francisco’s “Red Hot Broadway” with Elaine Stritch, “Night of Stars” at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre “An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber” at Philadelphia’s Media Theatre. Opera: appearances with The Connecticut Grand Opera, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, New England Lyric Operetta, Ohio Light Opera, and Boheme Opera. Marni holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. For more information, please visit www.marniraab.com. SEAN MacLAUGHLIN (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny) is proud to perform the role of Raoul. Broadway: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White. Performed the roles of Vikram in Bombay Dreams” and Armand in Elton John’s Lestat; Off-Broadway: The Audience and Requiem for William. Some favorite regional credits include: The Kennedy Center productions of The Sondheim Celebration: Merrily We Roll Along and Ken Ludwig’s re-tooling of Tom Sawyer; Signature Theatre: the workshop of Michael John LaChiusa’s The Highest Yellow, Forum (Hero), Into The Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), The Rink (Dino), Grand Hotel (Erik); Flat Rock Theatre: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy), The Rainmaker (Starbuck), Children of Eden (Cain /Japheth), I Love You, You’re Perfect…( Man 2); Hangar Theater: My Fair Lady (Freddy). TV/Film: HBO’s “Something the Lord Made” (Dr Swedlin) and appeared in PBS’ Great Performances “South Pacific : In Concert from Carnegie Hall”. Sean thanks his family for their constant love and support. Member of Actors’ Equity since 1999. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Production design is by Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. With total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful entertainment venture of the twentieth century, surpassing such blockbuster films as Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. The show had its world premiere on October 9, 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, winning every major British theatre award including the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. The New York production opened on January 26, 1988 where it won seven 1988 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical. Over 80 million people in 124 cities in 25 countries have seen THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Worldwide, the show consistently plays to larger audiences and in longer engagements than any other musical in history. On January 9, 2006, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats’ record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The show celebrated an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2008 when it reached its twentieth anniversary on Broadway. The Dallas engagement of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is part of the DSM 70th anniversary season. Visit the official THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will preview Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18 at 8 p.m., with official press opening night Friday, February 19 at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule: Wednesday February 17 8 p.m. Preview performance Thursday February 18 2 and 8 p.m. Preview performance Friday February 19 8 p.m. Official Opening Night Saturday February 20 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday February 21 2 and 8 p.m. Monday February 22 DARK Tuesday February 23 8 p.m. Wednesday February 24 8 p.m. Thursday February 25 8 p.m. Friday February 26 8 p.m. Saturday February 27 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday February 28 2 and 8 p.m. Monday March 1 DARK Tuesday March 2 8 p.m. Wednesday March 3 8 p.m. Thursday March 4 8 p.m. Friday March 5 8 p.m. Saturday March 6 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday March 7 2 and 8 p.m. Monday March 8 DARK Tuesday March 9 8 p.m. Wednesday March 10 8 p.m. Thursday March 11 2 and 8 p.m. Friday March 12 8 p.m. Saturday March 13 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday March 14 2 p.m. Final Performance The Dallas engagement of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, and is part of the DSM 70th anniversary season. Visit the official THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA website at www.thephantomoftheopera.com. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, March 16-21; XANADU, April 6-18; THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, April 20-25; LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” May 11-23; WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 68th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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 and the historic Majestic Theatre. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

Music Box Company Say...

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:25:36 +0000

For immediate release: MUSIC BOX COMPANY SAYS PHAREWELL The National Tour of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to play its final performance at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles November 2010 NEW YORK, NY - Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. announced today that the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, known as the Music Box Company, will play its final performance in November 2010 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. The Music Box Company will begin performances in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 23. Tickets will go on sale in late April. For more information, please visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful and longest continuously-running tour in U.S. history. The musical has been represented on the road since the First National began performances in Los Angeles in May 1989. Since that time, there have been three U.S. national touring productions. The First National Tour (Christine Company) played Los Angeles and San Francisco for a combined total run of almost 10 years, grossing $305,192,485 with 3,902 performances and 6.6 million patrons. The Second National Tour (Raoul Company) played major markets during an eight and a half year run, grossed $393,608,819 with 3,364 performances and 7.5 million patrons. The Third National Tour (Music Box Company) is the only production still currently touring the U.S. and has played over 7,000 performances and recently celebrated its Seventeenth Anniversary in December 2009. The three U.S. national tours have grossed over $1.5 billion in combined box office sales. As of the Music Box Company’s final performance in November, the three touring companies will have played 205 engagements in 98 cities for an unprecedented combined total of 36 years and 14,605 performances. Upcoming engagements of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA include: • Feb 17 – March 14: Music Hall at Fair Park – Dallas, TX • March 17 – April 4: UTPAC Bass Concert Hall – Austin, TX • April 8 – May 2: Hippodrome Theatre – Baltimore, MD • May 19 – June 6: The Wharton Center – East Lansing, MI • June 9 – 27: The Schuster Center – Dayton, OH • June 30 – July 25: The Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA • July 28 – August 22: The Allen Theatre – Cleveland, OH • Aug 25 – Sept 19: The Benedum Center – Pittsburgh, PA The longest-running show in Broadway history, the New York production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 22nd Anniversary – the musical’s latest in a long line of record-breaking milestones. Since its debut on January 26, 1988, PHANTOM has grossed over $755 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. The production’s ongoing staying power is exemplified by its consistently strong houses, including last month breaking the house record to have its best weekly gross in its 22 year history. Having also recently surpassed an unprecedented 9,000 performances and counting, PHANTOM continues at The Majestic Theatre with no end in sight. Worldwide, over 65,000 performances of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA have been seen by 100 million people in 27 countries and 144 cities. Its international success – equally staggering – is represented by total worldwide grosses estimated at over $5 billion. This colossal figure makes PHANTOM the most successful entertainment venture of all time, surpassing not only any other stage production, but also far surpassing the world’s highest-grossing film Avatar (at $2.077 billion) and such other blockbusters as Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There are currently nine productions around the world: London, New York, Budapest (Hungary), Nagoya (Japan), Warsaw (Poland), Seoul (Korea), Buenos Aires (Argentina), the U.S. National Tour and a revised production in Las Vegas at The Venetian. The Broadway production is the winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA third national tour currently stars Tim Martin Gleason in the title role with Trista Moldovan as Christine (Marni Raab continues the role through February 21st) and Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul. The musical also co-stars D.C. Anderson (Monsieur Andre), Bruce Winant (Monsieur Firmin), Kim Stengel (Carlotta), Nancy Hess (Madame Giry), David Gaschen (Piangi) and Paloma Garcia-Lee (Meg Giry). At certain performances, Kelly Jeanne Grant plays the role of “Christine.” THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Bjornson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. www.thephantomoftheopera.com # # # # # National Press Representatives DJ Martin/Andrew Cole Type A Marketing 1650 Broadway, Suite 800 New York, NY 10019 212-307-0800 dj@typeamktg.com andrew@typeamktg.com Michael Borowoski The Publicity Office 1650 Broadway New York, NY 10019 212-315-2120 mike@publicityoffice.com

New Officers and Executive Committee Members

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:10:16 +0000

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LOCAL BUSINESSMAN AND CIVIC LEADER GARY GRIFFITH

INSTALLED AS NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

OF DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, INC.

New Officers and Executive Committee Members

Dallas,TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., presented byBank, the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Gary Griffith, local businessman and civic leader, Chairman of the Board of Directors for 2010.Griffithtook over as Board Chairman at the DSM board’s annual meeting in December 2009. Griffithis President of the Today Foundation, an organization whose mission is to positively impact the lives of young people through drug abuse prevention, character development and education initiatives for at-risk youth.Because of his involvement with the foundation (www.TodayFoundation.org),Griffith says he has a special interest in the Stage Right program created by Dallas Summer Musicals in partnership with the Dallas Police Department, to help bring at-risk students to the shows. Michael Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “We are extremely fortunate to have a leader of Gary Griffith’s caliber coming in as Chairman of the DSM board for our important 70^th anniversary season.Griffith has a special passion for this community as demonstrated by his exemplary service over the past 30 years.” Gary Griffith is a strong believer in community service, as demonstrated by his outstanding service as a civic leader, elected official and volunteer extraordinaire over the past four decades.Griffithsays he was taught the importance of public service and giving back to the community while growing up in East Dallas, where he graduated fromWoodrowWilsonHigh School.After earning a government degree at theUniversityofTexasinAustinin 1970,Griffithreturned toDallasand his exemplary service to the community, state and country began in earnest.The following list outlines just a few ofGriffith’s accomplishments: President of Safer Dallas Better Dallas; Board of Directors, State Fair of Texas Association; Chairman, White Rock Lake Conservancy; former member of the Dallas City Council, Park Board, and Planning and Zoning Commission. Griffithsaid, “I am honored to be asked to serve as Chairman of the Board for Dallas Summer Musicals’ 70^th anniversary year in 2010.As a non-profit, we are fortunate to have a dedicated base of sponsors, subscribers and volunteers who work year-round to keep DSM a top-tier, nationally recognized arts organization.DSM has been entertainingNorth Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941, and we plan to continue this tradition for many years into the future.” Griffith and his wife, Jackie, live in theLakewoodarea and are longtime members ofWilshireBaptistChurch.TheGriffithshave twin daughters and two grandsons. Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Dick Quisenberry, with Michael C. Steindorf serving as Chairman Elect.Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM officers for 2010 include: Vice President – Audit, Dorsey Baskin; Vice President – Community Outreach, Darrell Jordan; Vice President – Finance, Michael S. Albright; Vice President – Investment, Ted Munselle; Vice President – Long Range Planning, Stan Gardner;Vice President – Marketing/PR/Special Events,Brice Beaird; Vice President – Nominating, Dick Quisenberry; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Steve Watson; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; and Treasurer, Richard L. Rogers. The 2010 executive committee members are Michael S. Albright, Ruth Altshuler, Dorsey Baskin, Brice Beaird, Ed Blessing, Ed Bratton, Karl Chiao, O. Paul Corley,, Jr., O. Paul Corley, Sr., C.E. “Doc” Cornutt, Terry R. Dallas, Laura V. Estrada, Jay Fox, Christine Gancarz, Stan Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary E. Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Darrell Jordan, Rebecca Kay, Marvin Lane, Meredy McClure, John McCoy, Bill Melton, Steven C. Metzger, Caven Miller, Ted Munselle, William J. O’Dwyer, Alfonso E. Pino III, Charles Pistor, James W. Porter, Jr., Dick Quisenberry, Scott Ragland, W. Wallace Reed, Kenneth D. Sandstad, Kip Sowden, Donald K. Spies, Michael C. Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, Sandra K. Thomas, Steve B. Watson, and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton, O. Paul Corley, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Stan Gardner, Rick Graham, Charles L. Gummer, Steven C. Metzger, Charles Pistor, Bud Porter, Dick Quisenberry, Ken Sandstad, Donald K. Spies, and Paul A. Stotts.Past chairmen J. Frank Miller III and Douglas Perry are deceased. Now celebrating its 70th season, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theatre company in the nation.DSM has been entertainingNorth Texasaudiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSM MGI), which manages the Music Hall at FairParkand the historical Majestic Theatre.In addition, DSM has its own school of musical theatre, which provides quality education and outreach to the youth of Dallas. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call 214-421-5678. # # #

Wicked Tickets ON SALE NOW!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:26:08 +0000

BROADWAY’S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER TO RETURN TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AND THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MAY 26-JUNE 27 * * * TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, MARCH 22! BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND WINNIE HOLZMAN BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GREGORY MAGUIRE Dallas, TX– After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2005 and again in 2007, WICKED, the smash-hit musical, will return to Dallas Summer Musicals and the Music Hall at Fair Park May 26-June 27. A special Internet only pre-sale will be held Sunday, March 21, from 8 p.m. to midnight at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked; code word POPULAR. For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues, 9 to 5) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 20 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Monday, March 22. Single tickets, priced from $35-$135, will be on sale at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all area Ticketmaster locations. Tickets are also available by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787) or online at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. Groups of 20 or more should call 214-426-GROUP (4767). All performances will be at the Music Hall at Fair Park, opening at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 with the following schedule. Wednesday May 26 8 p.m. Thursday May 27 2 and 8 p.m. Friday May 28 8 p.m. Saturday May 29 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday May 30 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday June 1 8 p.m. Wednesday June 2 8 p.m. Thursday June 3 8 p.m. Friday June 4 8 p.m. Saturday June 5 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday June 6 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday June 8 8 p.m. Wednesday June 9 8 p.m. Thursday June 10 8 p.m. Friday June 11 8 p.m. Saturday June 12 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday June 13 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday June 15 8 p.m. Wednesday June 16 8 p.m. Thursday June 17 8 p.m. Friday June 18 8 p.m. Saturday June 19 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday June 20 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday June 22 8 p.m. Wednesday June 23 8 p.m. Thursday June 24 8 p.m. Friday June 25 8 p.m. Saturday June 26 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday June 27 2 and 8 p.m. “I’m very pleased that we have been able to secure a return of WICKED for Dallas. Since every seat of the Music Hall at Fair Park was sold for the musical’s 2005 and 2007 engagements, we were unable to accommodate large numbers of people who wanted tickets to this wonderful show,” said Michael Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals. “In my opinion, the national tour is even better than the Broadway production, which I also loved. The producers of WICKED should be complimented for sending out such a high-quality show.” Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. WICKED has “cast quite a spell” (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few. Called “one of the most successful shows in Broadway history” by The New York Times and “a phenomenon that keeps growing” by the Los Angeles Times, WICKED continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently eight productions of WICKED worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, San Francisco production, London production, a Japanese-language production, a German-language production and Australian production. A Dutch-language production of WICKED will open in 2011. WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® Award winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony Award® nominee Kenneth Posner (Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King and the recent Man of La Mancha). Stephen Oremus is the show’s musical director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED, log on to www.wickedthemusical.com. Casting for the forthcoming national tour stop will be announced at a later date. # # # For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

How to get Wicked Tickets

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:48:05 +0000

For immediate release: Local Press Contact: Jo Ann Holt 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com March 15, 2010 HOW TO GET TICKETS TO BROADWAY’S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER FOR ITS DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ENGAGEMENT AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MAY 26-JUNE 27 * * * Dallas, TX…Tickets to WICKED, “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times), go on sale Monday, March 22, for a limited five weeks run at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Here are the only ways we suggest purchasing tickets for this engagement: The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any area Ticketmaster location, or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787), or online at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. Groups of 20 or more should call 214-426-GROUP (4767). In previous engagements, when ticket buyers have been told that performances of WICKED are sold out, they sometimes find that tickets are still available through third parties: ticket agencies or brokers. Tickets purchased through these sources are usually substantially more expensive than the original ticket price. Please know that we cannot prevent these agencies from buying tickets when they go on sale, and laws governing ticket brokers (and how much they can charge for tickets) vary greatly from state-to-state There have been instances where ticket brokers have launched websites that might include the theatre name and/or name of our show in order to confuse ticket buyers. The only way that patrons can be sure that they are purchasing legitimate tickets at the original ticket price is to use only the sources listed above. For more information about WICKED log on to www.wickedthemusical.com. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # #

Xanadu Is Rolling Into Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:53:15 +0000

BROADWAY’S SURPRISE HIT MUSICAL HITS THE ROAD! WINNER BEST NEW MUSICAL 2008 – Outer Critic Circle Award Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals April 6-18 Dallas, TX…Producers Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Mickey Liddell, Tara Smith /B. Swibel, in association with Latitude Link, proudly present the musical adventure XANADU. The musical is brought by Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, as part of their 70th anniversary season, and opens at the Music Hall at Fair Park on April 6th. XANADU, described as “Heaven on Wheels” by The New York Times, is based on the Universal Pictures' cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. XANADU was nominated for the 2008 Tony Award® for Best Musical. Single tickets are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all area Ticketmaster locations. Tickets are also available by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4767). This hilarious roller skating musical adventure, set in the year 1980, follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens to inspire the greatest of artistic achievements – the first roller disco! Along the way she falls in forbidden love with a mortal, and chaos abounds when her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation. “I laughed the entire time! It’s great fun for the whole family!” exclaimed Olivia Newton John. XANADU is 90 minutes of family fun and inspiration to follow your dreams despite the limitations. Douglas Carter Beane has written the book for XANADU based on the film of the same name and was the winner of the 2008 Drama Desk Award® for Outstanding Book of a Musical. The score, by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, includes the hits, “Magic,” “Xanadu,” “Party All Over the World” and “I’m Alive” -- all top 20 Billboard hits. Lynne wrote and produced all of the music of Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.). Farrar was also responsible for most of the hits that were performed by Olivia Newton-John in the 1970’s. XANADU is directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Dan Knechtges. XANADU features scenic design by Tony Award® winner David Gallo, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Tony Award® winner Howell Binkley, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, projections design by Zachary Borovay, wig and hair design by Charles LePoint and musical direction by Eric Stern. XANADU will open Tuesday, April 6 at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule: Tuesday April 6 8 p.m. Wednesday April 7 8 p.m. Thursday April 8 8 p.m. Friday April 9 8 p.m. Saturday April 10 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday April 11 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday April 13 8 p.m. Wednesday April 14 8 p.m. Thursday April 15 2 and 8 p.m. Friday April 16 8 p.m. Saturday April 17 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday April 18 2 p.m. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, April 20-25; LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” May 11-23; WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 70th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber comes to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:11:13 +0000

THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, COMES TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK April 20-25 Dallas, TX…The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a special production of Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park April 20-25. Tickets, ranging in price from $15-$71, are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any area TicketMaster location, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787). Tickets for groups of 15 or more are available by calling 214-426-GROUP. The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber will star six performers who are noted interpreters of Lloyd Webber’s music and well known to Broadway fans: David Josefsberg (Les Misérables, Grease); Kevin Kern (Wicked, Les Misérables); Howard McGillin (The Phantom of the Opera, Bounce); Charlie Pollock, (Nine to Five the Musical, Urinetown); Laurie Gayle Stephenson (The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line;, and Kathy Voytko (Nine, Oklahoma!); Shoshana Bean, (Hairspray, Wicked); and Deone Zanotto (A Chorus Line, Zorba). The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is a grand concert showcasing the Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning composer’s biggest and most memorable hits. A full onstage symphony orchestra will accompany the soloists, recreating countless extraordinary moments and thrills created by one of the most acclaimed composers of our time. It will be an evening to revisit such legendary musicals as Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle Down the Wind, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and more. Presented by Jeffrey Finn Productions, this new version of the concert was personally devised by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Following a sold-out engagement at the Kennedy Center, The Washington Post raved, "Very impressive. The hits come crashing at you in an evening dedicated to crescendo and climax." The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is presented by special arrangement with The Really Useful Group. The creative and design teams for this engagement will reunite the team behind the 2004 production: director Tom Kosis, musical supervisor and conductor Edward G. Robinson, lighting designer Brian Nason and sound designer Lucas J. Corrubia, Jr. Robinson, who will be center stage conducting the 30-member orchestra, has a long history working on Andrew Lloyd Webber shows including Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and previous tours of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER is the composer of The Likes of Us, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Evita, Variations and Tell Me on a Sunday, Song & Dance, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game and The Woman in White. He composed the film scores of Gumshoe and The Odessa File and Requiem, a setting of the Latin Requiem Mass, for which he won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Composition. He has also produced in the West End and on Broadway, not only his own work, but the Olivier Award-winning plays La Bête and Daisy Pulls It Off. In 2004 he produced the film version of The Phantom of the Opera. In 2006 he oversaw a new London production of Evita, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular and pioneered television casting for musical theater with the hit BBC series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?” which won an International Emmy. He followed this with the equally successful series Any Dream Will Do. His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys, six Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, an International Emmy, the Praemium Imperiale and the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. He was knighted in 1992 and made an honorary life peer in 1997. He’s a 2006 Kennedy Center Honoree. DAVID JOSEFSBERG’s Broadway credits include The Wedding Singer, Grease, Les Misérables and On The Twentieth Century. Off- Broadway credits include Altar Boyz (Drama League nomination), Joys of Sex and Night Blooming Jasmine. He has been touring both Europe and the United States for the past year with comedy legend, Stephen Lynch. He has been performing his own original material, as well as songs co-written with Lynch and Jeff Gurner (Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Vegas and Miami comedy festivals). Josefsberg was seen as TV icon Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli on NBC’s The Mork and Mindy Story, and in the films Limbo and Carlito’s Way. Josefsberg is rejoining The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber after most recently performing the show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. HOWARD McGILLIN is best known for his record-setting title appearance in The Phantom of the Opera, a role he performed more than 2,500 times on Broadway. He appeared in Stephen Sondheim’s musical Bounce and was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his performance. His Broadway and West End credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman, She Loves Me, Mack and Mabel, The Secret Garden, Anything Goes (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Theatre World Award) and Sunday in the Park with George. On tour, he has played in Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. His numerous televised concerts include Stephen Sondheim's Follies, Kennedy Center Honors and the Boston Pops. He has also provided voices for animated films such as South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and The Swan Princess. He released a solo CD, Howard McGillin: Where Time Stands Still. CHARLIE POLLOCK originated the role of “Dwayne Rhodes” in 9 to 5 the Musical and played “Bobby Strong” in Urinetown, The Musical on Broadway. He also originated the role of “Bobby Strong” in the first national tour of Urinetown. He starred as “Paul Bertolet” in Carnival, at The Paper Mill Playhouse and played “Dwayne” in 9 to 5 at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. Some of his off-Broadway credits include I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, The Original company of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…Boom!, Don’t Quit You Night Job, The Last Starfighter (world premier), “Ken Star” in Monica the Musical!, Loot, Lola, Opus Profundum and Cock and Bull Story(NY premier). Across the country Charlie has appeared as “Steve Jobs” in Nerds! The Musical, “Jerry Lukowski” in The Full Monty, “Judas” in Jesus Christ Superstar, “Jesus” in Godspell, “Tommy” in The Who’s Tommy and “Eddie” in King of the Moon. He worked with Stephen King and John Mellencamp on their new musical The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, and played Maffio in the new musical Dangerous Beauty, written by Grammy Award winner Amanda Mcbroom. His TV/Film credits include the recurring role of Bud Mcgann on “As the World Turns”, “P.S. I Love You” with Hilary Swank, the Palm Springs Film Festival award-winning, “Walking Charley”, “Law and Order”, and “The Guiding Light” Please visit www.charliepollock.com. LAURIE GAYLE STEPHENSON made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning The Secret Garden. The Dallas native starred for two years on Broadway as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Stephenson made her debut as Christine with the first national touring company at the Kennedy Center. She was an original cast member of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in Concert, touring the U.S. singing opposite Michael Crawford. She was part of Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday celebration concert at the New Amsterdam Theatre. She is a regular soloist with the popular Bravo Broadway, having sung with most major symphony orchestras across the country. Her national tours include Annie, Camelot and Dames at Sea. She has also been seen in the revival of Follies, A Chorus Line, Grease, A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine, 110 In the Shade and in the world premiere of Startime. She can be heard on the original cast albums of The Secret Garden, Prom Queens Unchained, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Bravo Broadway I, Bravo Broadway II and her debut solo album, Till You Find Your Dream. KATHY VOYTKO made her Broadway debut in the original revival cast of Oklahoma! directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman, and was also in the Tony Award-winning revival cast of Nine the Musical starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera. At Lincoln Center, she originated the role of Ariadne in The Frogs opposite Nathan Lane. She was chosen by Hal Prince to play Eva on the 25th anniversary tour of Evita. Voytko played Christine on the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera. She was in the original cast of Boublil and Schonberg’s The Pirate Queen, and was also the standby Grania, which she performed several times in Chicago and on Broadway. She has sung in concert at Carnegie Hall in Showboat, and most recently in the live-recorded concert of Kristina. Voytko has performed in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber in other cities. SHOSHANA BEAN made her New York city debut in the off-Broadway revival of Godspell, and soon after made her Broadway debut in the original cast of the Tony Award-winning production of Hairspray. She went on to be the first replacement for the green-skinned witch Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked later reprising her performance on the Wicked national tour. She performed in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber at the Kennedy Center and Joseph and the. . .Dreamcoat at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Most recently she headlined in the Las Vegas burlesque revue Peepshow and made her New York City concert debut to a sold-out crowd at Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber will open Tuesday, April 20 at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule: Tuesday April 20 8 p.m. Wednesday April 21 8 p.m. Thursday April 22 8 p.m. Friday April 23 8 p.m. Saturday April 24 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday April 25 2 and 8 p.m. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” May 11-23; WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 70th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

Xanadu Gets a Rave Review!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:20:07 +0000

Theater review: Summer Musicals' 'Xanadu' beats Broadway version

11:22 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 6, 2010

By LAWSON TAITTE / The Dallas Morning News ltaitte@dallasnews.com They've turned lots of old movies into musicals. Xanadu sets the record for improvement; it's the best musical from the worst film. The 1980 Olivia Newton-John stinkeroo did produce a lot of hits by Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynneand the star's favorite songwriter, John Farrar. Two seasons ago, a stage version opened on Broadway with a new book by comic playwright Douglas Carter Beane (who penned Give It Up! for the Dallas Theater Center earlier this year). It was a surprise hit with critics and audiences alike. The national tour hit the Dallas Summer Musicals on Tuesday with an explosive bang. This company belongs to the growing number of tours that actually play better on the road than they did on the Great White Way. Many Broadway producers seem to feel they must cast names recognizable to New York audiences, and that's a limited pool of talent. You can't really call many of these performers stars in the old sense, and the shows surely aren't tailored to them. Fortunately for us out here in the sticks, the producers feel free to use less-familiar faces, sometimes much more able in their roles, on tour. Thus, the gorgeous Anika Larsen, as the muse Clio who falls in love with a California painter, really looks like a goddess and sounds like one, too. As the clueless artist, Danny, Max von Essen is funnier and more consistent in his Valley Boy accent (and a more secure singer) than his Broadway predecessor. The superiority in this production continues pretty much all the way down the line. Natasha Yvette Williams and Annie Golden are especially delicious as the comic villains. As the aging owner of the building Danny wants to turn into a roller derby, Larry Williamsturns a dreary role into a lovable one. Xanadu played in the smallest house on Broadway, but it feels liberated, rather than dwarfed, in the immensity of Fair Park Music Hall. The audience catches all of Beane's well-crafted in-jokes. This is one self-reflective musical that doesn't take itself too seriously, or seriously at all. Thanks to Christopher Ashley's witty direction and Dan Knechtges' inventive choreography, Xanadu might just be the best time you have at a musical this season. PLAN YOUR LIFE: Through April 18 at Fair Park Music Hall. Runs 100 mins. $15 to $71. Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787, www.ticketmaster.com To see the review on The Dallas Morning News' website, follow this link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-xanadu08_0408gd.State.Edition1.41785f7.html

Little House on the Prairie is coming to our home!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:27:51 +0000

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LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

THE MUSICAL

WITH

MELISSA GILBERT

AS MA

WILL BE PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MAY 11-23

************************************************************************** DALLAS, TX…LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals May 11-23 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child playing ‘Laura’ in the hugely successful NBC television series “Little House on the Prairie” during the 1970s, now continues her legacy ‘on the prairie’ by taking on the role of Ma.LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE will also star Steve Blanchard as Pa and Kara Lindsay as Laura. Single tickets for the Dallas Summer Musicals engagement of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE are priced from $15-$71, and are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster locations; tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787).For groups of 15 or more call 214-426-GROUP. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL with Gilbert, Blanchard and Lindsay, had its world premiere production in August, 2008 at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, where it shattered all box-office records and sold-out for 12 consecutive weeks.Initiated for the stage by Adrianne Lobel (Frog and Toad) and Francesca Zambello, the show is directed by Zambello (Disney’s The Little Mermaid), with music by Academy Award® winner Rachel Portman (Emma), lyrics by Donna di Novelli and a book by Tony Award® winner Rachel Sheinkin (The 25^TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Michele Lynch is choreographer and Kevin Stites is musical supervisor.

The producers of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL are Ben Sprecher, Amy Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, Bob Boyett, Jay Harris, William Franzblau, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Peter W. Bezemes, Friendly Theatrical LLC, Jon B. Platt, Wendy Federman, Michael Filerman, Marc Schwartz, Karl Sydow and Nelle Nugent, in association with Bob Reich and Sharon Carr. The production includes scenic design by Adrianne Lobel, lighting design by Mark McCullough, costumes by Tony Award winner Jess Goldstein, sound design by Carl Casella and wig/hair design by Charles LaPointe. Richard Carsey serves as music director, orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and dance and incidental music arrangements are by Michael Dansicker, with additional vocal and incidental music by Kevin Stites. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL is the uplifting story of an American family forging a new life amidst the mighty challenges, heartbreaks, joys and triumphs that face them in the newly-settled heartland.It is also the story of young Laura Ingalls, as she begins her life as a young woman, finding purpose, and finding love.Above all, it is the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded – a spirit that still resonates today.

MELISSA GILBERT (Caroline “Ma” Ingalls).Theatre: Off-Broadway: A Shayna Maidel (Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards); Regional: Love Letters (Canon Theater, LA); The Glass Menagerie (Chautauqua Theater Company); The Miracle Worker (Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach); Bus Stop and Love Letters (Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville); Little House on the Prairie, the Musical (Guthrie). Television: Series lead in “Little House on the Prairie,” starred in more than 40 movies for television, including Emmy Award-winning The Miracle Worker, and more than a dozen television series, including “Nip/Tuck,” and “Sweet Justice.” Ms. Gilbert served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001–05, and is currently the Standing Board Chair and Spokesperson for the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition. Ms. Gilbert is also a New York Times best-selling author with the recent publication of her autobiography, Prairie Tale - A Memoir, from Simon & Schuster. STEVE BLANCHARD (Charles “Pa” Ingalls). Broadway: Beauty and the Beast, Camelot, A Christmas Carol, The Three Musketeers; Off-Broadway: Frankenstein, Johnny Guitar, An Oak Tree; National tours: Camelot, Phantom of the Opera, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Repertory Theatre of St. Louis: Esmeralda; Baltimore’s CenterStage: Sleep of Reason; Charles Playhouse, Boston: The Threepenny Opera; Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C.: Hot Mikado, Godspell; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; Paper Mill Playhouse: Chess; Theatre Under The Stars, Houston: Chess. Film/Television Law at Randado, Rapmaser Ronnie, Warlords 3000, “Third Watch,” “Law and Order,” “Ed,” “Police Story,” “Sunset Beat,” “One Life to Live,” “Guiding Light,” “Another World.”Original cast recordings Johnny Guitar, Sundown, Frankenstein; debut solo CD Northbound Train. KARA LINDSAY (Laura Ingalls). Theatre: Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Quilters; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle: Lone Star Love; West Virginia Public Theatre:Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Hello, Dolly!; CarnegieMellon University: Side Show, After Miss Julie, Hello Again, Oresteia. Training B.F.A., Acting/Musical Theater, CarnegieMellon University FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO (Director). Theatre Broadway: Disney’s The Little Mermaid; London: Royal Albert Hall: Showboat; West End: Napoleon; Raimund Theater, Vienna: a new musical based on Rebecca; Seattle Children’s Theatre: Tibet Through the Red Box; Bregenz’s floating stage: West Side Story; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. Old Globe: First Wives Club, Skylight Music Theater: artistic director, 1984-91; Opera: Metropolitan Opera: An American Tragedy (world premiere), Cyrano de Bergerac (with Placido Domingo), Les Troyens; Teatro alla Scala: Cyrano; Washington National and San Francisco Operas: The Ring, San Francisco Opera: artistic advisor; Royal Albert Hall: La Bohème; The Bolshoi: Fiery Angel; Chicago Lyric Opera: Salome; Royal Opera House: Carmen, Don Giovanni; Paris Opera: Boris Godunov, War and Peace, Billy Budd, William Tell;Film War and Peace (ORF), Amahl and the Night Visitors (BBC), The Little Prince (BBC/PBS). Awards: Three Olivier Awards; two Evening Standard Awards for best musical and best opera; two French Grand Prix des Critiques; Japanese Golden Prize; Helpmann Award; Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres; Russian Federation’s medal for Service to Culture; the Palme d’Or in Germany; the Golden Mask in Russia. Education: Colgate University; Moscow University. www.francescazambello.com RACHEL PORTMAN (Music). Theatre: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. Film: Grey Gardens, The Duchess, Emma, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, Infamous, The Manchurian Candidate, Oliver Twist, The Lake House, Nicholas Nickleby, Hart’s War, The Human Stain, Life is Sweet, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Beloved, Home Fries, Addicted to Love, Marvin’s Room, Only You, The Road to Wellville, Sirens, Benny & Joon, The Joy Luck Club, Used People, Smoke, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Where Angels Fear to Tread.Opera/concert: The Little Prince, The Water Diviner’s Tale. Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Score for Emma; Academy Award nominations for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat; British Film Institute’s Young Composer of the Year Award. DONNA DI NOVELLI (Lyrics).Musical Theater/Opera: Little House on the Prairie, the Musical (lyrics); Florida (book and lyrics) Lyric Opera Cleveland, Public Theater’s New Work Now, New York City Opera’s VOX; No God but Yearning (book and lyrics) Public Theater’s New Work Now, Joe’s Pub. Theater: The First Eff(stage play) Mark Taper Forum, Duende Arts. Dance: Twelve Dancing Princesses (text) Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet. Commissions: San Francisco Opera; Chanticleer; BBC. Publications New Monologues For Women by Women (Heinemann Press), NuMuse,BrownUniversity. Awards:Manhattan Theatre Club Fellowship, Rockefeller Foundation residency inBellagio,Italy; National Musical Theater Conference residency, the Mac Dowell Colony and theAtlanticCenter for the Arts. Professional Affiliations: ASCAP, Dramatists Guild. Teaching: Bookwriting, Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program atNYUTischSchool of the Arts; Playwriting, National Theater Institute, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; Visiting professor,BrownUniversity. Training: M.F.A., Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program atNYUTischSchool of the Arts (Ira Gershwin Fellow); A.M.,BrownUniversity. RACHEL SHEINKIN (Book) Recent work includes Broadway: The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony, Drama Desk awards); Off Broadway: Striking 12 (Lucille Lortel nomination), off-off: Serenade. Regional: Guthrie, Little House on the Prairie, the Musical; Center Theater Group, Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Los Angeles Ovation Award); London: Blood Drive.Residencies, fellowships, commissions include: Eugene O’Neill National Theater Center, Baryshnikov Dance Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Manhattan Theatre Club, Deaf West, McCarter Theatre, Playwrights Horizons. Rachel is a volunteer mentor for TDF’s Open Doors program, a visiting instructor at Yale School of Drama, and adjunct faculty member of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. MICHELE LYNCH (Choreographer). Paper Mill Playhouse: Happy Days. Broadway: The Coast of Utopia (Choreographer), Hairspray and The Full Monty (Associate Choreographer), Urinetown (Asst. Choreographer). Off-Broadway: Everyday Rapture (Second Stage), NYMF: Idaho; Yale Rep: Rough Crossing; Guthrie: Little House on the Prairie; Asolo Theatre: Pride & Prejudice; Mark Taper Forum: 13; St Louis MUNY: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Stanford Center for the Arts: Empire; North Carolina Theatre: South Pacific; Ford Center: Leading Ladies; has traveled around the world setting companies of Hairspray and The Full Monty. Film: CAMP. Awards: Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Happy Days at Goodspeed Opera House; Garland Award for 13. KEVIN STITES (Music Supervision, Additional Vocals, Incidental Music). Broadway: Tale of Two Cities, Color Purple, Titanic, Sunset Boulevard, Pamela’s First Musical, Children and Art, Les Misérables, Threepenny Opera, Fiddler, Nine, Oklahoma!, On the Town. National tours:Color Purple, Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Titanic. Guest conductor: Grant Park Symphony, Guys and Dolls and Les Miserables at Hollywood Bowl. TV/Film: “Rosie Live,” Reefer Madness and others. Little House on the Prairie, the Musical with Melissa Gilbert as “Ma,” will open Tuesday, May 11 at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Music Hall atFairPark, with the following performance schedule: TuesdayMay 118 p.m. WednesdayMay 128 p.m. ThursdayMay 138 p.m. FridayMay 148 p.m. SaturdayMay 152 and 8 p.m. SundayMay 162 and 8 p.m. TuesdayMay 178 p.m. WednesdayMay 188 p.m. ThursdayMay 198 p.m. FridayMay 202 and 8 p.m. SaturdayMay 212 and 8 p.m. SundayMay 222 p.m. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be WICKED, May 26-June 27; DREAMGIRLS, June 30-July 18; and the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines.Now celebrating its 70^th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company.DSM has been entertainingNorth Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941.In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works.Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall atFairPark. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallasat affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors.Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

National Tour Press Representative: Type A Marketing Jenna Gilfoil 212-307-0800 Local Press Representative: Jo Ann Holt DSM publicist 469-363-7371

Wicked Exhibit at The Shops at Willow Bend

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:35:37 +0000

CONTACT:Amy Medford Marketing & Sponsorship Director The Shops at Willow Bend 972-202-7115 amedford@taubman.com THE SHOPS AT WILLOW BEND PRESENTS A ‘THRILLIFYING’ LIVE PERFORMANCE BY WICKED CAST MEMBERS AND AUTOGRAPH SESSION ON SATURDAY, JUNE 5 PLANO, Texas, May 14, 2010 – On Saturday, June 5 at 11:00 a.m., two members from the cast of Wicked, Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, will present a free live performance at The Shops at Willow Bend. The performance will feature two songs and will be held in Grand Court near Neiman Marcus.It will be followed by an autograph session with the cast members. The June 5 event is part of the partnership between The Shops at Willow Bend and Wicked which is now playing through Sunday, June 27^th at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas. In addition to the live performance, the spellbinding specials at The Shops at Willow Bend include: • “The World of Wicked” display in the mall’s Grand Court now through June 13, where visitors can walk through Glinda the Good’s bubble, view the “Behind the Emerald Curtain” museum display and take a photo in Oz; • Wicked shopping deals via the “Passport to Oz,” offering discounts and/or specials from more than 30 participating retailers at The Shops at Willow Bend (“Passports” available at the Wicked set in Grand Court or at Concierge Center). • Weekly drawings for Wicked prizes; shoppers simply drop their “Passport to

The Shops at Willow Bend Wicked Performance/2 Oz” into the Wicked Witch cauldron for a chance to win dozens of weekly prizes. Drawings take place Sundays, May 23 and 30, June 6 and 13; • Giveaways courtesy of the Wicked Street Team, who will visit The Shops at Willow Bend every Friday morning and afternoon, and all day Saturday and Sunday [through Sunday, June 13], to hand out free Wicked-themed products such as lip balm, picture frames, music downloads and more; • Wicked merchandise (T-shirts, hats, accessories, etc.) will be available for purchase at The Concierge Center. Winner of 35 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. WICKED is now playing through Sunday, June 27 at the Music Hall in Dallas; for a complete schedule of performances, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.Great seats are still available.Tickets can be purchased at the Ticketmaster retail outlet in the Concierge Center, located on the lower level near Macy’s.For more information, please call 972-202-7110 or visit dallassummermusicals.org. The Shops at Willow Bend is one of several Taubman-owned malls around the country to feature the Wicked production and related promotional offerings over the next year and a half.Taubman’s portfolio of regional and super-regional shopping centers is recognized as the finest and most productive collection of upscale shopping centers in the United States. The Shops at Willow Bend is located at the northwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and West Park Boulevard and features more than 150 stores, restaurants and services plus four anchors: Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. For more information about stores, restaurants or events at The Shops at Willow Bend, call 972-202-4900 or visit www.shopwillowbend.com. For more information on Wicked, visit www.wickedthemusical.comor www.dallassummermusicals.org.

# # #

Wicked Lottery - $25 Tickets

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:11:23 +0000

WICKED ANNOUNCES LOTTERY FOR $25 SEATS * * * PERFORMANCES BEGIN WEDNESDAY MAY 26 AT MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from May 26 to June 27 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Music Hall box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the Music Hall box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. WICKED is a new musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s Enchanted, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”) based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. The musical is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. WICKED begins performances Wednesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. and runs through Sunday, June 27. All performances will be at the Music Hall at Fair Park; for a complete schedule of performances, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. Single tickets for the return engagement, priced from $35-$145, are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all area Ticketmaster locations. Best seats are available for week night performances, Sunday evening performances, and for the matinee at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. Tickets are also available by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787) or online at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. Groups of 20 or more should call 214-426-GROUP (4767). # # #

Menopause The Musical coming to The Majestic

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:48:30 +0000

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Hot Flash!

The Off-Broadway Smash Hit

“Menopause The Musical®”

Comes to The Majestic Theatre in Dallas

June 3-6, 2010

May 2010 – It’s time to kick-up those high heels. The international hit show Menopause The Musical^®is returning to Dallas and will be presented as a subscribers’ special for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, at The Majestic Theatre in Dallas June 3-6, 2010. Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra, meet by chance at a lingerie sale.The cast laughs at their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges. A sisterhood is created between these diverse women as they realize that menopause is no longer The Silent Passage!It is a stage in every woman’s life that is perfectly normal! Menopause The Musical^® is the work of writer and producer, Jeanie Linders. The laughter-filled 90-minute production includes parodies from the classics of the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s. Disco hit “Stayin’ Alive” becomes “Stayin’ Awake,” Motown favorite “My Girl” is transformed into “My Thighs,” "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" switches to "In the Guest Room or on the Sofa, My Husband Sleeps at Night,” and “Puff The Magic Dragon” becomes the anthem to exercise, “Puff, My God I’m Draggin’”. Thursday and Friday performances at 8:00 pm

Saturday performances at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Sunday performance at 2:00 pm

Single tickets, priced from $16-$50, are on sale now at The Box Office,

542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster outlets including The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street in Dallas.Tickets are also on sale by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 20 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Menopause The Musical^® has launched a women’s movement that has superseded entertainment and become a must-see event. It is estimated that nearly 11 million women have attended a performance since the 2001 opening in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer and producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change”. "Most women know intuitively that every other woman is experiencing hot flashes or night sweats,“ says Linders. "There is always a close friend or two who can sympathize or identify with her, but when they are sitting in a theatre with hundreds of other women, all laughing and shouting‚ 'That’s me! That’s me on stage!' they know what they are experiencing is normal. They aren’t alone…or crazy. It becomes a sisterhood." Since its first performance, the show has evolved as a grassroots movement of women who deal with life after 40 and all the challenges that result from the mental, physical, and spiritual freedom of being a woman. “It may not be Shakespeare, but our focus is different.We want to bring women together and empower them.This is an event – a happening,” says Kathi Glist, one of the show’s producers.“It resonates with just about any woman over 40, but it is enjoyed by all.And the men laugh just as hard,” she adds. Menopause The Musical^® has entertained audiences across the country in more than 250 cities and in a total of 14 countries.Internationally, the show has visited Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea. Each week women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause. No longer is it The Silent Passage! Visit www.MenopauseTheMusical.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org for more information.

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For media information or reviewers’ passes, or to schedule interviews, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com.

National Tap Dance Celebration at Music Hall During Wicked

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:53:17 +0000

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National Tap Dance Celebration 2010

“Preserving, promoting and celebratingAmerica’s unique form of dance”

For the fourth year Dance Council of North Texas and Dallas Summer Musicals join forces to present The Tap Dancing Tribute. Five evening performances, July 15 - 19 before this season’s most requested Broadway hit show, Wicked will be on tap at The Music Hall under the canopy of trees inFairPark. Are you ready for some WICKED Tap Dancing? W onderful I ntricate C lever K ick up your Heels! Every night from 7:00 - 7: 45 PM before the show D elightful Katelyn Harris is choreographing 2010 The Hoofin’ Crew, an exciting group of young people, who serve as hosts at each performance. Katelyn Harris is in her fourth year with Tapestry in Austin Texas, the only contracted tap dance company inNorth America. Through her work with Tapestry she has studied and worked with some of the finest tap dancing masters in the country including Acia Gray ofAustin. Special guests will be Brenna Kuhn, tap dancer, and Michael Stevens, jazz and r&b bassist. They blend their talents in a musical dialogue through spontaneous and energetic improvisation. Their performances have been called “daring, full of twists and turns” that have the audience holding its breath. Plans are being confirmed to offer two master classes in body percussion. Back by popular request are The Evening Stars from McKinney performing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”Dana’s Dance Academy of Irving will celebrate their 25^th Anniversary with “A Cappella Tap” by California choreographer, Keith Clifton. Keira Leverton, winner of DCNT 2010 Gene, Louise & Fred Kelly Teacher Scholarship, will perform as well as Rhythm Delivery Dance Ensemble.Doug Voet, DSM Director of Production and Operations, will serve as MC.Karen Cooper is Stage Manager and Trent Bauer will handle sound. To close the Pre-Show, everyone in the audience is invited to get in the act and do the National Anthem of Tap, led by Buster Cooper, the 86 year-young-dance-legend. The free Pre- Show features dynamic, fresh and vigorous performers representing the finest area tap dancers: The Drawbacks Youth Ensemble (Dallas) DallasContemporaryBalletSchool DoveAcademyof Dance Arts (Richardson) Class Act Dance Company (Dallas) Next Step Performing Arts (Frisco) The Rhythm Junkies (Dallas) LondonSchoolofDance, (Garland) iNStep Dancers,Dallas Dance Council of North Texas 2010 Tap Dancing Scholarship Recipients will showcase their awesome skills including Rheagan Carroll, age 15, from Tyler, Texas and recipient of Gene Pflug Scholarship; Lauren Kravitz, age 17, fromPlano and recipient Margaret Rylatt Scholarship; Karissa Royster, age 16, fromSan Antonio and recipient of Buster Cooper Scholarship. Dancers are available for media appearances. For photos and information contact Pam Deslorieux at Dance Council of North Texas at 214-219-2290. Sponsors for Dance Council of North Texas include Curtain Call Costumes, Sandy’s Shoes & Dancewear, Capezio Foundation, Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers, Downtown Business News, Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Dallas, and Texas Commission on the Arts.

All You Got To Do Is Dream..

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:30:28 +0000

For Immediate Release “All You Got To Do Is Dream” NATIONAL TOUR OF THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL MAKES ITS DALLAS PREMIERE, PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AT MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK JUNE 30 – JULY 18 TICKETS ON SALE NOW DALLAS, TX…Producer John Breglio and Dallas Summer Musicals have announced tickets for the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS are on sale now. Ticket prices range from $20 to $85 and will be available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787). Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP. Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Hopeful talents Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson and Effie White are performing as The Dreamettes when ambitious agent Curtis Taylor, Jr. discovers them. He lands them a job as backup singers for the soul and rock ‘n’ roll sensation James “Thunder” Early and begins to guide their quickly rising career. However, when the beautiful Deena emerges as the star of the group rather than the full-voiced Effie, the girls are brought to personal and professional crossroads. DREAMGIRLS will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Patrice Covington, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding. DREAMGIRLS is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch. DREAMGIRLS features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen with additional material by Willy Reale. DREAMGIRLS is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions. The original Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS opened December 20, 1981, at the Imperial Theatre and won six Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards in 1982. It closed on Broadway August 11, 1985, after 1,521 performances. The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Bennett and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. DREAMGIRLS was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened in December 2006. The film won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, and two Screen Actor’s Guild Awards in 2007 in addition to a Grammy Award for Best Song written for a Motion Picture (“Love You I Do”). The most popular song from the film, “Listen,” has been incorporated into the new stage version of DREAMGIRLS as a stirring Act II duet for Deena and Effie. This all-new production of DREAMGIRLS premiered at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater in New York City on November 22, 2009, before embarking on an international tour. DREAMGIRLS will play June 30 through July 18 at Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule: Wednesday, June 30 – 8 p.m. Thursday, July 1 – 2 and 8 p.m. (Official press opening is 8 p.m. July 1) Friday, July 2 – 8 p.m. Saturday, July 3 – 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 4 - 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 7 – 8 p.m. Thursday, July 8 – 8 p.m. Friday, July 9 – 8 p.m. Saturday, July 10 – 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 11 – 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 – 8 p.m. Thursday, July 15 – 2 and 8 p.m. Friday, July 16 – 8 p.m. Saturday, July 17 – 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 18 – 2 p.m. (closing performance) Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be the State Fair of Texas musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL, September 28-October 17, 2010. For more information, please visit the official DREAMGIRLS website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com. For up-to-date information about DSM, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. #### For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

CHICAGO HAS A NEW BABY SHREK!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:49:05 +0000

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CHICAGOAN ERIC PETERSEN

‘SHREK’ FROM SHREK THE MUSICAL

AND WIFE LISA MORABITO PETERSEN

GIVE BIRTH TO BABY SOPHIA MARIE

CHICAGO (July 16, 2010) —After just two days of preview performances as the loveable green ogre ‘Shrek’ in SHREK THE MUSICAL, Chicagoan Eric Petersen and his wife Lisa Morabito Petersen proudly gave birth to their own beautiful baby. Sophia Marie Petersen, weighing 8 lbs, 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long, was born at 5:12 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2010 at Chicago’sNorthwestern Memorial’s Prentice Women’s Hospital. The proud parents and baby are happy and doing well.It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks for them, as they relocated to Chicago for the opening of the National Tour, interviewed their new delivery doctor Patricia Katz, MD, all while Eric and company prepared the show for the official opening at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Sunday, July 25^th.The pending event has given extra energy and excitement to the cast and crew as they shouldered the intensely grueling schedule required to open a tour. Eric Petersen is a native of Carol Stream, Illinois, where he attended GlenbardNorth High School.He received a BS in Theatre Performance from Bradley University in Peoria.He joined the National tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL from the Broadway production.He recently appeared as the socially challenged ‘Barfee’ in the National tour of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.Lisa Morabito Petersen, also a performer, is from Winter Garden, Florida. SHREK THE MUSICAL tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales. SHREK THE MUSICAL features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize^® winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony Award^® nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Promises Promises).SHREK THE MUSICAL has set and costume designs by Tony Award^® winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot), lighting design by Olivier Award winner Hugh Vanstone (A Steady Rain), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages); choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser, and orchestrations by Danny Troob & John Clancy. SHREK THE MUSICAL was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DreamWorks Animation) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling). Individual tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL, playing now thru September 5^th, are $25 - $90 and are on sale now.Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000; all Ticketmaster retail locations (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.Groups of 10 or more should call (312) 977-1710. The chart-topping original Broadway cast album for SHREK THE MUSICAL is available on Decca Broadway.

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

(NASDAQ: DWA)

For more information, visit www.ShrekTheMusical.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com.Join the award-winning Shrekster.com, the Official Fan community of Shrek The Musical delivering news, media and exclusive contests to fans of the Shrek Series and Shrek the Musical.Log in and join your city group for access to the most up to the date news, information and member’s only exclusive content form Shrek and Donkey’s first “whirlwind, big city adventure” across the country:www.shrekster.com/chicago.

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For images, email mwilmoth@korshak.com or kmartin@korshak.com

DALLAS IS GETTING A MAKE-OGRE!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:52:03 +0000

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } National Press Representative: Catherine Major / C Major Marketing (206) 521-9551 Local Press Representative: Jo Ann Holt (469) 363-7371joannholt@gmail.com

DALLAS IS GETTING A MAKE-OGRE

SHREK THE MUSICAL

PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 17

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIRPARK

DALLAS, TX — DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that SHREK THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park for three weeks only, September 28-October 17. Single ticket prices range from $29-133.50 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, July 26. Tickets will be available at The Box Office, 542Preston Royal Shopping Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787). Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP. The role of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek will be played by Eric Petersen, who joins the tour from the Broadway production.He recently appeared as the socially challenged Barfee in the National tour of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.Haven Burton, also from the Broadway Company will play the feisty Princess Fiona.Haven previously played Margo the Dog Whisperer on Broadway in Legally Blonde and understudied Elle Woods. Alan Mingo, Jr. is Shrek’s lovably annoying best friend Donkey.He was an original company member of The Little Mermaid where he played the role of Sebastian, and prior to that played the role of Tom Collins in RENT on Broadway.Todd Buonopane plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad.He performed on Broadway as Roger in Grease! and was a member of the original Broadway Company of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Rounding out the cast of misfit fairy tale characters, the peoples of Duloc and Far, Far Away are:Joe Abraham, Kevin Boseman, Holly Ann Butler, Carrie Compere, Emily Cramer, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Sandra DeNise, Scarlett Diaz, David Foley, Aymee Garcia, Brian Gonzales (from Dallas!), Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Benjamin Howes, Madison Mullahey, Mara Newbery, Denny Paschall, Sarah Peak, Keven Quillon, Morgan Rose, Blakely Slaybaugh and David F.M. Vaughn. “We are thrilled to send SHREK THE MUSICAL to theatres across the country,” said Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals, “and for American families to experience their favorite ogre and fairy tale creatures live on stage.” An entirely new musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series. SHREK THE MUSICAL tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales. SHREK THE MUSICAL features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer® Prize^-winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie,Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony® Award-nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Promises Promises).SHREK THE MUSICAL has set and costume designs by Tony® Award-winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot), lighting design by Olivier Award-winner Hugh Vanstone (A Steady Rain), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages); choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser, and orchestrations by Danny Troob and John Clancy. SHREK THE MUSICAL was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DreamWorks Animation) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling). The chart-topping original Broadway cast album for SHREK THE MUSICAL is available on Decca Broadway. DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA). SHREK THE MUSICAL will play September 28 through October 17 at the Music Hall atFairPark, with the following performance schedule: Tue., September 28, 8 p.m. Wed., September 29, 8 p.m. Thu., September 30, 8 p.m. Fri., October 1, 8 p.m. Sat., October 2, 2 and 8 p.m. Sun., October 3, 2 and 8 p.m. Tue., October 5, 8 p.m. Wed., October 6, 8 p.m. Thu., October 7, 8 p.m. Fri., October 8, 8 p.m. Sat., October 9, 2 and 8 p.m. Sun., October 10, 2 and 8 p.m. Tue., October 12, 8 p.m. Wed., October 13, 8 p.m. Thu., October 14, 2 and 8 p.m. Fri., October 15, 8 p.m. Sat., October 16, 2 and 8 p.m. Sun., October 17, 2 p.m. SHREK THE MUSICAL will be the 2010 State Fair of Texas musical. The State Fair will run from Sept. 24- Oct. 17 and tickets are $15 for general admission to the fair. Tickets to the musical will be honored as admission tickets to the fair on the day of the show purchased. PRINCIPAL CAST BIOGRAPHIES: ERIC PETERSEN (Shrek), Broadway: Shrek The Musical (Shrek Standby/Papa Ogre/Straw Pig). Other credits include: First National Tour of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee), many Theatreworks USA productions, readings of Zorba (w/Antonio Banderas), Up Here, among numerous others. Regional: ...Spelling Bee (Northshore/Barrington Stage), The Foreigner (Engeman Theatre), The Producers (Barn Theatre), Oliver! (Charleston Stage). TV: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns," "Evan & Gareth Trying To Get Laid," and an upcoming NBC pilot with Jimmy Smits. Eric is a proud graduate of BradleyUniversity and member of Actor's Equity. Check out more at www.EricPetersenOnline.com. HAVEN BURTON (Fiona), is elated to be playing a Princess at long last as she returns to her Shrek family.Originally from Los Angeles, she moved far, far away to Broadway where she was most recently seen in Shrek The Musical as Gingy and Sugar Plum Fairy, and she understudied Fiona and Teen Fiona.Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde where she played Margot the dog whisperer while she understudied Elle, and in RENT where she played Maureen.She also performed in the First National tour of RENT in the role of Mrs. Cohen. Haven graduated with a BA from theNew YorkUniversityTischSchool of the Arts. ALAN MINGO, JR. (Donkey). Broadway Credits: Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid, where he was an original company member, Tom Collins in RENT.Prior to joining RENT on Broadway he staged, choreographed, and performed in the Italian version of RENT for Luciano Pavorotti.He also performed in both national companies. Other National tours: Seaweed in Hairspray,and Simba in the Los Angeles company and the first national tour of Disney's The Lion King. Regional Credits: The Wiz at La Jolla Playhouse, A Christmas Story: The Musical at Kansas City Rep. TV Credits: "Frasier," "Law & Order," "The Wayne Brady Show," and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." M.F.A.: University of California, Irvine. www.alanmingo.com. TODD BUONOPANE (Lord Farquaad) appeared on Broadway as Roger in Grease and in the original Broadway Company of ...Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway, he was seen in Henry & Mudge, Don’t Quit Your Night Job and The Butter and Egg Man. Regional favorites include Mr. Snow in Carousel, Ralph Malph in Happy Days, Herschel in Gemini, The Musical (Barrymore nomination). Television/Film credits include the recurring role of Jeffrey Weinerslav on 30 Rock, The Black Donnellys, Law & Order: CI and the new film A Kiss For Jed Wood. BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan. Special thanks to whole Shrek team and the boys at Talent House. CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES: DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE (Book & Lyrics) was most recently nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on Shrek The Musical:Best Book of a Musical and Best Score (with composer Jeanine Tesori).Prior to that he was awarded the 2008 Ed Kleban Award as America’s most promising musical theatre lyricist and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Rabbit Hole, which premiered on Broadway at MTC’s Biltmore Theatre. Rabbit Hole also received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, and the Spirit of America Award. His other shows include Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, High Fidelity and A Devil Inside, among others. In addition to his work in theatre, David's screen adaptation of Rabbit Hole is scheduled for release this Fall.It stars Nicole Kidman and is directed by John Cameron Mitchell. David is a proud New Dramatists alum, a graduate ofSarahLawrenceCollege and theJuilliardSchool, as well as a member of the WGA and the Dramatists Guild Council. JEANINE TESORI (Music) has written four Tony-nominated scores for Broadway: Twelfth Night (Lincoln Center); Thoroughly Modern Millie (lyrics, Dick Scanlan); Caroline, or Change (lyrics, Tony Kushner), and Shrek The Musical (lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire). The production of Caroline, or Change at the National Theater in London received the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Her first musical, Violet, written with Brian Crawley, received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1997. She has been the recipient of many other honors including Drama Desk and Obie Awards, and was cited by ASCAP as the first woman composer to have “two new musicals running concurrently on Broadway.” She composed the music for the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Mother Courage, as translated by Tony Kushner, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. She has written songs for the movie Shrek The Third.Her film scores include Nights in Rodanthe, Winds of Change, Show Business and Wrestling With Angels. She composed songs for the movie Disney DVD releases Mulan II, Lilo and Stitch II and The Little Mermaid III. She has produced sixty CD’s for Silver-Burdett Ginn’s Making Music and the original cast albums for Twelfth Night, Violet and Caroline, or Change.Ms. Tesori, a Barnard graduate, is on the council of the Dramatists Guild. Her next project is a new musical with the playwright Lisa Kron. JASON MOORE (Director). Broadway: Shrek The Musical, Avenue Q, Steel Magnolias. Carnegie Hall: Jerry Springer: The Opera. Off-Broadway: Speech and Debate (Roundabout), Avenue Q (the Vineyard), Guardians (the Culture Project), The Crumple Zone. Associate directing: Les Misérables (Broadway, national tour), Ragtime (Vancouver). Writer: The Floatplane Notebooks (Charlotte Repertory Theatre). TV directing: episodes of “Dawson’s Creek,” “Everwood,” “One Tree Hill” and “Brothers and Sisters.” Jason has a BS in performance studies fromNorthwesternUniversity. ROB ASHFORD (Director) is director and choreographer of the current Broadway revival of Promises, Promises (Tony nomination, Best Choreography) starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. Other Broadway credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award, Best Choreography), The Wedding Singer (Tony nomination), Curtains (Tony nomination), Cry-Baby (Tony nomination). In London, A Streetcar Named Desire starring Rachel Weisz at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier nomination, Best Revival), Parade at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier nominations for Direction and Choreography), Evita (Olivier nomination), Guys and Dolls (Olivier nomination), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Olivier nomination), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Once in a Lifetime (National Theatre). Other credits include Parade (Mark Taper Forum), Candide (English National Opera, La Scala, Milan, Chatelet, Paris), Tenderloin, Bloomer Girl, A Connecticut Yankee… and Pardon My English (Encores!). He provided choreography for the film Beyond the Sea directed by and starring Kevin Spacey. Mr. Ashford won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the “81st Annual Academy Awards,” and was recently appointed an Associate Director at The Donmar Warehouse inLondon. JOSH PRINCE (Choreographer).Broadway: Shrek The Musical (Outer Critics Circle Nom).Off-Broadway:The Kid (The New Group).New York City:The Bridge Project (BAM/The Old Vic ’09/’10); The Jerry Springer Opera (w/Harvey Keitel) at Carnegie Hall; Camelot (w/Gabriel Byrne) with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center (PBS); and All Singing All Dancing (Town Hall ‘09).Josh also recently had the pleasure of choreographing the 2010 Kennedy Center Spring Gala. Additional credits:Tales From The Bad Years (Theater Works Palo Alto, dir.); Calvin Berger (MTC 7@7 Series, Dir.);Emerald Man (NYMF, Dir.); Barnum (Dir.); Cabaret (Dir.); Guys and Dolls;One Way Ticket To Hell (Dir.); The Full Monty; The Big Funk (Dir.); La Boheme; Anything Goes and Singin’ In The Rain. TIM HATLEY (Set, Costume & Puppet Design). Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for his work on Shrek The Musical. Winner of 2002 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Private Lives on Broadway. Winner of the 2002 Olivier Award for Humble Boy and Private Lives in the West End and a 1997 Olivier Award for Stanley at the Royal National Theatre.Broadway credits: Spamalot, Private Lives, Vincent in Brixton, The Crucible, Stanley.Film credits: Stage Beauty, Closer and Notes on a Scandal. Previous theatre work includes working with Theatre de Complicite, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Opera and London’s West End. Graduated from Central Saint Martins School of Art, London. HUGH VANSTONE (Lighting) has designed lighting for plays, musicals and operas in London, New York and around the world. He has received three Olivier Awards for his work in London.New York credits:A Steady Rain (Schoenfeld), God of Carnage (Jacobs), Mary Stuart (Broadhurst Theatre – TONY & Drama Desk nominations for Best Lighting), Shrek The Musical (Broadway), Boeing-Boeing (Longacre); Spamalot (Shubert - TONY nomination for Best Lighting); Bombay Dreams (Broadway); Life (x) 3 (Circle in the Square); Uncle Vanya, Twelfth Night and Hamlet (BAM); The Graduate (Plymouth); Follies (Belasco); Blast! (Broadway); The Unexpected Man (Promenade); The Blue Room (Cort); Closer (Music Box); Art (Royale). PETER HYLENSKI (Sound Designer).Grammy, Tony and Olivier award nominated. Selected Broadway: Shrek the Musical; Rock of Ages; Lend Me A Tenor; Cry Baby; The Times They Are A-Changin; The Wedding Singer; Sweet Charity; Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me; Little Women; Brooklyn. Other credits: Le Reve: Wynn Las Vegas; Ragtime (West End);Walking with Dinosaurs; Mame; Opening Doors; The Scottsboro Boys; Annie. He has designed for Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and The Kennedy Center.Recently Peter co-produced the cast album of Shrek, the Musical with Jeanine Tesori and was the re-record mixer on his fourth film for the American Museum of Natural History titled:Journey to the Stars. DREAMWORKS THEATRICALS (Producer) was established in 2007 by DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA) to produce stage productions based on its films and other original and adapted works. Bill Damaschke serves as President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DWA.DWA is devoted to producing high-quality family entertainment through the use of computer-generated (CG) animation. DWA’s current and upcoming film slate includes How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After and Megamind; past titles include Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs. Aliens. Shrek was the winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Jeffrey Katzenberg currently serves as DWA’s CEO and on the Board of Directors and was a co-founder of DreamWorks Studios in 1994. Shrek the Musical is DWA’s first venture in legitimate theatre. NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS (Producer) formed in 2003 by Sam Mendes, Caro Newling and Pippa Harris to produce film and theatre. Films: Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, Stuart: A Life Backwards, Starter for Ten, Things We Lost in the Fire. Theatre: The Bridge Project with Brooklyn Academy of Music/Old Vic Theatre, Mary Stuart, West End Premiere of Three Days of Rain, Sunday in the Park with George, The Vertical Hour. Mendes and Newling established and ran the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, 1992 to 2002, originating some 70 productions including, on Broadway, The Blue Room, Electra, True West and the Tony Award winners Cabaret, The Real Thing, Take Me Out. www.nealstreetproductions.com ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION. DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE^® Magazine for two consecutive years. In 2010, DreamWorks Animation ranks #6 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 19 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature film releases for 2010 are Shrek Forever After and Megamind. For more information, visit www.ShrekTheMusical.com or www.DallasSummerMusicals.org. Join the award-winning Shrekster.com, the Official Fan community of Shrek The Musical delivering news, media and exclusive contests to fans of the Shrek Series and Shrek the Musical.Log in and join your city group for access to the most up to date news, information and member’s only exclusive content from Shrek and Donkey’s first “whirlwind, big city adventure” across the country:www.shrekster.com/dallas. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines.Now celebrating its 70^th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company.DSM has been entertainingNorth Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941.In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works.Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall atFairPark. As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallasat affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors.Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678.

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For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:02:07 +0000

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } DSM Special Events and Announcements Contact: Sharon Adams

214-343-4402

Adamscomm1@aol.com

Dallas Summer Musicals Shows PR: Jo Ann Holt

214-421-5678 ext 109 joannholt@charter.net

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards

Achievement by a southwest regional non-profit theatre group is unprecedented

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } (July 30, 2010) It all began in June 2007 when Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) were bestowed with the incredible honor of winning the 2007 Tony Award^®for Best Special Theatrical Event for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. He joined the esteemed group of Broadway and Hollywood stars on stage to bring two medallions back to Big D, accepting a Tony Award^® both on behalf of DSM and himself as a producer of the award-winning show. The DSM medallion is proudly showcased in the lobby of its rightful home at The Music Hall atFairPark. The news for 2008 was even better! Boeing-Boeing, produced in part by Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins, won two Tony Awards^®, one for Best Revival of a Play and one for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Play, Mark Rylance. Both Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins played a huge part in producing this hilarious play revival on Broadway, resulting in Jenkins bringing home two more Tony Awards^®toDallas. Boeing-Boeing continued to win awards, being named the winner of two 2007 – 2008 Drama Desk Awards^®for Outstanding Revival of a Play: Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti and Outstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance, resulting in two Drama Desk Awards brought home to Dallas, one for Dallas Summer Musicals as a producer and one for Michael Jenkins as a producer. The Drowsy Chaperone and Jersey Boys each earned a Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award in the Touring Production category, resulting in six major theatrical awards to DSM and Jenkins in 2008. A visionary leader inDallas’ entertainment community, Michael A. Jenkins consistently brings the “Best of Broadway” to DSM. The 2010-2011 upcoming season is no different with a sensational line-up in the final stages of determination. “We guarantee ourDallasaudience always has the most current shows,” Jenkins said. “DSM is committed to bringing 71 productions, plays and musicals, toDallasbetween 2010 and 2013 to the Music Hall atFairPark. Dallas Summer Musicals is a producer or major investor in many musicals and plays on stage now in London, such as the recent production of Legally Blonde and Boeing Boeing and on Broadway, including the Broadway production of Guys & Dolls. “DSM also has major interests in many other future shows, including 9 to 5, based on the film, and A Christmas Story,” Jenkins added. “The newest show, Vanities, is one of the most successful plays of all time. It’s been made into a musical and will open on Broadway this fall.” About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals (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. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Comerica Bank. Season sponsors are American Airlines, Park Place Motorcars Dallas, and WFAA Channel 8. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org About The Tony Awards^® The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 to explore key issues in the theater and to bring together critics and writers in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater inNew York. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and it is the only critics organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition between Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions in the same categories Participating members of 2008-2009Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum: Glenn Arbery, People Newspapers and D Magazine; Martha Heimberg, Turtle Creek News; Arnold Wayne Jones, Dallas Voice; Elaine Liner, Dallas Observer; Mark Lowry and Perry Stewart, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News. The article is located here: http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/columnists/ltaitte/stories/DN-forumawards0910gl.State.Edition1.14d7579.html

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Dallas Summer Musicals Announces the 2011 Season

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:24:11 +0000

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DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, PRESENTED BY COMERICA BANK,

ANNOUNCES 71^ST SEASON OF THE BEST OF BROADWAY

Dallas, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, has announced their 71^st season lineup, with seven touring Broadway productions coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park in 2011. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainment since 1941. In announcing the new season, Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “With seven successful decades of presenting musical theater behind us, we look forward to the 2011 season with great optimism.Our wealth of past experience in theater operations has provided thoughtful guidance to the decisions made for this 71^st season, and will position DSM for a bright future. We understand the current economic climate is a consideration every household is evaluating this year, and, in response, we have reduced the number of shows in the season and the ticket prices in order to make it more affordable to you in these tough times.” “The season includes recent Broadway shows such as 9 TO 5, BURN THE FLOOR, GUYS AND DOLLS, and WEST SIDE STORY, and perennial favorite MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT. We are delighted to present a season special opening by Texas’ own Tommy Tune in STEPS IN TIME, WITH THE MANHATTAN RHYTHM KINGS, and will also return the unique sounds of STOMP for a one-week special.” Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent non-profit presenter of Broadway theater in North Texas.DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theater 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 theater organization in the United States, and the fourth largest non-profit theater company. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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. DSM SEASON AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK TOMMY TUNE STEPS IN TIME, WITH THE MANHATTAN RHYTHM KINGS, March 15-20, 2011.Broadway’s Super Star Song and Dance man, Tommy Tune hits the stage high stepping through his nine-time Tony® Award winning career.Celebrating 50 years on the Great White Way, Native Texan Tune sings, dances, and laughs his way through those glorious musical moments that made him a Theatre Legend.Backed by the multi-talented Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Tune’s unique and masterful Broadway Biography in song and dance leaves audiences standing, cheering, and dancing in the aisles.Tommy Tune is “The quintessential Broadway song and dance man,” according to Variety Weekly. BURN THE FLOOR, April 5-17, 2011.Direct from Broadway, the new Broadway production proclaimed “Audience-Dazzling!” by The New York Times, brings back Ballroom Dancing, reinvented.Years before “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one sizzling show was setting stages ablaze around the globe.The electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries brings the fire and passion of their live performance to Dallas. 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, May 18-29, 2011.This musical is the most fun you will have all season, with its hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era.The new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song along with her new Tony® Award and Grammy® nominated score.The book is by Patricia Resnick, co-writer of the original screenplay, and tells the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company, learning there is nothing they can’t do, even in a man’s world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL is about teaming up and taking care of business….it’s about getting credit and getting even…and it’s about to open in Dallas. STOMP, June 7-12, 2011.This one-week special returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park with new surprises!Explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, and utterly unique, STOMP appeals to audiences of all ages.The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows.The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments—matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps—to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.USA Today said, “STOMP finds beautiful noises in the strangest places.”See what all the noise is about. MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14-26, 2011.The second coming of Broadway’s #1 Musical Comedy Smash, called “A No-Holds-Barred Smash Hit” by The New Yorker.The funniest show on earth is back to taunt Dallas for a second time.Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, SPAMALOT, the musical comedy sensation lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” now returns to spread laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom.SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.But before they can find their grail, they’re taking a little side-trip to the fair city of Dallas. GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19-31, 2011. Big League Productions is proud to announce a sparkling new production of the timeless Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS.Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy—considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy—soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to the cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon.The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!”The New York Post said, “If you have one musical to see, make it this…and make it quick.”“GUYS AND DOLLS is one of those pivotal events in Broadway’s history. A phenomenon.”New York Magazine.From the Hollywood motion picture version starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra to the acclaimed Broadway revivals, GUYS AND DOLLS remains a classic masterpiece that will please everyone from musical theater scholars to fans of The Sopranos and everyone in between. WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, is also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical.“Bold, fresh and transcendent,” said The New Yorker.More than 50 years ago, one musical changed theater forever.Back on Broadway mesmerizing audiences once again, from the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time.Directed by two-time Tony® Award winning librettist Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.The new Broadway cast album recently won the 2010 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest, featuring such classics of the American musical theater as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.”“So exciting it makes you ache with pleasure,” according to John Lahr, The New Yorker. Season tickets, priced from $75-$380, are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas.Subscribers may also order tickets to the season special TOMMY TUNE STEPS IN TIME and STOMP ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center,by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. Season packages and gift certificates in any denomination are also available at one of our kiosk locations now through late December.A kiosk is located near Macy’s on the second level at the Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75240. Another kiosk is located near the Starbucks on the first level at Stonebriar Centre, 2601 Preston Road, Frisco, Texas 75034.For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 10% discount on all DSM logo merchandise.Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to 35% over the cost of last season’s subscription package. In 2012, DSM will bring such terrific straight-from-Broadway musicals as MEMPHIS, the winner of five 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love, filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll.Also on the season lineup will be THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a huge audience favorite on Broadway, created by Tony nominated® Andrew Lippa (best score), Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman. Also coming in 2012: The delightful new musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, reprising the fabled 1956 concert by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, all gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever; and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the hilarious story of Georges (suave owner of a glitzy drag club on the French Riviera, and his high-strung star performer, Albin (who goes by the stage name Zaza).They live a charmed life—until Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, turns up engaged to the daughter of a conservative right-wing politician who’s coming to dinner. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors.Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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.

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN ROCKS THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MARCH 27, 2011

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:13:39 +0000

Dallas, TX…The UK’s hottest and most successful rock show, “One Night of Queen,” performed by Gary Mullen and The Works and celebrating the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen, is coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park for one night only Sunday, March 27, 2011. In 1985, following their appearance on Live Aid, Queen was internationally acclaimed as the best live band on earth, with Freddie Mercury as the greatest live performer of his generation.Few performers could ever hope to match his unique talent. Since winning ITV’s “Stars in their Eyes,” Gary Mullen has been recognized world-wide as the closest thing to Freddie.His voice, persona, and portrayal sends shivers down the spine and leaves listeners’ with their hair standing on end.He and his band “The Works” recreate the excitement and atmosphere of a live Queen concert to unmatched perfection. Nine years of touring has seen One Night of Queen build a reputation for regularly selling out large theaters and concert halls across the UK, Europe and the World.In 2009 the show performed in England, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, and the USA, where they sold out in more than 75 cities.For more information, visit www.garymullenandtheworks.com. “Mullen brought legendary Queen front man Freddie Mercury back to life in a two-hour energy-filled concert that had toddlers to grandparents dancing in the aisles.” The Salt Lake Tribune. “We’ve seen a lot of Tribute bands in our lives, but nothing that in any way, shape or form comes close to One Night of Queen.”Out on the Town Magazine, Pennsylvania. The show features fantastic hits such as “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio GaGa,” “It’s a Kind of Magic,” and many more. This phenomenal live concert will thrill anyone who likes hot rock, and it’s available for one night only at the Music Hall at Fair Park, Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.For tickets, priced from $25-$70, call 1-800-982-ARTS or visit The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas.Tickets are also available for purchase online through www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.liveatthemusichall.com.

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For media inquiries, including photos and interview requests, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com.

Michael Steindorf Named DSM Board Chairman for 2011

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:27:24 +0000

Local attorney michael steindorf takes over as new chairman of the board of dallas summer musicals Dallas, TX… Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., (DSM) presented by Comerica Bank, and the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Michael Steindorf, a local attorney, Chairman of its 2011 board of directors.Steindorf was installed as Board Chairman at DSM’s annual meeting in December 2010. Steindorf is a partner at the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., where he has specialized in business litigation for 23 years.He became involved with DSM several years ago as a result of handling a pro bono legal matter on the company’s behalf, but his interest in Dallas Summer Musicals goes back much further.At age 15, Steindorf mowed yards all summer to earn money to take a date to see DSM’s 1971 production of Camelot starring Robert Goulet.He was prompted to continue his more recent involvement with DSM because of its many programs aimed at children, including the Stage Right program created in partnership with the Dallas Police Department to help bring at-risk students to the shows. DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins said, “We are very fortunate to have someone like Michael Steindorf take the helm of Dallas Summer Musicals in these challenging economic times.He combines legal and business expertise with a passionate commitment to the arts and an understanding of the needs of a non-profit organization such as DSM.” Steindorf is a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M and 1980 graduate of Baylor Law School.He serves as a member of the State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Racial Diversity in the Profession and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.He has been listed among The Best Lawyers in America and as a Texas Super Lawyer in Business Litigation for many years.Steindorf is also a past member of the board of directors of the North Texas Food Bank and board of trustees of the Dallas Opera. “Dallas Summer Musicals has been putting smiles on Dallas faces for a long time and it is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the organization as it enters its 71st season in 2011,” said Steindorf.“DSM belongs to the people of Dallas, and like a treasured family heirloom, we have to safeguard it and make sure that it is passed along in good condition to the next generation.As a non-profit, we work year around to bring the best that Broadway has to offer to Dallas at an affordable ticket price.With the help of sponsors, subscribers, volunteers and the community at large, we plan to continue this tradition for many years in the future.” Steindorf and his wife, Dallas native Victoria, live in Highland Park and are longtime members of Park Cities Presbyterian Church.The Steindorfs have three children and a new granddaughter. Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Gary Griffith, with Darrel Jordan serving as Chairman Elect.Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM Officers for 2011: Vice President – Audit, Dorsey Baskin; Vice President – Community Outreach, Laura Estrada; Vice President – Development, Karl Chiao; Vice President – Finance, Michael S. Albright; Vice President – Investment, Ted Munselle;Vice President – Marketing,Brice Beaird; Vice President – Nominating, Gary Griffith; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Steve Watson; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; and Treasurer, Richard L. Rogers. The 2011 executive committee members are Michael S. Albright, Ruth Altshuler, Dorsey Baskin, Brice Beaird, Ed Blessing, Ed Bratton, Karl Chiao, Diana Childress, O. Paul Corley, Jr., O. Paul Corley, Sr., Terry R. Dallas, Laura V. Estrada, Jay Fox, Christine Gancarz, Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary E. Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Darrell Jordan, Sheffie Kadane III, Rebecca Kay, Glenda Kemple, Marvin Lane, Meredy McClure, John McCoy, Bill Melton, Steven C. Metzger, Caven Miller, Ted Munselle, Alfonso E. Pino III, Charles Pistor, Gail Plummer, James W. Porter, Jr., Dick Quisenberry, Scott Ragland, W. Wallace Reed, Kenneth D. Sandstad, Kip Sowden, Donald K. Spies, Michael C. Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, Sandra K. Thomas, Larry Waisanen, Steve B. Watson, and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton, O. Paul Corley, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Charles L. Gummer, Steven C. Metzger, Charles Pistor, Bud Porter, Dick Quisenberry, Ken Sandstad, Donald K. Spies, Paul A. Stotts, and Kit Williams.Past chairmen J. Frank Miller III and Douglas Perry are deceased. Now celebrating its 71st season, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theatre company in the nation.DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSM MGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park.In addition, DSM has its own school of musical theatre, which provides quality education and outreach to the youth of Dallas. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call 214-421-5678. # # #

Mamma Mia Returns to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:44:37 +0000

MAMMA MIA! WALKS DOWN THE AISLE OF THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK THE GLOBAL SMASH HIT WILL RETURN TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!

Dallas, TX….Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals for one week only May 29-June 3, 2012.

Seen by over 50 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, is celebrating over 4,000 performances in its tenth smash hit year at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre and remains among Broadway’s top selling musicals. The current North American Tour has played over 3,700 performances in over 150 cities with 145 repeat visits. The original West End production of MAMMA MIA! is now in its thirteenth year and has celebrated over 5,000 performances in London and the international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities and been seen by 4 million people. The blockbuster feature film adaptation of MAMMA MIA!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide.

With a worldwide gross of over $2 Billion, MAMMA MIA! is acclaimed by the Associated Press as "quite simply, a phenomenon."

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Single tickets for MAMMA MIA! are priced from $15-$75, available through The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.

The performance schedule for MAMMA MIA! at the Music Hall at Fair Park is Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, June 1 at 8 p.m., with two performances each on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 at 2 and 8 p.m.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The special edition cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway.For information about MAMMA MIA! go to www.mammamianorthamerica.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals mini-packs of three or more shows are still on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. DSM 2012 season shows continue with MAMMA MIA! (May 29-June 3); PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, (July 10-22); and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, (October 2-21, 2012). For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.

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For media information please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals Sounds Better Than Ever!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:27:49 +0000

Events and Announcements Media Contact: Sharon Adams Adams Communications Public Relations

214-343-4402

Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Technical Contact: Barry Epstein 972.387.8702 BarryT21@aol.com

All new state-of-the-art sound concept literally targets each seat, making the musical experience at the Music Hall at Fair Park the best ever! (Dallas, TX) January 19, 2011 – Dallas Summer Musicals sounds better than ever! The Music Hall at Fair Park is now outfitted with an all new, state-of-the-art sound concept. As the quality of sound improves through technological advances and the style of sound changes with each theatrical production, DSM’s goal is to ensure that every single patron enjoys each show and its unique style of music to the fullest. That’s why the new sound concept, new sound system enhancements and many other complementary acoustic improvements have been made. Many people don’t realize that most Broadway theaters have 800 – 1,000 seats. The Music Hall has more than 3,400. Since most shows design the sound for the smaller theaters, it has been a challenge to distribute that sound to each patron. Now, that has all changed. “Over the past two years, through a very precise design and strategy, we have added additional electronics and 15 additional speakers which are carefully and individually optimized. Now, this new system, including 40 loud speakers, seamlessly integrates with each show’s system. This ensures that we maintain all of the acoustic nuances originally designed by the director as part of the show,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM. Part of the challenge was to preserve the art deco look of the Music Hall, a Nationally Registered Landmark building, while transforming its acoustics to complement the need of modern electronic sound systems. Thousands of square feet of acoustic materials have been added to the side walls, the front of the balcony and even the rear walls, doors and certain exit areas, including space-age technology licensed by NASA and new materials that adapt themselves to the surrounding environment. The research team on this project includes Acoustic Dimensions, a world class acoustic and sound consulting firm; Richard Thomas, Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University; air conditioning specialists, and Barry Epstein, a member of the DSM board with over 50 patents in electronics. All of these experts coordinated efforts to the overall scheme. In addition to that, Epstein analyzes each show for continued improvement. The very latest in computer analysis is used in every step of the process. Finally, patrons may see Greg Moxley, resident sound engineer and third generation in his family to work at the Music Hall, walking around with a special lap top during the shows. He is not playing games. The lap top is part of the sound system remote control and many may see Greg fine-tuning during a show. Join in the experience as Dallas Summer Musicals continues to bring the Best of Broadway home to Texas for over 70 years and now, presents the best sound ever in the Music Hall at Fair Park! Comments: ”I have seen Phantom 8 times. The Phantom sound tonight at the Music Hall was the best I have ever heard.” – John Garcia (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, March 2010). DSM’s 2011 Season: The 2011 season begins on March 15, 2011 with Tommy Tune’s STEPS IN TIME through March 20; BURN THE FLOOR plays April 5 – 17; NINE TO FIVE THE MUSICAL, May 18 – 29; STOMP, June 7 – 12; MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14 – 26; GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19 – 31; WEST SIDE STORY, October 4 – 23. Season tickets are now on sale. You can see five shows for $75 total. Season tickets, priced from $75-$380 are available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials TOMMY TUNE STEPS IN TIME and STOMP ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 10% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to 35% over the cost of last season’s subscription package. The Music Hall at Fair Park Celebrates 85 Years at Fair Park DSM is celebrating the anniversary October 2010 through October 2011 Nestled among the greatest concentration of genuine exposition art deco architecture in the world, the Music Hall at Fair Park made its grand theatrical debut on October 10, 1925, with the musical premiere of Sigmund Romberg’s THE STUDENT PRINCE. However, the real star of the show was the Grand Hall itself, which was dedicated “to the good, the true, and the beautiful” and made possible by the cooperation of the Board of City Commissioners, the Park Board, and officers and directors of the State Fair of Texas. About Dallas Summer Musicals As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org DSM is proud to announce: Barry Epstein to receive a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award from Purdue University in recognition of outstanding achievements in professional and related fields of endeavor on February 25, 2011 and in recognition of his technical, entrepreneurial and management success and his outstanding support of education. The Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award is presented to engineering alumni who have distinguished themselves in any field of endeavor that reflects favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession, or society in general. The College of Engineering has over 81,000 living alumni. The distinction of DEA has been bestowed upon [more than 400] of these outstanding individuals. [For more information on Barry, his involvement with DSM and this award, please contact him directly at 972.387.8702 or BarryT21@aol.com] ###

Burn The Floor Dances Into Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:49:45 +0000

For immediate release Media Contact:Jo Ann Holt 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com

BURN THE FLOOR IS COMING TO NORTH TEXAS

PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

APRIL 5-17, 2011

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

FEATURING

ANYA GARNIS, PASHA KOVALEV,

ROBBIE KMETONI, JANETTE MANRARA

AND KAREN HAUER

FROM TV’S “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE”

ALSO FEATURING

VONZELL SOLOMON FROM “AMERICAN IDOL”

DALLAS, TX...BURN THE FLOOR is coming to North Texas, direct from Broadway.Brought by Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, the tour features “So You Think You Can Dance” alums Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. All five have been seen on TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” in the US (Anya & Pasha, Top 10 Finalists and Season 7 All Stars; Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer, Top 10 Finalists) and Australia (Robbie Kmetoni, 2010 Winner). Also featured is Vonzell Solomon as the show’s female vocalist. Vonzell was the second runner-up in the 4th season of “American Idol.” Years before “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one sizzling show was setting stages ablaze around the globe.BURN THE FLOOR, the electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, brings the fire and passion of their live performance to the Music Hall at Fair Park stage in Dallas for two weeks only, Tuesday, April 5 through Sunday, April 17, 2011.Tickets are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets, priced from $15-$75, are also available by calling 1-800-982-ARTS, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP. With BURN THE FLOOR, you will feel, live on stage, all the passion, drama and sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous champion dancers in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls "Dazzling!" The Times (London) calls it “the summer’s hottest ticket”! From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, BURN THE FLOOR takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing. BURN THE FLOOR is directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Featured Dancers: ANYA GARNIS (Dancer). Original Burn the Floor Broadway & West End cast member. On the TV show “SYTYCD,” Anya was handed a first-class ticket on the “Hot Tamale Train,” and her career has been sizzling ever since. Guest dancer on “Dancing with the Stars,” “Superstars of Dance” and the Academy Awards. Born in Latvia, she has been a ballroom superstar for the last ten years. “SYTYCD” season 7 as an All-Star professional this summer. PASHA KOVALEV (Dancer). Original Burn the Floor Broadway & West End cast member. Born in Siberia, Russia, Pasha started dancing at age 8. Following a successful career in ballroom competition, he has appeared on many TV shows including “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing with the Stars”, and “Superstars of Dance”. “SYTYCD” season 7 as an All-Star professional this summer. ROBBIE KMETONI (Dancer). Original Burn the Floor West End cast member. Robbie won season 3 of “So You Think You Can Dance” (Australia) at only 19. Specializing in Contemporary, Robbie is a versatile dancer having studied a wide variety of different styles, including Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop with Brent Street, Sydney Dance Company and Alvin Ailey. He has made numerous television appearances and performed at dance festivals across Australia and in the U.S. Robbie is thrilled to be making his professional touring debut with Jason Gilkison and Burn the Floor on the West End and U.S. tour. JANETTE MANRARA (Dancer). Original Burn the Floor West End cast member. Janette began musical theatre at age 12 and formal dance training at 19, studying Ballroom, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Hip Hop & Salsa. Janette was a finalist from season 5 “So You Think You Can Dance” and toured with finalists. Appeared on the “82nd Annual Academy Awards” and danced with Jennifer Lopez on the “SYTYCD” finale. She is a principal dancer on Fox’s “Glee” and Glee Live Tour. KAREN HAUER (Dancer). Original Burn the Floor Broadway & West End cast member. Born in Venezuela, Karen began to dance shortly after arriving in NYC at 8 years old. She attended LaGuardia HS of the Performing Arts. 2008 World Mambo Champion. “SYTYCD” (U.S.) top 12. Featured Vocalist: VONZELL SOLOMON (Vocalist), better known as "Baby V," is an international singer, songwriter, producer, recording artist, model and actress. She was the second runner-up in the 4th season of the FOX Television series “American Idol.” Following her amazing performances on “Idol,” she launched her own record label, Melodic Records. Vonzell is presently putting the finishing touches on her highly anticipated sophomore CD release. She is thrilled to be making her US Tour debut with this fabulous show, Burn the Floor! www.vonzellbabyvsolomon.com / twitter.com/vonzellsolomon. For more information about the show, visit www.burnthefloor.com. The following shows are also part of the DSM 2011 season at the Music Hall at Fair Park.Pick A Packs that include any three DSM shows are still available, starting as low as $36.For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, May 18-29, 2011.This musical is the most fun you will have all season, with its hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era.The new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song along with her new Tony® Award and Grammy® nominated score. STOMP, June 7-12, 2011.This one-week special returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park with new surprises!Explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, and utterly unique, STOMP appeals to audiences of all ages. MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14-26, 2011.The second coming of Broadway’s #1 Musical Comedy Smash, called “A No-Holds-Barred Smash Hit” by The New Yorker.The funniest show on earth is back to taunt Dallas for a second time.Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, SPAMALOT, the musical comedy sensation lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” now returns to spread laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom. GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19-31, 2011. Big League Productions is proud to announce a sparkling new production of the timeless Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS.Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy—considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy—soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to the cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon.The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!” WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, is also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical.More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, West Side Story remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE” –John Lahr, The New Yorker Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments.For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. 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 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com

9 to 5: The Musical in Dallas May 18-29!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:15:15 +0000

For Immediate Release Contact:Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com

The First National Tour of

9 to 5: The Musical

Starring

DEE HOTY

MAMIE PARRIS

JOSEPH MAHOWALD, KRISTINE ZBORNIK

and DIANA DEGARMO

Dallas, TX…The producers of 9 to 5: The Musical have announced the cast for the First National Tour, brought to the Music Hall at Fair Park by Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, May 18-29. Tickets, priced from $20-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster outlet; online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-982-ARTS. 9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This is the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even. This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® and Grammy-nominated score. The book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay).The touring production will be directed and choreographed by Tony nominated, Jeff Calhoun."I met Dolly Parton as a chorus kid dancing in the film ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ only a few years after ‘9 to 5’ was already a hit movie. It was a thrill to work with her then and an honor and privilege to be entrusted to direct and choreograph this exciting new tour of 9 to 5: The Musical” said Mr. Calhoun.The co–choreographer is Lisa Stevens, scenic design by Ken Foy, costume design by five time Tony Award® winner, William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award® and Drama Desk Award winner, Ken Billington, sound design by Steve Kennedy, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin music supervision by Stephen Oremus and casting by Telsey + Company. 9 to 5: The Musical is based on the 20th Century Fox Picture. The tour is produced by special arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL and by Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Fox Theatricals and Theatre Under The Stars.For more information, visit www.9to5themusical.com. Dee Hoty will play the role of Violet. She has earned three Tony nominations for her starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rogers Follies.Dee starred on Broadway and in eight major U.S. cities as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!Performing on and off-Broadway, she toured the country and has been involved in many pre-Broadway workshops. She has appeared in “Law & Order”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and numerous television and film appearances.   The role of Judy will be played by Mamie Parris whose Broadway credits include the Tony-Nominated revival of Ragtime, 110 In the Shade and the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. She turned the road pink in the First National Tour of Legally Blonde the Musical, has sung with the Radio City Rockettes, toured with country music icon Kenny Rogers, and participated in over a dozen readings with students of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Joseph Mahowald is the unsuspecting Franklin Hart, Jr.Joseph has appeared on Broadway in title roles in Jekyll & Hyde, Javert in Les Miz and Chiefton O’Flaherty in The Pirate Queen. He has performed off-Broadway and in several national tours, was a soloist with major symphonies around the world and has been on all the NY soaps. Some of his extensive regional credits include being a founding member of the artistic company of Tennessee Repertory and appeared in leading roles in numerous productions. Comic, actress and cabaret performer Kristine Zbornik has been cast for the role of Roz.Kristine performed on Broadway in A Catered Affair and Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway, Mama Mia and Man of LaMancha. “American Idol” finalist, Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the role of Doralee Rhodes, made famous by the queen of country music and iconic songwriter, musician, movie star and entrepreneur Dolly Parton.Diana gained overnight fame, at age 16, as a runner-up on the third season of television’s No. 1 series, “American Idol”.Broadway credits include Hair, Hairspray and Brooklyn: The Musical and starred in the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger.DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, AL, raised in Snellville, GA, and currently has a home and resides in Nashville where she continues to co-write and perform in and around the area.   Rounding out the cast is Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson,Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard and Travis Waldschmidt. The following shows are also part of the DSM 2011 season at the Music Hall at Fair Park.Pick A Packs that include any three DSM shows are still available, starting as low as $36.For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. STOMP, June 7-12, 2011.This one-week special returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park with new surprises!Explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, and utterly unique, STOMP appeals to audiences of all ages. MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14-26, 2011.The second coming of Broadway’s #1 Musical Comedy Smash, called “A No-Holds-Barred Smash Hit” by The New Yorker.The funniest show on earth is back to taunt Dallas for a second time.Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, SPAMALOT, the musical comedy sensation lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” now returns to spread laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom. GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19-31, 2011. Big League Productions is proud to announce a sparkling new production of the timeless Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS.Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy—considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy—soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to the cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon.The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!” WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, is also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical.More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE” –John Lahr, The New Yorker Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments.For more information about DSM, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com.

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Launches for the 2011 - 2012 School Year

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:22:46 +0000

DSM Special Events and Announcements Media Contact: Sharon Adams 214-343-4402 Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Contact: Tracy Jordan Direct: 214-413-3951 tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org

Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards Launches for the 2011 – 2012 School Year

All Dallas Metropolitan Area High Schools Encouraged to Participate!

This is a national program, with over 30 cities participating.

Based on Broadway’s Tony Awards®, the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre in 15 categories. See # 5 below.
All Dallas metropolitan area high schools (private and public) are invited to participate. Fort Worth has their “Betty Buckley” Awards, and we do not want to compete with them, so no TarrantCounty. Eligible school districts include Collin County, DentonCounty, KaufmanCounty, EllisCounty, Rockwall County, Highland Park ISD.
Each school can register for 1 musical to be judged. If they want to submit another one, the fee is $300. (Kansas City does that, as well.)

Link to the national web site: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions

Three judges will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories:

Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer.

The top eight finalists in each category will be announced.

DSM will be awarding scholarships of not less than $1,000 to a number of deserving students.

Deadline for registration is September 30, 2011.

Ballots are submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton and announced the night of the awards ceremony.

Awards Ceremony: Spring 2012: Top eight schools will perform a production number from their show. It will be at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all expenses paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win up to a full four year scholarship to the NYU Tisch School of Drama, valued at up to $100,000.

###

Pick-A-Pack Still Available

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 15 May 2011 09:54:53 +0000

MEDIA CONTACT:Jo Ann Holt 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS, PRESENTED BY COMERICA BANK,

ANNOUNCES PICK-A-PACK STILL AVAILABLE FOR THREE SHOWS

Dallas, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), presented by Comerica Bank, has announced the sale of special mini-packs will continue through the final shows of the 2011 season. See 3 shows starting as low as $36. Pick-A-Pack that includes any three musicals and receive the best seats and lowest prices, plus other benefits such as lost ticket replacement or ticket exchange. To order, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org and download a Pick-A-Pack order form.Orders may be placed in person at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas.Credit card orders may be phoned in to 214-346-3300 or faxed to 214-691-7386.There is a $10 per order processing fee, with an additional convenience charge of $3 per ticket for phone orders. Single tickets, ranging from $15-$85, are also on sale at The Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet, or by calling 1-800-982-ARTS, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP.The following shows, presented at the Music Hall at Fair Park, are still available for purchase. 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, May 18-29, 2011.This musical is the most fun you will have all season, with its hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era.The new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song along with her new Tony® Award and Grammy® nominated score. STOMP, June 7-12, 2011.This one-week special returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park with new surprises!Explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, and utterly unique, STOMP is a great family show that appeals to audiences of all ages. MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, June 14-26, 2011.The second coming of Broadway’s #1 Musical Comedy Smash, called “A No-Holds-Barred Smash Hit” by The New Yorker.The funniest show on earth is back to taunt Dallas for a second time.Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, SPAMALOT, the musical comedy sensation lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” now returns to spread laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom. GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19-31, 2011. Big League Productions is proud to announce a sparkling new production of the timeless Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS.Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy—considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy—soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to the cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon.The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!” WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, is also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical.“Bold, fresh and transcendent,” said The New Yorker.More than 50 years ago, one musical changed theater forever.Back on Broadway mesmerizing audiences once again, from the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time.Directed by two-time Tony® Award winning librettist Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.The new Broadway cast album recently won the 2010 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album. In 2012, DSM will bring such terrific straight-from-Broadway musicals as MEMPHIS, the winner of five 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love, filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll.Also on the season lineup will be THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a huge audience favorite on Broadway, created by Tony nominated® Andrew Lippa (best score), Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman.Also coming in 2012: The delightful new musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, reprising the fabled 1956 concert by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, all gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for one of the greatest jam sessions ever, and the recent Broadwy revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the hilarious story of Georges (suave owner of a glitzy drag club on the French Riviera, and his high-strung star performer, Albin (who goes by the stage name ZaZa).They live a charmed life—until Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, turns up engaged to the daughter of a conservative right-wing politician who’s coming to dinner. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors.Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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.

Michael Jenkins Named Outstanding Presenter

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:22:28 +0000

Dallas, TX…Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Manager (Samuel J. L’Hommedieu) Award at the Broadway League’s 2011 Spring Road Conference held in NYC last week. Under his leadership, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) has produced or invested in 123 Broadway productions, and presented 438 national tours. Jenkins is a leader in his community, founding programs that bring Broadway and the arts to special needs and at-risk youth in the Dallas area. Executive Director of The Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin presented the award to Jenkins for demonstrating excellence in management. Honorees of the Broadway League Awards, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway, were greeted by George Hamilton at the opening session of the Spring Road Conference. The Broadway League is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters and general managers in New York and more than 250 other North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to more than 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U. S. and Canada. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. For more information about DSM, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # For media information or to schedule an interview, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com.

Spamalot Returns to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:29:52 +0000

BACK TO TAUNT DALLAS FOR A SECOND TIME! Monty Python’s SPAMALOT

Tony Award Winner, Best Musical 2005 The Tony® Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python's Spamalot, will return to the fair city of Dallas, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals for a two- week engagement at the Music Hall at Fair Park from Tuesday, June 14-Sunday, June 26, 2011. Lovingly "ripped-off" from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Spamalot is the winner of three 2005 Tony® Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk® and Outer Critics Circle® awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python’s Spamalot won the 2006 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album. Based on the Tony Award winning direction of Mike Nichols and the riotous choreography of Casey Nicholaw, Monty Python's Spamalot features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez. Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight. Monty Python's Spamalot is produced by Stephen B. Kane, Michael McFadden and Phoenix Entertainment. Mike Nichols has been acclaimed as one of the great American directors in film, theater and television. He has won the Academy Award and eight Tony Awards. He recently received the Directors' Guild of America Award for Lifetime Achievement as well as a DGA Award for the direction of the HBO adaptation of Angels in America. Casey Nicholaw’s outstanding work on Monty Python’s Spamalot earned him nominations for the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award. He followed up Monty Python’s Spamalot with another smash hit Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone for which he earned numerous nominations as director and choreographer. Aside from his work with Monty Python in films and on TV, Eric Idle has written a West End play, Pass the Butler; three novels, including The Road to Mars, The Rutles - A Mockumentary; and many songs too rude to mention. He has sung opera, acted in movies, appeared on television and crossed America performing comedy on The Greedy Bastard Tour. His diary of his 15,000 mile journey by bus was recently published by Harper Collins, and his long awaited sequel The Rutles2: Can't Buy Me Lunch was released by Warner Video in March. There's no saying what he might do next... John Du Prez has composed over 20 feature film scores including A Fish Called Wanda, A Private Function, The Meaning of Life, Personal Services, UHF, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I, II & III. He has worked with Eric Idle since 1978. Monty Python isn't a person, but a group of British actors and writers (and one American) that performed their famous comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, with subsequent international fame and success. www.MontyPythonsSpamalot.com Tickets, priced from $15-$75, are available at the Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Preston Royal Shopping Center; or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available by calling 1-800-982-ARTS, or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. SPAMALOT returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park from Tuesday, June 14 through Sunday, June 26, on the following schedule: Tuesday, June 14, 8 p.m. opening night Wednesday, June 15, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2 and 8 p.m. Monday, June 20, No performance Tuesday, June 21, 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2 and 8 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, June 26, 2 p.m. closing show The following shows are also part of the DSM 2011 season at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Pick A Packs that include any three DSM shows are still available, starting as low as $36. For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. GUYS AND DOLLS, July 19-31, 2011. Big League Productions is proud to announce a sparkling new production of the timeless Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS. Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic comedy—considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy—soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to the cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon. The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!” WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, is also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical. More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE” –John Lahr, The New Yorker Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, Metrocrest PC, and Texas Instruments. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com.

Guys and Dolls coming to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:35:22 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:Jo Ann Holt, DSM publicist 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com Guys and Dolls Big League Productions, Inc.launches sparkling new National Touring production of Broadway’s best loved musical for summer 2011. Dallas, TX…With a cast of Broadway stars and a first class creative team, this brand new production of GUYS AND DOLLS will visit the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals for two weeks only beginning July 19, 2011. Tickets, ranging from $20-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Preston Royal Shopping Center; or at any Ticketmaster outlet.Tickets are also available by calling 1-800-982-ARTS, or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com.For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Bustling with gamblers, gangsters, and sassy showgirls, GUYS AND DOLLS celebrates Broadway’s golden era with one of the greatest scores ever written for a musical by the legendary Frank Loesser, masterfully witty book and lyrics by Joe Swerling and comedy legend Abe Burrows, and the glorious Damon Runyon’s comic book world of 1940s Times Square New York City. GUYS AND DOLLS originally conquered Broadway in 1951 as the winner of 5 TonyÓ Awards including Best New Musical and again in 1992 with 4 TonyÓ Awards including Best Revival of a Musical.The New York Times calls it “The show that defines Broadway dazzle!” This brand new production boasts a cast of Broadway’s most celebrated rising stars, including Ben Crawford (Shrek as Shrek) as Sky Masterson, Steve Rosen (Spamalot, Farnsworth Invention, Peter and the Starcatchers) as Nathan Detroit, Erin Davie (A Little Night Music, Grey Gardens, Curtains) as Sarah Brown, and Megan Sikora (Curtains, Promises Promises, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) as Miss Adelaide. The creative team is led by award winning director Gordon Greenberg (Broadway In Chicago’s Working, Disney’s Believe, Off-Broadway’s Jacques Brel!…, Paper Mill & Huntington’s Pirates!) and choreographer Patti Columbo (Broadway’s Peter Pan, Disney’s Believe, National Tours of Seussical, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and Peter Pan), and lighting designer Charlie Morrison (National tours of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man.) GUYS AND DOLLS, an oddball romantic comedy considered by many to be the perfect musical, soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who are legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight "mission doll," out to reform the evil-doers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet to Cuba and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game. The show features classic standards such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “Adelaide’s Lament,” “My Time of Day,” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” which have been sung by musical superstars throughout the years. A movie version of GUYS AND DOLLS was released in 1953 starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. The show is produced by Big League Productions, Inc. from New York City which has been touring great Broadway musicals and attractions worldwide since 1991.Featured productions have included CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, MISS SAIGON, MEREDITH WILLSON’S THE MUSIC MAN, THE WHO’S TOMMY, and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS to name a few. From music theater aficionados to SOPRANOS’ fans, everyone is sure to be entertained by GUYS AND DOLLS. GUYS AND DOLLS opens a two week run at the Music Hall at Fair Park from Tuesday, July 19 through Sunday, July 31, with the following schedule: Tuesday, July 19, 8 p.m. opening night Wednesday, July 20, 8 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 8 p.m. Friday, July 22, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 23, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2 and 8 p.m. Monday, July 25, No performance Tuesday, July 26, 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 8 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2 and 8 p.m. Friday, July 29, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2 p.m. DSM’s 2011 season will conclude with WEST SIDE STORY, October 4-23, 2011, also the 2011 State Fair of Texas musical.More than 50 years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by David Saint, using Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’ Broadway direction, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE” –John Lahr, The New Yorker Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments.For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com.

Sept. 30th is Deadline for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:11:37 +0000

DSM Special Events and Announcements Media Contact: Sharon Adams 972.773.9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Director: Tracy Jordan Direct: 214-413-3951 tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org Three important dates for Dallas Metropolitan Area High Schools: September 30 is Deadline to Register for the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards for the 2011 – 2012 School Year * Thursday, August 25: Join us for a showing of the movie Most Valuable Players at the Studio Movie Grill at Royal Lane and I-75 Central Expressway (admission rates apply) and * Saturday, August 27: Orientation: The Music Hall at Fair Park for an orientation conference on the DSM HSMTA participation details. All Dallas metropolitan area high schools encouraged to participate! (Dallas, TX – August 9, 2011) September 30, 2011 is the deadline to register for the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards (DSM HSMTA) for the 2011 – 2012 school year. All Dallas metropolitan area high schools are encouraged to participate, including public and private schools. Each school can register for one musical to be judged. If they want to submit another one, the fee is $300. Based on Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre in 15 categories. In addition, DSM will be awarding scholarships of not less than $1,000 to several deserving students. Tracy Jordan, DSM HSMTA director agrees with Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM when he says, “This program has been in research and development for the past four years and we are thrilled to bring it to Dallas. We believe it will encourage participation in the musical arts not only in the high schools, but throughout our community. All of this would not be possible without the generosity of the DSM High School Musical Awards founding donors, Leah and Jerry Fullinwider.” Eligible school districts include Collin County, Denton County, Kaufman County, Ellis County, Rockwall County, Highland Park ISD. Fort Worth has the Betty Buckley Awards, so high schools from Tarrant County are not eligible. Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all expenses paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. Scholarships will include the opportunity for merit and need-based assistance to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway: Acting and Music Theatre contingent upon acceptance into the New Studio and New York University. Three judges will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Finalists in each category will be announced and invited to perform at the 1st Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Spring 2012, when winners will be announced. For more details about the Dallas program, Visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm Link to the national program web site here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions Thursday, Aug. 25 @ 7:30pm at the Studio Movie Grill at I-75 and Royal Lane is showing a special presentation of the movie Most Valuable Players. This is a great documentary that follows three high schools as they compete in the Freddy Awards at the State Theater in Pennsylvania. The film captures the excitement and enthusiasm of the competition. Join us for this fun event to kick off our inaugural season. (Regular Studio Movie Grill admission applies. To view the trailer click on www.mostvaluableplayersmovie.com Admission prices and categories are below. Tracy Jordan, the DSM HSMTA coordinator, will conduct a Q & A after the movie. For regular seating link below – remember to PICK AUGUST 25TH on drop down menu: https://smg.tstickets.com/%28S%28qfl1go554lcjsw453wiiavfp%29%29/ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=6 Adult (Sun to Thurs) $9.50. Student (11 plus w/ ID) $8.25. Senior (55 plus) $8.00. Child (10 and under) $7.00 Or RESERVED SEATING PRICES are available can be linked directly here: https://smg.tstickets.com/%28S%28qfl1go554lcjsw453wiiavfp%29%29/ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=6&ShowDate=08/25/2011 SMG Dallas/Royal 11170 N Central Expressway (at Royal Lane. Northeast corner.) Dallas, TX 75243 Saturday, August 27 at 10:00 AM: Tracy Jordan, director for the DSM HSMTA program, will host a musical teachers orientation conference on Saturday, August 27 beginning promptly at 10:00 AM at The Music Hall at Fair Park. The orientation conference will acquaint teachers with all aspects of the DSM HSMTA awards program. There will be a Q & A session afterwards. Attendance is mandatory for those high school musical teachers who have already signed up to participate in the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards program. All area high school musical teachers are welcome to attend. There is no admission fee. We ask that you contact Tracy Jordan to let him know you are coming, so he can have information packets waiting for you: Direct: 214-413-3951 and email at tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Comerica Bank. Season sponsors are American Airlines, Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA Channel 8, and Texas Instruments. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org # For hi res photos, please contact Sharon Adams, ACPR: 972.773.9289 or adamscomm1@aol.com

Dallas Summer Musicals 2012 Season Tickets On Sale Now!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:59:49 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ANNOUNCES 2012 SEASON AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announced their 72nd season lineup, with eight touring Broadway productions coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park in 2012. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainment since 1941 In announcing the new season, Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “We are offering something for everyone in the family this season, plus our subscribers receive such affordable prices that it’s possible to bring the whole family to enjoy a really memorable experience at the Music Hall at Fair Park. DSM subscribers can see six shows for the price of five this season.” “Many of the shows, like MEMPHIS, MAMMA MIA!, RAIN, and THE ADDAMS FAMILY are still hot tickets on Broadway, while MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES just ended highly successful NY engagements to tour. We welcome Hollywood legend George Hamilton as the French nightclub owner, Georges, in LA CAGE, and beloved Olympics star Cathy Rigby in a new production of PETER PAN. Our family-friendly season kicks off with an explosive new show, BRING IT ON, THE MUSICAL, that will leave audiences cheering for more.” Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 nonprofit theatre company. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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. DSM 2012 SEASON AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK BRING IT ON, THE MUSICAL, February 14-26, 2012. An explosive new musical comedy that raises the stakes on over-the-top high school rivalries, BRING IT ON! is set against the world of competitive cheerleading. The powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn’t everything when it means losing something, or someone, you really care about. This entirely original musical comedy combines an exciting new sound, gravity-defying choreography, and a thrilling story to create a total theatrical event worth cheering for. Game On! MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, March 6-18, 2012. The night Rock ‘n’ Roll began, the smash hit Broadway musical is inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. On December 4, 1956, these four young musicians were gathered together by Sam Phillips, the “father of rock ‘n’ roll,” at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. This thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, April 10-22, 2012. Winner of three 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival, this hilarious new production was the biggest hit of the 2010 Broadway season, leaving audiences in stitches night after night. LA CAGE, starring George Hamilton, tells the story of Georges, owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son brings the conservative parents of his fiancée home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly. LA CAGE is a tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay together….stay fabulous…and above all else, stay true to themselves. RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, April 24-29, 2012. Direct from Broadway, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert returns by popular demand as a subscriber’s special. RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live on stage, including the most complex and challenging songs the Fab Four recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics, this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends. MEMPHIS, THE MUSICAL, May 15-27, 2012. From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs, and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves, filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. MAMMA MIA!, May 29-June 3, 2012. The subscriber’s special features a mother, a daughter, 3 possible dads and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Over 50 million people around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music based on the songs of ABBA that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel good show. Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives. With more productions playing internationally than any other musical, MAMMA MIA is the world’s #1 show. PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, July 10-22, 2012. Tony Award® nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN. Discover the magic all over again of this two-time Emmy® Award winning and two-time Tony Award® nominated production. The New York Times says, “Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make Peter Pan audiences mesmerized.” Filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook, the legend you thought you knew is now the adventure you never dreamed possible. THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley, and of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. Direct from Broadway, this magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys’ authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter), with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is also the 2012 State Fair of Texas musical. Season tickets, priced from $75-$375, are on sale Monday, September 12 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials RAIN and MAMMA MIA! ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 10% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to 35% over the cost of last season’s subscription package. In 2013, DSM will continue its 72-year tradition of bringing the Best of Broadway to North Texas, setting the standard in musical theatre entertainment with such terrific straight-from-Broadway musicals as DISNEY’S THE LION KING, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, WICKED, and MARY POPPINS. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678. # # # 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.

32 High Schools Participating in DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:57:40 +0000

DSM Special Events and Community Outreach Media Contact: Sharon Adams 972.773.9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Director:Tracy Jordan Direct: 214-413-3951 tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org

32 High Schools Participating in Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards presented by Comerica Bank for the 2011 – 2012 School Year

Finalists in 15 categories will perform and winners will be announced at the red carpet extravaganza on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at The Music Hall at Fair Park

(Dallas, TX –January 19, 2012) Tracy Jordan, director of Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program (DSM HSMTA) presented by Comerica Bank has announced that 32 high schools have registered to participate for the 2011 – 2012 school year. “We’re thrilled to have so many high schools participating in Dallas Summer Musicals’ first-ever musical theatre awards program,” Jordan said. “It’s a diverse list of high schools from as far away as Granbury, McKinney, Corsicana and all across the Metroplex. The musicals are a wonderful mix from classic, like Red Oak High School’s Singin’ in the Rain, and dramatic, like Denton High Schools’ Jekyll & Hyde to Highland Park High School’s Once Upon a Mattress, a comedy.” The complete listing is attached. Carla Ford-Rich, Speech and Theater Coordinator with Plano ISD said, “The Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program is such a wonderful opportunity for our students. They not only get to see examples from students’ work across the Metroplex, but they have a wonderful opportunity to perform on the Dallas Summer Musicals stage and have opportunities for scholarships. The students get critiqued by professionals in the area and their work is valued. We have so many wonderful theatre programs in the area and it is good to know that others see the credibility of the programs and are willing to devote time, money, and effort to acknowledge their hard work. This program acknowledges all areas of a production from the orchestra and choreography to the set design and costuming to the acting and singing. It acknowledges all the efforts of all the students. Thank you to the Dallas Summer Musicals, Tracy Jordan, and the multitude of volunteer judges for recognizing the validity of such great student work.” Based on Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre in 15 categories, listed below. Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM said, “This program has been in research and development for the past four years and we are thrilled to bring it to Dallas. We believe it will encourage participation in the musical arts not only in the high schools, but throughout our community. All of this would not be possible without the generosity of the DSM High School Musical Awards founding donors, Leah and Jerry Fullinwider and presenting sponsor, Comerica Bank.” Due to the kind generosity of the Fullinwiders and Comerica Bank, DSM will be awarding seven $3,000 cash scholarships to outstanding participating students of the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards. Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. Three judges will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Finalists in each category will be announced and invited to perform at the 1st Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park Saturday, May 5, 2012, when winners will be announced. For more details about the Dallas program, visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm Link to the national program website here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. Dallas Summer Musicals season sponsors are American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA Channel 8, and Texas Instruments. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org

Darrell E. Jordan named Chairman of the Board

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:44:49 +0000

DALLAS ATTORNEY AND CIVIC LEADER DARRELL E. JORDAN NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS Dallas, TX… Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., (DSM), the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Darrell E. Jordan, a local attorney and civic leader, Chairman of the DSM Board of Directors for 2012. Jordan was installed as Board Chairman at DSM’s annual meeting in December 2011. The Office Managing Partner of the Dallas office of Dykema, Jordan has long been considered a leader in the legal profession and is active throughout the Dallas community. He has been honored for his leadership roles within the legal community on many occasions. Those leadership roles include serving as President of the State Bar of Texas, President of the Dallas Bar Association, and as a member of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee of the American Bar Association. A 2005 Distinguished Alumnus of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and a former President of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, Jordan is a Life Fellow of the American, Texas and Dallas Bar Foundations. He is a Master of the Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court, board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In addition, he has been designated a Texas Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly for the years 2003-2011. DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins said, “We are extremely fortunate to have Darrell Jordan at the helm of Dallas Summer Musicals in these challenging economic times. He combines legal and business expertise with a long history of political activism and community service that will greatly benefit our non-profit arts organization.” Jordan actively serves on the boards of such local organizations as the Methodist Health System Foundation, Greater Dallas Planning Council, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and the SMU Athletic Forum. In addition, he has served on the DSM Executive Committee and Board of Directors for several years, and is a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. “Dallas Summer Musicals is a great institution, one of the best in Dallas, that has been providing high quality, reasonably priced Broadway musical theatre to North Texas audiences for over 70 years. We plan to be around for another 70 years . . . our patrons deserve no less,” Jordan said. Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Michael C. Steindorf, with Steve Watson serving as Chairman Elect. Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM Officers for 2012: Vice President – Audit, Dorsey Baskin; Vice President – Community Outreach, Laura Estrada; Vice President – Development, Michael C. Steindorf; Vice President – Finance, Marvin Lane; Vice President – Investment, Ted Munselle; Vice President – Marketing, Alfie Pino; Vice President – Nominating, Michael C. Steindorf; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Wally Reed; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; and Treasurer, Richard L. Rogers. The 2012 executive committee members are Michael S. Albright, Ruth Altshuler, Dorsey Baskin, Brice Beaird, Ed Bratton, Karl Chiao, Diane Childress, O. Paul Corley, Jr., O. Paul Corley, Sr., Terry R. Dallas, Barry Epstein, Laura V. Estrada, Jay Fox, Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary E. Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Darrell Jordan, Sheffie Kadane III, Rebecca Kay, Glenda Kemple, Marvin Lane, John McCoy, Steven C. Metzger, Caven Miller, Ted Munselle, Alfonso E. Pino III, Charles Pistor, Gail Plummer, James W. Porter, Jr., Dick Quisenberry, Scott Ragland, W. Wallace Reed, Rick Rogers, Kenneth D. Sandstad, Kip Sowden, Donald K. Spies, Michael C. Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, Larry Waisanen, Steve B. Watson, and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton, O. Paul Corley, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Steven C. Metzger, Charles Pistor, Bud Porter, Dick Quisenberry, Ken Sandstad, Donald K. Spies, Michael Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen J. Frank Miller III and Douglas Perry are deceased. Now celebrating its 72nd season, Dallas Summer Musicals is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theatre company in the nation. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSM MGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park. In addition, DSM has its own school of musical theatre, which provides quality education and outreach to the youth of Dallas. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call 214-421-5678. # # # For media information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

DSM Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:00:34 +0000

DSM Special Events and Announcements Contact: Sharon Adams 214-343-4402 Adamscomm1@aol.com Dallas Summer Musicals Shows PR: Jo Ann Holt 214-421-5678 ext 109 joannholt@charter.net

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards

Achievement by a southwest regional non-profit theatre group is unprecedented

(July 30, 2010) It all began in June 2007 when Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) were bestowed with the incredible honor of winning the 2007 Tony Award® for Best Special Theatrical Event for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. He joined the esteemed group of Broadway and Hollywood stars on stage to bring two medallions back to Big D, accepting a Tony Award® both on behalf of DSM and himself as a producer of the award-winning show. The DSM medallion is proudly showcased in the lobby of its rightful home at The Music Hall at Fair Park.

The news for 2008 was even better! Boeing-Boeing, produced in part by Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins, won two Tony Awards®, one for Best Revival of a Play and one for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Play, Mark Rylance. Both Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins played a huge part in producing this hilarious play revival on Broadway, resulting in Jenkins bringing home two more Tony Awards® to Dallas.

Boeing-Boeing continued to win awards, being named the winner of two 2007 – 2008 Drama Desk Awards® for Outstanding Revival of a Play: Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti and Outstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance, resulting in two Drama Desk Awards brought home to Dallas, one for Dallas Summer Musicals as a producer and one for Michael Jenkins as a producer.

The Drowsy Chaperone and Jersey Boys each earned a Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award in the Touring Production category, resulting in six major theatrical awards to DSM and Jenkins in 2008.

A visionary leader in Dallas’ entertainment community, Michael A. Jenkins consistently brings the “Best of Broadway” to DSM. The 2010-2011 upcoming season is no different with a sensational line-up in the final stages of determination.

“We guarantee our Dallas audience always has the most current shows,” Jenkins said. “DSM is committed to bringing 71 productions, plays and musicals, to Dallas between 2010 and 2013 to the Music Hall at Fair Park.”

Dallas Summer Musicals is a producer or major investor in many musicals and plays on stage now in London, such as the recent production of Legally Blonde and Boeing Boeing and on Broadway, including the Broadway production of Guys & Dolls.

“DSM also has major interests in many other future shows, including 9 to 5, based on the film, and A Christmas Story,” Jenkins added. “The newest show, Vanities, is one of the most successful plays of all time. It’s been made into a musical and will open on Broadway this fall.”

About Dallas Summer Musicals

Dallas Summer Musicals (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. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Comerica Bank. Season sponsors are American Airlines, Park Place Motorcars Dallas, and WFAA Channel 8. Visit the website at http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

About The Tony Awards®

The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 to explore key issues in the theater and to bring together critics and writers in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater in New York. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and it is the only critics organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition between Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions in the same categories.

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Million Dollar Quartet to perform at House of Blues

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:44:03 +0000

……MEDIA ADVISORY….MEDIA ADVISORY….MEDIA ADVISORY….REPORTERS/TV/VIDEO CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHERS WELCOME. Dallas Summer Musicals and the House of Blues will present a special concert/showcase at the House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar Street in Dallas, Wednesday, March 7 from 5-6 p.m., featuring a sneak peek at the musical by the talented cast members of the national touring production Million Dollar Quartet. Following the performance, cast members will meet and greet the invited audience, and be available for media interviews and photos at that time. To schedule an interview slot, email joannholt@gmail.com. The international smash hit musical, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is playing at the Music Hall at Fair Park through March 18, 2012. The show is set on December 4, 1956, when an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” who was responsible for launching the careers of each icon, brought the four legendary musicians together at the Sun Records storefront studio in Memphis for the first and only time. The resulting evening became known as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions in history. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel, R&B and country hits including; “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Matchbox,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more. Portraying these icons are Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash, Cody Slaughter as Elvis Presley, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis and Lee Ferris as Carl Perkins. Christopher Ryan Grant will play the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Sam Phillips. The cast also features Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums), and Chuck Zayas (Jay Perkins, bass). Rounding out the company is: Austin Cook, Scott F. Moreau, John Michael Presney, David Sonneborn, Alyssa Marie, and Billy Woodward. The show is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision). MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET won a Tony Award® for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux). The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will run March 6-18, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Dallas Summer Musicals mini-packs are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. DSM 2012 season shows continue with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (April 10-22); RAIN, (April 24-29); MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL (May 15-27); MAMMA MIA! (May 29-June 3); PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, (July 10-22); and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # #

UNT Business Students Shine Modern Light on MDQ Members

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:15:13 +0000

Trivia Treat!

University of North Texas’ College of Business Shines Modern Light on the Business of the Members of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals

(March 2, 2012 – Dallas, TX) Students from the University of North Texas’ College of Business embraced the challenge from Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) to shine a modern light on the business of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’s four rock ‘n’ roll icons: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, who came together through an auspicious twist of fate on December 4, 1956. Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” who was responsible for launching the careers of each icon, brought the four legendary musicians together at the Sun Records storefront studio in Memphis for the first and only time. The resulting evening became known as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions in history and is the basis for this electrifying musical.

“These four artists and their musical creations generated a large sum of revenue throughout their lives and beyond,” said Vicki L. Goodwin, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Management, College of Business, University of North Texas. “Putting an exact figure on something like this is difficult, but from our students’ research we found that during the mid-fifties artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis could earn as much as $10,000 per performance; a large sum of money in an era when a new home cost roughly $11,000 (approximately $90,000 today) and a new car cost $1,900 (approximately $16,700 today) (Source: www.thepeoplehistory.com).” Fresh from Broadway, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals, March 6-18.

**To see their full research, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_milliondollar.shtm**

Cast members include: Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash, Cody Slaughter as Elvis Presley, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis and Lee Ferris as Carl Perkins. Dallas native, Christopher Ryan Grant, is thrilled to be playing back in his home town as the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Sam Phillips. The cast also features Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums), and Chuck Zayas (Jay Perkins, bass).

Single tickets, priced from $15-$75, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.

Mini-packs of any three or more season shows are also on sale at a discount at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials RAIN and MAMMA MIA! ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org . For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP.

La Cage Aux Folles Brings Fabulous to Dallas Summer Musicals!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:02:08 +0000

WINNER! 3 TONY AWARDS! WINNER! 3 DRAMA DESK AWARDS! WINNER! 4 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS! WINNER! DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD! STARRING GEORGE HAMILTON and CHRISTOPHER SIEBER Coming to Dallas Summer Musicals for a limited engagement

Dallas, TX…The critically acclaimed production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber, arrives at the Music Hall at Fair Park Tuesday, April 10-22, 2012, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals as part of their 2012 season. Tickets are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Mini-packs of three or more shows are also still available for purchase at The Box Office. Tickets are priced from $15-$75, and are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES recently made Tony® Awards history as the first show to ever win the Tony Award three times for best production. The classic musical comedy by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein originally won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical. A Broadway revival won two 2005 Tony Awards including the Best Revival of a Musical prize. The new, freshly reconceived LA CAGE won three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Director of a Musical (Terry Johnson). LA CAGE AUX FOLLES tells the story of Georges (George Hamilton) the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin (Christopher Sieber), who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges' son brings his fiancée's conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is a tuneful and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves! LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani and Fran and Barry Weissler in association with NETworks Presentations. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. The creative team includes director Terry Johnson, who won a 2010 Tony Award for his LA CAGE direction, choreographer Lynne Page, set designer Tim Shortall, costume designer Matthew Wright, lighting designer Nick Richings, sound designer Jonathan Deans and orchestrator/musical supervisor Todd Ellison. The new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES played from November 23, 2007 to March 8, 2008 at the Menier Chocolate Factory, earning across the board raves and moving to the West End’s Playhouse Theatre on October 30, 2008, where it was nominated for seven 2009 Olivier Awards, winning for Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for Douglas Hodge and won the 2009 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is a production not to be missed and reviewers agree. The Associated Press raves it is “Riotously funny! LA CAGE could not be more timely or enjoyable.” Variety called it “Funny, heartwarming and terrific!” Time Out New York sums it up: “Five Stars (out of five)! The Musical Revival of the Year! A Sensation!” LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will run April 10-22, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. There is an additional matinee performance Thursday, April 19 at 2 p.m., and there is no evening performance Sunday, April 22. Dallas Summer Musicals mini-packs of three or more shows are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. DSM 2012 season shows continue with RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (April 24-29); MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL (May 15-27); MAMMA MIA! (May 29-June 3); PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, (July 10-22); and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. ### For media information, including jpegs, B-roll, to schedule an interview, or request reviewer’s passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

Direct from Broadway, RAIN Returns!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:07:33 +0000

DIRECT FROM BROADWAY! RETURNS TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK APRIL 24 - 29, 2012

Dallas, TX…Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, RAIN – A Tribute To The Beatles, returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park April 24-29, 2012, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. As “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics (I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hard Day’s Night, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be, Come Together, Hey Jude and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends! “The Beatles are back!” - Variety “The audience is enraptured. They get a chance to sing along, twist and shout!” –The New York Times “Just turn off your mind, relax and float downstream for a quick fix of nostalgic cheer!” - Entertainment Weekly “A fun-filled family crowd-pleaser!” – Toronto Star “A two-hour homage to pop music’s most brilliant gem.” – Los Angeles Times “On their feet, with arms raised high above their heads, all in the audience were swaying and singing along in blissed-out, nostalgia-powered unison! -- Chicago Sun-Times “The enraptured audience relives the soundtrack of its life!” -- Chicago Tribune “RAIN creates musical nirvana…makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up! A thrilling bit of time-warping nostalgia...Boomer Heaven!” --Fort Worth Star-Telegram “Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right…as The Beatles, they triumph!” -- The Boston Herald “An adoring Valentine to The Beatles!” -- The Washington Post “RAIN is a spectacular extravaganza…did the audience love it? Yeah, yeah, yeah!” -- The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Parents (and grandparents) and kids were on their feet bopping like crazy!” -- The Courier Post Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right; visit www.raintribute.com. Become a fan of RAIN on Facebook and follow RAIN on Twitter @raintribute. Single tickets are priced from $15-$75, and are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Mini-packs of three or more shows are also still available for purchase at The Box Office. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. RAIN A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES will run April 24-29, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Dallas Summer Musicals mini-packs of three or more shows are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. DSM 2012 season shows continue with MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL (May 15-27); MAMMA MIA! (May 29-June 3); PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, (July 10-22); and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. ### For media information, including jpegs, B-roll, to schedule an interview, or request reviewer’s passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

Finalists Announced for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:44:47 +0000

Revealed! Dallas Summer Musicals 1st High School Musical Theatre Awards Finalists Winners will be announced and finalists will perform at the red carpet extravaganza on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at The Music Hall at Fair Park

(Dallas, TX – April 9, 2012) Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals and Tracy Jordan, Director of Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards program (DSM HSMTA) presented by Comerica Bank, today announced the awards finalists in a special appearance on WFAA-TV’s DAYBREAK. See attached listings for details.

Based on Broadway’s Tony® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. If you love theatre, you do not want to miss this show!

Slated for Saturday, May 5th at The Music Hall at Fair Park, top nominated schools will perform a number from their show, nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress will be showcased and the winners will be announced at the red carpet extravaganza as show biz professionals and celebrities come together to celebrate and spotlight excellence in area high school musical productions. Bring your cameras! The celebration begins at 6:00 p.m. with paparazzi at the red carpet reception. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

One of the award presentations will be made, in person, by Cathy Rigby, a former Olympic champion, who visits Dallas again when she stars in PETER PAN, running July 10 – 22 as part of DSM’s regular season at The Music Hall.

“This will be an exciting night, not only for DSM, but for the performers and their families,” Jordan said. “Thirty high schools participated in our first-ever musical theatre awards program. It was a diverse list of high schools from as far away as Granbury, McKinney, Corsicana and all across the Metroplex. The musicals were a wonderful mix from classic, like Red Oak High School’s Singin’ in the Rain, and dramatic, like Denton High Schools’ Jekyll & Hyde to Highland Park High School’s Once Upon a Mattress, a comedy.”

Jenkins, who has been involved in the production side of musicals for over 50 years and travels the world scouting shows for DSM’s seasons, said, “I was overwhelmed with pride when I saw the level of talent in performance and production in our high school musicals. We are thrilled to bring this program to Dallas. It has been in research and development for the past four years. We believe it will encourage participation in the musical arts not only in the high schools, but throughout our community. All of this would not be possible without the generosity of the DSM High School Musical Awards founding donors, Leah and Jerry Fullinwider and presenting sponsor, Comerica Bank. I’d also like to thank our chairs, Gail and Bill Plummer and DSM HSMTA media sponsors, WFAA-TV Channel 8 and The Dallas Morning News.”

A visionary leader in Dallas’ entertainment community, Michael’s resumé includes six (6) Tony® Awards, two (2) Drama Desk Awards® , a Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award, and 38 nominations for both him and DSM.

Tracy continued, “Due to the kind generosity of the many sponsors and underwriters, DSM will be awarding eight (8) $3,000 cash scholarships to outstanding participating students of the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year.

The process: Three judges visited each school and judged performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer.

Ballots were submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton and the finalists determined.

Tickets are priced from $20 to $50. Visit the web site at: http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm or Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center or call (214) 691-7200 for more information.

For more details about the Dallas program, visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm . Updates. photos and comments are posted continuously on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DSM-High-School-Musical-Theatre-Awards Link to the national program website here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions

About Dallas Summer Musicals

Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. Dallas Summer Musicals season sponsors are American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA Channel 8, and Texas Instruments. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org ###

Memphis is coming to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:25:52 +0000

FOUR-TIME TONY® AWARD WINNER MEMPHIS

IS COMING TO DALLAS

Dallas, TX… MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony® Award Winner for Best Musical, and the show that’s currently blowing the roof off Broadway, opens at the Music Hall at Fair Park May 15-27, 2012 for a limited engagement, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.

Single tickets are on sale now, priced from $15-$75, at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.

Critically acclaimed MEMPHIS won four 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS won four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan) and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan & Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover) and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.

The show features a brand new Tony winning score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger.

MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, who is currently represented by three shows on Broadway (Memphis, Jersey Boys and The Addams Family). Scenic Design for MEMPHIS is by Tony® Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys) and Sound Design is by Ken Travis (The Threepenny Opera).

David Richardson of WOR Radio calls MEMPHIS “The biggest hit on Broadway” while Charles Isherwood of the New York Times says, “David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of the Temptations, the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period.” The New York Post raves “Of such thrills, Broadway is made,” Newsday calls the show “A smash! An extraordinary show,” the Daily News promises that MEMPHIS will “Blast you out the door humming and happy” and NY1’s Roma Torre cheers, “MEMPHIS ROCKS!”

The national tour of MEMPHIS will be produced by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, and Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Richard Winkler, Alex and Katya Lukianov, David Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., 2 Guys Productions, Patty Baker, and Dan Frishwasser, in association with Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Memphis Orpheum Group, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Apples and Oranges Productions, Brian and Betty Dovey, John Yonover and Ron Yonover, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, and JockoProductions, Scott and Kayla Union. For more information, visit www.memphisthemusical.com.

MEMPHIS will run May 15-27, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 20, plus an added matinee at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 24.

Dallas Summer Musicals mini-packs are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. DSM 2012 season shows continue with MAMMA MIA! (May 29-June 3); PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, (July 10-22); and THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, (October 2-21, 2012). For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.

# # #

For media information please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com.

MammaMia_584x163

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:46:31 +0000

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:42:48 +0000

Jay Johnson and his 'wooden Americans' bring new vigor to a nostalgic art form

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:45:27 +0000

Cirque Eloize's 'Rain' Twists Into the Imagination

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:47:35 +0000

Cirque Eloize's 'Rain' Twists Into the Imagination

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:47:36 +0000

Pegasus News Wire Theater Spotlight of the Week: Judy Kaye

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:49:42 +0000

Stage Revival Promises to Be Even Better Than the Movie

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:52:39 +0000

Leading Lady's Performance Delicious to the Last Bite in 'Sweeney Todd'

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:54:55 +0000

Janis times two is one terrific theater experience

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:56:58 +0000

Love Janis review by EDGE Dallas

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:18:10 +0000

National tour of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' outdoes Broadway version for charm, poignancy

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:25:12 +0000

Superiority of the Drowsy Chaperone tour

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:27:23 +0000

The Drowsey Chaperone, The Column Review

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:31:01 +0000

'Chaperone' brings bygone stage musicals back to life

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:33:19 +0000

'Hairspray' keeps its bounce at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:40:20 +0000

'High School Musical' the class favorite at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:41:49 +0000

'Jersey Boys' transfixes eyes and ears at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:43:28 +0000

DSM 2008-2009 Season Announcement

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:46:29 +0000

Performances overcome a lackluster score in 'The Color Purple'

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:45 +0000

Internet Explorer and you get "Trusted Site" errors?

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:49:12 +0000

In 'Purple', story is the star

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:50:26 +0000

Hot Shows Around The Stage World - Do you know about FROST / NIXON?

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:53:37 +0000

Hot Shows Around The Stage World - Do you know about FROST / NIXON?

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:53:37 +0000

Hot Shows Around The Stage World - Do you know about FROST / NIXON?

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:53:38 +0000

"Hilarious" comes to Dallas: The Second City

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:58:16 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards. Achievement by a southwest regional non-profit theatre group is unprecedented

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:01:56 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals Awarded 6 Major Theatrical Awards. Achievement by a southwest regional non-profit theatre group is unprecedented

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:01:57 +0000

Give the Gift of BROADWAY!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:03:39 +0000

DSM Benefit Auction on eBay

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:07:44 +0000

Music Box Company Say...

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:42:37 +0000

Wicked Tickets ON SALE NOW!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:49:44 +0000

Xanadu Is Rolling Into Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:57:32 +0000

Wicked Lottery - $25 Tickets

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:13:36 +0000

All You Got To Do Is Dream..

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:07:34 +0000

A message from Mary Poppins!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:29:17 +0000

In a season marked by giving and glad tidings, it's better to give wisely.

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:30:36 +0000

In a season marked by giving and glad tidings, it's better to give wisely.

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:30:36 +0000

In a season marked by giving and glad tidings, it's better to give wisely.

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:30:36 +0000

FROST / NIXON: Movie vs. Stage Production

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:32:08 +0000

Theater Review: 'The Rat Pack - Live at the Sands' is almost as good as being there

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:34:50 +0000

Entertainment Bailout Special Discount on THE PAJAMA GAME

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:36:09 +0000

Theater review: Stacy Keach is a marvel in 'Frost/Nixon' at the Majestic

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:37:45 +0000

Theater review: RENT brings New York polish to Music Hall stage

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:39:08 +0000

Theater review: 'A Chorus Line' reclaims its energy at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:50:53 +0000

'Legally Blonde' shimmys to the stage at Fair Park Music Hall

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:51:58 +0000

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:53:39 +0000

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:53:40 +0000

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:53:40 +0000

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:53:40 +0000

BLONDE Cast's Video Blog - DALLAS!!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:54:54 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS PARTNERS WITH THE FAIRMONT DALLAS TO CREATE DSM BROADWAY SUITE

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:56:15 +0000

DSM Temporarily Operating The Majestic Theatre At No Cost To City

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:57:36 +0000

Broadway Leading Lady Rachel York to Star as Cruella De Vil in “The 101 Dalmatians Musical”

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:00:22 +0000

DSM presents "Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09"

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:02:10 +0000

"Battle of the Broadway Musicals '09" Contest Winners Announced!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:04:16 +0000

Burn The Floor Dances Into Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:07:09 +0000

9 to 5: The Musical in Dallas May 18-29!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:08:42 +0000

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Launches for the 2011 - 2012 School Year

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:10:42 +0000

Pick-A-Pack Still Available

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:13:13 +0000

Spamalot Returns to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:20:12 +0000

We have changed our DSM Press Room!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:31:12 +0000

Hello fans of Dallas Summer Musicals! We have changed our Press Room to a WordPress blog! This is also easier to access than our old platform, easier to navigate, and looks so much better on a mobile/e-reader/iPad device! We hope you'll subscribe to our blog! Thanks so much, DSM Amanda

Sept. 30th is Deadline for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:22:40 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals 2012 Season Tickets On Sale Now!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:24:46 +0000

Cast Announced for BRING IT ON!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:46:10 +0000

Media Contact:

Jo Ann Holt

joannholt@gmail.com

or 469-363-7371

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

NATIONAL TOUR COMES TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK FEBRUARY 14-26, PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

After a nationwide search of over 3,000 performers, the producers of Bring It On: The Musical have announced the cast for the National Tour, which will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park February 14-26.

“Assembling this extraordinary company has been an incredibly exciting – and thorough – endeavor,” said Tony® Award-winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler. “We found an amazing group that sings, dances, stunts and cheers. They are a talented group of newcomers, led by two dynamic leading ladies. I can't wait for audiences to see them.”Leading the cast are Taylor Louderman and Adrienne Warren. Louderman, playing the role of Campbell, is a 20 year-old newcomer from the University of Michigan. Warren, previously seen in the National Tour of Dreamgirls at the Ahmanson Theatre, portrays Danielle, a role she originated in Bring It On: The Musical’s developmental production at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.

Ryann Redmond, a 2011 graduate of NYU, recreates the role of Bridget that she originated in the Alliance Theatre Production. Elle McLemore (Disney’s “Suite Life on Deck”) plays Eva, and Jason Gotay (Broadway’s Rising Stars and Rent) stars as Randall.

Also starring are Ariana DeBose (Hairspray, “So You Think You Can Dance”) as Nitika, Gregory Haney (Memphis) as La Cienega, Neil Haskell (“So You Think You Can Dance”) as Steven, Janet Krupin as Kylar, Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde) as Skylar and Nick Womack as Twig.

Additional cast members include Calli Alden, Nikki Bohne, Dexter Carr, Shonica Gooden, Haley Hannah, Rod Harrelson, Casey Jamerson, Dominique Johnson, Michael Mindlin, Adrianna Parson, and Bettis Richardson.

The ensemble also features some of the nation’s most skilled competitive cheerleaders. Their combined achievements include over 25 national and 50 team titles in gymnastics and choreography. They were selected in collaboration with Varsity, the global leader in competitive cheerleading. Those members include Antwan Bethea, Danielle Carlacci, Michael Naone-Carter, Courtney Corbeille, Dahlston Delgado, Brooklyn Freitag, Melody Mills, David Ranck, Billie Sue Roe, Sheldon Tucker and Lauren Whitt.Bring It On: The Musical is the explosive new musical comedy that raises the stakes on over-the-top high school rivalries. Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn’t everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about.

Bring It On: The Musical combines an exciting fresh sound, gravity-defying choreography, and a thrilling story to create a total theatrical event worth cheering for.Bring It On: The Musical unites some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway with libretto by Tony® Award-winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony® Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony® Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and music supervision by Tony® and Grammy® Award-winner Alex Lacamoire (Wicked). The production is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights).

Bring It On: The Musical is produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions / Glenn Ross; Beacon Communications /Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons; and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, Executive Producers.

Members of the artistic design team that help bring this production to life are David Korins, Set Designer; Andrea Lauer, Costume Designer; Jason Lyons, Lighting Designer; Brian Ronan, Sound Designer; Charles G. LaPointe, Hair Designer; and Jeff Sugg, Video Designer.

When the musical comedy premiered in its developmental production at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta earlier this year, Wendell Brock of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called Bring It On: The Musical “one high-energy drink with fiercely funny writing, catchy hip-hop tunes and an explosively original mix of singing, acting, dancing and cheer.” Audrey S. Belle of AOL.com raved that Bring It On: The Musical “is guaranteed to be everything you wished for, nothing like you expected, but exactly what you will love!”

To learn more about the cast of Bring It On: The Musical, visit the Facebook page at Facebook.com/BringItOnTheMusical.

DSM 2012 SEASON CONTINUES AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, March 6-18, 2012. The night Rock ‘n’ Roll began, the smash hit Broadway musical is inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. On December 4, 1956, these four young musicians were gathered together by Sam Phillips, the “father of rock ‘n’ roll,” at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. This thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, April 10-22, 2012. Winner of three 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival, this hilarious new production was the biggest hit of the 2010 Broadway season, leaving audiences in stitches night after night. LA CAGE, starring George Hamilton, tells the story of Georges, owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son brings the conservative parents of his fiancée home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly. LA CAGE is a tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay together….stay fabulous…and above all else, stay true to themselves.

RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, April 24-29, 2012. Direct from Broadway, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert returns by popular demand as a subscriber’s special. RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live on stage, including the most complex and challenging songs the Fab Four recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics, this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends.

MEMPHIS, THE MUSICAL, May 15-27, 2012. From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs, and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves, filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical.

MAMMA MIA!, May 29-June 3, 2012. The subscriber’s special features a mother, a daughter, 3 possible dads and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Over 50 million people around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music based on the songs of ABBA that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel good show. Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives. With more productions playing internationally than any other musical, MAMMA MIA is the world’s #1 show.

PETER PAN, STARRING CATHY RIGBY, July 10-22, 2012. Tony Award® nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN. Discover the magic all over again of this two-time Emmy® Award winning and two-time Tony Award® nominated production. The New York Times says, “Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make Peter Pan audiences mesmerized.” Filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook, the legend you thought you knew is now the adventure you never dreamed possible.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley, and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. Direct from Broadway, this magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys’ authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter), with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is also the 2012 State Fair of Texas musical.

Mini-packs of any three or more season shows are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials RAIN and MAMMA MIA! ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP.

In 2013, DSM will continue its 73-year tradition of bringing the Best of Broadway to North Texas, setting the standard in musical theatre entertainment with such terrific straight-from-Broadway musicals as DISNEY’S THE LION KING, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, WICKED, and MARY POPPINS.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 nonprofit theatre company. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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.

As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program.

In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

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

# # #

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 469-363-7371 or email joannholt@gmail.com.

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:54:07 +0000

Direct from Broadway, RAIN Returns!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:56:17 +0000

Backstage at Mamma Mia!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:31:54 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! I wanted to share with you some interesting facts about backstage for Mamma Mia! A special thank you to one of our awesome interns Luke for getting all this info for you all to enjoy! DID YOU KNOW... That each actor/actress goes through at least 4 to 6 costume changes in one show. That most broadway actors come 30 minutes before the show starts and that is called half hour. Backstage there is an area that is directly focused to stretching and yoga, to warm up their bodies for their performances. That every lead role has two under studies and that every role in the musical is backed up by someone else. The actors know every line of the musical, because they never know when they have to fill in for each other. Whenever the ensemble is not on stage, they sing in sound booths on each side of the stage for background vocals. On a national tour, it takes the crew 6 to 8 hours to set up the stage in every city that they go to and it starts the day of the opening show…impressive. The cast flies everywhere unless the next city is 4 hours or less, then they drive in a bus. For Mamma Mia costumes there are crews that clean, iron and sew things everyday so that each costume is fresh for each show. That every lead principal has a person behind stage that is on the wings of the stage just for costume changes. Mamma Mia! is on stage here in Dallas ONLY through Sunday! Check out www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_mammamia.shtm for more details! Don't miss this great show while it's here! -DSM Amanda

DSM Cast Boxes

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:37:56 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! If you wander around the Music Hall here at Fair Park, eventually you’ll come across some delicately lit display cases; and for a musical lover like myself, approaching these shiny beacons of light in the middle of a dim hallway is like discovering a glittering piece of treasure. Each case features a unique show-themed art piece called the Cast Box. In 1994, Dallas Summer Musicals developed a new method of theatrical folk art in the form of these Cast Boxes. Inspired by the tradition of the “Gypsy Robe,” a memorabilia-covered robe created to honor Broadway's seasoned chorus members, the Dallas Summer Musicals Guild wanted to immortalize each production held at the Music Hall. To set this idea into motion, raw materials and suggestions were sent to the then Dallas bound production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The final product surpassed all expectations, and it remains a dazzling, detailed symbol of the show. Today, cast members are given a few raw materials and complete creative freedom in the construction of their show’s Cast Box. Knowing that the boxes are auctioned at Curtain Call, they are always happy to participate. Curtain Call proceeds benefit the DSM Guild’s meal program and the Seats for Kids series, which gives at-risk children the opportunity to attend theatrical performances free of charge. According to President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins, “To our knowledge, no other theater does this. It’s a very special program.” Since the original by PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in 1994, there have been more than 85 Cast Boxes created by the best of Broadway, exclusively for Dallas Summer Musicals. Over the years, these priceless pieces of art have become highly collectable. To get a better idea of what the Cast Box is all about, we’ve included a quick video of the most recent addition to our collection, contributed by the wonderful cast of MEMPHIS. Next time you’re at the Music Hall, be sure to take a closer look at these one-of-a-kind treasures! -DSM Haley [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQE9SVNoIE]

If Dallas Dominated the Tonys

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:06:22 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Well, The Tony Awards were last night, and there’s been plenty of conversation here at the Music Hall as we recap our favorite moments. A few of my personal favorites include: -Show opening with “Hello” by 2011’s winner for Best Musical, THE BOOK OF MORMON - NEWSIES performance, mainly Ryan Steele's fouettes -NPH’s SPIDER-MAN rig malfunction (that show will never hear the end of it.) -Nina Aryanda’s acceptance speech, particularly her first-crush confession to Christopher Plummer, a.k.a. Captain Von Trapp The Grand Champion of the evening, ONCE, took home a total of 8 Tonys. Although I have not yet seen this show, I get the feeling that the awards were well deserved. Last week, Dallas Summer Musicals held a “Tony Awards: Predict the Winners” contest. We decided it would be fun to gather information from all the submissions, and present to you… drum roll please… IF DALLAS DOMINATED THE TONY’S Best Play: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Best Musical: NEWSIES *Best Score: NEWSIES *Best Play Revival: ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN *Best Musical Revival: THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS *Best Choreography: CHRISTOPHER GATELLI, NEWSIES Best Actor – Play: PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, DEATH OF A SALESMAN Best Actress – Play: TRACIE BENNETT, END OF THE RAINBOW Best Orchestrations: WILLIAM DAVID BROHN & CHRISTOPHER JAHNKE, THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS Best Actor – Musical: JEREMY JORDAN, NEWSIES *Best Actress – Musical: AUDRA MCDONALD, THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS *Best Featured Actor – Play: CHRISTIAN BORLE, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER *Best Featured Actress – Play: JUDITH LIGHT, OTHER DESERT CITIES Best Featured Actor – Musical: MICHAEL CERVERIS, EVITA *Best Featured Actress – Musical: JUDY KAYE, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT *Best Direction – Play: MIKE NICHOLS, ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN Best Direction – Musical: JEFF CALHOUN, NEWSIES * - accurate prediction According to Dallas voters, NEWSIES should have come out on top, with 5 Tonys, including Best Musical. Dallas agreed with Tony voters in 9 out of 17 categories. We received close to 50 contest entries, and nobody made a perfect prediction. However, congratulations to our contest WINNER: Chelsey Hall - She accurately predicted the winners in 13 out of 17 categories! Way to go Chelsey! ONE MORE THING- It’s not too late to win PETER PAN tickets! Put your Tony Awards show knowledge to good use, and take our follow-up quiz: www.dallassummermusicals.org/specialevents.shtm . The contest ends Wednesday, June 13 at 11:59pm. GOOD LUCK! -DSM Haley

Peter Pan Flies Into Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:27:55 +0000

CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN! THE ULTIMATE FAMILY EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas, TX…Tony® Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN! Discover the magic all over again of this two time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony® Award nominated production, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park July 10-22, 2012. PETER PAN is a unique, family friendly attraction of spectacle and fantasy. The thrill of flying, timeless magical moments and a captivating hook will mesmerize young and old alike. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed possible…Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN! Broadway star Brent Barrett (Annie Get Your Gun, Dance a Little Closer, Grand Hotel, Candide, Brigadoon, and West Side Story) and Kim Crosby (Cinderella in the original Into the Woods) will play Mr. Darling/Captain Hook and Mrs. Darling, respectively, in the new national tour of the musical PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby. Tickets, priced from $15-$75, are on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center in Dallas. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. PETER PAN is produced by McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Nederlander Presentations, Albert Nocciolino in association with Larry Earl Payton, Michael Filerman, Heni Koenigsberg and La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts. Direction by Glenn Casale who directed the 1999 Tony® Award nominated and Emmy winning PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby. Mr. Casale has been a resident at the California Musical Theatre for almost 23 seasons where he has directed over 550 shows. The flying sequence choreographer is Paul Rubin, "The Fly Guy", has choreographed some of the most memorable flying sequences from the Tony® Award winning Broadway production of Wicked to Cathy Rigby's Emmy Award winning DVD of PETER PAN. The creative team includes Patti Columbo (Choreographer), Keith Levenson (Musical Director), Michael Gilliam (Lighting Design), Julie Ferrin (Sound Design), Sean Boyd (Fight Director) and Julia Flores (Casting Director). McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (Tom McCoy & Cathy Rigby - Executive Producers) Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby are beginning their 17th season as Executive Producers of the McCoy Rigby Entertainment Series at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Since the 1994/95 Season, McCoy Rigby has produced over 75 plays, musicals, concerts, dramas, and comedies. MRE has also produced several Broadway productions and National Tours including PETER PAN, Seussical the Musical both starring Cathy Rigby, Jesus Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson, Camelot formerly starring Michael York and through 2008, starring Lou Diamond Phillips, and Happy Days, The Musical.

Since 1990, PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby has made four stops on Broadway, garnering four Tony® Nominations including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. Other credits include the A&E Television Network Premiere of “PETER PAN,” which received 4 Emmy Award Nominations and one Emmy Award; “The Historic All Star Concert for Pope John Paul II” at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and the award-winning documentary on balancing wellness, titled “Faces of Recovery.”

“PETER PAN sparkles with fairy dust! Rigby has mastered the boy who wouldn’t grow up.” – Washington Post.

http://cathyrigbyispeterpan.com/ PETER PAN will run July 10-22, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, and there is no evening performance Sunday, July 22. DSM 2012 season shows continue with THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. ### For media information, including jpegs, B-roll, to schedule an interview, or request reviewer’s passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

FROM THE BACK ROW: The Intern's Perspective

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:11:34 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prgdwKGuVzQ]

All In A Day's Work - Introduction

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:38:45 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! I’d like to introduce our 1^st Annual “All In A Day’s Work” daily blog from the 2012 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Best Actor & Actress while they are in New York City participating in The National High School Musical Theater Awards! Michael and Emily, our winners from this year’s DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA), will be blogging daily about their experience in NYC and will keep you up to date about the awesome events they get to participate in! [caption id="attachment_421" align="aligncenter" width="429"] Emily Emmett and Michael Williams with their awards for Best Actress and Best Actor.[/caption] How did they get to go to New York City and participate in the National HSMTA? Because Michael won Best Actor and Emily won Best Actress, they continue on to compete against other winners across the country. What is the National HSMTA? According to their blog, “The NHS Musical Theater Awards will focus national attention on the importance of theater arts education and heighten the profile of communities and school districts around the United States that provide musical theater study in their curriculum and offer student productions as part of their school activities programming. It will also recognize the regional professional theaters participating in this national awards presentation. Two winners from each local event will be eligible to participate in the New York finals competition.” What will they do in New York City? Other than rehearsals for the actual awards show and their performance for the judges, tomorrow they will be eating at the legendary Sardi’s restaurant then they will see Nice Work If You Can Get It, and to top it off, a talkback with the cast following the show! They will be coached 1 on 1 with industry professionals, have dinner with a speaker from NYU, get to interview with Telsey Casting, and of course, perform in the 2012 National HSMTA! When are the National HSMTA? The Awards are on Monday, June 25^th at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. 60 talented teens perform songs & medleys from the roles that won them top honors at their local musical theater awards competitions. In this one night only engagement on Broadway, the race is on for the "Jimmy Award" for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor. A panel of industry brass will score performers, winners will be chosen and college scholarships and other prizes will be announced live! Check back here on our blog tomorrow for Emily & Michael’s first post about their first day in New York! I am so proud and excited for these 2 extraordinary performers! I wish them the best of luck! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 1

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:02:27 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Day 1 in New York City for Emily & Michael (the Best Actress & Best Actor from the 2012 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards) was yesterday, and what a great day it was for them both! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their first day!

FROM EMILY: Finally made it to NYC!!! Ate pizza tonight for dinner with all the wonderful kids and then rehearsed all together for a while. Awesome day!! FROM MICHAEL: Today was a big day. We started with an early flight and activities went into full swing right when we landed. Me and Emily were in shock from all the cameras walking around and documenting our journey. Although today was a long day, we know this will be an experience we will never forget! More pictures! See the pictures below from their preparation for the trip and their 1^st day! [caption id="attachment_427" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Emily’s last voice lesson before New York with the wonderful Mrs. Rebecca Winston!! She is so excited and ready for the Jimmy's![/caption] [caption id="attachment_428" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Emily and Michael ready for takeoff Broadway bound![/caption] [caption id="attachment_429" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Michael and Emily get to know their fellow actors from across the country at the welcome reception and pizza party at the National HSMTA. We hope they didn’t get too comfortable - rehearsal started right after dinner![/caption] Today is Day 2 for Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Today they will be in rehearsals for the Opening Number, Medleys, and Finale for the National HSMTA show. They will also be coached 1 on 1 for their solos! After a hard day’s work, they will be in for a treat! Dinner at Sardi’s, a picture of ALL of the contestants in Times Square, and a great show: Nice Work If You Can Get It! To top off their day, they get to have a talkback with the cast after the show! (Make sure you subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don't forget to confirm it via an email we'll send to you!) We’re so excited for them here, and a little jealous, and we hope they have the best day! Stay tuned tomorrow for their thoughts about their day! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: What You Can Expect!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:25:48 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Here’s an overview of what is coming up From The Back Row: The Interns Perspective. In the next couple of weeks, we will be doing a lot of exciting things around the Music Hall at Fair Park and we want you to be with us every step of the way. As we get closer to the opening night of PETER PAN, the excitement and the anticipation of the show is growing. Coming soon you will be able to watch our personal sit down interviews with not only Cathy Rigby (Peter Pan), but Brent Barrett (Captain Hook), the amazing Darling Children and many other cast members. Along with a personal video tour of the Music Hall and backstage area, you will also be able to see a special time lapse of the PETER PAN crew setting up the stage and getting ready for the opening night. We will be tweeting live (@dsmusicals ) from Good Morning Texas, NBC, FOX 4, CBS and WFAA during interviews with selected cast members and we will keep you updated when all of this are airing. We are looking forward to the adventures that are coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park. We’ll also take an in-depth look at what Dallas Summer Musicals does to prepare for the arrival of a show, and everything that goes on during its run at the Music Hall at Fair Park in a piece called, ShowBUSINESS. Did you know that the Music Hall made its debut on October 10, 1925? Nineteen TWENTY FIVE!!! Personally, we think that’s incredible! Dallas Summer Musicals began in 1941, with Opera Under the Stars in Fair Park’s Band Shell. Ten years later, DSM productions moved out of the heat, and into the newly air-conditioned Music Hall at Fair Park. I am determined to wipe the dust off of our star-studded past and bring it back into the spotlight with Haley’s Hall History. The list of “greats” who have graced the Music Hall at Fair Park's stage over its 87-year span is fascinating- Judy Garland, Maurice Chevalier, Carol Channing and Liza Minnelli- to name a few… Due to the random nature of our day-to-day tasks, Luke and I are usually pinballing around the office. We have the privilege of mingling with the wonderful DSM staff, and we think it’s time for you to meet them! Not only will we introduce you to everybody behind the curtain here at DSM, but we’ll also sit down with DSM President, Michael Jenkins in A Minute with Michael. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE, as we bring the magic straight FROM THE BACK ROW, to you! -DSM Luke & Haley

All In A Day's Work - Day 2

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:27:17 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Day 2 in New York City for Emily & Michael was yesterday, and what a memorable day it was for them both! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their second day! FROM EMILY: Had such a great and busy day today. Started the day with a quick review of the opening number and went into dance rehearsals. After that we ate a quick lunch and had a talk back with some of the vocal coaches. I was coached by the wonderful Liz Calloway (she was the singing voice of Anastasia)! We also worked on our medleys today and after all that rehearsal we went on a huge party bus. It wasn't just a bus, however, it was love entertainment! They planted people in the street who would sing, rap, or play instruments. We then ate a Sardis and then got to watch Nice Work If You Can Get It with Matthew Broadrick and Kelli O'hara!! It was so amazing and fun!! Today was an awesome day!! Can't wait for tomorrow!! FROM MICHAEL: Today was absolutely spectacular! We started early with an 8am breakfast and went straight into rehearsal. We worked on our solo today and I am so lucky to get to work with Leslie Odom Jr. who is currently starring on the hit NBC show "Smash." As rehearsals came to a close, we changed our clothes for a big evening. We went to the famous restaurant "Sardi's" just off time square. And Emily will agree with me, they had the BEST cheesecake. We also got the opportunity to meet Michael McGrath who is currently playing "Cookie McGee" in "Nice Work If You Can Get It" (the show we were going to see later that evening!). To end the day, we got to see the the hysterically funny "Nice Work If You Can Get It" with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O' Hara. After the show, we had the opportunity to ask the cast questions. Below: Kelli O'Hara on the left, Judy Kaye in the middle, and Estelle Parsons on the right. Today is Day 3 for Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! And what a day it’s going to be! From staging the finale and the medleys to 1 on 1 solo coaching, their day is full of musical theatre! Other than lunch and dinner, there isn’t much time to breathe until 10p EST tonight! I’m excited to hear about their day today – check back here tomorrow for our next update! Want to get the blog even faster? Subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you! Have a great Friday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 3

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:03:26 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Day 3 in New York City for Emily & Michael was yesterday, and what a hard working day they both had! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their third day! FROM EMILY: Today we got up early again and ate breakfast and then went on rehearsing the opening number! We then split up into our coaching groups again and worked on our songs. Liz Callaway even sang a song from Anastasia for us. She sounded absolutely stunning! We worked on our solos and then staged our medley numbers. Mine is filled with characters that all stand for girl power which I thought was really cool. Next at lunch we had a truly special guest: Christian Borle who just won a tony for "Peter and the Starcatchers"'!!! He also stars on the hit TV series Smash!! He answered all of our questions about the business and was so down to Earth and funny!! He even took pictures with us!! After lunch we rehearsed even more and then participated in a dress parade where we tried on our costumes for the directors. To end the day, we had about a three hour dance rehearsal and just as we were finishing up, Michael Feinstein walked in and played some Gershwin music which was really cool for me since some of it was from Crazy for You. Had a great busy day today! Excited for tomorrow!!! FROM MICHAEL: Today was pretty intense. We worked with our solo coaches for a total of 7 hours today to perfect our solos. But, it was also rewarding because we got to meet Christian Borle and Michael Feinstein! Today is Day 4 for Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Today will be just as difficult and demanding as yesterday, so they’re in for a long day! I’m excited to hear about their day today – check back here tomorrow for our next update! Want to get the blog even faster? Subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you! Have a great Saturday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 4

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:21:14 +0000

Good afternoon DSM Fans! Day 4 in New York City for Emily & Michael was yesterday, and what a nerve-racking day they both had! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their third day! FROM EMILY: Today was crazy. Right off the bat we had to sing our solos in front of everyone and they went well! Here's a picture of Michael singing his amazing solo in front of everyone! After watching 60 amazingly talented kids we all split up to work on medleys. We then ended the day with dance rehearsal. Excited and nervous for the judges tomorrow! FROM MICHAEL: Today was nerve-racking, but less taxing. We started the day with all 60 contestants singing their solo in front of everyone to practice before the judges see it tomorrow. I caught a picture of Emily singing her solo. She nailed it! After watching everyone's solos, we all broke into our medley groups to fine to the new choreography. Then as the day closes, I had to grab a picture of the Empire State Building. :) Today is Day 5 for Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Tomorrow is The Jimmys, and they are going to have a fun filled day of rehearsal for the show today, and most importantly, they perform their solos in front of the judges this afternoon. I’m excited to hear about their day today – check back here tomorrow for our next update! Want to get the blog even faster? Subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you! Have a great Sunday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 5

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:27:42 +0000

Good afternoon DSM Fans! Day 5 in New York City for Emily & Michael was yesterday, and this was the most stressful day they’ve had so far, according to them! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their third day! FROM EMILY: Today was crazy busy. That's why I don't have any pictures! Today we started the day with a three hour dance rehearsal and then we ran the whole show so we could get a feel for the pacing. After that we had to each perform our solos for the judge panel and our medleys. It was very nerve-racking but I think I did well. I didn't get to see Michael but I'm sure he nailed his solo as usual! Tomorrows the big day: Broadway. Can't believe I get to perform on a Broadway stage tomorrow! FROM MICHAEL: Wow, today was probably the most stressful day. But, we got to see all our other nominees’ solos and medleys. Tomorrow is the big day! We will be at Minskoff Theatre by 9:15am tomorrow to put the finishing touches on our award show. I think tomorrow will be more fun than stressful. We have all finished with the serious judging and now we can relax and enjoy ourselves. Through the rehearsal process, I've gotten to know another Texas best actor nominee, Drew Shafranek. Texas is heavily represented at the Jimmy's and we're all very supportive of each other. Break-a-leg guys! :) Here’s a special sneak peek of the opening number for tonight’s awards show! Today is Day 6 for Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Tonight is The Jimmys at the Minskoff Theatre (aka home of The Lion King), and they are going to have a fun filled day of rehearsal for the show tonight! I’m excited to hear about their day today – check back here tomorrow for our next update! Want to get the blog even faster? Subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you! Have a great Monday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 6

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:16:55 +0000

Good afternoon DSM Fans! Day 6 in New York City for Emily & Michael was yesterday, and it was the day they had been waiting for – the awards show day! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their third day! FROM EMILY: Yesterday was crazy. We woke up and headed straight for the theatre. I will remember yesterday for the rest of my life. Stepping on the stage and not just any stage, a Broadway stage was such a dream for me. I got a little emotional about it all. We rehearsed all day on the stage to work on spacing and they put mics on all 60 of us! The mics were awesome but were probably worth about 6000 dollars so we had to be very careful with them! Before I knew it, it was time to perform. Singing on a Broadway stage has been a dream of mine since I was little, so being able to reach that dream at eighteen is such a blessing. I can't believe it's all over but I have learned so much and I have made so many new friends. I will never ever forget this experience. FROM MICHAEL: What a day to remember! Although Emily and I were not the winners, I had no feeling of remorse when the winner was announced. I was so proud and happy because I was among people who were so talented and happy to be a part of such a great group. Now we all branch out and study our craft to improve our skills and one day, maybe, we'll all meet again. I'm so blessed to be a part of this and I will deeply miss all the close friendships I made in such a short time. Today, Michael, Emily, and the other ladies and gents who competed in the National HSMTA are traveling home after a morning of meetings. What a fantastic experience they have had! We are already anticipating next year’s DSM HSMTA and The National HSMTA as well! Just so you know, here are the winners from the National HSMTA:

Best Actress: Elizabeth Romero for her role as Lola in DAMN YANKEES. She is from Huntington Beach High School Academy for the Performing Arts and comes to nationals through the John Raid Awards in Fullerton, California.
Best Actor: Joshua Grosso for his role as Raul in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. He is from the American heritage school in Tampa, Florida and comes to nationals through Broadway Star of the Future.

Can’t get enough of all of this? Check out BROADWAY OR BUST, a 3-part documentary filmed by PBS that will air on Sundays starting Sept. 9^th! PBS cameras followed all 60 students through their journey this past week! A VERY special thank you to Emily Emmett and Michael Williams for providing us with their thoughts & pictures! We are all proud of you both and hope that you will remember this experience for the rest of your life! Bravo! Have a great week! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: Dungeon Diaries

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:57:19 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! There are so many great things about working at Dallas Summer Musicals. One of our favorites is the opportunity to explore the Music Hall at Fair Park, especially... The Dungeon. It's like a giant time capsule, preserving DSM’s extraordinary past. We snapped a few pictures and created a slide show just for you. Enjoy! [slideshow] -DSM Luke & Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: 4th OF JULY PARADE RECAP

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:40:28 +0000

Hey DSM FANS, I hope everyone had an awesome 4^th of July and getting excited about Cathy Rigby starring as PETER PAN opening tomorrow night here at the Music Hall at Fair Park. This past Wednesday I was able to participate in The Park Cities 4^th of July Parade presented by The Rotary Club. It was truly a rewarding experience being able to see all of the thousands of people who were cheering on our float and joyfully screaming out DSM’s name. This experience made me realize how lucky I was and how special this internship really is and continues to be. Here are some of the pictures from the parade and I hope to see all of you this month as Cathy Rigby stars as PETER PAN at The Music Hall at Fair Park. [slideshow] -DSM Luke

FROM THE BACK ROW: Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN Load In

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:36:31 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Yesterday Cathy Rigby as PETER PAN officially landed in Dallas and we are so excited for everyone to get to the Music Hall at Fair Park to see this magical show. As the tour trucks arrived, the crew went straight to work on unloading the props. Haley and I could not resist but take a look inside the auditorium to see all the action. The load in seemed chaotic, but everyone had a specific job and the process of transforming the empty stage into Neverland was sensational to watch. Also, this morning the music of Peter Pan came alive and soared through the Music Hall at Fair Park as the orchestra rehearsed for tonight’s opening. It’s going to be an amazing show and we are looking forward to seeing Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby soar above the stage. It’s going to be a magical night! -DSM Luke and Haley P.S. Stay tuned because tomorrow is a big day! We’ll be interviewing the cast, and we'll be joined by a special guest: DSM’s HSMTAs Best Actress, Emily Emmett!

FROM THE BACK ROW: She's Flying!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:35:38 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Yesterday, Luke and I were given the chance to take part in PETER PAN media day here at the Music Hall at Fair Park! We got to interview cast members and watch as Cathy Rigby gave flying lessons to a few lucky people, including our very own: Michael Jenkins. [caption id="attachment_546" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Michael Jenkins & Cathy Rigby[/caption] We found out that Emily Emmett (named Best Actress at DSM's High School Musical Theatre Awards) grew up watching the video of Cathy Rigby as PETER PAN, and she has also played Peter. Needless to say, she is a huge fan of both the show and Cathy. So what did we do? We invited her to hang out with us for the day! [caption id="attachment_547" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Luke, Emily & Haley[/caption]After finishing our cast interviews [Coming Soon!], we headed for the theater to take in some good, old-fashioned flying lessons. As we opened the theater doors, a starry blue sky expanded across our horizon. The sight caused Emily to squeak, “Oh my gosh! Stars!” as she hurried through the doorway. Inside, Cathy was teaching a few of our local news anchors how to soar high above the stage. Following her instruction to “think lovely thoughts,” and a shower of fairy dust, they were hoisted into the air in a quick fluid motion. It seems the secret to flying as gracefully as Cathy is remembering to arch your back. – For those of you who plan on flying to Neverland in the near future… Between lessons, Cathy moved to the opposite side of the stage for interviews. My ears perked up when I heard her mention the DSM High School Musical Theater Awards. (Back in May, Cathy presented Emily with the award for Best Actress.) Emily and I inched closer and closer until we were leaning against the orchestra pit, intently listening and a little in awe of our proximity to the Tony Award® nominee. Eventually, I was told to “take Emily up there!” Onstage, we shuffled through a pile of fairy dust, took a closer look at the flying system’s ropes and pulleys, and Emily gave her best PETER PAN pose for a photo. Next thing I know, Cathy is waving her over! They stood arm in arm as Cathy showered her with praise and told bystanders that she’s glad she didn’t have to compete with someone as talented as Emily is. Emily answered with a very astonished “thank you,” and then voiced her mutual admiration. [caption id="attachment_548" align="aligncenter" width="404"] Emily and Cathy Rigby[/caption][caption id="attachment_549" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Emily and Cathy Rigby[/caption]Much to everyone’s surprise, Cathy gave an impromptu demonstration of Peter Pan’s audience fly-over. In a flash, she launched into the air. As my eyes followed a sparkling rain of fairy dust from Cathy, down to the empty seats, I discovered Emily- alone in the center of the downpour- with her palms up, eyes squinting at the sky, and a smile that could outshine Tinker Bell any day. -DSM Haley

HEAR WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN!!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:25:04 +0000

Hey DSM Fans,

Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN has really soared into new heights here in Dallas. Here are some of the outstanding reviews that this timeless and magical show has received.

"Cathy Rigby still flying high in Dallas Summer Musicals' 'Peter Pan'" -Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News “For full review, click here.”

"This tour was a fresh new look at the classic musical." -Sten-Erik Armitage, The Column

“For full review, click here.”

"The charming and pixie-like Cathy Rigby plays Peter Pan with all the youthful exuberance of the gymnastics sweetheart that she still is." -The Flash List “For full review, click here.”

"It doesn't matter if you have seen 'Peter Pan' a dozen times before, this production is a must see. The score is hummable, the dances are fresh and updated and the show just makes you feel good."

-Shari Stern, White Rock Lake Weekly “For full review, click here.”

"Peter Pan is a wonderful family show. The kids will just love it and adults will thoroughly enjoy it as well." -Gregory Sullivan Isaacs, Theater Jones “For full review, click here.”

Hope all of you will take part in this exciting experience and discover the magic all over again as Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN here at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

-DSM Luke

FROM THE BACK ROW: Emily Emmett's NYC Experience

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:29:51 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! DSM's High School Musical Theatre Award-winning Best Actress Emily Emmett just got back from competing on Broadway at the 2012 Jimmy™ Awards in New York City! Watch as she tells us all about it: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckqYv_l5dI8] -DSM Haley & Luke

FROM THE BACK ROW: The Darling Children

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:34:01 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! We’re in our second week of Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN and we’re loving every second! The show is spectacular. And we know it’s spectacular because children are sitting completely still and adults are proclaiming their belief in fairies! It’s the epitome of fun for the whole family. [caption id="attachment_604" align="aligncenter" width="478"] The Darling Children
(From L to R, Back: Emily Emmett, Haley, Luke - Front: Colin, Julia, Cade, Krista)[/caption] We were so excited to hear that the Darling Children made time to sit down and talk to us! Here’s what happened next: Krista Buccellato (Wendy Darling) Cade Canon Ball (John Darling), age 11 Julia Massey (Michael Darling), age 10 Colin Wilson (understudy for Michael), age 8 Inside the theater, the four cast members settle into their very own velvety teal seat. Cade, Julia and Colin gently test the limits of their chair’s rocking capability and appear to be very satisfied, saying, “We never get to sit out here.” Where are you from? Krista – Floral Park, NY Cade – Lake Tahoe Julia – Southern California How do you go to school while you’re on tour with a Broadway show? Krista Graduated from Emerson College with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Cade & Julia are happy to be on a summer break from the online learning program, K¹². Cade, Julia and Colin tell us about Sonya, their devoted “tutor and wrangler.” The kids fondly explain that Sonya makes sure they’re in the right place, at the right time, at all times! Cade confidently adds that Sonya keeps him out of trouble. What was the first Broadway musical you saw / you were in? Julia: To see - Wicked Cade: To see - Disney’s Mary Poppins / to be in - Disney’s Broadway tour of Mary Poppins (as Michael Banks). What a coincidence! Krista: To see – Annie – in which James Leo Ryan (Smee) played Rooster! Krista said it was very special to realize she was starring in a production with someone from the very first show she ever saw. (Another great coincidence!) Who do you idolize? Who inspired you to become an actor? Julia: “I know it may sound weird, but Bette Midler. I love her.” Cade: Jim Carey Krista: Kellie O’hara and Cathy Rigby –“I grew up watching the video of Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, so to actually be on tour with her is surreal.” Colin: Hagrid (played by Robbie Coltrane in the Harry Potter films). Cade and Julia chime in to tell us about Colin’s Harry Potter Legos. Colin is very proud of his collection, and he was also very excited to tell us all about his Harry Potter wand collection, which includes a wand he bought at Olivanders. It’s summer in Texas. What do you think of this weather? All: It’s HOT. Cade, is Canon Ball actually part of you real name? Cade: Yes, I get asked that a lot! When I go to auditions, I have to take a copy of my birth certificate because they never believe it’s really my name! Krista, do you ever get all of the fairy dust out of your hair? Krista: (laughing) No! There’s fairy dust everywhere. It’s in my hotel room, it’s in my car, it’s even in my apartment back home. Sometimes we feel like monkeys because the cast and crew will come up to us and start picking it out of our hair, its funny. Julia: [In the 2^nd act] when I lay in the cradle, there’s a whole pile of fairy dust [waiting for Cathy to use minutes later] and sometimes I’ll sit up and the whole side of my face is covered in fairy dust. I’m like the Fairy Dust Monster. Krista: Yeah, we all need a signal or something, like baseball players use (she moves her index finger from nose to chin and back, as if signaling) just to let someone know they have fairy dust all over their face. Julia, when you lead the dancing in "Ugh-A-Wug," I overheard the little boy behind me say, “Michaels my age! I could do that too!” Julia: (her eyebrows shoot up) Really?? Wow. How does it feel to be a role model at 10 years old? Krista, Cade & Colin smile proudly at Julia, eager to hear her answer Julia: (Still in shock, her face lit up with a huge smile) I don’t even know what to say! It’s my first time to hear that! Are you looking forward to any particular cities on the tour? Cade: Dallas! Because there’s a Six Flags here, right? And I really want to go to Six Flags. Krista, Cade, Julia and Colin were a pleasure to talk to. Their real-life sibling dynamic seems to mirror that of the Darling children, and it’s obvious that they care for each other. They all have a very bright future ahead of them! So come see The Darling Children with Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN, now through July 22^nd! -DSM Haley & Luke

Dallas Summer Musicals presents CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN Generously Supported by the Jean Baptiste “Tad” Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:38:07 +0000

DSM Special Events and Community Outreach Media Contact: Sharon Adams ACPR 972.773.9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Contact: Melissa Ogden Director of Development 214-413-3961 mogden@dallassummermusicals.org

(Dallas, TX - July 9, 2012) Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) announces The Dallas Foundation has given a generous donation to DSM in support of CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN, which plays Tuesday, July 10 through 22, 2012 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. “We are honored The Dallas Foundation is partnering with DSM in presenting this wonderful production. Support from individuals, corporations, and organizations like The Dallas Foundation help make it possible for DSM to bring world-class, family-friendly touring Broadway productions like PETER PAN to our community and keep ticket prices affordable and accessible to a diverse audience.” “Dallas Summer Musicals is an ideal recipient for a grant from the Jean Baptiste "Tad" Adoue III Fund at The Dallas Foundation,” said Mary Jalonick, president of The Dallas Foundation. “Mr. Adoue was active in theatrical and musical circles for four decades. His passion for the performing arts in Dallas lives on through his philanthropic legacy including this grant to bring PETER PAN to Dallas audiences this summer.” About PETER PAN: Tony^®Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN! Discover the magic all over again of this two time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony^®Award nominated production, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals and a grant from The Dallas Foundation. PETER PAN is a unique, family friendly attraction of spectacle and fantasy. The thrill of flying, timeless magical moments and a captivating hook will mesmerize young and old alike. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed possible…Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN! Tickets, priced from $15-$75, are on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center in Dallas. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com . For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, and there is no evening performance Sunday, July 22. DSM 2012 season shows continue with THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY, October 2-21, 2012. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals and the 2012 season, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org . Please see the attached press release for more information on this production of PETER PAN. For media information, including jpegs, B-roll, to schedule an interview, or request reviewer’s passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371. About Dallas Summer Musicals As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. * DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony^® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Awards are given in 15 categories, as well as scholarships. * DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. * DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. * Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. * The Associate Producers is the young professionals group supporting DSM. * The DSM Guild welcomes production cast and companies with a party in their honor after opening night and much more. * Kids Club is a free event offering exciting activities, special events, backstage tours and informational exchanges about certain shows. Children gain an interest, knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. * Discover Theatre is specifically for children in grades K-6 and is designed to entertain, educate and empower young people in elementary school. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Season sponsors are American Airlines, WFAA Channel 8 ABC, Texas Instruments, The Dallas Morning News and metroPCS. Get updates and news through our social media web sites here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasSummerMusicals Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmusicals YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dsmusicals Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/dallas-summer-musicals/4f204f6b0cd6445b05407d98 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dsmusicals WordPress: http://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com

WFAA To Broadcast DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards on July 28th!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:20:21 +0000

WFAA-TV TO BROADCAST DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS SPECIAL ON JULY 28

1-Hour Local Program Features Performances From Among the 30 Participating North Texas High School Theater Arts Programs Thursday, July 19, 2012…Dallas, Texas…The judges made their decisions, and the results are in! Now it is time to relive an evening of awards from some of Texas’ most talented theater arts students. On May 5, the Music Hall at Fair Park hosted a star-studded extravaganza for actors, actresses, costume designers, staging, crew and orchestra members, and others from the many high schools competing for scholarships and top honors in the inaugural Dallas Summer Musicals’ High School Musical Theater Awards. For the talented Texas high school theater students that participated, as well as their teachers, friends and families, it was an evening they may never forget. Structured in similar fashion to Broadway’s famed Tony Awards, show business veterans and community celebrities came together to spotlight the achievements of high school students and their school’s musical theatre programs. WFAA cameras were there to capture the evening, and spotlight performances from many of the nominated high schools. On Saturday, July 28, at 2 p.m. WFAA will broadcast a 1-hour special hosted by News 8 anchor Shon Gables who served as the evening’s emcee. The program also features appearances by community supporters and guest presenters including former Olympic gymnast and stage legend, Cathy Rigby. “The high school performers and support personnel who work on these productions are dedicated and talented, and deserve tremendous recognition for their work,” said Mike Devlin, president and general manager of WFAA. “We are pleased to provide this opportunity to share their creative efforts with the community in the form of a local television special,” said Devlin, who served as one of the evening’s awards presenters. Throughout the year, three judges visited each school and judged the performers in 15 categories. Each school’s performance was evaluated by a panel of judges who are all working professionals in the areas of entertainment, arts and theatre education, arts administration, talent management and production design. The accounting firm of Grant-Thornton tabulated ballots. The top scoring schools in each category were nominated as finalists.

“This television broadcast will be an opportunity for everyone across our community to relive and share the excitement that students and adults alike experienced at the Music Hall on awards night,” said Tracy Jordan, executive director of the Dallas Summer Musicals’ High School Musical Theatre Awards. “There’s no doubt that many of these extraordinarily talented student performers accepting awards on the DSM stage today will be our stars of tomorrow!”

The WFAA broadcast spotlights songs from musicals including some of Broadway’s best-loved productions such as “Hairspray,” “Anything Goes,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Crazy for You,” “Cinderella,” “The 25th Annual PutnamCountySpelling Bee” and more, all performed by North Texas high school theater arts students from Aledo to Waxahachie and other schools in-between.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0hrOW79sJs]

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WFAA is part of Belo Corp. (BLC), one of the nation’s largest pure-play, publicly-traded television companies, that owns and operates 20 television stations (nine in the top 25 markets) and their associated Web sites. Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and the CW, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households in 15 highly-attractive markets. Belo stations rank first or second in nearly all of their local markets. Additional information is available at www.belo.com or by contacting Dave Muscari, WFAA vice president/product development at 214-977-6490.

FROM THE BACK ROW: A Minute With Michael

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:35:44 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! I sat down to chat with Dallas Summer Musicals’ President and Managing Director, THE Michael Jenkins. I love talking to Michael because he has SO MANY wonderful stories, and I get to pick his brain about The Music Hall, DSM and Broadway in general. There is a lot of information about him on our website, so I decided to go the “Getting to Know You” route, and ask Michael a very random assortment of questions. Before we get started, here’s a brief summary of DSM’s legacy of leaders: 1945 – The first of three men, who have guided Dallas Summer Musicals for most of its fabled history, to take control of the theater was Charles R. Meeker. Meeker served as mentor to two young men - Tom Hughes and Michael Jenkins in the 1940's and 1950's. 1961 – Meeker resigned his post to produce shows at the new Six Flags Over Texas, taking a young usher and assistant named Michael Jenkins with him. Tom Hughes, then the house manager at the Music Hall, took over. During his long tenure at the helm of the Summer Musicals, Hughes became nationally recognized as one of the most astute and successful producers of musical theatre in the country. He was also one of the most likable and congenial figures you might ever meet in or outside the world of theatre. 1994 – Following the untimely death of DSM’s beloved Hughes, Michael Jenkins answered a call to help save the theatre. He quickly put together a season for the summer of 1995, intending to simply get the theater “up and going” before handing it off to others, but lucky for us, he’s still here! (The above information was taken from the DSM History page on our website) You travel a lot, what’s your favorite destination? Australia, I’ve been there 38 times. And Tokyo, it’s so clean and refreshing …and I really like sushi. Book? The Bible Movie? Planes, Trains & Automobiles -it reminds me of my life. Musician? James Taylor Food? Chicken Fried Steak Favorite Dallas Restaurant? NYC? Dallas – Al Biernats, The Mansion and PARIGI (and Tei-An for sushi) NYC - Frankie & Johnnie’s – “I’ve done more deals there on the back of a napkin, than you can imagine!” Sport? Basketball (Mavs) and Baseball (Rangers) Favorite Broadway show and why? People ask me that every day… usually one we’re producing or presenting! [Michael started coming to the musicals at 8 years old] If you can’t pick a favorite, are there any shows that have a special meaning? Flower Drum Song – When I was 8 years old, I stayed with my grandma over the summer. It was so hot that she wouldn’t let me go outside. That summer, we listened to the music of Flower Drum Song and I learned every song. I even drew a picture of the stage and all the scenery that I imagined while listening to it. Actually, we just found it! It’s off getting framed as we speak. [Michael never would have imagined that later he’d produce the Broadway production and the national tour] If you could stay a certain age forever, what would it be? – 39 – If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Walk on a tight wire in the circus If you could be any fictional character, which would you choose? Mickey Mouse Do you have any hobbies? I collect Disney ceramics. I have the largest collection outside of Disney at 1,942 pieces. My collection once belonged to Walt’s secretary, Lucille Martin. [When the Disney ceramics were made, Walt always got the very first one, or the #1s. The #2s went to Roy. Walt’s daughters got #3 & #4. And Walt gave his secretary, Lucille, the #5s. Michael’s collection is very valuable because it’s ALL #5s.] What story does your family always tell about you? When I was at Baylor, my political science teacher gave us a project: We had 6 weeks to draw a political cartoon. I had forgotten about it until the last minute. So I went to the store and bought a pack of construction paper. I opened the package and pulled out the black piece. I put my name on it and called it “The Dark Ages.” I got an A! All my classmates hated me. Also, I used to take the first ride on new roller coasters. …I was only hurt one time. [Michael flew about 17 feet in the air, IF he had fallen 1ft. outside of the space he landed in, Michael might not be here today!] What was the first “big” thing you bought with your own money? Well, you know the story of my first theatre investment, right?… [When Michael was 17, he decided that he wanted to invest in a Broadway show. The minimum investment was $5,000. Michael worked a whole summer painting numbers on seats in the Cotton Bowl and he made close to $2,500. Knowing she’d probably never see the money again, Michael’s mom generously loaned him the other half. With the money, Michael took a chance on a little show - maybe you’ve heard of it? – called, My Fair Lady. So, needless to say, Michael bought his mom a new car.] Best advice you’ve ever received? John Stemmons once told me, “You never learn anything talking.” Do you pass it on, or do you have your own piece of advice to give? “Customer service is not everything, customer service is the only thing.” A huge thank you to Mr. Jenkins for taking the time to talk with me! -DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: Haley's Hall History

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:04:21 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! As I have said before, it's time to wipe the dust off of our star-studded past and bring it out into the spotlight! I've lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area my whole life and I never knew about the rich history behind The Music Hall at Fair Park and Dallas Summer Musicals, so I thought the DSM fans might enjoy a brief history lesson! The Music Hall at Fair Park opened its doors in 1925, but the Starlight Operettas (which later became Dallas Summer Musicals) originated in the Fair Park Band Shell. A series of ten shows were presented that year, and another ten in 1944. The State Fair Association decided the Starlight Operettas needed a full-time executive director, so they turned to the legendary, Charles R. Meeker. Meeker was responsible for transforming the summer musical series into the organization that would become Dallas Summer Musicals. [caption id="attachment_649" align="aligncenter" width="237"] Charles R. Meeker[/caption] Meeker oversaw the move into the music hall in 1951. Throughout the 50s, Meeker kept the stars marching across the stage of the Music Hall - Debbie Reynolds, Jack Benny, Judy Garland and many, many more. A tall, bronze statue stands in the lobby- watching over the Music Hall and grinning at passing guests. Any vintage Summer Musicals fan will immediately recognize the lifelike figure of Mr. Tom Hughes. [caption id="attachment_648" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Tom Hughes[/caption] Tom Hughes had stars like Liza Minnelli, Ginger Rogers, Carol Burnett and Robert Goulet marching across the stage! Although Hughes followed in some giant footsteps when he took over for Charles Meeker, he left a distinct and enviable legacy behind. For more than three decades, he was considered to be nothing less than "Mr. Summer Musicals." In 1994, DSM season subscriber, board member and executive committee member Michael Jenkins, was the first person called to help Dallas Summer Musicals following the untimely death of Tom Hughes. His interest was simply to get the Musicals back on firm footing, then leave the operation to others. Instead, he quickly found himself devoted to not one, but two full time careers! [caption id="attachment_647" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Michael Jenkins[/caption] Like Meeker and Hughes, Michael Jenkins continues to bring stars to the stage: Tommy Tune, Cathy Rigby, Stephanie J. Block, Norbert Leo Butz, Lea Solonga, Diana Degarmo, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, and the list goes on! One last thing - Check out all of the nominations and awards DSM has received - WOW! There's more information on our website. Take a look at DSM's extensive Show History, and check out the List of Stars who have graced the Music Hall's stage. I'm constantly fascinated by the stories I hear about Dallas Summer Musicals and I have discovered that The Music Hall at Fair Park is quite a magical place! -DSM

FROM THE BACK ROW: BRENT BARRETT

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:58:15 +0000

When the Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN tour stopped in Dallas, Haley and I had the distinct privilege to sit down with actor Brent Barrett who plays the mischievous Captain Hook. He not only gave us all the details on the show but on the iconic character as well. Needless to say it was quite an adventure listening to all the incredible things going on within this show and now it is time for the DSM fans to learn more about Brent Barrett and this remarkable show. Where did you go to college? Started at Fort Hayes State University, but transferred to Carnegie Mellon University You opened Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular, starring in the title role for two years. What’s it like to perform for Vegas audiences? It’s great, it’s funny... Everyone is sitting out in the audience with their sippy-cups or their really tall drinks [the drinks people buy out on the strip]. The production was so elaborate it was amazing to be a part of it. *Boris [Brent’s dog] runs in* What is your dream role / show to perform in? I’d still really like to do Man of La Mancha We love you as Captain Hook, was there any specific inspiration for your take on such an iconic character? Well, I just did Hannibal Lectorbefore this, so I think it was a progression [laughing] Who is your Favorite director that you have ever worked with? Michael Blakemore – Kiss Me Kate What’s it like to be terrified of a ticking crocodile? Oh it’s silly and fun, so much fun. *Boris is curled up asleep on the couch* What made you want to be an actor? Growing up in Kansas, I didn’t even know you could be an actor as a profession. One night, the Ed Sullivan Show was on. Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet were singing selections from Camelot, and I think that’s when I knew. My aunt also owned a movie theater so I got to see movies all the time. Pictured above are Brent Barrett and his dog Boris doing tricks in the auditorium. Brent and Boris were an absolute blast to hang out with and we were so thrilled for the opportunity to meet and chat with such an amazing actor. Have a great day DSM fans!!! -DSM Luke

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - National Tour Cast Announced!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 22:20:21 +0000

[caption id="attachment_696" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Coming to Dallas Summer Musicals February 12-24, 2013![/caption]

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TOUR CAST

Troika Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce initial casting for the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN national tour, which officially kicks off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI on October 7. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will be in Dallas February 12-24, 2013 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. The charming, high-flying con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. will be played by Stephen Anthony and Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent who is always on Frank’s tracks, will be played by Merritt David Janes. Additional casting includes Aubrey Mae Davis as Brenda Strong, Caitlin Maloney as Paula Abagnale, Amy Burgmaieras Carol Strong, D. Scott Withers as Roger Strong, Travis Mitchellas Agent Branton, Ben Laxton as Agent Dollar, Derrick Parks as Agent Cod, Amanda Braun, Ashley Chasteen, Taylor Collins, Vanessa Dunleavy, Michael Graceffa, Colleen Hayes, Mary Claire King, Trevor Leaderbrand, Casey Renee Rogers, Daniel J. Self, Allyson Tolbert, Nadia Vynnytsky and Bradley Allan Zarr. Additional casting will be released at a later date. Based on the hit DreamWorks film, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot—all before the age of 21. With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank's trail, we're off on a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren't so very different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run. This engagement follows hot on the heels of the recent Broadway run, where the show received considerable acclaim. The New York Times exclaims, “Hot diggity! This portrait of the con artist as a young man comes to ecstatic life.” WOR Radio calls it “absolutely marvelous” and proclaims CATCH ME IF YOU CAN “a real Broadway musical with showstoppers to enthrall just about everyone.” And Vanity Fair says “CATCH ME will move you to live life to the fullest and dance past anything standing in your way,” and urges “Get your seats now!” CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is based on the book and hit 2002 film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr. Nominated for four Tony^® Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN features a Tony Award-winning creativeteam, with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O’Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Scenic design for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is by David Rockwell (Hairspray),costumes based on the original design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is byTony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Peter McBoyle. For more information visit www.CatchMeOnTour.com CATCH ME IF YOU CAN TOUR CAST BIOGRAPHIES [caption id="attachment_689" align="aligncenter" width="202"] Stephen Anthony as Frank Abagnale Jr.[/caption] STEPHEN ANTHONY (Frank Abagnale, Jr.) is thrilled to be touring the country for the first time with this incredible story. Favorite credits include: Lend Me a Tenor (Max), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Hairspray (Link), Legally Blonde (Warner), The 25th...Spelling Bee (Chip), Carousel (Mr. Snow, concert featuring Davis Gaines). B.M. 2012 from FSU. Many thanks to family, MT'12, Troika, and Joy Dewing Casting. [caption id="attachment_688" align="aligncenter" width="196"] Merritt David Janes as Carl Hanratty[/caption] MERRITT DAVID JANES (Carl Hanratty) A UMaine and Circle in the Square graduate originally from Colchester, VT. Broadway National Tours: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), Shrek (Farquaad), Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hard). Regional: Little Shop… (The Dentist), Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Duke), Grease (Danny), Works of Shakespeare Abridged (Adam). Janes has also given performances at Carnegie Hall, Bway’s Beacon Theatre and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. AUBREY MAE DAVIS (Brenda Strong) is beyond thrilled to be embarking on her fourth national tour with Catch Me! Favorite credits include: Legally Blonde (Margot), Hairspray (Amber), and Little Shop (Audrey). A special thanks to Matt Lenz for this wonderful opportunity. And to my family, I love you. CAITLIN MALONEY (Paula Abagnale) Off Broadway: I Married Wyatt Earp, Tours: Young Frankenstein, The Great American Trailer Park Musical! (Pickles) Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Wizard of Oz (Glinda/Aunt Em). Regional: Annie Get Your Gun! (Annie Oakley), Pajama Game (Babe Williams), Eleanor: An American Love Story (Eleanor Roosevelt). AMY BURGMAIER (Carol Strong/Principal Owings/Character Woman) favorite credits include: Legally Blonde (Paulette), Reefer Madness (Mary Lane), Chicago (Roxie), Hairspray (F.A.F.) and Forbidden Broadway. She’s an Iowa State University graduate in advertising and design (BA) and journalism (MS). Sincerest gratitude to Joy Dewing Casting, coaches and family! D. SCOTT WITHERS (Roger Strong/Character Man/u/s Agent Carl Hanratty/Frank Abagnale, Sr.) National tour debut! Regional: Gypsy (Phoenix Theatre); Hairspray (Arkansas Rep); Baby (AZ Broadway); Lyle the Crocodile (Childsplay); Frog and Toad (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Lost and Foundling (Geva). BFA Theatre: AZ State. Much love to Withers clan, CP family and AJP! TRAVIS MITCHELL (Agent Branton/ u/s Agent Carl Hanratty/ u/s Frank Sr. / u/s Roger Strong) National tours: Spring Awakening. Off Broadway: The Bus (59E59 Theatre). Recent Regional: Spring Awakening (ReVision), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sound of Music (TriArts). TV: Law & Order, As the World Turns. Much love and respect to Jules. BEN LAXTON (Agent Dollar/u/s Frank Abagnale, Jr.) is thrilled to be joining his first national tour! Regional: Next to Normal (Gabe), Spring Awakening (Melchior), Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Sound of Music (Rolf) and Urinetown (Bobby). Thanks Mom, Dad, Tori, Andrea, Mrs. Halbert and Sham. Proud Belmont University alum. DERRICK PARKS (Agent Cod) is making his debut in Catch Me If You Can. Recently he traveled abroad as a performer with Royal Caribbean International. His parents and family are credited with exceedingly abundant love and support.

FROM THE BACK ROW: Music Hall Photo Session

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:41:52 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! I took a little stroll around the Music Hall at Fair Park and I snapped some pics just for you guys! Here are a few photos of the Music Hall's beautiful scenery and exclusive Broadway memorabilia. Next time you're here, be sure to take a closer look at these unique features! [slideshow] -DSM Haley

Congratulations to the Winners for the 2013 Season Announcement!

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 15:10:34 +0000

Thank you to everyone who participated in our contest to attend the 2013 Season Announcement Event on August 27th at 6pm! I loved hearing what you said about DSM - be looking for another blog post soon to see what everyone said about why they love DSM. Without further ado, we are pleased to announce the 5 winners of our contest! Congrats to: Keith May Jessica Smoot Jessica Kent Melissa Waters Kim Wilson Again, thank you to everyone who participated and CONGRATS to our winners! There are more opportunities to win tickets, swag, and so much more in the near future, so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our Blog! We're announcing our 2013 Season show by show on Twitter beginning at 7pm on Monday, August 27th, then the full season on Facebook and this blog at 7:30pm the same night. We're excited for you to know our new season! Have a great weekend! -DSM Amanda

Now Announcing the 2013 DSM Season!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:45:10 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals is pleased to announce our 73^rd Season! Let the 2013 Season at Dallas Summer Musicals be Your Passport to Broadway as we take you on a journey! [caption id="attachment_744" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Now announcing the 2013 DSM Season! CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, SISTER ACT, FLASHDANCE, and THE LION KING[/caption] 2013 Season Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Join us for the season and enjoy the best Broadway shows, in the best seats, at the best price! See 7 shows for as low as $125 and save $85 on single ticket prices! The 2013 DSM Season is 7 Broadway touring shows: Catch Me If You Can – February 12 – 24, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Mary Poppins – March 20 – 30, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Wicked – April 10 – May 5, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – May 14 – 26, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Sister Act – June 4 – 16, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Flashdance – June 25 – July 7, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park The Lion King – October 2 – 20, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park Check out this video to get a sneak peek of the 2013 Season: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itS3v-N9zfc?rel=0] Season tickets are only available for purchase for a limited time before the season starts and seats are assigned based on the date you place your order. Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase DSM season tickets! Click here to get more info and to buy now! Make sure you like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and follow us on this blog (at the top on the right – just enter your e-mail address) to get the latest news on our 2013 Season, behind the scenes facts, special contests, and more throughout the season! Feel free to leave your comments below! We look forward to seeing you soon at the 2013 DSM Season! -DSM Amanda

Official Press Release - DSM Announces the 2013 Season!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:49:05 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ANNOUNCES 2013 SEASON OF THE BEST OF BROADWAY AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) has announced their 73rd season of shows, with seven touring Broadway productions coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainment since 1941. In announcing the new season, Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “Our 73^rd season provides a Destination to unparalleled entertainment with the unprecedented number of three Blockbuster hit shows within the season schedule, in which all shows are direct from Broadway. With DSM’s affordable prices, this means our subscribers will enjoy an unbeatable entertainment value in 2013.” 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. DSM 2013 SEASON AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, February 12-24, 2013. Based on the hit Dreamworks Film and the incredible true story that inspired it, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying, splashy new Broadway musical that tells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer—living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. But when Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, Carl chases Frank to the end—and finds something he never expected. A big-hearted musical adventure based on an astonishing real-life story of being young, in love, and in deep, deep trouble. Disney and CAMERON MACKINTOSH present MARY POPPINS, March 20-30, 2013. Returning to Dallas for two weeks only, the “roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!” as proclaimed by the New York Daily News, features an irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time. With brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, MARY POPPINS is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show. Get swept up in the fun of this high-flying musical the New York Post gave four out of four stars, calling it “a certifiable super hit!" WICKED, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WITCHES OF OZ, April 10-May 5, 2013. So much happened before Dorothy dropped in! Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon,” and it has broken box office records and sold out every time it has played Dallas. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster,” according to The New York Times. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One—born with emerald green skin—is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for “the most complete—and completely satisfying—new musical in a long time.” (USA Today). PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE MUSICAL, May 14-26, 2013. Presenting the most outrageously fun Broadway musical, a spectacular show that tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends on a road trip of a lifetime. Hopping aboard a battered old bus in search of love and friendship in the middle of the Australian Outback, they end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. An international hit with over 500 dazzling, Tony® Award-winning costumes, PRISCILLA features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.” The Hollywood Reporter calls PRISCILLA “funny and fabulous! Joyous entertainment with eye-popping visuals and unexpected heart!” SISTER ACT, A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY, June 4-16, 2013. Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash, called by The New York Post “Ridiculously Fun,” has audiences jumping to their feet in total agreement. Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent. Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to rejoice. FLASHDANCE, THE MUSICAL, June 25-July 7, 2013. The pop-culture phenomenon and runaway international success is now live on stage. It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including The Academy Award® winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and 16 new original songs. Experience the magic all over again, as FLASHDANCE leaves you begging for more. Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20, 2013. 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.” Let your imagination run wild at the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment.” THE LION KING will be the 2013 State Fair of Texas musical. Season tickets, priced from $125-$710, go on sale Tuesday, August 28 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save significant amounts over the cost of single tickets. DSM will continue its 73-year tradition of bringing the Best of Broadway to North Texas, setting the standard in musical theatre entertainment. DSM’s 2014 season will begin in December, 2013, with Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Music Hall. Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call (214) 421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org # # # 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.

Wednesday Addams' Contest - Week 1!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 21:16:12 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! Starting today, every Wednesday this month will be in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don't miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!) Today, this Wednesday Addams' Contest will be a photo caption contest. Check out the photo below and in the comments section below, enter your caption. All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 2 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can't wait to read your comments! We will announce the winner of this contest in our next post, next Wednesday! You have until Tuesday, September 11th, at 11:59pm to enter - good luck and have fun! -DSM Amanda [caption id="attachment_761" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Cortney Wolfson (Wednesday) and Patrick D. Kennedy (Pugsley) in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)[/caption]

2012 DSM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:40:08 +0000

[slideshow]

Announcing the Cast of the North American Tour of SISTER ACT!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:34:51 +0000

[caption id="attachment_795" align="aligncenter" width="300"] SISTER ACT, coming to Dallas Summer Musicals June 4 - 16, 2013 at Music Hall at Fair Park![/caption]

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR LAUNCHES IN TORONTO PERFORMANCES BEGIN OCTOBER 2, 2012

Producers Whoopi Goldberg, Stage Entertainment and Troika Entertainment announce casting for the North American Tour of five-time Tony Award® nominated musical SISTER ACT. Called “In a word, DIVINE!”by the Associated Press, SISTER ACT kicks off on October 2, 2012 at Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre. The North American Tour of SISTER ACT will star Ta'Rea Campbell (Book of Mormon, Lion King) as Deloris Van Cartier, Hollis Resnik (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Les Miserables) as Mother Superior, Kingsley Leggs (Sister Act, The Color Purple) as Curtis Jackson, E. Clayton Cornelious (Wonderland, The Scottsboro Boys) as Eddie Souther, Lael Van Keuren (Sister Act) as Mary Robert, Florrie Bagel as Mary Patrick, Diane J. Findlay (42^nd Street, Promises, Promises) as Mary Lazarus, Todd A. Horman (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Joey, Ernie Pruneda (Sister Act)as Pablo, Charles Barksdale (Fat Camp) as TJ, and Richard Pruitt (42nd Street, White Christmas) as Monsignor O'Hara. The company will also include Melvin Abston, Brian Calì, Alysha Deslorieux, Karen Elliott, Danny George, Blair Goldberg, Erin Henry, Wendy James, Trisha Jeffrey, Mary Jo McConnell, Ashley Moniz, Michelle Rombola, Jason Simon, Angie Marie Smith, Tricia Tanguy, Kelly E. Waters, and Dashaun Young. “To hear people laugh and cheer the way they do at SISTER ACT -- a show people think they know but are pleasantly surprised to discover is not what they were expecting -- is a magical experience for a producer,” says Producer Whoopi Goldberg. “Happily, audiences across the country will be able to get in on the fun this fall when Deloris and her fabulous sisters start spreading the love nationwide.” “I couldn’t be more proud of the creative team and cast members that have made SISTER ACT such a critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing success on Broadway,” said Stage Entertainment U.S. CEO Bill Taylor. “Our New York audiences have been absolutely amazing and I look forward to this fall’s tour and the next chapter in SISTER ACT’s wonderfully successful life.” The North American touring production of SISTER ACT will kick off on October 2, 2012 in Toronto, ON where it will play through November 4. Other venues for the tour include Chicago, IL (November 13-December 2, 2012); Orlando, FL (December 4-9, 2012); Tampa Bay, FL (December 11-16, 2012); Fort Lauderdale, FL (December 18-30, 2012); Naples, FL (January 1-6, 2013); Charlotte, NC (January 8-13, 2013); Greenville, SC (January 15-20, 2013); Boston, MA (January 22-February 3, 2013); Pittsburgh, PA (February 5-10, 2013); East Lansing, MI (February 12-17, 2013); Milwaukee, WI (February 19-24, 2013); Indianapolis, IN (February 26-March 3, 2013); Cleveland, OH (March 5-17, 2013); Buffalo, NY (March 19-24, 2013); Philadelphia, PA (April 2-7, 2013); Providence, RI (April 9-14, 2013); Hartford, CT (April 16-21, 2013); Atlanta, GA (April 23-28, 2013); Cincinnati, OH (April 30-May 12, 2013); Durham, NC (May 14-19, 2013); Houston, TX (May 28-June 2, 2013); Dallas, TX (June 4-16, 2013); Fort Worth, TX (June 18-23, 2013); Tempe, AZ (June 25-30, 2013); Los Angeles, CA (July 9-28, 2013); San Diego, CA (July 30-August 4, 2013); Costa Mesa, CA (August 6-18, 2013); Seattle, WA (August 20-25); Denver, CO (September 24-October 6, 2013) and more soon to be announced. SISTER ACT received five 2011 Tony® Award nominations: BEST MUSICAL, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Alan Menken (music)/ Glenn Slater (lyrics), BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane), BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Patina Miller) and BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Victoria Clark). SISTER ACT features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Enchanted), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (“Cheers”) with additional book material by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed). Directed on Broadway by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing…Forum, Smokey Joe’s Café), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams) and is based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard. SISTER ACT opened on April 20, 2011 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) to rave reviews. Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Post calls SISTER ACT, “One of the season’s happiest surprises! Off the charts and packed with goodies, to which we say: Amen!” Joe Dziemianowicz of The New York Daily News raves “A blessed event has landed on Broadway. Sister Act is a feel-good crowd pleaser worth celebrating. It keeps on purring from one happy moment to the next.” Charles Isherwood of The New York Times says, “When the wimples start quivering and the nuns start rocking to raise the Gothic rafters, all’s right in the kingdom of musical comedy!” and Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press calls SISTER ACT, “In a word, divine. This is a musical that hits all the right spots, achieving something close to Broadway grace. It will convert you.” When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior. Using her fabulous disco-ness and killer voice to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon it’s nun-on-the-run time but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her newly found sisterhood. Based on the mega-hit feature film, SISTER ACT features an original Alan Menken/Glenn Slater score with a vast inspiration of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White inspired musical comedy. SISTER ACT features scenery by Klara Zieglerova, costumes by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Ken Travis and hair/wig designs by David Brian Brown. The music department includes Musical Supervisor Michael Kosarin, Music Director Brent-Alan Huffman, and orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Casting is by Telsey + Company, Craig Burns CSA.

www.sisteractontour.com

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WHOOPI GOLDBERG (Producer) is among the most well-known performers around the world. She shot to international fame with her Oscar-nominated performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, before embarking on a prolific Hollywood career with films such as Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Soapdish, The Lion King, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and, of course, Sister Act and its sequel. She has had success in virtually every area of entertainment, from film and television, to stage and recording, to radio host and best-selling author. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ghost in 1991 and is one of a very elite group of artists who has also won the Grammy, the Golden Globe, the Emmy and, as Producer of the original Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002, a Tony Award. She is currently moderator of the award-winning daytime talk show The View on ABC. STAGE ENTERTAINMENT USA Inc. (Producer) Founded in 1998 by Joop van den Ende, Stage Entertainment is one of the world’s largest theatrical producers with bases in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, Russia, Italy and the USA, and the owner of thirty venues across those countries. Stage Entertainment employs over 4,000 people worldwide and over 10 million people visit a Stage Entertainment production or performance space each year. Headed by Bill Taylor, Stage Entertainment’s US team recently produced the hit musical, SISTER ACT, on Broadway. SISTER ACT received five 2011 Tony® Award nominations and rave reviews. Stage Entertainment US is currently producing SISTER ACT on tour in the US and has several other new projects in development for Broadway and the road. TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT (Producer) has been the innovator in touring musical theater productions for over two decades, producing shows throughout North America and the world. Each season, Troika tours to hundreds of cities across the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Troika produced in European markets including Russia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Central/South American and Caribbean credits include touring CATS in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. As the first U.S. production company to tour a musical in Mainland China, Troika has toured extensively across the Pacific Rim in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, with productions of The Sound of Music, Swing!, 42nd Street and Chicago. The company is experienced in casino and leisure markets having produced for The Wynn, Caesars, Grand Casino, Hilton, Eldorado and Harrah’s (Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Lake Tahoe and Branson). Current and upcoming productions include West Side Story, Catch Me if You Can, Sister Act, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Shear Madness and The Wizard of Oz. With strong ties to the Broadway community, Troika prides itself on delivering top quality productions to audiences worldwide.

FROM THE BACK ROW: 2013 Season Announcement Event

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:35:33 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Last week, Dallas Summer Musicals held their 2013 Season Announcement Event here at the Music Hall at Fair Park, and we were lucky enough to be a part of it! From the early stages of planning to thanking the very lasts guests for attending, this event was an awesome learning experience for both of us. LUKE: The Season Event Launch was one of the most rewarding and exciting events to be a part of since I started my journey with DSM. Our excitement and anticipation for the event was the driving force behind all the hard work from my DSM colleagues. In preparation for the event, I had several odd jobs from stuffing the goody bags, to picking up flyers, to even buying a fog machine at Party City. Then before we knew it, the event was underway and the excitement began to overflow the Music Hall at Fair Park. During the actual event, I put up posters around the venue as each show of our upcoming season was announced. Also, I assisted our PR Director JoAnn Holt by escorting our special guest cast members and Master of Ceremonies Paige McCoy Smith to each of their positions. It was truly an honor to be around such talented women who lit up the stage with pure elegance and poise. The event was a home run and as each show was unveiled, I saw the excitement and joy that each show brought to the audience. When the whole thing was over and done, I knew how special it was to be a part of this event and how truly blessed I was to have a job that I absolutely love. [caption id="attachment_804" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Q. Smith singing “Feed the Birds” from MARY POPPINS[/caption] [caption id="attachment_805" align="alignnone" width="433"] Buyi Zama singing “Circle of Life” from THE LION KING[/caption] HALEY: Looking back, the whole thing was a whirlwind of preparation! I spend a LOT of time staring at RSVP spreadsheets, but I was rewarded with… (drumroll please)… a DESTINATION DSM flight attendant uniform! This meant that I was selected to stand onstage and unveil each show’s poster as they were announced. DSM sent me to Norcostco where I got to play dress up while the oh-so-wonderful Amanda worked her magic and created a look for me. She also pulled some fabulous costumes for the event’s show-themed displays – thanks again, Norcostco! On Announcement day, the Music Hall was bustling with activity. Set-up, sound check and finishing touches ran smoothly, and before I knew it our doors were open! The evening was a success, and this would not have been possible without such a wonderful audience. Unveiling each poster, show by show, the collective excitement and unbridled enthusiasm of our guests was truly thrilling. I can’t believe I got to participate in the revelation of DSM’s incredible 2013 Season!

It was a privilege for us to be a part of DSM’s 2013 Season Announcement Event! Get ready DSM Fans: Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2013 Season is a season of Broadway blockbusters, so get your TICKETS now! -DSM Luke & Haley

Wednesday Addams' Contest - Week 2

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:01:44 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! It's week 2 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don't miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!) First off, congrats to Meagan Williams and Susana Soliz for winning our photo caption contest - our first contest for Wednesday Addams! Thank you to everyone who participated - you had us cracking up here in the marketing department. Don't worry if you didn't win! Here's your second chance! Today, this Wednesday Addams' Contest will be a family photo contest, because this show is all about family. :) Send in your favorite, most embarrassing, most creative, etc. family photo to webinfo@dallassummermusicals.org. Your photos will be posted this Friday, September 14th right here on our blog, along with the winners of the contest! All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 3 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can't wait to see your family photos! You have until Sunday evening at 11:59pm to enter! (We've extended the deadline so you won't miss out!) [slideshow] Good luck and have fun! We're getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY - just 3 weeks away! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: Catching Up with Michael Williams

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:42:41 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

I finally had the pleasure of officially meeting DSM's Michael Williams! After being crowned Best Actor at DSM's High School Musical Theatre Awards, Michael flew off to New York City to follow his dreams of becoming a big Broadway star. Between competing at the Jimmy™ Awards and training at CAP21, Michael found some time to come back to Texas and he was kind enough to stop by the Music Hall at Fair Park to give me an update on his summer in the city!

[caption id="attachment_847" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Michael Williams and Haley[/caption]

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Haley: So how does it feel to be DSM’s very first Best Actor?

Michael: I’m very lucky and blessed to have this “title.” It’s also a lot of responsibility. But to be the first… it’s very special. H: What did you like about competing in DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards? M: I love working with kids who share my goals. I love the camaraderie. When putting something together in such a short amount of time: if the quality of the outcome is great it’s because everybody wants it to be great. H: When did you find out you were nominated for Best Actor? M: It was early in the morning when they announced it on TV. We had a 5am watch party, with a nice bowl-o-oatmeal. Then my face flashed on the screen. Of course with DVR we had to pause it to take a picture… you know, for a new Facebook cover photo [laughing]… H: And what was it like to win?! M: It was surreal. That’s the best word for it. But also, there was so much support from all of the other nominees. There was never a feeling of harsh competition, everyone really supported each other. H: This award qualified you to compete on a national level at the Jimmy™ Awards in New York City! What was it like to work with kids from all across the country? M: Well when we first got there we had a big get-together with everyone. I was nervous, everyone was. Everyone was walking in kind of… carefully. BUT, being musical theatre kids, it didn’t take us long to make friends! You warm up to everyone really quickly. H: Did you get to work with anyone special? M: I got to work with Leslie Odom from SMASH! I also met Christian Borle who plays Tom on SMASH. That was really cool. What I love most about that is how the Broadway community supports high-schoolers. For us, it really validates what we’re doing in our art, to have support from people like Christian and Leslie. H: What was it like to perform on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre? M: Stepping on a Broadway stage was……… there was magic, energy, everyone was taking pictures. It was like stepping on to our future. It was amazing. It was also reassuring- it made me think, “I’m gonna be back here.” H: I read in your daily blog, ALL IN A DAY’S WORK, that you met some fellow Texans… M: Yes! I met some nominees from the other high school musical award shows in Texas. Texas was heavily represented at the Jimmys™. We all sat together at lunch, you know, it’s that Texas bond. H: Did you face any challenges or overcome any personal obstacles that week? M: Hmm… Well, in my solo coaching room I sang “Go the Distance” from Disney’s Hercules. Yeah I sang, and everything was great, but on the final day of coaching Leslie Odom just pulled something out of me, and - I hate to say it but - I cried. The song really says everything I was experiencing. Michael then sang me a few of the lines he was referring to: “I will find my way / I can go the distance / I’ll be there someday / If I can be strong / I know every mile / will be worth my while” ...It was a really big moment for me that week. H: What was the most important thing you learned from your National HSMTA experience? M: Overall, you learn how to work with different people. You already know the types of people you can and can’t work well with, but through this process, you really learn HOW to make it work with anybody. H: I heard you stayed in NYC after the Jimmys™ – what were you up to? M: After I finished with the Jimmys™ I went RIGHT into the summer intensive musical theater program at CAP21. It was every day, 10am to 6pm, Monday through Friday, working on dance, acting, singing, performing- it was intense and it was difficult, but the program made me such a better performer. I learned SO much in those 6 weeks. Now, I’m probably going to do their industry practicum. It’s a semester long and at the very end we put together a showcase where we perform in front of industry people- managers, agents. It is a great opportunity because in New York, it’s REALLY competitive. Just to get an agent you have to be top notch. H: Any college plans? M: There’s a full two-year program at CAP21, but honestly I’m ready to work! I’m living in New York, I’m gonna make something happen. H: If acting wasn't an option, what would you do instead? M: I would be a music engineer. I love recording and mixing and all that stuff. I do… of course a lot of musical theater stuff, but I also like the slower blues, jazz kind of stuff. H: Any special hobbies or personal favorites we should know about? M: I have a morning ritual: Iced coffee and a cinnamon-raisin bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Every morning. H: What’s your dream role? M: I’d love to play Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON. H: Now that you’ve made it through high school and you’re pursuing your dreams, what advice would you give someone looking to follow in your footsteps? M: Be really nice to everyone. Treat everyone with equal respect and kindness, because it will be a major advantage in the end. Believe in yourself. Always commit to what you’re doing, whether it’s one role or your life-long dream. And always be honest.

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A huge thanks to Michael Williams! He is a kind young man with a great head on his shoulders and a promising future ahead of him, so remember his name. He will be onstage pining for "Orlandoooo" in an Elder Price nametag before we know it! -DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: Meet the Marketing Team!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:31:33 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Ever wonder who promotes the shows, puts on events or operates social media for Dallas Summer Musicals? Well, we think its time for you to meet the brains behind DSM's Marketing Department. As marketing interns, it's a privilege to work with these talented individuals every day. They are constantly teaching us valuable lessons that we could never learn in a classroom! PAULETTE HOPKINS Director of Marketing Background: Paulette started out in sports broadcasting, and actually worked at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta! After the Olympics, she was presented with the opportunity to develop DSM’s marketing department from the ground up. Since Paulette grew up attending DSM’s shows, she just couldn’t resist! Favorite thing about working for DSM: My interns! [Awww] But really, there’s never a dull day here. Every day is different and it’s always a challenge. Hobbies: Wakeboarding, Boating, Reading, Piano What would you title your autobiography? It’s Been Fun, That’s For Sure! Piece of advice you like to share: Stay focused and have integrity in everything you do. TONY JOY Advertising and Promotions Coordinator Background: Tony was required to have 2 internships before he could graduate from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Sport & Entertainment Management, and they were both marketing related: event planning for a country club and merchandising/marketing for NIKE. Favorite thing about working for DSM: I get to see Haley and Luke every day! [haha, aren’t our mentors the greatest?] The industry. I truly enjoy Broadway, so I have a real passion for what I’m selling. Hobbies: Traveling, Snow Skiing, Running, and Happy Hour with Friends! If you could meet anyone, dead or alive: Mother Theresa. I just think it would be cool to have a conversation with such an amazing person. AMANDA FARROW Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Background: Amanda was a DSM intern, just like us! And it didn’t take long to realize that this organization was a great fit for her. After completing the internship, Amanda was thrilled to hear that DSM wanted to keep her on their team! Favorite thing about working at DSM: I’m never bored. There’s always something for me to do! If things happen to slow down, then I use that time to think ahead and brainstorm ideas for the future! If you could see any original Broadway cast, which would you chose? I would have loved to see Julie Andrews in MY FAIR LADY. Not many people know that she was the original Eliza Doolittle – not Audrey Hepburn. CHRISTEA WHITELEY Marketing Promotions and Special Events Coordinator Background: At 8 years old, Christea was already assisting and composing ads for the weekly circular at the company her mother worked for, and just before joining the DSM family, she worked for CBS Radio as the Assistant Promotions and Marketing Director for 103.7 lite fm- KVIL Favorite thing about working for DSM: I love the excitement of it all! It keeps me on my toes, allows me to come up with creative ideas and learn new ways to overcome the sometimes challenging landscape of marketing and advertising. With the variety of shows DSM brings, this job definitely does all of that! Another thing this job has taught me, is how non-profit organizations operate, and how important they are to the community. Hobbies: Karaoke! At the moment, my go-to song is “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys What song(s) would be included on the soundtrack to your life? “What I Cannot Change” by Leann Rimes, “Win” by Brian McKnight and “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson DEEDE SIGNORETTO Group Sales Representative Background: Deede has a background in sales. Her family is in the life insurance business and she sold life insurance for most of her adult life. Deede got her start at DSM when there was an opening in the group sales department and after interviewing, Mr. Jenkins asked her to join the team! Favorite thing about working for DSM: I love helping my groups have the best experience possible. Whether it’s a teacher trying to inspire their students, a family reunion or a corporate event, they all have unique desires and I love helping them make their dreams come true. It’s very rewarding to see the joy on their faces. Hobbies: Reading, Walking her Dachshunds, Tennis, Italian Cooking If you could be in any Broadway show, which would you chose and why? THE SOUND OF MUSIC – It was my mother’s favorite so we watched it a lot! – and I’d obviously have to be Maria!

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Don't forget to Like us on Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter for all of your DSM updates! -DSM Luke & Haley

The Dance Council Honors - 25 Years of Recognizing Outstanding Accomplishments in Dance!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:38:39 +0000

Dance Council Honors – 25 Years of Recognizing Outstanding Accomplishments in Dance

WHAT: A significant Dallas, TX awards program celebrating a life time of accomplishments of six outstanding Texas artists, educators, dance business and leaders. The event includes a gala showcase of 2012 DCNT Scholarship students, Guyer High School production of Chicago (Denton, TX) and the exciting Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The afternoon also includes a silent auction and reception. WHEN: Sunday, September 30, at 2:30 p.m. WHERE: Dallas Black Dance Theatre, 2700 Flora Street, Dallas, Texas 75201. TICKETS: $35 adults, $25 DCNT members, and $20 students under the age of 16. Ticket includes reception. Prices rise on September 24: $40 adults; $30 DCNT members; $20 students under the age of 16. Proceeds benefit the Dance Council of North Texas and its Dance Scholarship Program. HOW to PURCHASE TICKETS: By phone at 214-219-2290 or on line at www.thedancecouncil.org Seating is limited; reservations are strongly urged. Free parking. PHOTOS: jpg photographs of scholarship dancers available upon request. 214-219-2290 Along with applauding six outstanding individuals for their contributions to dance the 25^th Dance Council of North Texas Honors will also include performances by Dance Council scholarship recipients, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Guyer High School. This year also marks the first time a local high school will be participating in the Dance Council Honors showcase. Guyer High School Theatre students will be performing a number from the Broadway blockbuster, Chicago. Dallas Black Dance Theatre will close the program with the earthy and lyrical pas de deux from famed choreographer Alvin Ailey’s Escapades. The event also includes a Silent Auction that benefits the Dance Council’s scholarship program. The auction includes dinner and theater packages, paintings, jewelry and other objects donated by area arts institutions and individuals. While bidding, guests can also enjoy a reception and beverages. The 2012 Dance Council Honorees include: Laura Price – Texas Tap Legend Laura Price is a creative, rhythmical, challenging tap dancer and teacher. She has danced in such productions as Anything Goes, 42nd Street, Whoopee, Peter and the Wolf, A Chorus Line, The Nutcracker, and Morton Gould’s “Tap Dance Concerto”. Price’s career spans more than 30 years of performing and teaching. Kay Dalziel – Mary Warner Award for Service to Dance In the retail dance wear business since 1984, Kay Dalziel (dee-el) opened Artful Dancewear LLC in north Dallas in 2003. She is well-known and respected throughout north Dallas as dancer friendly business. Dalziel has assisted the DCNT in many projects one of which is to underwrite the DCNT/Artful Dancewear Dance Educator Professional Development scholarship. Teresa Espinosa – Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence Teresa Espinosa is an alumna of Booker T. Washington HSPVA and California Institute for the Arts (Valencia) before developing into an acclaimed hip-hop choreographer, dancer and teacher. A member of the dance crew “Beat Freaks,” she appeared on Season 3 of America’s Best Dance Crew. Most recently Espinosa worked as an assistant choreographer for the film, Magic Mike (2012) and choreographer for Carly Rae Jepson’s appearance at the Billboard Awards show. Tracy Jordan – Mary McLarry Bywaters Award for Lifetime Contribution to Dance DCNT is thrilled to award its highest honor to Tracy Jordan, executive director of the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards. Jordan has appeared in a number of Las Vegas shows including the Folies Bergere. He was featured in Broadway productions such as 42^nd Street, Sugar Babies, Jesus Christ Super Star and Fiddler On The Roof. Gladys Keeton and Yvonne Lovell – Larry White Dance Educator Award Gladys Keeton is associate professor of dance at Texas Woman’s University. She is the coordinator of the undergraduate program and Master of Arts in Teaching Dance Internship, director of the Community Dance Center and founder of the TWU International Dance Company. Keeton also presents professional development workshops on creative dance, world dance styles and arts integration across Texas. Another inspiring dance educator is Yvonne Lovell. Lovell is the owner and director of Stage Door in Mesquite, TX which opened in 1980. Lovellr, born and raised in London, began performing on stage at the age of six and won All England gold medal for tap dancing by the age of nine. Lovell is certified with the prestigious British Association of Teachers of Dancing as well as Dance Educators of America. For interviews and more information about the 2012 Dance Council Honors and tickets, contact Pam Deslorieux, 214-219-2290.

Wednesday Addams Contest - Week 2 Entries!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:16:18 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! A special THANK YOU for everyone who participated in our Week 2 Contest in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! Congratulations to Lynne Walters, Christia Caudle, and Jacob Sanchez for winning this contest! You have won 2 tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Tuesday, October 2nd at 8pm! Details will be in your inbox soon. Check out all of the entries below! Stay tuned for this Wednesday's contest for your next chance to win tickets to the show! -DSM Amanda [slideshow]

The Addams Family's Top Scary Flick Picks!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:30:39 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Tomorrow begins our 3rd and Final week of THE ADDAMS FAMILY! We can't believe that the show is almost over - just 8 more performances left! In honor of THE ADDAMS FAMILY and with Halloween just around the corner, we wanted to kick off this week with a screamingly fun celebration of this family's favorite haunted holiday. We asked Wednesday, Lurch, Gomez, Grandma, and Fester what their top scary flick pick was. Check out what they had to say! WEDNESDAY: "A recent series that scares the daylights out of me has to be the Twilight saga. Fang-free vampires that produce more swoons than screams? *shudder* It makes my blood run cold..." LURCH: "errruuggghhh...Wolf Man...ururhghg...hooooowwwwwlllll...urururghgh...." GOMEZ: "Every Halloween, we have a scary movie marathon at the Addams abode. This year's line up: Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity, You've Got Mail, and horror of horrors, Pretty Woman." GRANDMA: "I'll always have a soft spot for Bela Lugosi. We had a little fling when he stared on the Broadway production of Dracula in 1927. The scariest of the lot would have to be his later work with Ed Wood. FESTER: "I'm a fan of all Halloween movies, because so much revolves around the pull of my lunar love, The Moon. Werewolves howl to her. Vampires will be toast under the sun's harsh rays. It all leaves me glowing!" *What's your favorite scary flick pick? Leave your comment below! Have you seen THE ADDAMS FAMILY yet? If so, make sure you comment on our Facebook page or give us a quick tweet here - we want to know what you think! Haven't seen THE ADDAMS FAMILY yet? If not, it's not too late! For tickets and more information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. Have a miserable Monday. -DSM Amanda

The Man Behind The Family - Charles Addams

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:41:20 +0000

A very un-happy miserable Monday to you, DSM Fans. (We're getting in the mood for THE ADDAMS FAMILY around here.) Did you know THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL was inspired by the original cartoons? Below is an article about the original creator of what we know and love today as THE ADDAMS FAMILY. The musical The Addams Family is inspired by the creations of the legendary American cartoonist Charles Addams, who lived from 1912 until 1988. In 1933, when he was just 21, his work was published in The New Yorker, and over the course of nearly six decades, he became one of the magazine’s most cherished contributors. (For a few of his cartoons, see the slideshow at the bottom of this post.) Bizarre, macabre and weird are all words that have been used to describe Charles Addams’ cartoons. Yet adjectives such as charming, enchanting and tender can just as accurately be employed to depict the same body of work, as well as the man himself. His unique style and wonderfully crafted cartoons enabled his work to transcend such dichotomies for his millions of fans worldwide. Charles Addams is most widely known for his characters that came to be called The Addams Family, a group that evolved into multiple television shows, motion pictures and now this Broadway musical. Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma and Lurch existed in various forms and aspects of Addams’ cartoons dating back to the 1930s but were not actually named by him until the early 1960s, when the television series was created. Surprisingly, The Addams Family characters appear in only a small number of the artist’s several thousand works. The majority of his cartoons are occupied by hundreds of other characters, but there is little doubt that those that come to life on this stage are his most beloved creations. Over 15 books of his drawings have been published around the world, including the new collection, The Addams Family: An Evilution, the first complete history of The Addams Family, including more than 200 cartoons, many never previously published. The collection also includes Addams’ own incisive character descriptions (originally penned for the benefit of the television show producers) that remind us where these oddly lovable characters came from and, in doing so, offer a lasting tribute to one of America’s greatest humorists. THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL is on stage here in Dallas, October 2 - 21st at the Music Hall at Fair Park. This show is during The State Fair of Texas - your ticket to the show gets you into the Fair for FREE on the same day as your performance! This is a show you don't want to miss. For tickets and more information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. We hope to see you at the show and the Fair! -DSM Amanda [slideshow]

Wednesday Addams' Contest - Week 3!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:07:20 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! It’s week 3 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!) Thank you to everyone who have participated in our previous 2 contests. Don’t worry if you didn’t win! Here’s your next chance! Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will be a trivia quiz contest, because this show has so many years of history behind it. CLICK HERE FOR THE TRIVIA QUIZ CONTEST. The winners will be posted right here on our blog for our final Wednesday contest on September 26th! All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 3 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can’t wait to see your family photos! You have until Tuesday evening at 11:59pm to enter! CLICK HERE FOR THE TRIVIA QUIZ CONTEST. Good luck and have fun! We’re getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY – just 2 weeks away! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: THE STATE FAIR BUZZ

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:25:04 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! As many of you know the State Fair of Texas opens one week from today. I know for myself and like many of you, we’re all excited to see all of the new and wonderful things that are coming to the State Fair of Texas this year. When I think of the State Fair of Texas I think of the Fried Foods, The Auto Shows, Big Tex and of course Fletcher’s Famous Corny Dogs. This year the Fried Foods are bigger and better with tasty new treats such as Deep Fried Mac-N-Cheese Sliders, Chicken Fried Cactus Bites, Fried Mexican Fire Crackers, Fried Bacon Cinnamon Rolls, Fried Cotton Candy, Fried Sugar, Fried Kitty Kat (Kit Kat Bars), Fried Cow Patty, The Cup of Trash Plate, Picnic on a Stick and The Big Tex Choice Award Winner for Fried Foods….Deep Fried Jambalaya. If none of those sound appetizing, don’t worry because I’m sure a Deep Fried Red Velvet Cupcake, a Deep Fried Chicken and Waffle, a Deep Fried Baked Potato or an El Dogito on a Stick will do the job. During the State Fair, The Chevrolet Main Stage will be hosting free concerts with fair admission for musicals artists such as Kevin Fowler, Uncle Kracker, Bridget Mendler, The Commodores, Kellie Pickler and Kevin Costner with Modern West all month long. Other events include The Chinese Lantern Festival, Creative Arts Shows, Celebrity Kitchen Shows, The Starlight Parade, Illumination Sensation, Birds Of The World, The 2013 State Fair Auto Show, The Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic Football Game, The Livestock Show and Auction, The Agriculture Show, The AT&T Red Rivalry Football Game and of course The Addams Family showing here at The Music Hall at Fair Park. Also, if you buy a ticket to The Addams Family you will receive free admission into the State Fair for that day. The State Fair of Texas is one of the most delightful and entertaining places for people of all ages. I hope to see all of you in line for a corny dog and then off to the Music Hall at Fair Park for The Addams Family…there goes the neighborhood. Don’t worry we’ll keep the lights off for you. -DSM Luke

Wednesday Addams' Contest - Week 4!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:55:42 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! It’s week 4 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we have had contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!) We wanted to announce the winners of our week 3 trivia contest! Congratulations to Mauricio Dominguez, Avery Arnold, and Ericka Berry - you have won 2 tickets to see THE ADDAMS FAMILY on October 2nd at 8pm! Look for an e-mail from me with the full details. Thank you to everyone who have participated in our previous 3 contests! Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will not be a contest, but an EXCLUSIVE 1-DAY ONLY Discount! Get 25% off tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILY for the Tuesday - Friday evening performances in price levels 2-5! Just click here and use the password DSMBLG (all caps) when purchasing tickets. This discount is only available to DSM Fans and TODAY ONLY! (Discount will be active beginning today, September 26th at 10:00am through tomorrow morning, September 27th at 9:59am.) HURRY - YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS DISCOUNT! Just click here and use the password DSMBLG! We’re getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY – just 6 days away! -DSM Amanda

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards - Deadline October 1st!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:45:52 +0000

DSM Special Events and Announcements Media Contact: Sharon Adams 972.773.9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Director: Tracy Jordan Direct: 214-413-3951 tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org

Heads Up for Dallas Metropolitan Area High Schools!

October 1 is Deadline to Register for the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards for the 2012 – 2013 School Year (Dallas, TX ) October 1, 2012 is the deadline to register for the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards (DSM HSMTA) for the 2012 – 2013 school year. The program is open to the public and private high schools all across North Texas DSM recently sent out invitations to over 250 schools to participate in 2013, its second season. Based on Broadway’s Tony^® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre in 15 categories. In 2012 DSM awarded over $20,000 in scholarships, including several $3,000 scholarships, to outstanding students. Tracy Jordan, DSM HSMTA director agrees with Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM when he says, “This program will encourage participation in the musical arts throughout our community.” Jordan adds, “DSM feels it is important to encourage these talented students to follow their dreams and goals and to draw attention to the excellent work being done in education in musical theater in our area schools.” Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all expenses paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school and Dallas Summer Musicals in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy Nederlander Award) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. Scholarships will include the opportunity for merit and need-based assistance to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, New Studio on Broadway: Acting and Music Theatre contingent upon acceptance into the New Studio and New York University. Three judges will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Students from each participating school as well as finalists in categories of Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Musical will be invited to perform at the 2^nd Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, when winners are announced. The public is invited to join in this exciting celebration. For more details about the Dallas program, call Tracy Jordan, HSMTA Director at 214-413-3951 or email him tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org Visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DSMHSMTA Link to the national program web site here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Comerica Bank. 2012 season sponsors are American Airlines, Dallas Morning News, Metro PCS, WFAA Channel 8, and Texas Instruments. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org

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FROM THE BACK ROW: The Ghost Light

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:07:23 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

Ghost Light: A single bulb that stands onstage and remains on at all times. It’s a safety precaution for the first person entering or the last to leave a dark theater. While it serves a practical purpose, the ghost light gets its name from a popular theatrical superstition. Legend tells us that every theater has a ghost, and the ghost light wards off these spirits known for causing mischief in the dark. Some say this ritual dates all the way back to the Shakespearean era, when a candle was left burning to rid the theater of spirits from a previous performance.

In honor of the 2012 State Fair musical, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, the Music Hall is currently home to an exclusive display of original props from the set of the 1960s TV series, The Addams Family! I’m a sucker for a good ghost story, so all of the spooky décor just adds fuel to the fire of my ghostly thoughts. It's hard not to consider the possibility of supernatural activity here in the 87-year-old Music Hall at Fair Park... I wanted answers. Although my expectations were low, I asked staff members if they had any tales of a potential Music Hall Phantom. Surprisingly, the response was better than I had anticipated! Some employees shared word-of-mouth tales and others brought up unusual cases of moved or missing desk items. However, I received two very creepy (and very genuine) first-person accounts of paranormal encounters here at the Music Hall. DSM President, Michael Jenkins:

[It was 1:30 in the morning, and Michael was working late. The bathroom adjacent to his office has two doors, one in his office and one out in the hall.] “It’s around 1:30 am and I heard this bathroom doorknob turn. …Keep in mind these are pretty heavy doors… Since this door in my office was closed, I stepped into the hall and went around the corner to check the other bathroom door, but it was closed too. Initially I thought, ‘Well, I can’t just open the door to check it out… there might be someone in there!’ So I walked back down the hall, into my office and I sat down at my desk. Seconds later, I heard that heavy door SLAM shut. I immediately said to myself, ‘I’m out of here.’ And I left!”

DSM’s IT Manager, Shawn:

The servers were down, and Shawn was working on them in the wee hours of the morning. He heard the sound of a door and thought it was an engineer. Shawn peeked out of his office and saw a short, bald man dressed in white rounding the corner at the end of the hall. Confused, Shawn called out to him but the man didn't answer. He just passed through the doorway at the end of the hall, closing the door behind him. Shawn followed the man and tried to open the door, but it was locked. He quickly unlocked and opened the door, only to find a dark hallway and no sign of the man in white. Shawn assured me that he was never a believer in the supernatural until this moment, and after this encounter he found himself walking a bit faster through the Music Hall’s sometimes too-quiet corridors.

At this point in time, Dallas Summer Musicals does not have a ghost light but it certainly sounds like we could use one!

Planning to attend the State Fair? Don't forget to pay DSM a visit! If you enter through the fair's Front Gate, just make a sharp right and come by the Music Hall to check out our FREE display of The Addams Family props and to purchase your ADDAMS FAMILY tickets. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Music Hall Phantom!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is on stage now through October 21st!

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-DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: A Perfect Pugsley

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:26:26 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! 13-year-old Cleveland native, Patrick D. Kennedy, is just a normal kid who happens to be part of the National Touring cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. As the not-so-normal Pugsley Addams, Patrick gets to play with explosives, embrace an iguana and enjoy the Addams’ torture rack on a nightly basis! In his dressing room, Patrick shows us Pugsley’s cigar and receives a quick visit from Pippa Pearthree still sporting her Grandma Addams makeup. He's practically Pugsley's angelic alter-ego. Attentive and sincere, Patrick is nothing short of professional both onstage and off. [caption id="attachment_989" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Haley and Patrick D. Kennedy[/caption] Haley: How old were you when you started performing? Patrick: I guess I got my start when I was about 8, in a high school production of LES MISÉRABLES. H: I heard your sister recommended you for the part, is that true? P: I guess… I don’t know, I just went in to audition! They were already in rehearsals and stuff and I was sitting on the couch watching TV and she was like, “Patrick you’re gonna audition for a musical.” She knew I liked to sing by myself, but I didn’t like singing in front of people. H: So the audition was your first time to sing in front of people, was it scary? P: At first. But then I realized you can’t see anyone because the lights are so bright! H: Do you have a favorite part of your show, THE ADDAMS FAMILY? P: There’s a scene in the beginning of the show when I’m on a torture rack and Cortney Wolfson who plays Wednesday is singing a song called “Pulled” about how her new boyfriend is pulling her into a new direction but she’s not sure if she likes it or if her family can accept it. So during the whole thing when she sings “pulled” she pulls a lever, and my arms and my legs get stretched out. H: And how exactly does that work? P: There’s a bicycle seat. I’ll be sitting on the bicycle seat and my arms and legs are attached to the chains and the chains have weights on the back, so as soon as I move my arms a bit, the weights just take over. And the weights aren’t that heavy they’re just heavy enough to move my arms and then I can pull them back in. H: I’ve noticed that your song, “What If” is kind of a crowd favorite. What’s it like to be onstage all alone singing that beautiful song? P: I think it’s strange, but it’s really fun because my character is singing about IF his sister will ever torture him again. And then half way through he realizes that he can do all that stuff himself, but it wouldn’t be the same without his sister. H: And you have sisters, so you understand… P: Yes, I have three older sisters. H: I know you like basketball- if you could play in the NBA, what team would you play for? P: Cleveland Cavaliers H: Have you been across the street to the State Fair of Texas yet? P: I went to get a Fletcher’s Corn Dog. It was good. There was a big, huge line for it though! And I ate some fried food- try the fried smores! H: What’s the most played song on your iPod right now? P: Umm… I have nothing but musicals on my iPod! H: Do you have a favorite soundtrack at the moment? P: I like BONNIE AND CLYDE and I like CARRIE H: BONNIE AND CLYDE is my favorite right now too, so we have that in common! Do you have a dream role? P: There’s a lot! BOOK OF MORMON, maybe… playing Elder Price – that would be fun. Or maybe something in BIG. H: Do you have any idols or role models? P: I guess some of the [Addams Family] cast members because of their previous history with shows. H: I bet you learn a lot from them… P: Oh yes. H: Do you have any pre-show rituals? P: I have handshakes with people before the show. And Blake Hammond, who plays Uncle Fester, he teaches me stage fighting. So before every show we fake-slap each other. And Pippa Pearthree and I try to scare each other… the score now is 7-me 4 ½ -her. H: Okay, I have to ask… Were YOU in the “Being Part of Newsies” video? Because I love that video! P: Yes, I was. That was all done by Jonathan Ritter and Victoria Huston-Elem. They started it when the tour first opened in November and they came up with the idea because when we were in New York rehearsing, the cast of NEWSIES was rehearsing downstairs from us and so we got to know them. That was so much fun to do! The main part of it that was set backstage was done at the Kennedy Center because we were there for three weeks. And other parts were shot in Atlanta and Pittsburgh so parts of it were shot all over and pulled together in the video. It took a lot of organizing! H: And finally, do you have any advice for young actors looking to follow in your Broadway footsteps? P: Just try! There’s always a chance at everything. Just do your best, you never know what’s gonna happen. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is on stage now through October 21st! -DSM Haley

Broadway League Conference - Marketing for Touring Broadway

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:02:42 +0000

Every fall, we attend a conference hosted by the Broadway League just for the marketing professionals in each Touring Broadway market of whom are Broadway League members. A different venue/presenter will host the conference every year, and this year we were in Hartford, CT at The Bushnell. (It's so beautiful, so if you're ever up there, make sure you stop by!) I wanted to share with you my experience, and what I've taken from this conference. The best part about it all is that we get to talk to other people from all over the country who do what we do – marketing for touring Broadway. We can swap stories, experiences, and, the best part, ideas. We also take part in a series of sessions with topics that are relevant to marketing in the touring cities. Hot topics this year were social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), ticket scalpers/online brokers, community involvement, audience education, and more! My hand even started cramping while I was writing notes, because the information we get at these conferences is so valuable and relevant, you don't want to miss anything! Why do we go to these conferences? To better your experience at our theater, of course! ;) We are striving to do things better, differently, more efficient, and effectively to make sure you, the patron, have the best experience before, during, and after your performance. We know we live in an ever-changing, fast pace world, and we want to be as up-to-date and effective as possible while giving you the theater experience you want! So, why am I relaying all of this to you? Well, I want to hear from you! What are the experiences that you want to have when you come to the theater? What do you wish we would do differently before, during, and after your visit? For what are you thankful that we already do? LET US KNOW! We really do want to hear from you - it helps us make your experience better and more memorable. Just leave a comment below! Don't want to leave a comment? Just e-mail us here. I'm so excited about the new and exciting things we're planning for our 2013 Season! We hope you will join us! Have a great week! DSM Amanda

Cast Announced for Flashdance The Musical!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:02:44 +0000

EMILY PADGETT, MATTHEW HYDZIK & RACHELLE RAK

TO STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF

LAUNCHING AT PITTBURGH’S HEINZ HALL, JANUARY 1-8, 2013

TOUR ROUTE ANNOUNCED THROUGH AUGUST 2013

Broadway stars Emily Padgett and Matthew Hydzik will star as “Alex” and “Nick” in the world premiere of FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation. Padgett and Hydzik will be joined on stage by the legendary Rachelle Rak in the role of “Tess.” Sergio Trujillo, director and choreographer for the production returned to the home of FLASHDANCE and launch of the world premiere, Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall, to announce the lead casting from a press conference. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Kevin McMahon, CEO of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, were also on hand to welcome the cast and creative team to Pittsburgh and to make a proclamation, naming January 1, 2013 as FLASHDANCE DAY. Celebrating its 30^thAnniversary,FLASHDANCE kicks off a national tour January 1-6 at Heinz Hall and continues on to more than 20 cities, finishing in Dallas June 25 – July 7, 2013! For additional cities and complete tour schedule, click here. In addition to the US touring company, a second company will be assembled for the creatively reworked production of FLASHDANCE, which will begin performances on Broadway in August 2013 for an open-ended engagement. 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. Celebrating its 30^th 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), The national tour of FLASHDANCE is produced by NETworks Presentations LLC, Steven Baruch, Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Christopher Malcolm, David Ian Productions and Transamerica. Emily Padgett (Alex) Having been involved with FLASHDANCE since the first reading with Sergio Trujillo, Emily is beyond thrilled to bring this iconic character to the stage! She was most recently seen on Broadway as Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages. Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde and Grease. Emily was also seen as Eden Siller in the World Premiere of White Noise at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago. Other NY Workshops include Sheryl Crow's Diner. TV Credits include "Louie", "America's Got Talent", and "Shall we Dance on Ice" . Love and Thanks to Soffer/Namoff Entertainment. Matthew Hydzik (Nick)A Pittsburgh native, Matthew feels that it's perfectly fitting to launch Flashdance's US tour amongst friends and family 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 Stillers! Rachelle Rak (Tess) is from Pittsburgh and was trained by her mother at The Rosalene Kenneth Dance Studio. At the age of 17 Rachelle joined the National Tour of Cats. She auditioned at the Benendum Center, she was a senior at Canevin Catholic High School and was cast and left for the road. Her Broadway Credits: Fosse, Catch me if you Can, Cats, Thou Shalt Not, Oklahoma!, The look of Love and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. She is featured in the Documentary Film "Every Little Step", The Making of A Chorus Line. National Tours: Starlight Express and Smoke Joe's Cafe, International: Sunset Blvd and The Trip of Love. Regional: Chicago: Velma Kelly, A Chorus Line:Sheila. Rachelle is thrilled to work with Director, Choreographer Sergio Trjuillo. “Flashdance” was the film that inspired the hope and desire to be in show business. She was 14 years old when she watched it probably 100 times and she knew that even though her story was different then Alex Owens, she wanted to leave Pittsburgh and go to Broadway. Well, that dream happened and she is so thankful she gets to return to her home town and debut the role of Tess in Flashdance -The Musical. The production features lighting design by Howell Binkley, scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, projection design by Peter Nigrini and costumes by Paul Tazewell with sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Charles LaPointe, and make-up design by Cookie Jordan. The production also features music arrangements and supervision by Jason Howland, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, dance arrangements by Jim Abbott, For more information, please visit www.flashdancethemusical.com or follow us www.facebook.com/flashdancemusical. For booking/touring information, please contact Simma Levine (slevine@ontheroadbooking.com). CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES 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. 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 the legendary Harold Hayes in New York. During his four-year tenure, he worked with important writers and 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 LosAngeles Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures in 2007; Save Me, which premiered at the2007 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US 2008. Robert is also the director and co-writerof Anything But Love, starring Andrew McCarthy, Isabel Rose and Eartha Kitt, released by SamuelGoldwynin 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. STEVEN BARUCH, TOM VIERTEL, MARC ROUTH, RICHARD FRANKEL (Producer), have produced and managed a wide range of productions for more than 26 years including A Little Night Music, Hairspray, The Producers, Stomp, Burn the Floor, The Norman Conquests, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Company, Little Shop of Horrors, The Weir, The Sound of Music, Smokey Joe’s Café, Angels in America, Oleanna, Love Letters, Driving Miss Daisy, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Penn and Teller and many others. Their shows have been awarded 36 Tony Awards®, 47 Drama Desk Awards, 38 Outer Critics Awards, 4 Grammy Awards, 8 Olivier Awards and 2 Pulitzer Prizes. They have the rare distinction of having won Tony Awards® in all four “Best” categories – play, musical, revival of a play and revival of a musical. TERRI AND TIMOTHY CHILDS (Producer). For the past 23 years, Terri and Timothy have produced or coproduced 25 shows on Broadway, in London’s West End, and for tours in North America and the United Kingdom. Known for innovative producing, they presented Patrick Stewart’s one-man A Christmas Carol, James Mapes (hypnotist), The Flying Karamazov Brothers do the Impossible, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, and the La Cuadra de Sevilla’s version of Carmen, complete with a dancing horse. Their most recent productions include Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, Kim Cattrall in Private Lives (both Broadway), and Ralph Fiennes in The Tempest (London). In addition to Flashdance, future productions include The Conjuror (U.K. 2013), and Richard Bean’s Honeymoon Suite (Broadway, 2014). Timothy has directed an even dozen productions, in New York, London, and regionally. He has written a novel, Cold Turkey (Harper & Row), and new a stage adaptation of One Touch of Venus. NETworks PRESENTATIONS, LLC Since 1995, NETworks has produced and managed over 45 touring productions in the US., U.K. and internationally. Current productions include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot The Musical, Blue Man Group National Tour, Elf The Musical, Flashdance the Musical, La Cage Aux Folles, The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Shrek The Musical and National Theatre of Great Britain’s production of War Horse touring the U.S. ###

Give Broadway for the Holidays!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:04:07 +0000

It’s that time of year again! (I just wish it was colder, and felt more like Holiday time…) I bet you have either finished your holiday gift shopping or, if you’re like me, you are procrastinating because the thought of going to the mall right now gives you nightmares. Well for all you Broadway loving fans, I have great news for you – avoid the mall and the chaos of shopping for gifts and give the gift of Broadway this year! AND it’s not just a normal gift – it’s a full, live experience. Take a look below at what DSM can offer you and your loved ones for your Holiday gifts this year – a gift that will keep giving all year long. Or you can nudge that loved one who can’t decide what to give you. :) It may not be looking a whole lot like Christmas right now, but it definitely is the best time to get tickets to the best of Broadway! 2013 DSM SEASON TICKETS Join us for the season and enjoy the best Broadway shows, in the best seats, at the best price! See 7 shows for as low as $125! A 2013 DSM Season Ticket includes: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, SISTER ACT, FLASHDANCE, and THE LION KING. To see our full 2013 Season Brochure, click here. Become a Dallas Summer Musicals subscriber and get the whole package - great shows, the best seats, lowest price, priority offers and exclusive benefits - including: Savings up to $85, (based on regular ticket prices if purchased separately), first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, and many more! A season ticket is the best way to see the Dallas Summer Musicals. For all of the information on this season, visit our website here. To view further information about this season's shows, just click on one of the posters above! Season tickets are only available for purchase for a limited time before the season starts and seats are assigned based on the date you place your order. Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase DSM season tickets! Click here to get your 2013 DSM Season Tickets Now! 2013 DSM MINI PACKS For a limited time, pick 4 or more shows from our 2013 Season: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, SISTER ACT, FLASHDANCE, and THE LION KING. To see our full 2013 Season Brochure, click here. Become a Dallas Summer Musicals subscriber and get the whole package - great shows, the best seats, lowest price, priority offers and exclusive benefits - including: the best seats available for the season, huge savings over single ticket prices, and more! (Please note: If you are purchasing a 4-show package, your package cannot include both WICKED and THE LION KING.) Mini Packs are great holiday gifts – and you get to pick the shows, dates, times, and price level for your package! We met up with Stephen Anthony who plays Frank Abagnale, Jr. in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN to let you know about Mini Packs. Check out the video below! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqpKQBu0sJM?rel=0] Click here to get your 2013 DSM Mini Pack Tickets Now! GIFT CERTIFICATES Not sure or can’t decide what ticket package or show to give? A Dallas Summer Musicals Gift Certificate is a unique gift, perfect for almost anyone. Whether you are looking to buy for the person who has everything, or shopping for that special someone who loves musicals, now there is an excellent way for you to give the gift of live theatre - all year round. Think about a DSM Gift Certificate as an excellent stocking stuffer or even a generous gift for employees, bosses, or colleagues. DSM Gift Certificates may be purchased in any increment. Sounds good to you? Click here for full details! CATCH ME IF YOU CAN PRESALE Just in time for Holiday gifts! DSM friends and family exclusively are able to purchase tickets to CATCH ME IF YOU CAN before they go on sale to the public! Don’t know much about this show? That’s okay! I will tell you that the music is great and you’ll leave the theater with a smile on your face! This show opens up our 73^rd Season on February 12-24^th! Check out our CATCH ME IF YOU CAN web page here to get full details & get access to our exclusive presale! WICKED PRESALE DSM Family and Friends get an Exclusive Priority Offer – WICKED Returns to Dallas/Fort Worth for 4 Weeks ONLY! Go to http://budurl.com/WickedFIRST and use the code FIRST to get the best seats before tickets go on sale to the general public! WICKED flies into Dallas April 10 – May 5. For full details about the show, click here. We’ve had to say the words “Sold Out” for this show, so HURRY – tickets go on sale to the public Monday, January 7th! While it is a crazy time of the year with family, lots of food and drinks, traveling, decorating, shopping, and so much more, we do hope you are able to pause this Holiday season to feel joy, show love and give thanks. We wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and hope to see you in 2013 for our new season! -DSM Amanda

Catch Me If You Can National Tour Flies into the Music Hall at Fair Park!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:44:59 +0000

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN NATIONAL TOUR FLIES INTO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK IN DALLAS

Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will land in Dallas, Texas, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park for a limited engagement February 12-24, 2013. Single tickets will be priced from $15-$85 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, and all Ticketmaster locations, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot—all before the age of 21. With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank's trail, we're off on a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren't so very different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run. This engagement follows hot on the heels of the recent Broadway run, where the show received considerable acclaim. The New York Times exclaims, “Hot diggity! This portrait of the con artist as a young man comes to ecstatic life.” WOR Radio calls it “absolutely marvelous” and proclaims CATCH ME IF YOU CAN “a real Broadway musical with showstoppers to enthrall just about everyone.” And Vanity Fair says “CATCH ME will move you to live life to the fullest and dance past anything standing in your way,” and urges “Get your seats now!” CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is based on Frank Abagnale’s New York Times bestselling autobiography, published by Broadway Paperbacks, and the hit 2002 film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr. Nominated for four Tony^® Awards and six Drama Desk® Awards, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN features a Tony® Award-winning creative team, with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O’Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Scenic design for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is by David Rockwell (Hairspray), costumes based on the original design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Peter McBoyle. For more information, visit www.CatchMeOnTour.com. All performances will be held at the Music Hall at Fair Park, opening at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 24, with matinees at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16; Sunday, Feb. 17; Thursday, Feb. 21; Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24. There will be no evening performance Sunday, Feb. 24. Dallas Summer Musicals’ 73^rd Season of the Best of Broadway continues with the following shows: Disney and CAMERON MACKINTOSH present MARY POPPINS, March 20-30. Returning to Dallas for two weeks only, the “roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!” as proclaimed by the New York Daily News, features an irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time. WICKED, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WITCHES OF OZ, April 10-May 5. So much happened before Dorothy dropped in! Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon,” and it has broken box office records and sold out every time it has played Dallas. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster,” according to The New York Times. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE MUSICAL, May 14-26. Presenting the most outrageously fun Broadway musical, a spectacular show that tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends on a road trip of a lifetime. Hopping aboard a battered old bus in search of love and friendship in the middle of the Australian Outback, they end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. An international hit with over 500 dazzling, Tony® Award-winning costumes, PRISCILLA features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.” SISTER ACT, A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY, June 4-16. Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash, called by The New York Post “Ridiculously Fun,” has audiences jumping to their feet in total agreement. Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent. FLASHDANCE, THE MUSICAL, June 25-July 7. The pop-culture phenomenon and runaway international success is now live on stage. It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including The Academy Award® winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and 16 new original songs. Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20, 2013. 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, Metro PCS, 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. # # # 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.

Steve Watson Named Chairman of the Board of DSM for 2013

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:38:05 +0000

DALLAS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE AND CIVIC LEADER STEVE WATSON NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

Dallas, TX… Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., (DSM), the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Steve Watson, a business executive and civic leader, Chairman of the DSM Board of Directors for 2013. Watson was installed as Board Chairman at DSM’s annual meeting in December 2012. As Managing Director of the Dallas office of Stanton Chase International, a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants ranked within the top 10 global retained search firms, Steve Watson was recognized in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Business Week magazine as one of the “50 Most Influential Headhunters in the World.” Watson previously served as International Chairman from 2004-2010. Prior to his search career, Steve served as President and CEO, and Chairman of Micronyx, and as regional director for the south central region for Tandem Computers. He was with Burroughs Corporation early in his career, where he held management positions of increasing responsibility. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and his MBA from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Currently, Mr. Watson serves on the Board of SMU’s Athletic Forum, the Board of Governors of Northwood Club, and the Board of the North Texas Wisconsin Alumni Association. He previously served as President of Northwood Club; a mentor for SMU’s Cox School of Business Executive MBA Scholarship Program; a Board Member of the Metroplex Technology Business Council; and on the Board of Directors for Terra Nova Financial Group (“TNFG”). Steve and his wife, Sandy, are active members of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins said, “We are very lucky to have a visionary business leader like Steve Watson take the helm as Chairman of the Board of Dallas Summer Musicals for 2013.He combines an impressive record of achievement in the business community with outstanding volunteer leadership in support of education and the arts, and has been a big supporter of DSM for some time. Steve and Sandy chaired a very successful benefit gala, Curtain Call, for DSM last year.” Steve Watson said, “I am deeply honored to have the privilege of serving Dallas’ preeminent nonprofit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas with year round performances for audiences of all ages. We are very excited about our upcoming season with Wicked, Mary Poppins, Disney’s The Lion King, Sister Act, Catch Me If You Can, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Flashdance; most of which are top selling shows on Broadway. I am pleased to work with a dedicated and engaged Board of Directors who are committed to bringing the best of Broadway and family entertainment to North Texas. We will also be starting our 2014 season with White Christmas during the 2013 holiday season. We are thankful to have Michael Jenkins as our President and Managing Director, since he is well received and recognized on Broadway. 2013 will be an exceptional season for Dallas.” Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Darrell Jordan, with Rick Rogers serving as Chairman Elect. Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM Officers for 2013: Vice President – Audit, Jay Fox; Vice President – Community Outreach, Glenda Kemple; Vice President – Development, Ted Munselle; Vice President – Finance, Marvin Lane; Vice President – Marketing, Alfie Pino; Vice President – Nominating, Darrell Jordan; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Wally Reed; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; and Treasurer, Dorsey Baskin. The 2013 executive committee members are Ruth Altshuler, Dorsey Baskin, Brice Beaird, Ed Bratton, Karl Chiao, Diane Childress, Scott Collier, O. Paul Corley, Jr., O. Paul Corley, Sr., Terry R. Dallas, Jerry Dilettuso, Barry Epstein, Patti Flowers, Jay Fox, Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary E. Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Sally Hoglund, Darrell Jordan, Sheffie Kadane III, Rebecca Kay, Glenda Kemple, Marvin Lane,John McCoy, Steven C. Metzger, Andy Meyercord, Caven Miller, Ted Munselle, Alfonso E. Pino III, Gail Plummer, James W. Porter, Jr., Dick Quisenberry, Scott Ragland, W. Wallace Reed, Holly Reeves, Rick Rogers, Kenneth D. Sandstad, Kip Sowden, Donald K. Spies, Michael C. Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, Larry Waisanen, Steve B. Watson, and Kit Williams. Retiring executive committee members are Mike Albright and Laura Estrada. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton, O. Paul Corley, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Steven C. Metzger, Charles Pistor, Bud Porter, Dick Quisenberry, Ken Sandstad, Donald K. Spies, Michael Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, and Kit Williams. Past chairmen J. Frank Miller III, Douglas Perry, and Charles Pistor are deceased. Now celebrating its 73rd season, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theatre company in the nation. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSM MGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park. In addition, DSM has its own school of musical theatre, which provides quality education and outreach to the youth of Dallas. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call 214-421-5678. # # # For media information or to schedule an interview, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com.

FROM THE BACK ROW: Why YOU Should Join DSM's Associate Producers

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:30:02 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

Calling all young professionals! DSM’s 2013 Season is top-notch and this is your chance to get involved: Associate Producers (AP) is a dynamic group of young professionals who share a passion for theatre and a desire to support the arts. Associate Producers aims to make Dallas Summer Musicals a treasured piece of the city’s culture in the eyes of its young adults. The group is easy to join and a membership comes with exclusive privileges and one-of-a-kind experiences that make it worth every penny!

“I love the opportunity not only to support the arts in Dallas but specifically Dallas Summer Musicals, where I've been seeing musical theater productions since I was a kid. I love that I now get to be an actual part of DSM. I also love the people I've met through Associate Producers. As President and former Membership co-chair of AP I've gotten not only to meet and get to know so many of our awesome members but also the great people we work with at DSM. This is such a great group! If you like theater and you are interested in meeting other young professionals that enjoy theater and supporting the arts then this is the group for you. Not only do we get discounted tickets to the shows and preferred block seating in the theater but there are networking and social opportunities throughout the year.” -Lauren Smith, AP President

FYI:

Currently, AP consists of approx. 120 members (under age 45)
AP offers annual memberships that run January – December
$100 per membership -or- $50 per person in a shared membership
Memberships include exclusive benefits
AP is governed by its own Board of Directors
AP gives back with various philanthropic projects
AP serves as a platform for grooming future leaders within the DSM organization

BENEFITS:

Ideal Networking Opportunities
Membership Party
2-3 Show Events per Season
Holiday Party
Premium Seating
Discounted Tickets on AP Group Nights

*For a complete list of info & benefits, visit the AP Homepage

With a season of Broadway blockbusters ahead of us, including fan-favorites WICKED and THE LION KING, 2013 is sure to be a great year for the Associate Producers and the perfect time for prospective members to join!

According to AP Chairman Robert Ivey, members have a lot to look forward to this season:

“The Associate Producers offers one-of-a-kind access to the Dallas Summer Musicals. 2013 will be a very strong year for the Associate Producers. Our members have the opportunity to attend WICKED, FLASHDANCE and THE LION KING at discounted rates and enjoy complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres at our invite-only events associated with each of these shows. We will kickoff the year with a membership event next month, where new and returning members gather to learn more about the organization and our plans for the year. In addition to these and other social activities, we expect to partner for a fourth year with Jubilee Park for our annual Associate Producers philanthropy event this fall. Jubilee Park is a community center near Fair Park, which provides a variety of services to community residents. Through our partnership with Jubilee Park, the Associate Producers help to strengthen Dallas Summer Musicals' ties with the South Dallas community.” -Robert Ivey, AP Chairman

As a fly on the wall at a few of these AP events, I can tell you this: there’s always a good turnout, smiling faces and enthusiastic personalities fill the room with high energy, and on one occasion a couple of cast members even stopped by to say hello before taking the stage. DSM works hard to make AP events worthwhile, so check it out!

Try something new this year – Support the arts! – You won’t regret it.

-DSM Haley

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY: Download the Membership Form Here

FOR MORE INFO:

Click here to visit the Associate Producers website

Like Associate Producers on Facebook!

-or-

Contact Mark Chambless at mchambless@dallassummermusicals.org

New Performance Times This Season!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:43:12 +0000

Did you know we have changed our performance times for our 2013 Season? We don’t want anyone to miss the opening curtain for any of our spectacular DSM Broadway shows this season, so we need your help to let everyone know this year’s curtain goes up 30 minutes earlier than before! Showtime will now be at 7:30 p.m. for our evening shows, and 1:30 p.m. for all matinee performances. Check your tickets and spread the word - you don't want to be late! Can't wait to see you at the Music Hall for our 2013 Season, starting off with CATCH ME IF YOU CAN on February 12th! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: AP Membership Party

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:00:35 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

Wednesday night’s Membership Party seemed to be a great success for DSM’s Associate Producers. The very charming Sunset Lounge was brimming with current AP members, led by President Lauren Smith, and plenty of fresh faces eager to join the 2013 crew. We were happy to welcome all of the returning members and excited to meet so many new ones! The Sunset Lounge offered their signature drink, The Caipirinha and 3 specialty cocktails, themed for each show AP will attend as a group this season: WICKED, FLASHDANCE and THE LION KING. Baskets of Plantain Chips were available to each table and trays of delicious Chicken Tinga Tacos floated around the room. As some guests made their rounds and others gathered at tables, the evening’s energy never lulled. AP has a lot to look forward to this year, and everyone was buzzing about DSM’s 2013 season! The party came to a close with some enthusiastic words from AP President Lauren Smith and Membership Chair Miranda Bond, and a drawing for tickets to opening night of SISTER ACT. All in all, the event was wonderful and we’re all looking forward to the next one! If you couldn’t make it Wednesday night, no worries! CLICK HERE if you would like to join AP or to renew your current membership. *FYI: The deadline for ordering your AP-event WICKED tickets is Feb. 24! -DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: Jet-Setting with Pat Smith

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:20:49 +0000

“…on my very first flight I was stuck in Sydney for 5 days. They put us up in a really nice hotel, gave us a per diem in the currency of the country and said, ‘As long as you’re in uniform 5 days from now, you can do whatever you want!’” -Pat Smith

Hey DSM Fans!

In 1963, a very ambitious 22-year-old Pat Smith took a pilot's advice and applied to work for an international airline. She got the job, and for 3 years Pat circled the globe living the notoriously glamourous life of a 1960s Pan Am flight attendant! Luke and I were thrilled that Pat was willing to answer some of our questions, and with CATCH ME IF YOU CAN opening on Tuesday (2/12), the timing was perfect! [caption id="attachment_1096" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pat Smith - Tokyo - 1963[/caption] How old were you when you became a Pan Am flight attendant? I was 22 years of age, 2 weeks out of graduating from the University of Oregon. It was 1963. What made you decide to apply for the job? First of all, my dad was in real estate in California and he was selling beautiful lots right outside of San Francisco with a group of Pan Am pilots. In my senior year at school I had met a bunch of these pilots and they encouraged me to join Pan Am. I was not familiar with it but they told me you fly internationally and it just kind of sounded terribly exciting to me! So that’s how I was introduced to it. I Interviewed and was accepted, and then unbeknownst to me there were 5 other girls from the University of Oregon that were accepted with Pan Am and we all became roommates in San Francisco. What was Pan Am’s training program like? We had to have a foreign language. I spoke French so I passed that test. For me, the toughest thing was the swimming test. Even though I could swim, I’ve always been afraid of water, and the application questionnaire asked if you could swim, so I said yes, not realizing that part of the training was jumping in a large Olympic sized pool to prove it! So all 30 of the people jumped in the pool except for me. I’m still standing on the side of the pool thinking, 'how bad do I really wanna do this??' So I didn’t dive in, I gently climbed in and did the sidestroke to the other end of the pool. We also practiced with life rafts, we did customer relations, we had the white gloves and silver trays, we were told never to take a silver coffee pot out into the isle without having it on a silver tray with cream and sugar on the tray. And in 1^st class we cooked! I mean, we literally cooked. And that was hard because it was like a 7 course meal. They’d start off with a beautiful fish course, they’d have caviar, a salad course, the roast with vegetables, and then cherries jubilee. One of my biggest nightmares was when I forgot to take the ice cream out of the dry ice and it was hard as a rock. It was easy to forget when you’d have 20-25 people in first class and you’re preparing food for all of them. Did you fly with the girls you were living with? A couple of times, but very rarely because we were junior. I don’t know if you saw the Pan Am series where those girls all flew together, but it wasn’t like that. Pan Am hired a majority of their flight attendants outside of the U.S. because they had to speak the language fluently to operate a foreign flight carrier. They hired a lot of French, German, Japanese, and Chinese gals – they’d hire a lot of Icelandic gals because they were so multilingual, which I thought was interesting. So in most cases I was the only American girl on a flight crew of 6. To me, at 22 years of age right out of college, this was a totally new experience to be talking with all of these girls from Norway and Germany and Tokyo.... What was the average pay for a Pan Am Flight Attendant in the 60s? I think when we started… I wanna say, annually maybe like $7,000 or $8,000 dollars Did Pan Am pay for your living expenses in San Francisco or NY? No, you had to pay for all of that on your own. In New York, the apartments were so expensive that there were 5 or 6 of us in a 1-bedroom apartment! So we had bunk beds in the bedroom, and another little twin bed, and a rollaway in the living room. You didn’t really want people to come in and open the kitchen drawers because they wouldn’t find knives and spoons and forks, they’d find all of our clothes! But with our different flight schedules we were never there at the same time so it worked out. Did they always put you up in the nicest hotels? Yes. It wasn’t ever second rate. And at that time Pan Am owned the Intercontinental Hotel chain, which was a very first-class hotel, and if we got into a city that didn’t have them we stayed somewhere of that same caliber. They took very good care of us. I mean, here we are all over the world, you couldn’t read this in books, it was just a marvelous experience. When you made the choice to become a flight attendant, did you realize what you were getting yourself into? I had a goal. My goal was to see the world. And I flew for 3 years because I was pretty ambitious and I had other things I wanted to do, but I knew I couldn’t pass this up. I was hardly ever home when I lived in San Francisco and New York because I’d be gone for 2 weeks at a time. I’d bid, I chose to go on these trips. I wouldn’t always get my first bid but I knew exactly what I wanted and that was to get as much travel as I possibly could. Who were some of your most memorable passengers? I had Yul Brynner - he was very nice, and very quiet. Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Jean Simmons, the movie star - she and Mayor Joseph Alioto were on my flight from Tokyo to San Francisco. It was November 22 1963, and I’m in the first class galley cooking eggs when the pilot came on and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we're about an hour outside of Honolulu, but I wanted to let you know that President John F. Kennedy has been shot.” And that’s where I was. I had the Rolling Stones! They were in coach where I was working and they were so entertaining. They were up and down the aisle, one of them - I don’t remember who it was because I don’t think they were really famous yet - came back and asked for my sweeper, and he swept up and down the aisle. He kept coming in and actually bothering me because I was trying to get the scrambled eggs out, but they were hysterical! Did you know anyone at Pan Am who crossed paths with Frank Abagnale, Jr.? My friend Sylvia’s roommate actually knew Frank, and he arrived one night in uniform and asked to borrow $200 from her. She gave it to him and never saw it again! Frank Abagnale, Jr. was not a trained pilot, so when he made it on to the plane, what would he do? He’d come on and posed as a deadhead, so he was never actually flying the plane. His whole imposter was wearing the uniform and riding as a passenger, that’s how he traveled. One time they told Frank he could sit in the jump seat because the plane was full, and he walked into the cockpit and couldn’t find the seat because he had no idea that you were supposed to pull it down. How is flying today different from when you were a flight attendant? Oh, so much! The food especially. We’d pride ourselves on the presentation, I mean we had orchids on all the displays, and the best champagne and best wine. But I think #1 would have to be customer relations. We were told those passengers were like our family. Smiles, how can I help, if there was a baby on board we’d warm their milk, it was all about being proactive – not waiting until someone asks for something. But we also had height and weight restrictions, your hair couldn’t touch your shoulders, you reported an hour and a half before your flight and your grooming supervisor would weigh you, and check your uniform, and if you didn’t look right they’d pull you off the flight! But I loved the quality – I think that’s what made Pan Am so special – we were hired, but by golly we better live up to that Pan Am image. Do you still keep in touch with the girls you used to fly with? They’re my best friends. 8 of them were just here a couple years ago. They’re in San Francisco, Connecticut, Arizona, etc… but I keep in touch because they are my best friends. There’s definitely still a bond. [caption id="attachment_1097" align="aligncenter" width="510"] “Spring comes to Maiden Lane” in San Francisco
Barbara Longnecker (left) and Pat Smith (right) with the District Sales Manager from the Pan Am sales office on Union Square, 1963[/caption] Today, Pat Smith owns her own trade show management company. She is also President of the DFW chapter of World Wings International. Currently, there are 40 chapters all around the world, and they each support a local charity. Pat and the DFW chapter work hard selling cookbooks and calendars, and doing annual fundraisers all to raise money for the local charity, SafeHaven. -DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: I didn't know I'd LOVE it

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! Growing up, theatre was the last thing on my mind. I’m one of three boys so I spent my time roughhousing with my brothers and playing sports. Needless to say, there were no showtunes playing in my house. I wasn’t introduced to musical theatre until my junior year of high school when I saw WICKED in New York City. Going into WICKED I had no idea what I was embarking on, and by the end of the show I was blown away by the intricate set, familiar story line and especially the musical talent. To be honest, I was shocked that I enjoyed the experience as much as I did. From then on I was a little more open to the idea of musical theatre. On my very first day at DSM I was asked to make some calls regarding ticket sales for MEMPHIS the musical. Before that day, I had never even heard of MEMPHIS and I definitely had no idea how much it would impact my life. I saw the show opening night and I was blown away once again by the impeccable dancing, the authentic sets and most importantly the charm and talent of the leading actress. I went home that night and just had to buy the entire soundtrack. Two days later I saw the show again, twice in one day, and by the end of that night I knew all the words to each song. When the show came back to Ft. Worth earlier this month I went and saw it again, I think obsessed was an understatement at that moment for me. This was the way I felt when I saw CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I went in not knowing what to expect and left the show wanting more. [caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Me with Bryan Fenkart (Huey) from Memphis the Musical.[/caption] We are in the middle of our second week of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and I highly recommend coming to see the show! It’s a show that everyone can love and appreciate. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is smart, clever and without a doubt the most fun you will have all year. Broadway has finally established a show that men of all ages can take pleasure in and maybe by the end of the show, you will see your life in living color. So remember not to let the words “musical theatre” scare you. If I hadn’t taken a risk seeing WICKED, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today and working in this industry. I am still that guy’s guy who is obsessed with sports, but there will always be a place in my heart for musical theatre. Let’s just say I have been “changed for the better”. -DSM Luke

FROM THE BACK ROW: Student Rush!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:40:39 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

We are SO excited! Last week Dallas Summer Musicals launched their STUDENT RUSH program, finally making it affordable for STUDENTS to see some of DSM's 2013 shows! One hour before the show, anyone with a valid student ID can purchase the best available seating for ONLY $25! Students: this means there's a chance YOU could snag a great seat -front and center- for a fraction of the price... It's totally worth it!

STUDENT RUSH will be offered at select performances, so Like Us On Facebook to know when you'll be able to take advantage of this sweet deal.

Tickets available 1 hour before performance - 6:30pm evenings / 12:30pm matinees
$25 tickets - best available at time of purchase - first come first served
Present valid student ID at time of purchase for maximum of 2 tickets **PLEASE NOTE: For the 2015 Season and going forward, Student Rush is only 1 ticket per valid ID.**
Only available with certain DSM shows at select performances
Parking is FREE when you park on Fair Park grounds

TONIGHT IS THE LAST STUDENT RUSH **FOR CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!**

Students, we hope to see you at The Music Hall at Fair Park soon!

(Follow @dsmusicals on Twitter & Instagram too!)

-DSM Haley

Mary Poppins flies into Dallas for 10 days only!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:58:18 +0000

Media Contact: Jo Ann Holt joannholt@gmail.com

Tickets for MARY POPPINS are NOW ON SALE in Dallas, Texas! Performances begin March 20th for 16 performances only at the Music Hall at Fair Park

Dallas, TX: Dallas Summer Musicals and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced that tickets for the long-awaited production of MARY POPPINS are on sale now. Dallas’ eagerly awaited stage production will begin performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park March 20 for a limited engagement of 16 performances, through Saturday, March 30. The opening night is Wednesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. With seven productions produced on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years. Worldwide to date, the show has grossed over $812 million and welcomed more than 11 million guests. The musical is the winner of 44 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier, Helpmann and Evening Standard awards. The entire original creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world’s most famous nanny to audiences around North America. The MARY POPPINS North American Tour began performances on March 25, 2009 and has played to more than two and a half million delighted theatergoers in over 60 cities to date. MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006. Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics. Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne. MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick. The tour’s creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director Daniel Bowling. MARY POPPINS received its worldwide premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End in December 2004. Following its successful three-year London run, the production launched an acclaimed U.K. tour. The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS officially opened on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere. MARY POPPINS is the only show from the 2006-2007 theatrical season still running. The MARY POPPINS North American tour has garnered continuous critical praise and achieved box office success since its launch in Chicago in March 2009. The Australian production of MARY POPPINS opened to critical acclaim in Melbourne in July 2010 where it achieved an unprecedented 100% of Gross Box Office. For its seasons in Perth and Brisbane the advance sales smashed all previous theatrical records. Having played to enormous success in London, a UK tour, Holland, and Australia, MARY POPPINS can currently be seen on Broadway, the North American tour, in Auckland, New Zealand and in Mexico City. Licensed productions of MARY POPPINS have also been mounted in Hungary, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark and the Czech Republic. In Dallas, MARY POPPINS will play Wednesday through Sunday the first week at 7:30 p.m., with Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Performances the second week will be Monday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinees at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. Ticket prices start as low as $15. Special Ticket Packages are available at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program. Tickets are available at the DSM Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, and all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP. Student Rush tickets are available beginning one hour before each performance at the Music Hall Box Office (6:30 p.m. for evening performances and 12:30 p.m. for matinee performances). The $25 tickets are best available at time of purchase, first come first served; students should present their valid student I.D. at time of purchase for a maximum of two tickets. Valid on select performance only; follow Dallas Summer Musicals Facebook page for the alert. The Dallas engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Dallas Summer Musicals’ 73^rd Season of the Best of Broadway continues with the following shows: WICKED, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WITCHES OF OZ, April 10-May 5. So much happened before Dorothy dropped in! Variety calls WICKED “a cultural phenomenon,” and it has broken box office records and sold out every time it has played Dallas. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster,” according to The New York Times. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE MUSICAL, May 14-26. Presenting the most outrageously fun Broadway musical, a spectacular show that tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends on a road trip of a lifetime. Hopping aboard a battered old bus in search of love and friendship in the middle of the Australian Outback, they end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. An international hit with over 500 dazzling, Tony® Award-winning costumes, PRISCILLA features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.” SISTER ACT, A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY, June 4-16. Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash, called by The New York Post “Ridiculously Fun,” has audiences jumping to their feet in total agreement. Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent. FLASHDANCE, THE MUSICAL, June 25-July 7. The pop-culture phenomenon and runaway international success is now live on stage. It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including The Academy Award® winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and 16 new original songs. Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20, 2013. 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, Metro PCS, 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. # # # 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.

A Real Story from a DSM Subscriber!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:51:03 +0000

Good afternoon everyone! Though CATCH ME IF YOU CAN has come and gone, I couldn't help but share this story with you. I received an email from one of our awesome DSM Subscribers about her REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE with the REAL FRANK ABAGNALE, JR.! (For her protection, I have not listed her name.) A special thank you to her for sharing this story with us! My husband and I were in SHOCK and AWE over how much we enjoyed this musical! For our anniversary, my husband told me he would take me to see “Catch Me If You Can,” since he knew I have a direct connection to the play. I was one of the co-eds Frank Abagnale “interviewed” back in the early 70s on the campus of Arizona State University. He had posted flyers on campus that Pan Am was interviewing for stewardesses. I set up an appointment, and met Frank in one of the buildings on campus for the interview. When I found out I was going to go for an interview on campus, I contacted Pan Am and requested an official stewardess application, so I could go to my interview looking very professional. Pan Am mailed the application to me, and I brought it to my interview all filled out with a picture attached. The “captain” who interviewed me, (Frank), seemed VERY concerned as to WHERE I got this application form. I remember that I thought it odd that his focus was on my application form, and NOT what my qualifications were. I must have convinced him that my getting the form was pretty innocent. Not long after the interview, he called to tell me I had gotten the job. I was so excited, and told my family and friends right away. Frank came over to my dorm to give me the news directly, then asked me for dinner. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and khakis, which I also thought was a little odd. I had prior commitments, and couldn’t go out, but he said he’d be back in touch. Since in my mind I was going to be a stewardess, I kept contacting Pan Am to ask when and where I should report. I kept getting the “run around,” and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get a straight answer. I finally got a letter from Pan Am about the fraud, and that Frank had been caught in Marietta, GA. I was SO disappointed, and never did become a stewardess after all that! My mom and I were flabbergasted when the book came out with the full story, (even though the book says the interviews were at the U. of AZ, instead of A.S.U.) I can’t help but think what would have happened to me if I had agreed to go to that dinner with him!!! WOW…I was that close! Hope you enjoyed her story as much as I did! Have a wonderful day! -DSM Amanda

FROM THE BACK ROW: Beware of Scalpers

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:20:05 +0000

Hey DSM Fans!

I want to share this brief story of a friend's scalper experience:

My friend was interested in seeing WICKED when it comes to The Music Hall this April. Knowing I work for DSM, he sent me a text asking the show is as good as everyone says it is and if I though his nieces would enjoy it. After reassuring him that it is a must-see, I told him to click the “buy tickets” link on DSM’s website because it would take him right to our Ticketmaster page. A few minutes later he wrote, “Wow. $150? These are expensive! But if you say it’s worth it, then okay. Are these good seats??” The seats were on the very back row in the rear orchestra section. I was confused. $150 was more than double the price they should’ve been. It turns out he did a Google search instead of following my directions. His search led him right into the hands of a scalper. I stopped my friend in his tracks and sent him a direct link to the official DSM WICKED Ticketmaster page where he found even better seats for much less than he was about to pay. I basked in my “I told ya so” moment, and congratulated him on his find. I’m thrilled that my friend will have the pleasure of introducing his nieces to WICKED this April!

If you choose to buy DSM tickets from an alternative source, there’s a lot of risk involved:

The tickets may or may not be valid, and you run the risk of not being let in to a performance.
You’ll probably pay much more than you should
There’s no way to notify you in the case of a time change or cancellation
If you lose your tickets, DSM won’t be able to replace them

So DSM Fans, this is just a friendly Public Service Announcement from us to you.

Buy your tickets through DSM-official ticketing outlets!

OFFICIAL Dallas Summer Musicals ticketing outlets:

The Dallas Summer Musicals Box Office – 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, Dallas – 214.691.7200
The Music Hall at Fair Park box office, 1 hour before scheduled performances
Any Ticketmaster Outlet or Charge-By-Phone 1-800-982-ARTS (2787)
Online www.ticketmaster.com / show-specific Ticketmaster links can be found on the DSM website

* * *

We're looking forward to seeing you at The Music Hall this month for MARY POPPINS!

-DSM Haley

FROM THE BACK ROW: Beware of Ticket Scalping

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:11:47 +0000

*Ticket Scalping is the act of buying event tickets from licensed sellers, and reselling them at often higher prices

Hey DSM Fans!

I want to share this brief story of a friend’s experience with a ticket scalper: My friend was interested in seeing WICKED when it comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park this April. Knowing I work for DSM, he sent me a text asking if the show is as good as everyone says it is and if I thought his nieces would enjoy it. After reassuring him that WICKED is a must-see, I told him to click the “buy tickets” link on DSM’s website because it would take him right to our Ticketmaster page. A few minutes later he wrote, “Wow. $150? These are expensive! But if you say it’s worth it, then okay. Are these good seats?” …The seats were on the very back row in the rear orchestra section. I was confused. $150 was more than double the price they should’ve been. It turns out he did a Google search instead of following my directions. His search led him right into the hands of a scalper. I stopped my friend in his tracks and sent him a direct link to the official DSM WICKED Ticketmaster page where he found even better seats for much less than he was about to pay. I basked in my “I told ya so” moment, and congratulated him on his find. I’m thrilled that my friend will have the pleasure of introducing his nieces to WICKED this April! If you choose to buy DSM tickets from an alternative source, there’s a lot of risk involved:

The tickets may or may not be valid, and you run the risk of not being let in to a performance
You’ll probably pay much more than you should
There’s no way to notify you in the case of a time change or cancellation
If you lose your tickets, DSM won’t be able to replace them

So DSM Fans, this is just a friendly Public Service Announcement from us to you. Buy your tickets through DSM-official ticketing outlets!

OFFICIAL Dallas Summer Musicals ticketing outlets:

By Phone: 1-800-514-ETIX (3849)
Online: www.DallasSummerMusicals.org / www.Etix.com
In Person: The Dallas Summer Musicals Box Office – 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, Dallas – 214.691.7200
In Person: The Music Hall at Fair Park box office 1 ½ hours before scheduled performances

* * *

We're looking forward to seeing you at The Music Hall this month for MARY POPPINS!

-DSM Haley

DSM is offering a new job opportunity!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:04:12 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Want to work for Dallas Summer Musicals? The DSM Box Office is seeking enthusiastic people who want to playing a starring role in bringing the Best of Broadway to Dallas! They are currently hiring part time Ticket Services Associates. [caption id="attachment_1210" align="aligncenter" width="300"] You could be working here![/caption] What does the job entail? Ticket Services Associates are responsible for providing outstanding sales and customer service to all DSM patrons. Associates are vital to the success of The Box Office because they regularly interact with our patrons over the course of each season. For the position details, qualifications for the position, and the application process, please click here. Hope we can work together soon! -DSM Amanda

Dallas Loves Mary Poppins!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:45:39 +0000

Hey DSM and MARY POPPINS fans! Dallas is showing the love for MARY POPPINS! Check out all of these great interviews, reviews, and videos below! More to come, so check back soon! VIDEOS NEW VIDEO: Ron Corning Becomes Bert WFAA - Bert and Mary perform on Good Morning Texas CBS 11's Teresa Frosini Becomes Mary Poppins Red Carpet Interviews - Opening Night More videos to come! REVIEWS Reviewed by Sten-Erik Armitage, Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN - click here for the review "Theater Review: “Mary Poppins” Is (Almost) Practically Perfect!" on Red Carpet Crash - click here for the review "Mary Poppins at Fair Park: Practically Perfect" By Keri Mitchell - click here for the review INTERVIEWS "Diabetes doesn’t slow down Dallas-bound ‘Mary Poppins’ star Madeline Trumble" by Nancy Churnin - click here for the interview "Mary Poppins Interview with Karen Murphy" by Gadi Elkon with Pearl Snap Discount - click here for the interview More interviews to come! Saw something that we didn't mention? Let us know! Hope you can make it to see MARY POPPINS - now on stage through Saturday evening! -DSM Amanda

Mary After Midnight - One Night Only with the cast of Mary Poppins

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:45:12 +0000

Hey DSM Fans! The Cast of the National Tour of Mary Poppins and the Round-Up Saloon present MARY AFTER MIDNIGHT One Night Only! This is definitely a grown-ups night out event, but you can bet that this will be a fun night! All proceeds go to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Check out the picture below for full details. [caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Mary After Midnight[/caption] Hope to see you there! -DSM Amanda

An Interview with DSM Academy Creative Team

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:36:54 +0000

Eldridge Publishing Interviews the Dallas team of Kevin Cook and Denis Kashoid By Nancy Vorhis President of Eldridge Publishing

Many of Eldridge’s most popular playwrights and composers live and work in the great state of Texas. Often they are fixtures in their local community and school theatres, and you’ve probably enjoyed their work, either in development or in productions. This month meet Kevin Cook and Denis Kashoid, the well-known creative team at the Dallas Summer Musical Academy. Tell us a little about yourselves. KEVIN: I moved to Texas 6 years ago for Dallas Summer Musicals. I have a Master’s degree in Theatre and have spent most of my postgraduate life involved in the theatre as an actor, director, manager, producer, teacher and writer in the U.S. and abroad. When not running the DSM Academy, I enjoy my home located in the hills south of Dallas. DENIS: I loved my years in Moscow at the Music Conservatory. Being immersed in the creative atmosphere of fellow musicians and being in a city that pulses with art and fashion charged me with creativity that forever changed my world. How did you get to be a team? KEVIN: As Director of Education for DSM, I hired Denis for the position of Musical Director 5 years ago. Denis teaches voice and music to students ages 6 to 20, and I teach acting for the Academy. Several years ago we decided to try our hand at creating musicals for our students which began our writing partnership. We also write non-theatrical works, most recently the city song for Grand Prairie, Texas. Tell us about the process and challenges of writing with a partner. What makes it easier or more satisfying to have a creative partner…or what makes it harder? KEVIN: Usually the story, characters, plot and dialogue are written first before deciding the positions and styles of the songs. The next step is to write the lyrics for each song which are then sent to Denis with tempo, mood and style guidelines. Usually several variations of each song are created before finalizing the music. As writing partners, we take each other’s notes and suggestions openly with the hope of conveying a clear and entertaining story. Egos are dropped. Writing with a partner is a joy as the process of creating a script and score can be a lonely journey. The challenge of working with a partner is clarity of thought. What a word means to one person is not necessarily what it means to the other person. I think Denis and I have both learned to put up with each other’s pace of writing. It’s not always done when the other thinks it should be! How many musicals have you written together? DENIS: We are working on our fifth musical together. The first one was staged in Dallas in December 2009. Eldridge Publishing was the first company to publish our work with our children’s musical, The Pied Piper of Possum Kingdom. We do not always write for children, however. We are currently working on an adult musical with the working title Forbidden which is comedy/drama about forbidden love. What comment do you hear most often from others…from family and friends, from directors, from actors or audience members? KEVIN: Most people comment on the funny and often unusual approach we use to tell a story. Along with the script and score, this approach also includes the style of choreography and acting. Many writers are hardly "overnight success" stories. How long did it take to get where you are today? KEVIN: I’ve written on and off over the last 20 years, mostly as a show doctor. The horror story is giving up on a project. It’s so final. How do I avoid that? I write a minimum of two pages a day. Before long, you have a novel or a musical. Then, you rewrite and rewrite and rewrite. If you could somehow choose another talent, what would it be? KEVIN: Medicine. It always gets my curiosity going. DENIS: Since my parents are artists I still paint a little and do some graphic design work as a freelancer. So if I could choose another talent it'd probably be dancing! Ballroom, ethnic, hip hop, all of it! Do you have a bucket list and if so, what’s on it? KEVIN: To finish what I start today. I try to live in day-tight compartments. So, each day has a bucket list. DENIS: Oh I do! It's long! I started fulfilling it last summer with skydiving, went on to shaving my head bald, bungee jumping, taking karate lessons, getting a motorcycle, learning new instrument (got an accordion), visiting Europe (this summer) and the list goes on! How would you describe perfect happiness? KEVIN: Perfect happiness is removing expectation from your life. DENIS: Loving the life you live and living the life you love. What is your motto or maxim? KEVIN: Begin. DENIS: Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching. How would you like to be remembered? KEVIN: As one who cared. DENIS: I want to be remembered for being a kind, compassionate person, and to be remembered for helping and inspiring others. You can read a Freeview (opening pages) and hear a music demo of “The Pied Piper of Possum Creek” at http://www.histage.com/playdetails.asp?PID=2457. Nancy Vorhis is president of Eldridge Publishing Co., Tallahassee Fl. The family-owned company has offered quality plays since 1906. Visit them at www.hiStage.com.

WICKED Announces Lottery for $25 Seats!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:38:12 +0000

WICKED ANNOUNCES LOTTERY FOR $25 SEATS!

[caption id="attachment_1243" align="aligncenter" width="300"] April 10 - May 5 at Music Hall at Fair Park[/caption]

PERFORMANCES BEGIN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

DALLAS, TX…A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to Dallas Summer Musicals and the Music Hall at Fair Park with performances from April 10-May 5. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Music Hall box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s Enchanted, Academy Award® winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), is based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. The musical is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® winner Kenneth Posner (Tony® Award winner for The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show’s music director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. WICKED has “cast quite a spell” (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few. WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly. There are currently 7 productions worldwide: New York, London, Holland, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, and two concurrent North American Tours. Globally, WICKED has amassed over $2.9 billion in ticket sales and has been seen by 36 million people worldwide in its 9-year history. WICKED begins performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park Wed., April 10 and runs through Sunday, May 5. Tickets are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, and all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com/wicked. Best ticket availability for week night and Sunday evening performances. For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.

All In A Day's Work - 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Nominees Announced!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:45 +0000

Good evening DSM Fans! On Tuesday, May 7th, we'll be hosting the 2nd Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Music Hall at Fair Park! Over the past 2 days, we have announced all of the nominees for the 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards! Students from 49 schools from around North Texas competed this year for their nomination in the 15 categories (nominees for 12 categories were announced exclusively by Nancy Churnin from The Dallas Morning News.) Yesterday, we announced the nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Musical on Daybreak on WFAA-TV! Check out the videos here! For the complete list of nominations for the 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, click here. Congratulations to all of the nominees! Want to come see the awards show on Tuesday, May 7th? You simply must! It'll be a night to remember! Click here for tickets. We are so excited for the awards show, and we hope to see you there! -DSM Amanda

WICKED Tour - Alison Luff and John Davidson to join the cast

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:03:29 +0000

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED is thrilled to welcome Alison Luff as Elphaba and John Davidson as The Wizard on Tuesday, April 30 in Dallas, TX. Luff’s Broadway credits include Scandalous (Original Broadway Cast recording) and GHOST the Musical. She was also part of the Broadway and Nat'l Touring companies of Mamma Mia! Luff received a Denver Post Ovation award for Best Supporting Actress in a musical for her portrayal as Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Davidson has been seen on Broadway in State Fair, Foxy and Oklahoma and Off-Broadway in High Infidelity and The Fantasticks. Davidson’s numerous TV and feature film credits include "That’s Incredible," "The New Hollywood Squares," "One Hundred Thousand Dollar Pyramid," "The Tonight Show," "The John Davidson Daytime Talk Show," "The Kraft Sum Music Hall," "The Girl With Something Extra,” The Happiest Millionaire, The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band, Airport 80 and Edward Scissorhands. Luff and Davidson join a cast that includes Jenn Gambatese as Glinda and Kim Zimmer as Madame Morrible. The company also features Curt Hansen (Fiyero), Demaree Hill (Nessarose), Jesse JP Johnson (Boq), Timothy Britten Parker (Dr. Dillamond) and Laurel Harris (Standby for Elphaba) with Dina Bennett, Lauren Boyd, Kyle Brown, Nirine S. Brown, Antonette Cohen, Rick Desloge, Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald, Adam Fleming, Brenda Hamilton, Courtney Iventosch, Trevor Ryan Krahl, Philip Dean Lightstone, Marissa Lupp, Jonathan McGill, Kevin McMahon, Cassie Okenka, Shayla Osborn, Brandon Rubendall, Christopher Russo, Adea Michelle Sessoms, Sarah Schenkkan, Pamela Shandrow, Ben Susak and Shanna VanDerwerker. WICKED is currently playing here in Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park now through May 5th. Tickets are available at the DSM Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, and all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP. Luff and Davidson will join the tour during its engagement in Dallas, TX. WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s Enchanted, Academy Award® winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), is based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. The musical is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winning Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony nominee Kenneth Posner (Tony® Award winner for The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show’s music director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott. WICKED has “cast quite a spell” (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few. WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly. There are currently seven productions worldwide: New York, London, Holland, Japan, Australia/New Zealand and two concurrent North American Tours. Globally, WICKED has amassed over $2.9 billion in ticket sales and has been seen by 36 million people worldwide in its nine year history. Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on to www.wickedthemusical.com.

Article - Bullybust partners with ‘Wicked’ to teach kids to be upstanders

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:42:30 +0000

"Bullybust partners with ‘Wicked’ to teach kids to be up-standers" by Nancy Churnin from The Dallas Morning News

The moment in Wicked that makes Darlene Faster’s arms tingle is not “Defying Gravity,” when Elphaba, the green-faced witch, rises up in the air to fulfill her destiny. It’s an earlier, quieter one when Glinda, suddenly ashamed of ridiculing Elphaba at school, starts dancing with her, which leads everyone to quiet down and dance, too. Faster, the chief operating officer of the National School Climate Center and the force behind its Bullybust program, says this scene shows kids how a bully can become an “upstander,” someone who stands up when people are treated badly. “It’s powerful from a youth perspective,” Faster says. “It’s the kind of moment where anyone who has ever been bullied has said, ‘I wish I had a moment where someone had been there for me and been by my side.’ It’s the moment where everything starts to turn.” Dallas Summer Musicals is presenting the show at Fair Park Music Hall through May 5. Many have wondered about the enduring, passionate following for this musical about the seemingly “bad” and “good” witches of Oz. To Faster, it seems clear that it’s because the questions it raises still resonate: Should we pick on those whom others mock to maintain our spot in the “cool” crowd, or should we find the courage to defend and befriend the “misfits” even at the cost of our own popularity? With kids suffering from bullying around the country, these ideas have made Wicked a wickedly good fit for her program, which draws on the U.S. Department of Education’s guidelines for effective bully-prevention practices. Partnering since 2009 with the show’s producers, Faster has helped develop study guides for adults to use with kids. Wicked has also sponsored essay contests with the winners posted on the bullybust.org website. There’ll be another in the fall. Bullybust has grown rapidly across the country, supporting more than 2,400 partner schools, but only a handful — fewer than 10 — Dallas-Fort Worth schools are currently enrolled. Faster hopes the show’s presence in Dallas will encourage adults to engage kids in conversation and download her nonprofit company’s free materials to take the next step. She hopes, ultimately, that it will inspire people to reach out to the bullies as well as the victims. “The kids who are doing bullying behavior are not bad people, they are just doing bad, incorrect things. They need support to learn how to transform from a bully to being an upstander.” Wicked continues through May 5 at Fair Park Music Hall, 909 First Ave., Dallas. $40-$170. 214-691-7200. dallassummermusicals.org or ticketmaster.com/wicked. Learn more about Bullybust at bullybust.org. Follow Nancy Churnin on Twitter @nchurnin. Originally posted in The Dallas Morning News on Friday, April 12, 2013.

National Tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert Comes To Dallas

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:12:34 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jo Ann Holt 469-363-7371 joannholt@gmail.com

THE FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF THE BROADWAY SENSATION COMES TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK IN DALLAS MAY 14-26

April 26, 2013- The first national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas from Tuesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 26, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Single tickets, priced from $15-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, or any Ticketmaster location; or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). The show will star Wade McCollum (“Tick/Mitzi”), Scott Willis (“Bernadette”) and Bryan West (“Adam/Felicia”) as the trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Joe Hart stars as “Bob.” With over 500 dazzling 2011 Tony^® Award-winning costumes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical features a hit parade of over 20 dance-floor favorites including “It's Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.” The new musical opened on Broadway to critical acclaim on March 20, 2011 at the Palace Theatre. The Hollywood Reporter called Priscilla “funny and fabulous! Joyous entertainment with eye-popping visuals and unexpected heart!” NY-1 News raved “Beneath all that glitz beats a great big sequined heart!” WOR Radio sang “All the songs you’ve loved for years will blow you out of your seat!” Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical won a 2011 Tony Award^® for Best Costume Design for Academy Award^® winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s designs. The new hit musical received three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner were also honored with 2011 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Costume Design. Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, the most successful Australian musical of all time, had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006. Adapted from the 1994 Academy Award^®winning film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Direction: Simon Phillips, choreography: Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements: Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy, set design: Brian Thomson, costume design: Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, lighting design: Nick Schlieper, sound design: Jonathan Deans & Peter Fitzgerald, make up design: Cassie Hanlon.

Cast bios are attached to this release. For more information, please visit: www.priscillaontour.com. Follow Priscilla on Twitter or on Facebook.

Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals will be SISTER ACT, A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY, June 4-16. Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash, called by The New York Post “Ridiculously Fun,” has audiences jumping to their feet in total agreement. Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent. FLASHDANCE, THE MUSICAL, opens June 25-July 7. The pop-culture phenomenon and runaway international success is now live on stage. It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including The Academy Award® winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and 16 new original songs. Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20, 2013. 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. # # # 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 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com.

DSM is involved in Broadway shows nominated for 54 Tony® and Drama Desk Awards

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:18:52 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals is involved in 4 Broadway Shows Nominated for a Total of 54 Tony^® and Drama Desk Awards

[caption id="attachment_1266" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals, with 4 Tony Awards® and 2 Drama Desk Awards. Photo by Daniel Driensky.[/caption]

This is the most nominations DSM has received in one year in its 73-year history

(May 6, 2013) Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) President and Managing Director Michael A. Jenkins announced, "This season the productions that Dallas Summer Musicals is involved with, either in producing and/or as an investment for future seasons, received the most nominations that Dallas Summer Musicals has ever had in its 73-year history. Total nominations are 54." Detailed listings are attached. The Tony Awards^® are Broadway’s longest-running salute to theatrical excellence, both on stage and behind the scenes, and Jenkins and DSM are not strangers to having received Tonys^® before. In 2008 DSM brought two Tony Awards^® home to Dallas for Boeing-Boeing - one for Best Revival of a Play and one for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Play, Mark Rylance. June 2007 saw Jenkins and DSM bestowed with the incredible honor of winning the 2007 Tony Award^®for Best Special Theatrical Event for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. He joined the esteemed group of Broadway and Hollywood stars on stage to bring a medallion back to Big D, accepting a Tony Award^® both on behalf of DSM and for himself as a producer of the award-winning show. The four Tony Awards^® are proudly showcased in the lobby of their rightful home at The Music Hall at Fair Park, along with two Drama Desk Awards which were won in 2007–2008 for Boeing-Boeing as winner in Outstanding Revival of a Play: Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti and Outstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance. A visionary leader in Dallas’ entertainment community, Michael A. Jenkins consistently brings the “Best of Broadway” to Dallas Summer Musicals. This season is no different with a sensational line-up. Now playing: Wicked and the season continues with Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – The Musical, Sister Act, Flashdance and Disney’s The Lion King, which plays during the State Fair of Texas in October. Stay tuned for the Drama Desk Awards live webcast on Sunday, May 19^th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern at www.TheaterMania.com and the Tony Awards^®show on Sunday, June 9^th on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Dallas Summer Musicals gratefully acknowledges the support of season sponsors American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, Texas Instruments and WFAA Channel 8 and partners, the Original Cupcakery and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. About The Tony Awards^® The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. Visit the website at http://www.tonyawards.com About the Drama Desk Awards Presented annually, the Drama Desk Awards honor outstanding achievement by professional theater artists on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway. What sets Drama Desk Awards apart is that they are voted on and bestowed by theater critics, journalists, editors and publishers covering theater, “without any vested interest in the results.” For this reason, Drama Desk Awards reflect both enthusiasm for all aspects of New York’s professional theater and a level of erudition and theatrical experience unparalleled in our industry’s other prize-giving organizations. For more information, please visit: www.DramaDeskAwards.com About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. * DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony^® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Awards are given in 15 categories, as well as scholarships. * DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. * DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. * Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. * The Associate Producers is the young professionals group supporting DSM. * The DSM Guild welcomes production cast and companies with a party in their honor after opening night and much more. * Kids Club is a free event offering exciting activities, special events, backstage tours and informational exchanges about certain shows. Children gain an interest, knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. * Discover Theatre is specifically for children in grades K-6 and is designed to entertain, educate and empower young people in elementary school. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call (214) 421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org Get updates and news through our social media web sites here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasSummerMusicals Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmusicals YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dsmusicals Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/dallas-summer-musicals/4f204f6b0cd6445b05407d98 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dsmusicals WordPress: http://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com

Luxx Night Club hosting a party for the cast and crew of Priscilla!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:46:47 +0000

Luxx Night Club is hosting a party for the cast and crew of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ on Friday May 24th, 2013. The Broadway tour of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ is a Tony Award winning musical, performing at the Music Hall at Fair Park from May 14th through May 26th. Downtown Dallas, TX / May 24th, 2013 - - - Join the cast, and crew of the Tony Award winning musical, ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’, for a glittering good time at Luxx Night Club on May 24th, 2013 from 10pm to 2am. Luxx Night Club is located at: 723 N. Pearl Street, Dallas TX 75201. Festivities will include a modern interpretation of Disco beats to create a truly novel dance floor experience under glittering lights, along with specialty cocktails and a live mannequin show featuring Dallas’ hottest models. Admission is open to all over 21, at no cost. For patrons of the show, who bring their ticket stub, and those who RSVP in advance, Luxx will provide: free valet, a complementary cocktail and VIP passes. “This is going to be so much fun!” boasted Tony Joy, marketing & promotions coordinator for ‘Dallas Summer Musicals’. For more information, to reserve a table, or, to RSVP, contact: Luxx Nightclub Director of Public Relations, Michelle Espinal at (310)895-0136 / michelle@iegnation.com Further details available at: www.facebook.com/LUXXDALLAS Ticket purchases for shows playing in Dallas, visit: www.dallassummermusicals.org Official website for the Broadway Tour of ‘Priscilla Queen of the desert’ is: www.priscillaontour.com www.LuxxDallas.com / 723 N. Pearl Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Sister Act is coming to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:54:26 +0000

For immediate release Press Contact: Jo Ann Holt joannholt@gmail.com/469.363.7371

ANNOUNCING THE CAST OF THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OFPRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK JUNE 4-16

Dallas, TX…The North American Tour of SISTER ACT will star Ta'Rea Campbell (Book of Mormon, The Lion King) as Deloris Van Cartier, Hollis Resnik (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Les Miserables) as Mother Superior, Kingsley Leggs (Sister Act, The Color Purple) as Curtis Jackson, E. Clayton Cornelious (Wonderland, The Scottsboro Boys) as Eddie Souther, Lael Van Keuren (Sister Act) as Mary Robert, Florrie Bagel as Mary Patrick, Diane J. Findlay (42^nd Street, Promises, Promises) as Mary Lazarus, Todd A. Horman (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Joey, Ernie Pruneda (Sister Act) as Pablo, Charles Barksdale (Fat Camp) as TJ, and Richard Pruitt (42nd Street, White Christmas) as Monsignor O'Hara. The company will also include Melvin Abston, Brian Calì, Alysha Deslorieux, Karen Elliott, Danny George, Blair Goldberg, Erin Henry, Wendy James, Trisha Jeffrey, Mary Jo McConnell, Ashley Moniz, Michelle Rombola, Jason Simon, Angie Marie Smith, Tricia Tanguy, Kelly E. Waters, and Dashaun Young. Single tickets, priced from $15-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, or any Ticketmaster location; or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). “To hear people laugh and cheer the way they do at SISTER ACT -- a show people think they know but are pleasantly surprised to discover is not what they were expecting -- is a magical experience for a producer,” says Producer Whoopi Goldberg. “Happily, audiences across the country will be able to get in on the fun when Deloris and her fabulous sisters start spreading the love nationwide.” SISTER ACT received five 2011 Tony® Award nominations: BEST MUSICAL, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Alan Menken (music)/ Glenn Slater (lyrics), BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane), BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Patina Miller) and BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Victoria Clark). SISTER ACT features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Enchanted), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (“Cheers”) with additional book material by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed). Directed on Broadway by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing…Forum, Smokey Joe’s Café), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams) and is based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard. SISTER ACT opened on April 20, 2011 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) to rave reviews. Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Post calls SISTER ACT, “One of the season’s happiest surprises! Off the charts and packed with goodies, to which we say: Amen!” Joe Dziemianowicz of The New York Daily News raves “A blessed event has landed on Broadway. Sister Act is a feel-good crowd pleaser worth celebrating. It keeps on purring from one happy moment to the next.” Charles Isherwood of The New York Times says, “When the wimples start quivering and the nuns start rocking to raise the Gothic rafters, all’s right in the kingdom of musical comedy!” and Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press calls SISTER ACT, “In a word, divine. This is a musical that hits all the right spots, achieving something close to Broadway grace. It will convert you.” When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior. Using her fabulous disco-ness and killer voice to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon it’s nun-on-the-run time but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her newly found sisterhood. Based on the mega-hit feature film, SISTER ACT features an original Alan Menken/Glenn Slater score with a vast inspiration of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White inspired musical comedy. SISTER ACT features scenery by Klara Zieglerova, costumes by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Ken Travis and hair/wig designs by David Brian Brown. The music department includes Musical Supervisor Michael Kosarin, Music Director Brent-Alan Huffman, and orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Casting is by Telsey + Company, Craig Burns CSA. For more information, visit www.sisteractontour.com. Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals: FLASHDANCE, THE MUSICAL, opens June 25-July 7. The pop-culture phenomenon and runaway international success is now live on stage. It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including The Academy Award® winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and 16 new original songs. Disney presents THE LION KING, October 2-20, 2013. 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. # # # 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 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com.

"Bless Thy (Philly) Soul" by Douglas Carter Beane

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:31:22 +0000

Bless Thy (Philly) Soul

By Douglas Carter Beane

So I am at a very la‐di‐da cocktail party and the topic of conversation finds itself landing on Machiavelli commissioning both Leonardo Di Vinci and Michelangelo to do paintings on a wall. The “oohing” and “aahing” soon gives way to the “can you imagine being on earth in that golden era?” Well, I try not to be too smug about it, but I tell them “Yes I can because was lucky enough to be in Philadelphia in the Seventies.” That was the harmonic convergent time when the funky bass, the overproduced strings that glockenspiel all blended together to create the sound that is now lovingly referred to as “Philly Soul.” It was a shiny snappy “Diamond in the Back” disco ball of a time when the world was shaking its collective bootie to the music that was coming out of our little Lebanon Bologna and scrapple town. We really didn’t know how magical it was at the time; frankly we were too busy dancing. But it someone how seemed just common place to go out and see Phyllis Hyman, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, the Ojays, out dancing to their own music in clubs. A girl would come into some disco at midnight sing a new song, the next thing you knew it was a song called “Hot Shot” and climbing the dance charts. And wow, I held her Mylar fan when she introduced it at the Club “Equus”. But let’s start at the beginning of the musical “Sister Act” and how it came to inhabit this luscious world. First there was a movie. Man was it great. The germ of the idea was the creation of great American Humorist Paul Rudnick and super genius producer Scott Rudin. According to Paul’s hilarious essay on the topic for the New Yorker, just about everyone in the Los Angeles phone book did a draft of the screenplay. Casting excelled with Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy and Mary Wickes, and Whoopi Goldberg simply cemented her reputation as one of the screen’s great comedic actresses. Catch it again and watch how that smile just melts your heart. A sequel was made, the DVD’s of both found themselves on the floor of a nation’s minivan. It was just a part of American culture now. A friend to turn to when things are not going well or you want to celebrate someone’s graduation or you’re stuck with nothing to do on a rainy afternoon. But it somehow just seemed to want to continue to happen. A group of visionaries decided to dream big and turn this iconic piece into a living breathing theater piece. To do so, it certainly could not be a re‐creation of what was on the film. Creativity wouldn’t let that happen. It had to be something that was worthy of a live theater event. Our group? Multi‐Emmy winning TV writers Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, multi Oscar winning composer Alan Menken and Broadway rising star Glen Slater. Pretty classy outfit. The first choice made by our group was the story of Deloris’s life. Whoopi was so convincing and heartbreaking as a singer whose life has chosen not to shower her with love. It happens to performers. You just sensed that her world of Reno and her Motown medleys in the lounge were about as good as she was ever going to get. But for the musical, what if the Deloris could sing – I mean REALLY let go and, as we used to say back in the seventies, just pee. And what if she was on the brink of a career, not looking back on one that didn’t happen? The second choice was the music. The film used Deloris’s versions of old Motown and Brill building tunes. For this idea there was one immediate conflict for composer Alan Menken – he had already done the 60’s music to a fare‐thee‐well with his tremendous “Little Shop of Horrors.” Whoever came up with the idea of setting it in Philadelphia in the seventies and take advantage of the Philly soul sound deserves a complimentary cheesesteak. With onions. The music is up there with the most joyful and optimistic tunes ever created. (I know I can’t go to a birthday party for one of the kids in my daughter’s kindergarten class without hearing “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.”) Lyricist Glen Slater knew this world inside and out. The gangster boyfriend is doing songs that a witty Lou Rawls would have done in the wink of an eye. And when the bad guys sing about breaking into the convent, it’s pure Stylistics. The third choice was the addition of the love story. What if Eddie the cop and Deloris had the hint of a little romance going? When I was called on board by director Jerry Zaks I re‐watched the movie and then was sent the recording of the score. It hit me hard. Here was a show with a big Philly soul. That great sound of funky bases, symphonic strings and lyrics so optimistic they make you smile. How well I remembered those those happy times with the city of Philly coming into a new life. Discos and eateries and cabarets suddenly appeared, made from old buildings finding new life. In the show you’ll see the fretting of Mother Superior that her church is becoming a disco. This was more than imaginary. The number one club in Philly at the time was called Second Story and was actually a converted church, complete with light and sound systems and popcorn in the baptismal font. There was also a remarkable success to be had, which would energize and frustrate Deloris even more. Evelyn Champagne King, was cleaning out the ladies room at Philadelphia International records, when she was overheard singing. They put her on the album “Shame” and it was number nine on the US charts. Karen Young (she of the “Hot Shot” and the Mylar fan) was working at a McDonalds. It was a remarkable time. I hope you enjoy the show and its story of people who have no business liking one another just giving way and doing so. A little comedy about the inevitability of acceptance. As I sat there on opening night, I looked across the aisle and there was Patti LaBelle. The first time I had seen her in person was dancing at the Second Story ‐the disco made from a church. The minute Deloris gave way with Raise you voice, Miss Patti shook it like she shook it in the seventies. I felt like I was home. __________________________________________________________

SISTER ACT is singing its way to Dallas June 4-16 at the Music Hall at Fair Park and to Fort Worth June 18-23 at Bass Performance Hall. Single tickets for the Dallas run, priced from $15-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, or any Ticketmaster location; or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). For full press release, click here. Single tickets for the Fort Worth run are on sale now! Visit www.basshall.com.

1st Annual DSM College Audition Workshop

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:40:02 +0000

NOW ANNOUNCING THE 1ST ANNUAL DSM COLLEGE AUDITION WORKSHOP!

To apply for the workshop, click here.

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards in partnership with Texas State University will present our 1st Annual College Audition Workshop at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Aug. 17-18. At this forum, aspiring young high school performers and their parents will have opportunity in one location to meet theater faculty from seven top Texas in-state universities, hear presentations about their programs, participate in a mock dance call and present their audition material and receive valuable feedback and direction from university faculty members. Students will also be able to attend a talk given by Mary Anna Dennard, nationally renowned college audition coach and author of I GOT IN! The Ultimate College Audition Guide For Acting & Musical Theatre. Student participation is on two levels: $65- Attendance at

All college program presentations
Mary Anna Dennard presentation, (including free copy of her book, I GOT IN! The Ultimate College Audition Guide For Acting & Musical Theatre)
Audit mock dance & vocal/monologue auditions

$125- Attendance at

All college program presentations
Mary Anna Dennard presentation (including free copy of her book, I GOT IN! The Ultimate College Audition Guide For Acting & Musical Theatre)
Upon acceptance, participation in mock dance & vocal/monologue auditions including feedback and direction from university faculty (applicants must submit audition video)

For more information and to register, click here. Space is limited; participation fees are non-refundable. Attendance fee will be charged at time of application. Students wanting to participate in mock audition must submit audition video on line; balance for mock audition participation will be charged upon acceptance. Parents may attend presentations and auditions free of charge as space allows. Teachers, for less than the cost of one out of town trip to visit a campus, we are bringing seven university musical theatre programs here to the Music Hall for an up close and personal opportunity for your students to meet these faculty members, hear presentations on each program and get feedback from them on their audition material. If you or your kids have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAN ATTEND FOR FREE, BUT WE NEED YOUR RSVP. To apply for the workshop, click here. Questions? Click here to email us.

"How Whoopi Got the Habit" By Matt Wolf

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:34:58 +0000

How Whoopi Got the Habit by Matt Wolf

One simple gesture said it all: there it was, August, 2010, and Whoopi Goldberg had walked on stage for the press performance of her limited run as the Mother Superior in Sister Act, as a capacity crowd at the London Palladium cheered and hollered in a most gratifyingly un‐ English way. Taking in the applause, the star put a finger to her lips in order to silence the crowd. The show, as they say, must go on, and it was time to do so. That outpouring of affection wasn’t lost on a woman who has been wowing audiences in all art forms since the legendary New York director Mike Nichols first brought Whoopi to attention, presenting the then little‐known performer’s Broadway debut in 1984 at the Lyceum Theatre. Since that time, she was nominated for an Academy Award® for her screen debut in The Color Purple; went on to win an Oscar® five years later for her indelible supporting turn in Ghost; fronted various awards shows (including the Oscars, where one will never forget the sight of Whoopi abseiling down on to the stage like some madcap Mary Poppins only to announce herself as “the African Queen”); and has become a daytime TV personality in America courtesy her co‐hosting duties on The View. But Sister Act occupies a special place in the Whoopi canon, and not just because the source films that inspired the stage musical made a lot of money – more than $230 million in the case of the first one – and were also lots of fun. As that Palladium vignette served to indicate, here was a screen phenomenon returning to her theatre roots in front of an adoring crowd: Whoopi’s connection to the material remains undeniable and strong. Let’s just say that even when not in the production Whoopi hovers over the stage musical as more than a coproducer: a sort of beneficent, and inspirational, patron saint. Sister Act, of course, tells the story of Deloris van Cartier, the nightclub singer‐turned‐nun who has become one of those characters that audiences know without needing to be reminded of the title of the film itself; Celie from The Color Purple is another. But when talk turned to fashioning the movie anew for the stage, Whoopi had no intention of ever appearing in it; instead, she was there to preside over something, in her view, “brand new, fresh and exciting,” that could mint a young leading lady‐turned‐star ‐ just as Whoopi had herself been catapulted to attention thanks to her theatre work a quarter‐century or more before. Her intuition must have worked, given that Sister Act in London played more than 600 performances over 18 months, breaking box office records twice at the Palladium, and on Broadway was nominated for five Tony® Awards including Best Musical. In fact, the show has now been seen by over 3 million audience members across the globe, including productions in Hamburg, Vienna, Milan, and on tour throughout the UK, with upcoming productions scheduled to begin in Paris, Stuttgart, Scheveningen, Moscow, Madrid, Prague, Sao Paolo, Korea, and Japan. Expect a stage convention of Deloris‐es someday soon. The films, of course, are drenched in the music of the times, and Sister Act on stage could have gone the jukebox musical route. Instead, Alan Menken, a composer who has himself won more Oscars than most of us have had cups of coffee, offers up an original score in the best pastiche tradition, which is to say that an entire era of disco, gospel, and blues pours forth from the stage, contributing to a score that, says Whoopi, “works just as well as the film, if not better.” Whoopi in any case knows first‐hand the virtues of music‐making when it comes to musical theatre: she was the unexpected choice to take over for Nathan Lane in the hit Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, directed by Jerry Zaks, and it is Zaks who directed Sister Act on Broadway – a vivid example of the sort of small‐world department on which Broadway thrives. An African‐American woman as the male roman slave, Pseudolus? We told you there wasn’t much this singular talent couldn’t do. And it’s surely not coincidental that Sondheim’s peerless lyrics for Forum’s uproarious opening number include the immortal line, “tragedy tomorrow/ comedy tonight.” That mantra could well apply equally to the hapless Deloris, a singer seeking refuge from the gun‐toting Curtis, who finds both a safe home and the chance to send some women’s voices soaring within a convent that clearly didn’t realize all it needed was this feisty, winning outsider to wake them up. Sister Act may take its opening cues from the cries of a chanteuse in danger, but it builds toward a celebration not just of the sisterhood but of the power of soul, both musical and otherwise. In retrospect, small wonder Whoopi was keen to still her appreciative public in order to get the show on the road. You came to cheer, she seemed to be telling the sold‐out house. Now stay to listen. Matt Wolf is the London theatre critic for The International Herald Tribune and theatre editor at www.theartsdesk.com. ____________________________________________________________

SISTER ACT singing praises in Dallas NOW thru June 16 at the Music Hall at Fair Park and to Fort Worth June 18-23 at Bass Performance Hall. Single tickets for the Dallas run, priced from $15-$85, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas, or any Ticketmaster location; or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). For full press release, click here. Single tickets for the Fort Worth run are on sale now! Visit www.basshall.com.

Win Sister Act Tickets by Watching the Tonys!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:13:16 +0000

Well, it’s Tony Awards time! This Sunday at 7pm our time, we get to see the awards show us Broadway fans wait for all year long! AND we want to reward you for watching too! On Twitter during one of the commercial breaks, use our hash tag #SisterActDSM and let us know you saw the Sister Act TV commercial during the Tony Awards! By doing so, you register to win 2 tickets to see Sister Act on Tuesday, June 11^th at 7:30pm at the Music Hall at Fair Park! I’ll announce the winner about 15-20 minutes afterwards, so be sure you let me know right away so you can get your name in the hat. Can’t watch it this Sunday? No problem! I’ll be live tweeting through the entire awards show! Just check us out @dsmusicals on Twitter! Now it’s time to get ready for the Tonys! Check out the video below highlighting all of the shows nominated this year! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcT5xsKeG0E] So, don’t forget to watch the Tonys on Sunday at 7pm and look out for our SISTER ACT TV spot for your chance to win 2 tickets to see SISTER ACT on Tuesday! Have a great weekend! –DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - 2013 National HSMTA Introduction

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:45:10 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Best Actress and Actor, Dakota Ratliff and Cameron Wenrich [/caption] We will be featuring daily updates from the 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Best Actor and Actress, Cameron Wenrich and Dakota Ratliff, beginning Wednesday, June 26^th. Dakota and Cameron will be sending in their updates about their journey in New York City before, during, and after the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Check out the category “All in a Day’s Work” for all of their posts, which will be featured daily from June 26^th – July 1^st, and any previous posts. How did they get to go to New York City and participate in the National HSMTA? Because Cameron won Best Actor and Dakota won Best Actress, they continue on to compete against other high school Best Actor and Actress winners across the country. What is the National HSMTA? According to their blog, “The NHS Musical Theater Awards will focus national attention on the importance of theater arts education and heighten the profile of communities and school districts around the United States that provide musical theater study in their curriculum and offer student productions as part of their school activities programming. It will also recognize the regional professional theaters participating in this national awards presentation. Two winners from each local event will be eligible to participate in the New York finals competition.” What will they do in New York City? Other than rehearsals for the actual awards show and their performance for the judges, they will be eating at the legendary Sardi’s restaurant then they will see Annie The Musical, and to top it off, a talkback with the cast following the show! Also, they will be coached 1 on 1 with industry professionals, and of course, perform in the 2013 National HSMTA! When is the National HSMTA Show? The Awards are on Monday, July 1^st at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. The Tony®-nominated stars Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince) will be the evening’s hosts! 60 talented teens perform songs & medleys from the roles that won them top honors at their local musical theater awards competitions. In this one night only engagement on Broadway, the race is on for the “Jimmy Award” for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor. A panel of industry brass will score performers, winners will be chosen and college scholarships and other prizes will be announced live! Want to check out more? Check out the Participating Theaters page on the NHSMTA website to learn more about each of the different programs across the country from New York to Texas to California. As the highlight videos and performance photos come in, they are posting them to their website as well! Make sure you subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you. We wish Cameron and Dakota the best of luck this year! We’re so excited for them, and can’t wait to see all of the experiences they will have! -DSM Amanda

Flashdance US National Tour comes to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:07:11 +0000

US 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 30^th 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. # # # 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.

All In A Day's Work - Quick Sit Down With Dakota and Cameron

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:30:40 +0000

I can’t believe it’s already that time again – National High School Musical Theatre Awards! I got the chance to sit down with Dakota Ratliff (2013 DSM HSMTA Best Actress) and Cameron Wenrich (2013 DSM HSMTA Best Actor) yesterday (Tuesday) to get their thoughts before they left for NYC! (Which is technically right this very moment - they're on the plane on their way!)I just have to say that these 2 are so humble and down to earth – they are so easy to talk to, and they are so excited (and nervous) about the week ahead of them. Check out my interview with them below! Amanda: So how does it feel to be only the 2nd DSM HSMTA Best Actor and Actress? Dakota: This has all been so overwhelming, but exciting and fantastic at the same time! Cameron: Ditto. This is such a huge honor! I didn’t realize it before, but this really is a big deal. A: What did you like about competing in DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards? D: Meeting all of the other best actor/actress nominees. C: Yeah, ditto! Everyone just seemed to click immediately. We all got along so well! A: When did you find out you were nominated for Best Actor/Actress? D: I woke up at 5am and sat on the couch with my sister. We watched the news and got so excited when they finally announced the nominees. I was so surprised and excited to hear I got nominated! C: I just want to say that I am not a morning person, so I didn’t get up to hear the nominations. Last year when I got nominated, I woke up to a bunch of text messages from a lot of people congratulating me. This year was the same. It felt so great! I taped it, so I watched it when I got home from school. A: And what was it like to win? D: So surprised! [Laughs and has a huge smile.] When I was walking to the podium, all I could think about was how I didn’t prepare a speech. Once I got off stage, it hit me. I cried. A LOT. But I felt incredible. C: I wasn’t shocked by Dakota, but I was more surprised about me! I was expecting the “big parts” to get it, ya know like a Phantom or a Baker. I didn’t expect that I would win. It’s such an awesome feeling! A: This award qualified you to compete on a national level at the Jimmy™ Awards in New York City! Are you excited to meet and work with students from all across the country? D: I’m really excited but nervous at the same time. C: Oh my gosh, the same. I hope it’ll be like how it was with the nominees for the [DSM] Awards, where it’s just really easy to connect with everyone. A: Are you looking forward to performing on Broadway, for the first time, at the Minskoff Theatre? D: I don’t think it’ll hit me until I’m on stage, but it doesn’t get any better than that – it’s a BROADWAY stage! C: Like I said a minute ago, this is all a very big deal. I’ve only stood on a Broadway stage one other time, but I can’t believe I get to perform on one this time! A: What do you hope you’ll learn from your National HSMTA experience? D: I’m hoping this will be like a snapshot of what it’s really like to be in the business. What it’s like working with professionals, getting the highest education you can get with the best people in the business. I’m just so excited! C: [In an exaggerated hick accent] “I hope to learn how to sing better.” [Laughs] But seriously, I’m really looking forward to getting a feel for what it’s like for professional actors. A: Any college plans? D: I’m going to Wichita State to major in theatre. C: Ithaca College for musical theatre. A: If acting wasn’t an option, what would you do instead? [Both cringe almost simultaneously.] D: I honestly don’t really know. I can’t even think about it – it’s so hard to imagine. C: PR I guess. Really just something working with people. But not acting is hard to think about. A: Any special hobbies or personal favorites we should know about? D: I love to read, a lot, in my spare time. I really enjoy it. C: Video games, like any teenage guy. I tried almost every sport, but it was just not for me. I do like snowboarding though. A: What’s your dream role? D: Wendla in Spring Awakening. C: Max Bialystock from The Producers. [Both mention that Spring Awakening and The Producers are at the top of both of their favorites lists!] A: If you could work with any actor or actress, who would it be and why? D: Robin Williams (if we’re just meeting them), but to work with, I’d have to say Ellen Greene. C: Tom Hanks, hands down. Or Ewan McGregor. A: Now that you’ve made it through high school and you’re pursuing your dreams, what advice would you give someone looking to follow in your footsteps? D: Learn as much as you can: read anything you can get your hands on (scripts, plays, anything), see everything you can, listen to as much music as possible. Constantly be learning to make you a better actor. C: Don’t give up, obviously! There are times that it’s stressful and really hard. It’s full of rejection. I used to have an agent and did commercials when I was in middle school. There is a lot of rejection there. It will make you stronger. Ultimately, I just want to make a living and provide for my future family by doing what I like to do. After talking about logistics about their trip (things to pack, what to expect, etc.), I wished them the best of luck and safe travels. I’m over the moon excited for them – what an incredible opportunity! I was very fortunate to be able to sit down with them before they go to have one final vocal lesson before their trip. A very special thank you to Dakota and Cameron! I know I speak for us all when I say that we can’t wait to hear all about your experiences. If you want to follow their journey, make sure you subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you. Dakota and Cameron will be sending in daily updates about their journey in New York City at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Check out the category “All in a Day’s Work” for all of their posts, which will be featured daily Today – July 1^st, and any previous posts. See you all tomorrow for our first update about their first day! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 1 at NHSMTA 2013

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 19:00:55 +0000

Good afternoon DSM Fans! Day 1 in New York City for Dakota and Cameron (the Best Actress & Best Actor from the 2013 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards) was yesterday, and what a great day it was for them both! Please see below for pictures and Dakota and Cameron’s comments about their first day! DAKOTA: Today we checked in at our dorm rooms at NYU's Founder's Hall. The view from my room is incredible, but especially so at night. We had ate pizza and had the chance to chat with the other nominees before he went to our first rehearsal. We learned the entire opening number and closing number music; it sounds amazing, and I can't wait to hear how we'll sound by performance! CAMERON (sent late Wednesday 6/26 evening): Day 1 in New York! We got here early enough to stroll around Union Square for a bit, and then we headed to Tisch for a nice little meet and greet with the other nominees. Tons of great kids. No matter who you sparked up a conversation with, they were outgoing and friendly. We went straight into rehearsal, learned the opening and closing numbers, and now I'm trying to memorize the lyrics as I write this before I wake up at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Sounds like a blast, right? Oh, and I figured out my vocal teacher will be Schele Williams so I'm STOKED about that. Here's some pictures: [caption id="attachment_1311" align="aligncenter" width="300"] On the plane to NYC![/caption] [caption id="attachment_1312" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NYU Campus[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1313" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Pizza party with all of the students involved in the NHSMTA![/caption] Today is Day 2 for Cameron, Dakota, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Today they will be in rehearsals for the Opening Number, Medleys, and Finale for the National HSMTA show. They will also be coached 1 on 1 for their solos! After a hard day’s work, they will be in for a treat! Dinner at Sardi’s, a picture of ALL of the contestants in Times Square, and a great show: Annie! To top off their day, they get to have a talkback with the cast after the show! (Make sure you subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you!) Stay tuned tomorrow for their thoughts about their day! We’re so excited for them! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 2 at NHSMTA 2013

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:22:32 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Yesterday was Day 2 in NYC for Cameron and Dakota. What a long, tiring, but amazing day they both had! Check out below what they had to say about their day! (These comments were from 11:30pm last night.) DAKOTA: Hello again! After a quick review of the opening and closing number music, we jumped right into staging the opening. We staged the beginning then broke off into our solo coaching groups. Cam and I have the fabulous Schele Williams who is a professor here at NYU and has several Broadway credits. [caption id="attachment_1320" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Cameron and Dakota take a break from rehearsal to snap a quick pic with their pianist, Travis Horton.[/caption] We rehearsed with her and then had the first chance to look at our medleys. Right after rehearsal we got dressed, got on a bus, and headed over to Sardi’s to eat before we saw "Annie" at the Palace Theatre. The show was great and we had the pleasure to meet with the orphans and Annie herself. They were the most down to Earth (not to mention wildly talented) group of kids I've ever met. Day 2 was pretty hectic but always exciting, can't wait to see what happens tomorrow! CAMERON: I can't believe all of what I'm about to describe happened in only a day... And keep in mind we have an even longer day tomorrow. After breakfast, we went straight into choreography, learned a bit of the opening number, then were split up into groups for vocal training. Dakota's in my group! Our vocal teacher is none other than Schele Williams, associate director of Motown and former star of Aida. What an amazing woman... She brought two of the nominees in our group to tears through her ability to bring out such raw emotion (one of those people being myself). [caption id="attachment_1321" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Vocal Coach Schele Williams stops to take a pic with Dakota and Cameron in between rehearsals[/caption] After coaching, we worked on the medley numbers, and then went to Sardi's for a delicious dinner, followed by seeing Annie at The Palace Theatre. We also got to have a little talkback session with members of the cast (these 8-year old girls went through something like 11 callbacks to be where they are today). Might I say that I was pleasantly surprised at how fantastic the show was, and Jane Lynch did an outstanding job. Now I'm calling it a day, and I'll be up in 7 hours ;) [caption id="attachment_1323" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Cameron and Dakota went to see Annie on Broadway![/caption] Day 3 at the National HSMTA is happening right now for Dakota and Cameron, and it’s a long (but exciting) day ahead of them. Their day is full of rehearsals and coaching – I can’t imagine a better way to spend my day though! :) I’m so excited to hear about their day today, and I hope you are too. Check back here tomorrow for our next update! Want to get the blog even faster? Subscribe to/follow our blog to get updates as we post them! Just enter your email address to the right & don’t forget to confirm it via an email we’ll send to you! Have a great Friday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 3 at NHSMTA 2013

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 16:30:59 +0000

Good mid-morning DSM Fans! Day 3 in New York City for Dakota & Cameron was yesterday! They are in the thick of rehearsals and coaching, and they have been working their tails off! Please see below for pictures and their comments about their day yesterday! DAKOTA: Another busy day rehearsing (which is more fun than it sounds). We started off again by reviewing the music for the opening and closing then broke off to our coaching sessions. Throughout the lesson it was really amazing to see how myself and the other nominees progressed. [caption id="attachment_1326" align="aligncenter" width="225"] What happens when Schele isn't in the room? Dakota and Rynne having a handstand competition![/caption] I've learned so much already and feel like I'm growing as an artist, which was the whole objective of being here in the first place. We had a costume parade and it was fun seeing everyone as their characters. After that we staged the majority of the opening number. Today we got a lot of work done, but we still have much more to do before the show Monday. CAMERON: Today was action packed. We immediately continued choreographing the opening number after breakfast, then went to vocal training and worked medleys (you know the drill by now). Today was the last day with Schele, and she lived up to my expectations, once again, of being phenomenal. She's part psychologist, part voice teacher, part superhero. She makes her students do creative exercises to establish serious connections to their song (for example: I packed a bag during one of my run-throughs as I was saying goodbye to "Sarah" in my solo, which brought out a little more aggression in my voice). [caption id="attachment_1327" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Schele Williams' group of nominees at NHSMTA![/caption] After a dinner break, we did a costume parade and continued to choreograph, and ended the night with a discussion with Charles Wood, a Tony-nominated playwright (whose first show was titled "Lesbian Vampires of Sodom"). I'm finishing this night by listening to my roommate, John Clay III, sing an incredible rendition of "Make Them Hear You." [caption id="attachment_1328" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Cameron's NHSMTA roommate John Clay III belting his heart out (he'll be attending Carnegie Mellon in the fall as a MT)[/caption] I'm loving every minute of this journey and can't wait to see what tomorrow holds. Today is another full day of rehearsal, and I feel that it will be their most difficult day so far. We wish them the best of luck this weekend – it’s going to be a busy one! Be sure to follow the blog (enter your email address at the top right on the blog page) to get alerts as soon as we post them! We have more exciting posts ahead for you! Have a great Saturday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 4 at NHSMTA 2013

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 19:46:06 +0000

Good afternoon DSM Fans! Yesterday was Day 4 in NYC at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards for Cameron and Dakota. It was a full day full of surprises, stress, and so much fun! Check out what they had to say about their day yesterday below! DAKOTA: Today started off a little scary when we had to sing our solo songs in front of all of the other nominees. It was amazing witnessing so much talent in one room, and after a while it wasn't stressful. After that we worked on cleaning up our medleys, and I had the chance to really get to know the other girls I was working with. Once we cleaned up all of the medleys we finished staging the opening number. It has turned out to be pretty fantastic, and it gets more and more exciting each time we go through it. When we finished for the day we stopped for some frozen yogurt and headed back to Founder's Hall. Only one more day of rehearsal before the show! [caption id="attachment_1332" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We stopped for frozen yogurt on the way back to the dorms (Cameron got French toast flavored)[/caption] CAMERON: Today was full of pleasant surprises! The first pleasant surprise was bumping into Corey Cott, star of Newsies, after dinner at Tisch. I got to have a nice little chat with him and snapped a picture. The second was getting out at 9:00 tonight to catch up on some sleep. We started the day by watching everyone's solo performances, and each nominee is clearly here for a reason--the talent is remarkable. But I'd say that Dakota and I are holding our own! Next we finished choreographing our medley and moved straight into finalizing the opening number. Thus, everything except the finale is blocked! Hooray! Tomorrow we'll be performing our solos for the judges and that performance, as well as how we do in our medleys, will decide the top 3 male and top 3 female performers. Those 6 will be announced at the show on Monday and they'll sing their solo again on the Minskoff stage. The top performers will be picked off one by one (apparently) until the best actor and actress are left. Let's hope Dakota and I get to do a solo performance on Broadway! Today is Day 5 for Cameron, Dakota, and the other ladies and gents who are competing in the National HSMTA! Tomorrow is The Jimmys, and they are going to have a fun filled day of rehearsal for the show today, and most importantly, they perform their solos in front of the judges this afternoon. We’re rooting hard for you Dakota and Cameron! We wish you the best of luck tomorrow, and can’t wait to hear about your day today! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to get alerts as soon as we post them! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 5 at NHSMTA!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 15:53:03 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Yesterday was Day 5 for Cameron and Dakota at the National HSMTA. I know I speak for them when I say it was their most challenging and rewarding day so far! Check out what they had to say about their day below! DAKOTA: Today we finally finished the opening and closing number. After that we performed our different medleys for the director and the other nominees, which was a blast. We spent the majority of our time today cleaning everything, and I'm so excited for the show tomorrow. We ate lunch then dressed in our character costumes for the medleys (I had missed being my Audrey more than I realized). Performing for the judges was more fun than anything else, and after that we changed again into our black dresses for our solos. I was a little nervous for the solos, but I tried not to be and just have a great time singing. We gathered at the end of the day in a big group around our choreographer, and as she started talking about everything that would be happening tomorrow I just couldn't believe that I actually will be performing on a Broadway stage. This whole experience has been so rewarding, and I hope it shows tomorrow in our show. Wish us broken legs! (Note from DSM Amanda – WE WISH YOU MANY BROKEN LEGS!!!!) CAMERON: I'm on a serious high right now because today was so epic. We started off the day by perfecting the opening number and proceeded to finish choreographing the finale--and might I say, both numbers are phenomenal. Next we finalized our medley numbers and performed them for the judges (just for fun; they don't get scored until tomorrow). [caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From Cameron: My fellow medley members (excluding Rynne who was in the bathroom) in costume![/caption] After that it was time to perform our solo pieces for the judges... Probably the most nerve-racking experience I've had in a while. And it didn't help that I chugged a bottle of water before the solos started and couldn't leave the room the entire time (not an ideal situation for a nervous actor with a small bladder). However, I pulled myself together and did nearly the best performance of my solo that I could've done. [caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Tracy and I after the solo performances (he cried because he was so proud!!)[/caption] That being said, I think everyone did their best performance tonight, based on what I've seen throughout the week. I can't get over how insanely talented these fellow nominees are. So now the grueling part is over, and I can relax and enjoy my first time performing on a Broadway stage! I get to sleep in a bit tomorrow, but it'll still be one of the most taxing days we've had so far. In the end, I know all the hard work will be worth it. Even if I don't "place" in the top 3 male performers, I've had the experience of a lifetime, and nothing can take that away from me. I'm beyond anxious to see what happens tomorrow night! Today is the day! The National High School Musical Theatre Awards are tonight! All the rehearsing, the sweat and tears, it all is in preparation for tonight! We know that Cameron, Dakota, and all of the other nominees from around the country are anxious and excited for tonight. We wish everyone (especially Cameron and Dakota) the VERY best of luck and can’t wait to hear about their day today! It’s not too late to follow our blog to get alerts as soon as we post them! Just enter your email in the top right on our blog page! I hope you have a Marvelous Monday! -DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 6 at NHSMTA!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:14:54 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans!

Yesterday was the day Cameron and Dakota had been waiting for since they won Best Actor and Actress just a couple of months ago – the National High School Musical Theatre Awards show! Day 6 for them was an “emotional rollercoaster” day, but the best one they’ve had the entire week. Check out what they had to say below!

DAKOTA:

Hello again! I don't even know where to begin. We arrived at the Minskoff and were held in the lobby before we could move into the dressing rooms. We had a fantastic view of Times Square from where we were. The first time we stepped on to the stage was incredible, and something I'll always remember. I couldn't believe that I was there in that moment, staring out at the house of a Broadway stage.

[caption id="attachment_1345" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Though empty in this pic, the house at the Minskoff was completely full last night![/caption]

After we had a few minutes to look around we started right into rehearsals. It went by very fast, and before I knew it we were being mic'ed for the show.

[caption id="attachment_1346" align="aligncenter" width="225"] All mic'd up and ready to go![/caption]

I found out one of the guys who was running mics was the sound mixer from the original production of Little Shop of Horrors, so I had the chance to ask him a lot of questions about what the show had been like. We were sent back to the dressing rooms and were called back up a few minutes before the opening. I was so excited I kind of forgot to be nervous. In the beginning of the opening number, there is a blackout and we all run out to a big group in the middle. We ran out into our group, and bent down to our starting positions; during rehearsals I had always been focused and serious at this point, but the audience started going crazy and I couldn't help but have this huge smile. That moment, along with stepping on to the stage for the first time, were completely indescribable. I remember thinking while we performed "Yup, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."

[caption id="attachment_1347" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Dakota and Cameron are dressed to impress for the opening number![/caption]

While neither Cam or myself walked away with any award, the ones who received them were some of the most talented and deserving people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. Congrats to Sarah, Taylor, Mackenzie, Jillian, Brian, Billy! The party afterwards was at Joe's Pizzaria, which was a lot of fun but we were all pretty exhausted so we didn't stay for very long. I feel so lucky and happy to have had this once in a life time experience. It was one of the few times in life where your expectations are so high that you think it couldn't get any better, but the actual experience was everything I thought it would be and more. Thank you to DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards and the National High School Musical Theatre Awards for this opportunity, and to all of my family and friends who have supported me throughout this crazy adventure!

CAMERON (as written at 12:30am early this morning):

The experience of a lifetime is nearing its end. Today, we woke up and headed to the Minskoff to run through the show a couple times before the big performance.

[caption id="attachment_1348" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Arriving at the Minskoff![/caption]

We also got to change/hang out in the dressing room the the Lion King cast uses, so that was really neat. They have an assortment of dumbbells and workout material in there... I guess to get a pump on before going onstage.

[caption id="attachment_1349" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The Lion King cast's dressing room at the Minskoff![/caption]

The really awesome thing was getting to see all of the props backstage--that made the fact that we were really on Broadway settle in a bit more. The show was insane. The moment we hit our opening positions with our heads down, John and I started beating the floor from sheer excitement. Unfortunately, I did not make it into the top 3 performers so the only solo I sang on Broadway tonight was from my medley. But hey, I can't complain--I was a Broadway actor tonight, and no one can take that away from me! I will admit, it's a bit of a bummer, of course, that I didn't place, but at least I have 58 other people to be disappointed with me! ;)

[caption id="attachment_1350" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The award given to all nominees for basically making it through the week![/caption]

Any single one of the nominees could've won tonight and I wouldn't have been surprised, but tonight's best actor winner was Taylor from Connecticut who busted out some insane skills when he sang "Santa Fe." I bet the Newsies in the audience were proud!

[caption id="attachment_1351" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Award-winner, Taylor Varga[/caption]

Also, congrats to Sarah Lynn Marion on winning best female performer! I had the pleasure of being in her vocal group and seeing her grow tremendously throughout the week. She's an amazing person, and I'm honored to call her a friend! We ended with a perfect finale, and taking my bow on the Minskoff stage will forever be engraved in my memories. Hopefully it wasn't the last time I'll take a bow on Broadway! Now I'm on the bus back to Tisch from the after party at John's Pizzeria. This has been such an incredible adventure, but I do miss home. I'll see you tomorrow Dallas! Thank you, DSM and NHSMTA, for the unbelievable opportunity!

We are all so unbelievably proud of Cameron and Dakota! They worked their tails off this past week and were a part of something in which only 60 students from across the nation participated! I know it is an experience neither one of them will forget - what a way to finish your high school career!

Today, Dakota and Cameron have their final day in NYC. While it's only a half day, they do get to meet with a casting director! After lunch, they are set to head back to Dallas, so their last post will be tomorrow. I'm so impressed with these 2 - I can't wait to see where their career takes them.

Thanks for following our blog during their journey! Have a great Tuesday!

-DSM Amanda

All In A Day's Work - Day 7 at NHSMTA (Last Day)!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 16:22:14 +0000

Good mid-morning DSM Fans! I can’t believe how quickly time has flown – Dakota and Cameron are already home from NYC! Yesterday was their last day at the National HSMTA, and it was a nice change from the craziness that had happened all week. Check out their final thoughts about their trip below! DAKOTA: The last day was bittersweet. We got to sleep in a little bit then headed over to Tisch for the last time. We were fortunate enough to have a casting agent talk to us about the business and answer any questions we may have. One of the best parts about this experience was hearing the different perspectives of every side of the professional theatre world. After she finished Ken Gash from NYU gave us a really inspiring talk about theatre. One of the things that really stuck with me was when he said "Theatre is the language of the soul." He just kind of reminded us that even though this week was hard and frustrating, it was all worth it in the end (we performed on BROADWAY). And it's true, I feel stronger. I feel like I have a new found confidence I didn't previously have, and hopefully when I go to school this fall with a major in musical theatre performance everything I have learned during this experience will help me be the actress and person I have always wanted to be. They told us on the first day that we would come home feeling different and I definitely do. I feel even more passionate and driven then before, and it's very exciting. CAMERON: Alas, the adventure has ended. After the best night's sleep I've had all week (probably due to a mix of relief and exhaustion), we headed to Tisch to have a discussion with a casting director from Bernie Telsey's office--the biggest casting office in New York, I've been told. She told us about how a casting director's mind works in an audition: they ultimately don't care about where you were educated if you're absolutely right for the role, the first moment they see you, they're placing you in all different roles in their head based on your appearance, and they usually know if you're right for a role vocally after the first 6 bars or so. She also added that although a person auditioning may not be right for the part in that specific show, casting directors are usually working on a number of projects, so in their minds they're trying to see if you match any other parts they need to cast. After that, Ken Gash, head of the New Studio on Broadway, gave us an inspiring and educational speech about what we accomplished this week. Something he said that I really liked went along the lines of: "Theatre isn't about headlining or being a star. It's about seeing words or notes on a page and putting your humanity in it to reach out to the humanity in others." That's only a snippet of Gash's speech. Almost every sentence was an inspiring piece of brilliance. Finally, it was time to say goodbye to all of the friends I had made this week... Some truly remarkable people. Performing alongside such fantastic young actors and actresses was an extremely humbling experience, and I know I'll be hearing great things about plenty of them in the future. This trip was enormously educational, inspiring, humbling, unforgettable, and above all: FUN. I'll miss the big talent and the big city, but it feels pretty sweet to be back home. [caption id="attachment_1355" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Arriving in Dallas! What a trip![/caption] Thank you Cameron and Dakota for providing us with all the inside scoop from the National HSMTA this week! We’re so proud of you both and look forward to seeing your careers in the future! Thank you for representing DSM so well, and we wish you the best of luck at college in the fall! Also, thank you to you all for following this blog during their journey! I hope you have enjoyed hearing from Cameron and Dakota as much as I did. Have a great day! -DSM Amanda

Dallas Loves Flashdance!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:16:22 +0000

Hey DSM and FLASHDANCE fans! Dallas is showing the love for FLASHDANCE! Check out all of these great interviews, reviews, and videos below! More to come, so check back soon! VIDEOS/INTERVIEWS/PHOTOS Ron chats with the stars of Flashdance: Click here for the video. Teresa Frosini from CBS 11 stopped by the Music Hall! Click here for the video. Colleen Coyle goes all out for Flashdance: Click here for the preview photos. Video coming soon! DeQuina, Kelly, and Haley from the Flashdance cast cat with D The Broadcast: Click here for the video. Fox 4 Performance: Click here for the video. REVIEWS The Flash List: Click here for review. John Garcia’s The Column: Click here for review. EDGEDallas: Click here for review. Oh So Cynthia: Click here for review. TheaterJones: Click here for review. The Dallas Morning News: Click here for review. The Herald Democrat: Click here for review. White Rock Weekly: Click here for review. More interviews and videos to come! Saw something that we didn’t mention? Let us know! Hope you can make it to see FLASHDANCE – now on stage through Sunday evening! -DSM Amanda

Now Announcing the 2013/2014 DSM Season!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 01:00:06 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals is pleased to announce our 74^th Season! 2013/2014 Season Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Join us for the season and enjoy the best Broadway shows, in the best seats, at the best price! See 8 shows for as low as $133 and save up to $97 on single ticket prices! [caption id="attachment_1372" align="aligncenter" width="600"] 2013/2014 Season Tickets ON SALE NOW! Click on the pic above for more info![/caption] The 2013/2014 DSM Season is 8 Broadway touring shows: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical – December 17-29, 2013 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#WhiteChristmasDSM) Ghost The Musical – January 28 – February 9, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#GhostDSM) Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Previews February 13-16, Performances February 18 – March 2 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#LittleMermaidDSM) We Will Rock You The Musical – March 4-16, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#WWRYDSM) Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New Production The Wizard of Oz – March 18-30, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#WOZDSM) Evita – April 15-27, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#EvitaDSM) Mamma Mia! – June 3-15, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#MammaMiaDSM) Nice Work If You Can Get It – September 2-14, 2014 – Music Hall at Fair Park (#NiceWorkDSM) Specials: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert with the Dallas Pops – November 8-10, 2013 (#LOTRDSM) Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles – November 23-24, 2013 (#RainDSM) Check out a sneak peek of the season below! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtqxg6vO07w&w=560&h=315] Season tickets are only available for purchase for a limited time before the season starts and seats are assigned based on the date you place your order. Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase DSM season tickets! Click here to get more info and to buy now! Make sure you like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and follow us on this blog (at the top on the right – just enter your e-mail address) to get the latest news on our 2013/2014 Season, behind the scenes facts, special contests, and more throughout the season! Feel free to leave your comments below! We look forward to seeing you soon at the 2013/2014 DSM Season! -DSM Amanda

The Lion King Returns to Dallas October 2-20!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:07:25 +0000

Casting Announced for Disney’s THE LION KING Broadway’s Award-Winning Best Musical

Dallas’ Limited Return Engagement Plays WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 To SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013 at THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

(Dallas, TX)—Casting has been announced for the Dallas engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING. Dallas’ most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Music Hall at Fair Park stage from Wednesday, October 2 to Sunday, October 20. The press opening night is Friday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. The show’s previous two engagement in 2002 and 2007 played sold-out runs at the Music Hall. The production features Patrick R. Brown as “Scar”, L. Steven Taylor as “Mufasa”, Tshidi Manye as “Rafiki”, Andrew Gorell as “Zazu”, Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa”, Nick Cordileone as “Timon”, Jelani Remy as “Simba”, Nia Holloway as “Nala”, Keith Bennett as “Banzai”, Rashada Dawan as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.” The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Jordan Hall and Nathaniel McIntyre and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Nya Carter and Zyasia Page. In Dallas, THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and weekend and select Thursday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Tickets are available at the DSM Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #5642 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com. Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP (4768). The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 15 million theatergoers and grossed over $1 billion to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Dallas and North Texas return at the Music Hall at Fair Park. The current schedule is listed below. Wednesday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 4, 7:30 p.m. Press Opening Saturday, October 5, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 6, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 7, Dark Tuesday, October 8, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 11, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 13, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 14, Dark Tuesday, October 15, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 17, 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 18, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 19, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 20, 1:30 p.m. last performance ABOUT THE LION KING In its 16^th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant; it is the highest-grossing show in New York history and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been seen by more than 70 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 104 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years. Translated into eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour across North America, in Tokyo and on tour in Japan, in London’s West End and on tour throughout the UK, and in Hamburg, Madrid and Sao Paolo. To date, THE LION KING has played 98 cities in 17 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the stage production of THE LION KING has already earned more than the biggest hit films in movie history: more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy combined, more than the six Star Wars films combined, and more than Avatar and Titanic, the two highest-grossing films in movie history, combined. The award-winning musical will celebrate a new milestone in December 2013 when it returns to Australia, making it the tenth concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show’s history. THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony^® Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony^® Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show in Las Vegas, Madrid and the UK tour and just completed casting the Brazilian production in Sao Paolo. The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.” The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer. For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.

The Dallas engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals,and is a subscription offering of the DSM 2013 season.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH AUGUST 2014:

Charlotte – Belk Theater

August 6 – September 1, 2013

Pittsburgh – Benedum Center

September 3 – 29, 2013

Dallas – Music Hall at Fair Park

October 2 – 20, 2013

Tempe – ASU Gammage Auditorium

October 22 – November 17, 2013

Los Angeles – Pantages Theatre

November 20, 2013 – January 12, 2014

Honolulu – Blaisdell Concert Hall

January 14 – March 9, 2014

Seattle – Paramount Theatre

March 11 – April 6, 2014

Atlanta – The Fox Theatre

April 10 – 27, 2014

Toronto – Princess of Wales Theatre

April 30 – June 15, 2014

Washington, D.C. – Kennedy Center Opera House

June 17 – August 17, 2014

# # #

Local Press Representative: Jo Ann Holt, joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371

Now Announcing The International Conservatory of Performing Arts

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:55:56 +0000

Media Contact: Sharon Adams PR for DSM Academy of Performing Arts Direct Line: 972.773.9289 Cell: 214.924.9959 adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Academy of Performing Arts Contact: Kevin Cook Director of Education Phone: 214.969.7569 kcook@dallassummermusicals.org

DSM Academy of Performing Arts and Dimensions Dance and Performing Arts Company along with the International Music Conservatory Bring Their Expertise Together Under One Roof

The International Conservatory of Performing Arts

A wide variety of master classes, camps and year-round instruction offered in musical theatre, acting, voice, directing, dance, drill team, tap, jazz, hip-hop, violin, viola, cello, piano, double bass and more – all topped off with stunning student performances.

(Dallas, TX – August 13, 2013) DSM Academy of Performing Arts along with Dimensions Dance and Performing Arts Company (DDPAC) and the International Music Conservatory (IMC) will all offer classes under one roof at the IMC location in Plano, dubbing the effort International Conservatory of Performing Arts. “There is nothing like this in our metro area,” said Kevin Cook, Director of Education at the DSM Academy. “DSM Academy is thrilled to offer theatre training while these top-rate companies bring their expertise to offer a triple-threat opportunity for music, dance and acting. For young performers, it's one dream of three collaborators in one building.” DSM Academy will continue its theatre programs at Park Cities, Frisco and Town North, but this new relationship will include individual classes in overall Musical Theatre as part of the ongoing curriculum at IMC. There will be classes in Musical Theatre, Acting, Acting for Film, Improvisational Acting, Directing, Semi-Private Voice, Lyric Interpretation, Voice for Dancers, How to Audition as a Triple-Threat and Dance for Theatre. Ronald Neal, Director of the International Music Conservatory said, "This is an extraordinary and long overdue association between music, theatre and dance. The IMC program is designed to assist aspiring young artists in finding his or her voice and style through the fundamental training for instrumental technique, theory of music and music communication skills, etc. We are thrilled to welcome these two notable companies in the creation of a world class performing arts center for pre-college students and aspiring professionals.” Kerry Dove, Artistic Director, DDPAC agrees, saying, “Our main focus is to integrate with the IMC and DSM Academy to offer all aspects of performing arts under one roof. Here, we will educate and equip children, teens and adults to become employable artists in the performing arts field, or to simply foster their love of the arts by providing the chance to study with the best of the best in one facility, which offers a state-of-the-art environment in a centralized location. For this reason, our curriculum emphasizes art making, technical development and mastery of one’s unique creative process. We will assist our students in their endeavor by providing experienced, knowledgeable instructors and instilling discipline, dedication and a respect for the arts.” The IMC location includes individual and group instruction areas for the instrument classes, a recording studio with full video and audio production services overseen by an onsite studio manager, performance hall which doubles as a fully functional sound stage and a new spacious sprung wood dance floor with Marley surface. “Everyone at Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. applauds the efforts of the International Music Conservatory, Dimensions Dance and Performing Arts Company and of course, Kevin Cook of the DSM Academy, for their dedication to this vision of the future in performing arts education,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. “This winning combination offers students a truly incomparable educational experience.” Visit the website at: http://www.icparts.org About DSM Academy: The DSM Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1999 and operates as an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. in four locations in Dallas, Frisco and Plano areas. Dallas Summer Musicals is a company that produces and presents Broadway, off-Broadway, West End and touring theatrical productions. The DSM Academy is comprised of 60% youth under 13 years of age, 40% teens and 10% adults. The Academy is proud of its diverse and ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 300 need-based scholarships. The DSM Academy helps to prepare the amateur and the professional for involvement in the performing arts. About International Music Conservatory: The International Music Conservatory is comprised of a 50 member acclaimed university faculty, graduates of Julliard and Eastman School, Curtis Institute, Shanghai Conservatory and Moscow Conservatory, who provide private/group instruction, music theory and master classes. Our facility offers students an environment in which they can thrive with practice rooms, an audio-video recording studio and 75-seat performance hall. With focus on our students goals, IMC faculty and staff are dedicated to their success. Working hand-in-hand with dedicated parents, our students have been selected as international competition winners and this year, for the National Youth Orchestra of the U.S.A. Website: http://www.imusicconservatory.com/home About DDPAC: Dimensions Dance and Performing Arts Company is committed to developing artists who make valuable, long-term contributions in personal and professional arenas. The main focus of the DDPAC will be to integrate with the International Music Conservatory to offer all aspects of performing arts under one roof. Here we will educate children, teens and adults by offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, modern, acro and tumbling, and conditioning at the competitive or recreational level. This will help them become artists in the performing arts field, or simply foster their love of the arts by providing the chance to study with the best of the best in one facility that offers a state of the art environment in a centralized location. www.ddpac.com

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Tomorrow - You're Invited to Kick-Off DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards' Season 3!

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 16:00:03 +0000

Join us for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards' Season 3 Kick-Off Event Tomorrow, August 25th at 3pm at the Studio Movie Grill on Royal Lane in Dallas! [caption id="attachment_1386" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Just click on the picture above to get your tickets now![/caption] EVERY LITTLE STEP explores the incredible journey of A CHORUS LINE from ambitious idea to international phenomenon. It compares and contrasts the original musical with the 2006 revival. It goes behind the scenes with exclusive interviews and footage of the revival’s audition process, revealing the dramatic journey of the performers, and unfolding a story of life imitating art. Students, teachers, DSM, family, friends and anyone who loves musical theater are invited! Admission is just $1! For tickets, go to: https://www.studiomoviegrill.com/Buy1.aspx?ID=2927&o=b. SMG also has a great new menu and specials- check it out: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/Menu.aspx?m=1&s=93 RSVP today - we'll see you tomorrow!!

DSM - Creating Memories to Last a Lifetime!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:11:27 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ANNOUNCES 74TH SEASON CREATING MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK See 8 Shows for as Low as $133!

DALLAS, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM)announces their 2013-2014 season of shows, with eight touring Broadway productions and two specials coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainmentfor 74 seasons, since 1941. Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “We believe in creating memories that will last a lifetime, so our 74th season is filled with musicals that should provide an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family. We simply could not wait to start fulfilling that promise, so we are kicking off the 2014 season with a great family musical, Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS, in December of 2013.” DSM 2013-2014 SEASON AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, December 17-29, 2013. The story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, romance, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, including “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Happy Holiday,” “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” and the unforgettable title song, IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS promises to be a merry and bright experience for the entire family! IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS features Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin with Book by David Ives and Paul Blake and is based upon the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. GHOST THE MUSICAL, January 28-February 9, 2014. Featuring an original pop score from multiple Grammy Award winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin. The story follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam’s untimely death. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave dangers. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic, who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death. GHOST THE MUSICAL is “eye-poppingly brilliant” (AP) and “astounding,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, Previews Feb. 13-16, runs February 18-March 2, 2014. The “under the sea sensation” brings to the stage a magical kingdom where the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, it’s a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Come fall in love with the magic for the first time, or all over again! WE WILL ROCK YOU, March 4-16, 2014. From London’s West End, the worldwide smash hit musical features the greatest hits of the legendary British rock group, Queen, with Ben Elton. Now in its 11^th year in London, seen by 15 million people worldwide, this hilarious, multi-award-winning and record-breaking phenomenon boasts a fantastic score that you just can’t resist singing along to, such as “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Crazy Little thing Called Love,” “We Are the Champions,” Bohemian Rhapsody” and the title song, “We Will Rock You.” THE WIZARD OF OZ, March 18-30, 2014. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of THE WIZARD OF OZis an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally reconceived for the stage. Developed from the ever-popular MGM screenplay, this new production contains all the beloved songs from the Oscar® winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts’ desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for the family. EVITA, April 15-27, 2014. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award® winning musical returns at last. Eva Peron used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Adored by her people as a champion for the poor, she became one of the most powerful women in the world, while her greed, outsized ambition and fragile health made her one of the most tragic. Evita’s passionate and unforgettable true story features some of theater’s most beautiful songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” and “High Flying, Adored.” The new production is directed by Michael Grandage and choreographed by Rob Ashford. MAMMA MIA!,June 3-15, 2014. Over 54 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that makes MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel good show. Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. The champagne flows and the gin fizzes in this hilarious Tony® winning new musical. It’s the roaring twenties, and a cast of outrageous characters gather in New York to celebrate the wedding of wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter. But things don’t go as planned when the playboy meets Billie Bendix, a bubbly and feisty bootlegger who melts his heart. Featuring a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin’s most beloved instantly recognizable tunes, set in a fresh and funny song and dance spectacular with a book by Tony winner Joe DiPietro and direction by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall. Filled to the brim with such classic songs as “But Not for Me,’ “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” this sparkling tale combines laughter, romance and high-stepping Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour, and those glorious Gershwin songs. LORD OF THE RINGS IN CONCERT, Special, Nov. 8-10, 2013. Composer Howard Shore brings J.R.R. Tolkein’s literary imagination to vivid life with his Academy and Grammy Award winning score to The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring. Shore’s music, performed by Dallas POPS, expresses Peter Jackson’s film as an immense symphonic work; a uniquely developed vision drawn from centuries of stylistic tendencies. Counted among film music’s most complete and comprehensive works, this unique performance of the music of The Lord of the Rings sets the score to the film but allows the music to bear the narrative weight, creating a wholly new and dramatic live concert experience. RAIN- A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, Special, Nov. 23-24, 2013. Direct from Broadway, RAIN performs the full range of the Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance in this multi-media concert. From the early hits to later classics, such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together,” and “Hey Jude”, this tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends. Season tickets, priced from $133-$782, go on saleWednesday, July 31 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to $97 over the cost of single tickets. Season sponsors and partners for Dallas Summer MusicalsareThe Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, The Original Cupcakery, 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit the website atwww.dallassummermusicals.org. # # # 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 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com.

Cast Announced for BRING IT ON!

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PeterPan_EnoteHoriz

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2012BestActorAndActress

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Thurs Lunch

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Thurs Pic Collage

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Thurs Lamar Michael

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The Lord of the Rings In Concert with Dallas POPS Coming to Dallas Nov. 8-10!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 19:54:05 +0000

Single Tickets for LORD OF THE RINGS IN CONCERT with Dallas POPS are ON SALE NOW!

Single tickets are on sale for an exciting new show offered as a special by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park in November. Tickets for LORD OF THE RINGS IN CONCERT are on sale now. Single tickets will be priced from $15-$85, and will be available at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center, at Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com. LORD OF THE RINGS IN CONCERT, DSM 2013/2014 Season Special, Nov. 8-10, 2013. Composer Howard Shore brings J.R.R. Tolkein’s literary imagination to vivid life with his Academy and Grammy Award winning score to The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring. Shore’s music, performed by Dallas POPS, expresses Peter Jackson’s film as an immense symphonic work; a uniquely developed vision drawn from centuries of stylistic tendencies. Counted among film music’s most complete and comprehensive works, this unique performance of the music of The Lord of the Rings sets the score to the film but allows the music to bear the narrative weight, creating a wholly new and dramatic live concert experience. In addition, DSM will present RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, as a special November 23-24, 2013. Single tickets for that show will go on sale Sept. 30. Season tickets, priced from $133-$782, are still on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. DSM 2014 SEASON SHOWS IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, December 17-29, 2013; GHOST THE MUSICAL, January 28-February 9, 2014; DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, Previews Feb. 13-16, runs February 18-March 2, 2014; WE WILL ROCK YOU, March 4-16, 2014; THE WIZARD OF OZ, March 18-30, 2014; EVITA, April 15-27, 2014; MAMMA MIA!,June 3-15, 2014; and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to $97 over the cost of single tickets. # # #

THE LION KING Opens in Dallas TONIGHT!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 17:15:46 +0000

DISNEY’S THE LION KING OPENS TONIGHT AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK IN DALLAS

Dallas, TX October 4, 2013 – The Dallas return of Disney’s THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Hall at Fair Park for a limited engagement of three weeks, through October 20. In Dallas, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. There will be a 1:30 p.m. matinee performance on Friday, October 18. The award-winning musical returns to Dallas following a six-week sold-out premiere engagement in 2002 and a successful five-week engagement in 2007 at the Music Hall. “While sales have exceeded our expectations, tickets can still be purchased and patrons are encouraged to contact Dallas Summer Musicals to inquire about the best availability,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals. Tickets to THE LION KING are available at the DSM Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #5642 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. THE LION KING began as a 1994 animated feature-length film developed and produced by the Walt Disney Company. The story, a coming of age parable set among animals indigenous to its setting, the African savanna, tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who rises to be the King of the jungle. The production features Patrick R. Brown as “Scar”, L. Steven Taylor as “Mufasa”, Brown Lindiwe Mkhize as “Rafiki”, Andrew Gorell as “Zazu”, Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa”, Nick Cordileone as “Timon”, Dashaun Young as “Simba”, Nia Holloway as “Nala”, Keith Bennett as “Banzai”, Rashada Dawan as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.” The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Jordan Hall and Nathaniel McIntyre and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Nya Carter and Zyasia Page. The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 15 million theatergoers and grossed over $1 billion to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Dallas return at the Music Hall at Fair Park. The current schedule is listed below. ABOUT THE LION KING In its 16^th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant; it is the highest-grossing Broadway show in New York history and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been seen by more than 70 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 104 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years. Translated into eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour across North America, in Tokyo and on tour in Japan, in London’s West End and on tour throughout the UK, and in Hamburg, Madrid and Sao Paolo. To date, THE LION KING has played 98 cities in 17 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the stage production of THE LION KING has already earned more than the biggest hit films in movie history: more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy combined, more than the six Star Wars films combined, and more than Avatar and Titanic, the two highest-grossing films in movie history, combined. The award-winning musical will celebrate a new milestone in December 2013 when it returns to Australia, making it the tenth concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show’s history. THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony^® Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony^® Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show in Las Vegas, Madrid and the UK tour and just completed casting the Brazilian production in Sao Paolo. The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.” The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer. For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com. The Dallas engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals as a subscription offering of the DSM 2013 series, and is the State Fair of Texas musical for 2013.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH AUGUST 2014:

Dallas – Music Hall at Fair Park

October 2 – 20, 2013

Tempe – ASU Gammage Auditorium

October 22 – November 17, 2013

Los Angeles – Pantages Theatre

November 20, 2013 – January 12, 2014

Honolulu – Blaisdell Concert Hall

January 14 – March 9, 2014

Seattle – Paramount Theatre

March 11 – April 6, 2014

Atlanta – The Fox Theatre

April 10 – 27, 2014

Toronto – Princess of Wales Theatre

April 30 – June 15, 2014

Washington, D.C. – Kennedy Center Opera House

June 17 – August 17, 2014

# # #

Local Press Representative: Jo Ann Holt, 469-353-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com

DSM Events This Weekend!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 17:30:48 +0000

DSM will be all around Dallas this weekend at a few events! Check it out below! (And be sure to stop and say hi to us!)

DSM at Dallas Comic Con Irving Convention Center Friday, October 4 – 2pm-8pm Saturday, October 5 – 11am-7pm Sunday, October 6 – 11am-5pm

Stop by our table at Comic Con to get an exclusive discount on your tickets to THE LORD OF THE RINGS IN CONCERT with The Dallas POPS!

For more information about this event, click here.

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For more information about this event, click here.

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We hope to see you this weekend!

Behind the Scenes at THE LION KING!

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 15:45:49 +0000

THE LION KING was one of my first real musical theater experiences. I think that this show connects to everyone on a very personal level, and it’s one that you will never forget. From the costumes to the set pieces to the music, this show is truly and unforgettable and breathtaking experience. Because of the meaning this show has to me and the memory I hold from seeing it for the first time, you can imagine that I was thrilled to be able to go backstage and learn more about some behind the scenes info! Last week, I had the opportunity to chat with Billy Kimbley, the Head Carpenter for THE LION KING North American tour, and he gave me an inside look into the props, puppets, and costumes for the show. I can’t wait for you to read below what he shared with me! First off, for this show to travel, it takes 18 trailers, all 53’ long! The show has 2 different sets in rotation, so they are able to load-in the show several days in advance. Because THE LION KING has been to Dallas before, the previous modifications to our theater did not have to be redone. Take a look when you come see the show – there are stairs over the orchestra pit and leading up to the stage. This is not normally there for any other show.

Also, previously, they built 2 balconies, 1 on each side of the audience, but due to some slight modifications, they will not be used for this run of the show. Mr. Kimbley explained that they have to make certain modifications to theaters (“remodeling a theater near you!”) all over the country to enable our audiences to have the same theatrical experience no matter where they are in the world. His words were “you’re part of an event” when you see this show, and they want to keep you as involved as possible. When I walked into the theater, laid out on the first 10 rows were several different puppets and costume pieces from the show. I got to see the wildebeest heads, the Grassland Headdresses, the giraffe heads (18 feet tall and 10 pounds heavy!), and the bird pole puppets.

I got to pick up the wildebeest heads, which are only 1 1/2 pounds (though they look much heavier), and I learned that while the grassland headdresses stay the same on top, there are custom headpieces that attach to the main headdress and are customized per person in the cast. There are over 85 puppets in the show representing 32 different species. Each actor in the show has to go through extensive training to use these puppets, and 3 talented puppeteers travel with the show to maintain and continue training the actors with these detailed and intricate puppets. After our quick chat about the show, a group of us got to walk up the stairs and stand on the magnificently detailed custom stage to see the biggest and most essential set piece in the show, Pride Rock.

This monstrous set piece is mechanically operated (from mechanical operators who sit 35 feet up in the wings!) and can move and turn in several different directions on the stage. This set piece is also collapsible within itself, so even though it looks very tall and lengthy, it is only 8 feet long when it collapses (a lot like bleachers). He even joked about how “she has a special parking pass for the Fair”! Haha! (An even more random and super behind the scenes fact, THE LION KING set pieces are female, or referred to as “shes”.)

The musical theatre nerd in me was very giddy and ecstatic to be able to stand on the iconic stage and see the set and costumes up close and personally. Needless to say, my job certainly does come with its perks, but I couldn’t have this experience and not share it with you, the DSM fans! I do hope this post helps give you a more behind the scenes look and helps enhance your experience if you’re coming to see the show. The 70+ person crew has worked incredibly hard to get this show up and running as if it has been here for years. The show officially opened yesterday, with previews on Wednesday and Thursday, and the cast has gotten wonderful reviews! I’m thrilled that this show has returned to Dallas and hope you are able to see it while it’s here through October 20^th! Have a great and safe Saturday! -DSM Amanda

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A great example of a Creative Family Photo!

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2013/2014 Season Tickets ON SALE NOW! Click on the picture to get more info!

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Dallas Loves THE LION KING!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 15:33:56 +0000

Well, it's not shocking, but Dallas is in love with Disney's THE LION KING! Be it nostalgia, the costumes, or even the Hamlet-like story, THE LION KING has proven to be a hit in what ever city they visit! And I'll be honest, I'm right there with all of you - I love this show. Plain and simple. I wanted to share with you a few of the reviews we've received from DFW locals, an interview between an adorable puppet, Bleeckie Streetie, and the 4 young kids in the cast and our Red Carpet Interviews video from Opening Night, 10/4! Check out the links/video below. I'll be adding more as they come in, so check back for updates! REVIEWS Click here for the review by Lawson Taitte with The Dallas Morning News. Click here for the review by John Garcia with The Column Online. Click here for the review by Lindsey Wilson with D Magazine. INTERVIEWS Bleeckie Streetie interviews the 2 Young Simbas and the 2 Young Nalas [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bZ3SSLIeqs&w=640&h=480] Fun with Fiona - Special Feature on Fox 4 News Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com Colleen Coyle looks behind the scenes at 'The Lion King' Click here to see the video. Teresa Frosini with CBS 11 features The Lion King Click here to see the video. RED CARPET INTERVIEW [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkt-WdPS97c&w=640&h=360] I hope you have a great weekend! -DSM Amanda

Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 03:55:17 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIZU1s7PN2Q -DSM Erika

Day One: Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 04:19:21 +0000

Yesterday I had my first day on the "job" while shadowing the company manager and assistant manager of Disney's THE LION KING. Fred Hemminger, the company manager of the show, said his job is very similar to HR. He takes care of things outside the performances including, housing for cast and crew, flight plans, payroll, and worker's compensation. He also reports ticket sales to New York, and works with venues on contract agreements. Basically, it's a lot of paper work to juggle while traveling across the country. Watch the video to learn about why Fred decided to become a company manager. FUN FACT: One of the terms of agreement when contracting a venue is that THE LION KING must have access to three on-site washer and dryers. All of them are used daily! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsbr2tUiPU -DSM Erika

Day Two: Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 05:43:37 +0000

This was a day FULL of interviews. I shadowed Gregory Hanoian who is the publicist for this tour of Disney's THE LION KING. He had flown out a TV personality to shoot some material for THE LION KING'S upcoming shows in Arizona. With my background in Communications, the job of a publicist is very appealing to me. I love well planned schedules that are full of excitement, and that describes how the day went...full and exciting. Gregory said that with a show as diverse as THE LION KING there were a number of interviews he could have set up. There are so many angles to this show, that even when it returns to a city (like Dallas) for the second or third time it can still create a buzz. Thanks to Destry Jetton of Channel 12 News in Arizona for letting me watch all of her interviews take place. FUN FACT: Nia Holloway, who plays Nala, is only 18! As a senior in high school, Nia travels with a private tutor so she can complete her studies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLiYUo6wBYc -DSM Erika

Day Three: Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 03:48:25 +0000

Another loooong but rewarding day! It all started with the annual Road Market Forum with The Broadway League. As an intern for the League, I was invited to attend. It was a day filled with power points and new faces. I learned about geo fencing, the correct way to email advertise, and heard several big ideas brainstormed. Who knows. Maybe one day, I'll be back at this Forum not as an intern but as an employee and contributor. After the Forum closed, I rushed back stage to meet with Production Stage Manager, Ken Davis, and his crew. I shadowed them backstage as they performed their cues for moving set pieces, overseeing quick changes, and all other technical sides to the show. There is always something going on backstage and it takes a lot of stage hands and dressers to make sure that the show runs smoothly. You definitely need to be quick on your toes as a stage hand and always alert or you might get run over by Pride Rock. FUN FACT: THE LION KING always has six South Africans cast in the show. This ensures that the dialect used by the character Rafiki as well as several musical numbers are authentic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODb9Fp7LewI -DSM Erika

Day Four: Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 04:21:43 +0000

Tonight I worked with the Company Manager, Fred, again. Emily was out of the office, so Fred had double the work load. He's a great multi-tasker and was able to answer all of my questions while he worked. The show is leaving Texas tomorrow and heading to Tempe, Arizona. This meant a lot of visits from people wanting to double check on housing, transportation, and other information. I met so many cast and crew members, I can't remember their names! He talked me through some of the paper work he was doing and I added a few words to my vocabulary. It was all routine for Fred, and all new to me. FUN FACT: This month THE LION KING will reach $1 billion in gross sales. This makes it not only Broadway's #1 musical now showing; it makes it Broadway's #1 musical ever! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhHEcOFXrUs -DSM Erika

Day Five: Broadway League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 03:19:19 +0000

Well, this is it! I finished my last day on the internship and am so grateful for everything I've learned. It's been a busy week, but so worth it. Thanks to all who helped make this internship possible, especially The Broadway League and ATPAM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvMdSs8Zw8s -DSM Erika

Just Announced! We are hiring!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:45:58 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals is currently hiring for the following position:

Ticket Services Associate

About The Position: The Dallas Summer Musicals’ Box Office provides an excellent opportunity to play a starring role in bringing The Best of Broadway to Dallas. Ticket Services Associates are responsible for providing outstanding sales and customer service to all DSM patrons. Position Responsibilities:

Contribute to the day-to-day operations by providing outstanding customer service when assisting patrons in person and over the phone.
Communicate necessary information effectively, such as seating, ticketing, parking and general customer information, to complete transactions in an accurate and efficient manner.
Conduct sales and exchange transactions using both Archtics and Ticketmaster Host ticketing software.
Process and balance cash, check, and credit card payments.
Promote upsell opportunities such as additional shows, and valet parking.
During season ticket campaign assist patrons in person and over the phone with completing their renewals and new season, additional ticket, and valet orders.
Assume additional responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

A high school diploma or equivalent is required and some college or prior work experience is preferred.
Computer skills including Microsoft applications. Experience with either Archtics and/or Ticketmaster Host ticketing software a definite plus.
Ability to work a flexible schedule including some days, weekends, evenings and holidays.
Commitment to consistently providing outstanding customer service even when operating under pressure, time constraints and dealing with challenging patrons.
Exceptional communication and listening skills.
Strong basic math skills including experience handling money and making change.
Professional demeanor and appearance.
Ability to learn new skills, procedures and software while adapting quickly.

The application for employment can be downloaded by clicking here, or you may submit a resume to employment@dallassummermusicals.org and reference the position in the subject line of the email. We hope you will want to join our DSM Team! -DSM Amanda

Your Broadway Gift Guide for the Holiday Season!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:49:22 +0000

It's that time of year again - gift buying season is here! Sometimes the task can be a bit daunting, but we’ve got your current (and soon-to-be) Broadway fans covered! Check out Dallas Summer Musicals' Holiday Gift Guide for some ideas and inspiration!

Season Tickets are on sale now! See 8 shows for as low as $133. A 2013/2014 Season Ticket is the ultimate gift for a Broadway fan. Secure their seat to all of our Broadway bests this season, including IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, GHOST THE MUSICAL, THE LITTLE MERMAID, WE WILL ROCK YOU, THE WIZARD OF OZ, EVITA, MAMMA MIA!, and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. They're only available for a limited time before the season starts! Click here for more info!
Mini Packs are perfect if you prefer to pick and choose. Select 4 or more shows starting at $61! Click here for more info!
Single tickets for IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS are on sale now!
Single tickets for GHOST - THE MUSICAL are on sale now, and featured in Ticketmaster's ME +3 & 2 For 1 Holiday Ticket Deals! These deals are good for ALL Performances in Price Levels 5-7! Click here and choose a performance!
Keep an eye out for DSM's Cyber Monday Offer: 4 Tickets for $99!
PRESALE for THE LITTLE MERMAID begins Monday, December 16th!

Not sure who to give Broadway to this season?

For the Christmas Connoisseur: IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS - on sale now!
For the Hopeless Romantic: GHOST - on sale now!
For the Disney Princess: THE LITTLE MERMAID - PRESALE December 16th!
For the Rock Star: WE WILL ROCK YOU - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Family: THE WIZARD OF OZ - tickets available Cyber Monday!
For the History Buff: EVITA - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Girls: MAMMA MIA! - tickets available Cyber Monday!
For the Gershwin Fan: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - add it to your Mini Pack!

8 Reasons Tickets Make A Great Gift:

You’re giving an EXPERIENCE.
Do you really remember every gift you received last year? 5 years ago? Give your loved ones something they’ll remember for years to come.
You won’t be wasting your hard earned cash – unlike a sweater, tie or pink bunny footie pajamas… tickets won’t get pushed to the back of a closet.
Instead of playing the gift guessing game with a toy that gets tossed to the side, introduce the kids to the magic of theatre.
Date night. Need we say more?
We all know that in-laws are difficult to buy for. Make it a 4-pack and they’ll be pleased with your willingness to share date night with them.
Ladies: choose to give tickets over gift cards this year, and change up your Girl’s Night Out routine!
Check the entire family off of your gift-giving list and make it a family affair! It only takes 10 people to qualify for our Group Discount!

From all of us here at DSM, we hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season! -DSM Amanda

UPDATED: Your Broadway Gift Guide for the Holiday Season!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 18:25:37 +0000

Season Tickets - LAST CHANCE! See 8 shows for as low as $133. A 2013/2014 Season Ticket is the ultimate gift for a Broadway fan. Secure their seat to all of our Broadway bests this season, including IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, GHOST THE MUSICAL, THE LITTLE MERMAID, WE WILL ROCK YOU, THE WIZARD OF OZ, EVITA, MAMMA MIA!, and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. They're only available thru December 29th! Click here for more info!
Mini Packs are perfect if you prefer to pick and choose. Select 4 or more shows starting at $61! Click here for more info!
Single tickets for IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS are on sale now!
Single tickets for GHOST - THE MUSICAL are on sale now, and featured in Ticketmaster's ME +3 & 2 For 1 Holiday Ticket Deals! These deals are good for ALL Performances in Price Levels 5-7! Click here and choose a performance!
PRESALE for THE LITTLE MERMAID available NOW! Click here and use code: FIRST (all caps) for any performance in any price level! Offer ends December 29th!

Not sure who to give Broadway to this season?

For the Christmas Connoisseur: IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS - on sale now!
For the Hopeless Romantic: GHOST - on sale now!
For the Disney Princess: THE LITTLE MERMAID - PRESALE now!
For the Rock Star: WE WILL ROCK YOU - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Family: THE WIZARD OF OZ - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the History Buff: EVITA - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Girls: MAMMA MIA! - add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Gershwin Fan: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - add it to your Mini Pack!

8 Reasons Tickets Make A Great Gift:

You’re giving an EXPERIENCE.
Do you really remember every gift you received last year? 5 years ago? Give your loved ones something they’ll remember for years to come.
You won’t be wasting your hard earned cash – unlike a sweater, tie or pink bunny footie pajamas… tickets won’t get pushed to the back of a closet.
Instead of playing the gift guessing game with a toy that gets tossed to the side, introduce the kids to the magic of theatre.
Date night. Need we say more?
We all know that in-laws are difficult to buy for. Make it a 4-pack and they’ll be pleased with your willingness to share date night with them.
Ladies: choose to give tickets over gift cards this year, and change up your Girl’s Night Out routine!
Check the entire family off of your gift-giving list and make it a family affair! It only takes 10 people to qualify for our Group Discount!

From all of us here at DSM, we hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season! -DSM Amanda *Please note: This post has been updated from the previous post to reflect our current promotions and availability. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at webinfo@dallassummermusicals.org. Thank you!

Dallas Loves Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:27:04 +0000

Maybe it's the Christmas Spirit, nostalgia, or just pure entertainment, but WHITE CHRISTMAS is a HUGE hit here in Dallas! I wanted to share with you a few of the reviews we've received from DFW locals, a couple of TV performances, and our Red Carpet Interviews video from Opening Night, 12/17! Check out the links/video below. I'll be adding more as they come in, so check back for updates! REVIEWS Click here for the review by John Garcia with The Column Online. Click here for the review by TheaterJones. Click here for the review by Red Carpet Crash. Click here for the review by Lawson Taitte with The Dallas Morning News. Click here for the review by the KVIL Radio Reporter. TV PERFORMANCES WFAA 8 – Good Morning Texas Performance: Meredith Patterson & Trista Moldovan singing “Sisters” Click here to see the video. KTXD 47– The Broadcast Performance: Tony Lawson & Craig Blake singing “Happy Holidays” Click here to see the video. RED CARPET INTERVIEW [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYxVY1UuxHg&w=640&h=360] I hope you have a Merry Christmas! -DSM Amanda

Ghost The Musical is Coming To Dallas Jan. 28-Feb. 9!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:10:12 +0000

THE FIRST U.S. NATIONAL TOUR OF

IS COMING TO DALLAS OPENING JANUARY 28, 2014 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK!

Dallas, TX…The supernatural power of love is taking Dallas by storm as the new Broadway and West End musical Ghost The Musical, adapted from the Academy Award-winning film, opens at the Music Hall at Fair Park January 28-February 9, 2014, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Single tickets for Ghost The Musical will be priced from $15-$85, available at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center, at Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Mini Packs for any four DSM season shows, starting as low as $61, are also on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more get a 15% discount and priority seating; please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or send an email to groups@dallassummermusicals.org. Ghost The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Matthew Warchus (Matilda, God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing) and choreographed by Ashley Wallen (“The X Factor”, Kylie Minogue, Seal, Madonna's film WE). The musical features book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder, The Time Traveler’s Wife) who has adapted his Academy Award-winning original screenplay for the stage, and original music and lyrics by a team of Grammy Award-winners, including Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill). The score also includes the iconic song “Unchained Melody,” written by Hy Zaret and Alex North (Courtesy of Frank Music Corp. ASCAP) and famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers. Illusions are created by famous stage and film illusionist Paul Kieve (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Matilda the Musical). Ghost The Musical features Steven Grant Douglas as Sam Wheat, Katie Postotnik as Molly Jensen, Carla R. Stewart as Oda Mae Brown and Robby Haltiwanger as Carl Bruner. Featured ensemble members are Fernando Contreras, Brandon Curry, Evette Marie White, Nichole Turner, Hana Freeman and Shannan E. Johnson. Rounding out the ensemble are Omar Garibay, Susan Leilani Gearou, Tony Johnson, Beth Stafford Laird, Ben Laxton, Jake Vander Linden, Michael McClure, Jack O’Brien, Andrea Rouch and Maria Cristina Slye. Set in modern day New York City, Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night after a romantic dinner, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam dead on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hopes of saving and protecting her. Employing special effects never before seen in an on-stage musical, Ghost The Musical features illusions that continually leave audiences astonished and questioning if what they just saw was real. Sam, as a ghost, walks through a solid door. Inanimate objects take on a life of their own. Spirits ascend to the heavens, subway passengers are thrown in the air during a high speed train ride and people disappear and reappear right before your eyes. Ghost The Musical has been enjoyed by over 1 million people worldwide and has been nominated for numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. The Associated Press calls Ghost The Musical “Eye-poppingly brilliant” while Variety assures the audience will experience “A limitless array of dazzling effects.” Newsday promises that Ghost The Musical is “Unlike anything seen on stage before” and the Daily Telegraph says that Ghost The Musical “Will keep you gasping!” Ghost The Musical is produced by Troika Entertainment and Michael Coppel in association with Hilary Williams, Margot Astrachan Production/Dennis Grimaldi Productions/Paul Lucas Productions/Robert Sher and Paramount Pictures. Casting for the U.S. National Tour of Ghost The Musical provided by Joy Dewing CSA, Joy Dewing Casting. Original Broadway production produced by Colin Ingram, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Donavan Mannato, MJE Productions, Patricia Lambrecht and Adam Silberman in association with Paramount Pictures. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, Ghost became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide. The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown. Following its DSM performances, Ghost the Musical will be presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce Street, February 11-16. Tickets are available at the Box Office, call 817-212-4280. DSM 2014 Season Shows continue with DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, previews February 13-16, runs February 18-March 2, 2014; WE WILL ROCK YOU, March 4-16, 2014; THE WIZARD OF OZ, March 18-30, 2014; EVITA, April 15-27, 2014; MAMMA MIA!, June 3-15, 2014; and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. Please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org for more information about Dallas Summer Musicals. # # # For media information, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

Ghost The Musical - From Screen to Stage; The Creative Process

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:59:44 +0000

The Creative Process

When Bruce Joel Rubin, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Ghost, was first approached about writing a musical based on his beloved film, his answer was no. “I couldn’t see an upside to it,” he says. “The film had a life, a reputation.”

But a meeting with the producers a couple of years later fired up Rubin’s imagination. “I love the movie,” he says, “but I thought that this might be an opportunity for me to explore the spiritual dimension of the story, things that intrigued me that weren’t in the film. When I use the word spiritual, what I mean is a cosmological view of the universe that doesn’t abegin with birth and end with death. And the producers were very open to that idea.”

That was the first step in the journey of Ghost The Musical, which opened in London in 2011, transferred to Broadway in 2012, and is now touring the country. The show is directed by Matthew Warchus, and features a book and lyrics by Rubin, music and lyrics by Dave Stewart (the Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (co-writer and producer of Alanis Mroissette’s “Jagged Little Pill”), and a Drama Desk Award-winning set design. “It was a labor of love for all of us,” says Rubin. “It was an exceptional experience, moment to moment, day to day.”

The musical closely follows the plot of the film. Sam is murdered as he and his girlfriend, Molly, are walking home one night, and he becomes a ghost trapped between this world and the next. He discovers that Molly is now in danger, and must find a way to communicate with her. Sam enlists the help of Oda Mae Brown, a phony psychic, to avenge his death and protect Molly.

Yes, there is a pottery scene, and, yes, “Unchained Melody” remains integral to the piece. “We all knew the song had to be there,” says Rubin. “And as time went on, Matthew began to feel that it needed to haunt the show. Each time it occurs, it has a different and often a deeper impact than before.”

Probably the biggest difference between the stage and screen versions of Ghost is that the songs enable the show to probe the characters’ inner lives, their hearts and souls, in a way the film did not. “I sat down with the movie script, and began to figure out where the songs would fit and what they should be,” says Rubin. Rubin had never written lyrics, but he decided to take them on and ended up with lyrics for 20 songs. Those lyrics needed music, and meetings were arranged with Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. “We started talking, and the three of us had a remarkable synergy. They were surprised when I told them that I’d written all these lyrics.”

To Rubin’s amazement, they began writing music. “I think Bruce was both shocked and happily surprised that Dave and I dived into the deep end and started conjuring melodies out of his words,” says Ballard. “In no time, we probably had the DNA of two or three songs. Bruce saw the way we flow, how we write from an intuitive place; we’re like two hands on a Ouija board, and it goes where it wants to go. Bruce was intrigued enough to let us get on the train with him.”

In the end, just two of Rubin’s songs remained in the show. But his imprint is on the entire score. “The intention of his lyrics, what he wanted the characters to be thinking and saying, was always clear,” says Ballard. “Sometimes what he wrote was too literal, and that’s because it was the first time he had written lyrics. But the lyrics gave us a huge amount of information, and that was a gift to us. Dave and I, as the poets, took that information and said things more elliptically. But a lot of Bruce’s phrases remain, and his intention is in every single line. He’s the creator of the universe – he mentioned to us early on how he was influenced by Shakespeare, by the ghost of Hamlet’s father – and it was clear that everything he had written was coming from a special place.”

Beginning with their first meeting and throughout the seven-year creative process, the songwriters peppered Rubin with questions. “The first time we met, I asked Bruce why Sam was so unhappy from the start,” says Ballard. “I knew we were going to have to write a song from his standpoint, and that was a mystery to me. And Bruce said, ‘This is a guy who believes that if he identifies the things that he loves most, the universe will take them away. So he can’t trust his happiness and success.’ I immediately felt I knew him a lot better, and that we were going to be able to get under his skin, and the skin of all the characters.”

The approach to Oda Mae was of great concern, as the artistic team was aware that they would be up against the memory of Whoopi Goldberg’s indelible, Academy Award-winning performance. “Oda Mae is so important, because she’s a fun character, and you’ve got a sad story, and you need some relief,” says Stewart. “I leapt on the idea of turning her into a kind of mixture of James Brown and Tina Turner, this fake psychic putting on a show. And her assistants could be her Ikettes. That allowed us to make routines with dance and over-the-top craziness. It also gave us the chance to do upbeat soul music mixed with gospel and a bit of New Orleans voodoo.”

Stewart adds, “I think the reason audiences connect to the show the way they do is because of its evergreen message. People forget that they’re here, now. They’re so busy, and get so wrapped up in ‘living,’ that they miss life itself.”

Rubin says he knew they had something special during the show’s engagement prior to its West End debut. “It was during the fourth week of the show,” he says, and I turned to the person next to me and said, ‘Are you enjoying this?’ And he said, ‘Well, it’s my sixth time.’ The show goes right into your veins. The movie does that as well, but it’s always reproducing the exact same image on the screen. The show changes, evolves. Every night, the performances are different. It’s live theater. Clearly, the ghosts wanted to be born again in another form.”

Last Day Tomorrow - DALLAS PERFORMING ARTS SAMPLER SERIES (DPASS)

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:45:18 +0000

Sample 3 to 7 Shows From Dallas’ Finest Performing Arts Institutions

Mayor Mike Rawlings joined with seven of the city’s finest performing arts institutions to announce a diverse package of performances that give people a taste of the performing arts. DPASS, Dallas Performing Arts Sampler Series, encourages people to sample from Broadway, theatre, opera, music and modern dance. [caption id="attachment_1501" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mayor Mike Rawlings at the DPASS Press Conference on December 2, 2013. Photo by Drew Eubank [/caption] “These packages are a creative way to share great performances with new audiences,” Mayor Rawlings said. “This collaboration among some of our city’s finest performing arts organizations shows what can be accomplished by working together.” Mayor Rawlings was the first person to purchase a DPASS. Immediately following the news conference, he bought five DPASS 7-packs with plans to give the complete series as gifts. [caption id="attachment_1500" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mayor Mike Rawlings and Darrell Jordan, 2013 DSM Chairman of the Board, purchasing their DPASS at the DPASS Press Conference on December 2, 2013. Photo by Drew Eubank[/caption] “Whether you’re a longtime arts patron, or someone who has never been to one of our shows, you can dip your toe into the arts or try out new art forms, and at a very affordable price,” said Roger Nanney, chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center Board of Directors. For a limited time, patrons can choose from the select shows each organization has chosen for the DPASS packages. Starting with a 3-pack minimum for $75, the patrons can add shows for $25 each, up to a 7-pack for $175. Fees are included. DPASS is on sale from Monday, December 2 through Wednesday, January 15. The participating organizations include the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center and TITAS. The mission behind the DPASS is to enrich the community through a diverse selection of arts that promotes, nurtures, and supports the performing arts in North Texas. “We each have a tremendous base of subscribers who regularly support what we do year in, year out,” said Darrell Jordan, former board chair for Dallas Summer Musicals. “But each of us here wants to reach out and get new people excited about the performances we present. This DPASS helps us do that.” [caption id="attachment_1499" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Darrell Jordan, 2013 DSM Chairman of the Board, speaking at the DPASS Press Conference on December 2, 2013.[/caption] DPASS Programming Selection: • The Barber of Seville (The Dallas Opera) • Bernadette Peters (Dallas Symphony Orchestra) • Cultural Awareness (Dallas Black Dance Theatre) • Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Dallas Summer Musicals) • The Fortress of Solitude (Dallas Theater Center) • Godspell (AT&T Performing Arts Center) • Motionhouse (TITAS) All DPASS packages must be purchased and the performances and dates chosen by January 15, 2014. DPASS packages can be purchased in person at the box office in the AT&T Performing Arts Center Information Center in front of the Winspear Opera House or by phone at 214-880-0202. The packages can be purchased through each organization’s box offices as well. Tickets will be mailed to the patron. Each organization has some restrictions. More information can be found at www.dpass.org. DPASS is the product of the Dallas Performing Arts Collaborative, which consists of five performing arts institutions: AT&T Performing Arts Center, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Theater Center. For the past year, these organizations, along with the City of Dallas and expert support from Dallas-based AT&T, have been exploring ways to reduce costs and improve service through collaboration, finding efficiencies and consolidating back-of-house operations where it makes sense. Progress has been made in areas of ticketing, calendar, health care and benefits, shared services and purchasing and artistic collaboration. More successes may be announced soon. “Perhaps the most important thing to come from this collaboration is a stronger working relationship between these organizations, focused on building both healthier arts organizations and more support for the arts in Dallas,” said AT&T Regional Vice President for External Affairs Holly Reed. “We are pleased to be supporting this discussion.” DPASS Details: Purchase Period: Monday, December 2 – Wednesday, January 15 Purchase Points:

By phone at 214-880-0202
In person at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Information Center, 2353 Flora Street (In front of the Winspear Opera House), Dallas, TX 75201
Or through the box offices of participating organizations.

More information: www.dpass.org. Package pricing: (3-pack minimum, fees included)

3-pack $75
4-pack $100
5-pack $125
6-pack $150
7-pack $175

DSM Hear Us Now - T-Loop Technology

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 15:46:33 +0000

DSM Hear Us Now!™ Dallas Summer Musicals Launches T-Loop Technology at the Music Hall at Fair Park!

DSM is the first entertainment venue in Dallas to implement this exciting hearing assist system.

(December 16, 2013 - Dallas, TX) Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the first live entertainment venue in Dallas to implement T Loop technology, the newest system for hearing assistance, at the Music Hall at Fair Park. T Loop is a technology which transmits the sound from the stage electro-magnetically. The electromagnetic signal is then picked up by the telecoil, or Tcoil, in the hearing aid or cochlear implant. “This will bring the better quality of T Loop to our patrons who have T Loop on their hearing aids,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM. “Part of our overall technology approach goes beyond T Loop by providing DSM’s Hear Us Now!™ sound enhancements to all hearing assist users, not just T Loop users. This ongoing effort encompasses not only the T Loop technology, but everything we’ve done to enhance the sound experience for everyone as well as additional dedicated processing for all hearing assist users.” Barry Epstein, honorary co-chair of Curtain Call 2014 with his wife, Paddy, is a member of the DSM 2013 Executive Committee, a longtime DSM supporter and is the go-to expert on the sound system improvements at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Barry is the recipient of an Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award, and in 2011, named a Distinguished Alumnus from Purdue University and has served as chairman of Purdue University’s Computer and Electrical Engineering Advisory Board. His bio is attached. “Over the past few years we have dramatically improved the sound and acoustics hearing system for everyone, not just the hard of hearing,” Barry said. “Additional improvements for the hearing assist systems have included syllable by syllable volume adjustment, enhancing the balance between music components and voice and we have added electronics to compensate for the building acoustics effect on hearing assist users. These are concepts not consistently used. We have done tremendous research to see what the advancements are that we can provide our hearing assist users. We have done them all.” DSM has better headsets especially suited for these new features. The headsets are high powered enough they could be used in the place of a hearing aid. Bud Porter, a former DSM Chairman of the Board, experienced the T Loop system first-hand at a recent performance. In a testimonial letter, he said, “The Dallas Summer Musicals T Loop system electronically transmits pure stage sound directly into the electronics of a user’s hearing aid. The electronic transmission directly into a hearing aid eliminates the typical acoustic problems (echoes, reverberation, noise) of conventional approaches. Then, since a hearing aid is customized to each user’s special hearing needs, this same custom tuning tailors the stage sound to achieve the best possible result. And, the results are fantastic. I can’t tell you how much more I enjoyed the show! I would like to share the good news of this new technology with as many people as possible so they can experience the same new pleasure that I am.” With the T Loop implementation, DSM is the first and only theater in Dallas to join the elite ranks of the Helen Beaumont Theater and Gershwin Theater, both in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

DSM Special Events and Community Outreach Media Contact: Sharon Adams ACPR 972.773.9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com

DSM Contact: Kate Finley Director of Development 214-413-3961 kfinley@dallassummermusicals.org

Ghost The Musical's Illusionist - An Interview with Paul Kieve

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:35:25 +0000

An Interview with Paul Kieve, Ghost The Musical’s Illusionist

After seeing Ghost The Musical on Broadway, the renowned illusionist David Copperfield tweeted, “It’s rare for me to experience wonder, but my friend Paul Kieve gave me that experience for an illusion he created.” Copperfield also thanked Kieve, telling him it was a long time since he’d had that feeling of awe.

Copperfield was not alone in his effusiveness. Teller, of Penn & Teller, wrote that “loads of the conjuring fooled me, indeed took my breath away.” The same is true of audiences.

Ghost The Musical is, of course, based on the phenomenally popular film written by Bruce Joel Rubin, who also wrote the book and some of the lyrics for the show. Most everyone is familiar with the plot: A young man named Sam is murdered, becomes a ghost, and must find a way to communicate to his girlfriend, Molly, that she is in danger. The musical is directed by Matthew Warchus, and features a score by Grammy Award-winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard.

The movie includes all sorts of eye-catching special effects. But in order for the illusions to most effectively astound and even move audiences, Kieve took a selective approach for the stage. The show’s most eye-popping moment is when Sam walks through a door – that’s the illusion that flabbergasted Copperfield – and Kieve didn’t want to diminish the effect by using variations of that trick earlier. “When you watch the movie, you don’t think twice about ghosts walking through things,” he says. “But when someone walks through a solid object onstage, it’s a big event. It’s kind of miraculous. So if Sam has already walked through every other object before he walks through the door, then walking through the door is not an event. So one of the first things I said to Matthew was, ‘We’ve got to decide where we’re going to play our aces.’”

They took out any illusions that seemed superfluous, but at the same time, Kieve offered suggestions for other places in the script where he thought he could create a magic moment. One occurs at the end, when Sam is taking revenge on the man responsible for his death. “Sam ends up beating him up and throwing things around the office,” says Kieve. “I thought it would be really delicious to make that kind of an invisible man scene. Obviously, Sam is always invisible to the characters onstage, but the audience sees him. I suggested to Matthew that it would be really great to have one moment where the audience gets the excitement and delight of not seeing Sam, but seeing his affect on objects, and seeing the bad guy get beaten up by his invisible hand.”

One of the most crucial and poignant scenes in the movie is the levitating penny, the moment when Molly believes that Sam is actually present. But after trying out that trick, Kieve replaced it with something that he thought would work more effectively onstage. “We couldn’t do the coin floating the same way as in the movie,’ he says, “because in the movie, you quickly switch points of view. One second you see Patrick Swayze balancing the coin on his finger, and the next time you see the coin hovering towards Demi Moore. For the show, we had to decide whether you see Sam or not; you can’t switch points of view. And without Sam there, it’s just a floating coin. Even though it looked great, I think people would be sitting there trying to figure out how we did it. At that point in the story, you don’t want the audience concerned about how the trick works. It’s probably the most important moment in the show, because it’s what the show is all about: believing. You want the pathos. So we replaced the coin with a letter, and without giving away what we do, it delivers an emotional punch first, and then gives you the magic.”

Kieve has won virtually every prestigious award bestowed by the magic community in his native England and in the United States. He was 10 years old when he became interested in magic, and began his professional career when he was 16. By the time he was in his early 20s, Kieve had been touring the globe with his magic act for four years. After playing the Theatre Royal Stratford East, he was invited by the company to work on its upcoming world premiere, The Invisible Man. The show opened in 1991, Kieve’s effects garnered considerable attention, and his theatrical career was launched. He has thus far worked on over 100 theatrical productions – shows (Pippin, Matilda the Musical), ballets, and operas – in the West End, on Broadway, and internationally, and was involved in some capacity on all the Harry Potter movies.

“I enjoy working in film, but I can’t compete with computer generated images,” he says. “You really get the impact of magic in the theater. When you see something happen before your eyes, it gives you a moment of astonishment. And magic is such a huge part of drama. I recently did Kenneth Branagh’s Macbeth, and as I was working on it, I realized the similarities and overlap of themes between Macbeth and Ghost: jealousy, greed, murder, and a ghost coming back to warn or haunt somebody. That’s why Ghost is such a terrific story: it connects to great narratives and great tragedies. Working on it was a wonderful opportunity to use magic in such an honorable way; the story elevates the magic and the magic elevates the story."

GHOST THE MUSICAL is coming to Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park January 28 - February 9! Get your tickets and more info at http://budurl.com/14Ghost.

Check out this video, giving you a sneak peek into the illusions in the show!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiV376O68HM&w=640&h=360]

Disney's The Little Mermaid Coming to Dallas Feb. 13-March 2!

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 19:57:15 +0000

This post has been updated on 2-6-14 at 10:00am.

Dallas, TX…Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID is making its North Texas debut at the Music Hall at Fair Park, produced by Michael A. Jenkins and Dallas Summer Musicals. The new production features a revamped script, additional songs, a new physical production and an entirely fresh interpretation of the musical. Directed by Glenn Casale with original choreography by Glenn John MacInnis, the all-star cast includes Eric Kunze (Prince Eric), Chelsea Morgan Stock (Ariel), Liz McCartney (Ursula), and Alan Mingo, Jr. (Sebastian). In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the enchanting 1989 Disney animated film and one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken and his long-time collaborator, the late Howard Ashman, it also contains new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. The book for the musical is by Pulitzer Prize® and Tony Award®-winning playwright Doug Wright, a native Dallasite. “The Dallas Summer Musicals version of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID has never been seen before,” said director Casale. “The script and the structure of the piece are entirely new. Ursula and Triton have new songs. It is a family adventure that you will want to share with your sons and daughters.” Glenn Casale (Director) helmed the Broadway production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby and filmed by A&E. Off Broadway he directed The Property Known as Garland, Dragapella at Studio 54. Internationally he directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Casale’s work has been seen throughout the U.S. in productions of Dr. Dolittle; Ballroom starring Tyne Daly and Charles Durning; Wrestlers starring Mark Harmon and George Clooney; From the Top starring Carol Burnett; Camelot starring Michael York; and The Prisoner of Second Avenue with Jason Alexander. He is artistic director for the California Musical Theater in Sacramento. John MacInnis (Choreographer) recently choreographed the European productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid now running in Holland, Russia and Japan. He also choreographed Beauty and the Beast in more than five European countries, including a touring production currently running in Spain. In 2011 he served as associate choreographer of the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon. Other credits include directing and choreographing the Olympic Medals Ceremonies at the 2002 and 2012 Winter Olympic Games. From 1999 to 2001, he directed and choreographed the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Craig Barna (Music Director) musically directed the Broadway productions of Peter and the Wolf, Peter Pan, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the national tours of Camelot, Cats, Singin’ in the Rain and Grease. Television credits include A&E’s Peter Pan, the 1999 Tony Awards, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The Today Show, and CBS This Morning. THE LITTLE MERMAID design team includes: Scenic design by Kenneth Foy. Foy’s credits include the Broadway productions of Candida starring Joanne Woodward, Macbeth with Nicol Williamson, the David Merrick production of Oh, Kay!, the 20^th anniversary production of Annie, An Evening with Jerry Herman, and the 1989 Tony Award-winning production of Gypsy directed by Arthur Laurents. Costume design by Amy Clark and Mark Koss. Clark’s design credits include Chaplin (Broadway), On Your Toes (Encores!), Show Boat (Goodspeed), and Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre). Koss designed costumes for California Musical Theater’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Producers. Lighting design by Charlie Morrison, whose credits include Groovaloo, Grinch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, Aida, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Gypsy, 42^nd Street, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, The Music Man, and many others. Sound design by Paper Mill Playhouse Resident Sound Designer Randy Hansen. Over the past 25 years he has designed hundreds of musicals, plays, and live events all over the country. Hair and wig design by Leah J. Loukas. Loukas recently designed hair and wigs for Paper Mill’s production of The Sound of Music. On Broadway, she designed Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, American Idiot, Irena’s Vow, and Shakespeare in the Park’s Into the Woods. Paul Rubin will serve as the flying sequence choreographer. His work was seen on Broadway in Wicked, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Curtains, The Pirate Queen, Frozen, The Green Bird, Kiss Me, Kate, Dance of the Vampires, Fiddler on the Roof and Saturday Night Fever. Preview performances of The Little Mermaid will be February 13-16, with official press opening night Tuesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m., with the last performance Sunday, March 2. There will be eight performances weekly. All evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., and matinee performances will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and selected Thursdays during the show’s run. Single tickets are priced from $25-$90, available at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768). DSM 2014 Season Shows continue with WE WILL ROCK YOU, March 4-16, 2014; THE WIZARD OF OZ, March 18-30, 2014; EVITA, April 15-27, 2014; MAMMA MIA!, June 3-15, 2014; and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. Mini Packs for any four DSM season shows, starting as low as $61, are also on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center. Mini packs are also available at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more get a 15% discount and priority seating; please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. Season sponsors and partners for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, The Original Cupcakery, and Texas Instruments. Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # # For media information, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

Rick Rogers named Chairman of the Board of DSM

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:30:40 +0000

DALLAS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE AND CIVIC LEADER RICK ROGERS NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS Dallas, TX… Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., (DSM), the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Richard L. (Rick) Rogers, a banking executive and civic leader, Chairman of the DSM Board of Directors for 2014. Rogers was installed as Board Chairman at DSM’s annual meeting in December 2013. Rogers, a native of Benton, Arkansas, graduated from the University of Arkansas where he was an Alcoa Scholar. He began his banking career in Dallas immediately after earning an MBA from SMU. Financing middle market companies has been the focus of his banking career, which includes tenure at three banks prior to joining Texas Capital Bank in early 2006. In his current role as Executive Vice President of Texas Capital Bank, Rogers focuses on financing rapidly growing owner managed companies. Rick has served on numerous nonprofit boards including the Dallas Summer Musicals. Rick has been married to wife Susan since shortly after graduating from SMU, and they have two children. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Texas Can! Academies and actively participated in their fund raising activities the past 14 years. A Life Member of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, he was a recipient of the John J. Hospers Award for 1998, 1999 and 2000 and top individual fund raiser for five years. DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins said, “We are very lucky to have an outstanding banking executive and business leader like Rick Rogers take the helm as Chairman of the Board of Dallas Summer Musicals for 2014. He combines an impressive record of 30 years of achievement in the banking industry with volunteer leadership in support of education and the arts, and has been a big supporter of DSM for some time.” New DSM Board Chairman Rogers said, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead this prestigious arts organization during its 74th season in 2014. DSM belongs to the people of Dallas, and we are here to safeguard it and make sure that it is passed along in good condition to the next generation. As a nonprofit, we work year-round to bring the best that Broadway has to offer to Dallas at an affordable ticket price. My first association with DSM was in 1963, when my parents traveled from Benton to see DSM’s production of West Side Story. DSM continues to have a large number of patrons from all over the southwest, including my home state of Arkansas. With the help of sponsors, subscribers, volunteers and the community at large, we will continue this tradition for many years in the future.” Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Steve Watson, with Dorsey Baskin serving as Chairman Elect. Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM Officers for 2014: Vice President – Audit, Brian Dill; Vice Presidents – Community Relations, Glenda Kemple and Nancy Natinsky; Vice President – Development, Ted Munselle; Vice President – Finance, Randy Wright; Vice Presidents – Marketing, Jay Fox and Jennifer Ryan; Vice President – Nominating, Steve Watson; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Mike Steindorf; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; and Treasurer, David Dienes. The 2014 executive committee members are Ruth Altshuler, Dorsey Baskin, Steven E. Beene, Ed Bratton, Brad E. Cheves, Karl Chiao, Diane Childress, Scott Collier, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Jerry Dilettuso, Barry Epstein, Patti Flowers, Jay Fox, Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary E. Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Sally Hoglund, Darrell Jordan, Sheffie Kadane III, Rebekah Kay, Glenda Kemple, Marvin Lane, Dr. John McCoy, Steven C. Metzger, Andy Meyercord, Ted Munselle, Nancy Natinsky, Craig G. Ongley, Hon. James R. Pitts, Gail Plummer, Mark Plunkett, James W. Porter, Jr., W. Scott Ragland, Holly Reeves, Richard L. Rogers, Jennifer Ryan, Kenneth D. Sandstad, Jane Schoen, Kip Sowden, Donald K. Spies, Michael C. Steindorf, Steven H. Stodghill, Paul A. Stotts, Steve B. Watson, and Randy Wright. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton, O. Paul Corley, Jr., Stanley D. Gardner, Rick Graham, Gary Griffith, Charles L. Gummer, Darrell Jordan, Steven C. Metzger, Bud Porter, Dick Quisenberry, Ken Sandstad, Donald K. Spies, Michael Steindorf, Paul A. Stotts, Steve Watson, and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen O. Paul Corley, Sr., J. Frank Miller III, Douglas Perry, and Charles Pistor are deceased. Now celebrating its 74th season, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest nonprofit theatre company in the nation. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSM MGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park. In addition, DSM has its own school of musical theatre, which provides quality education and outreach to the youth of Dallas. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call 214-421-5678. # # # For media information, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Music Hall Now Thru March 2!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:31:40 +0000

Originally posted on 2/21/14 at 8:30am Updated post on 2/28/14 at 9:45am

Hello DSM and The Little Mermaid fans! This is your go to post for all things The Little Mermaid! Check out our inside look into the show with behind the scenes footage! Also, check out the great interviews with the cast, reviews from the critics, and articles about the show. We'll be adding more as the show continues, so keep checking back here! INSIDE LOOK VIDEOS & PHOTOS Montage - http://youtu.be/nbHaUjQEvHY Colleen Coyle from WFAA learns to "swim"! - http://www.wfaa.com/video/featured-videos/Colleen-dives-into-The-Little-Mermaid-245998311.html Teresa Frosini from CBS learns to "swim" - http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/02/17/disneys-little-mermaid-opens-at-music-hall/ The Flash List: All about flying and interviews with Paul Rubin and Glenn Casale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX4r2xHd3dQ Production Photos from the Dallas Cast - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152359552678465.1073741839.23412623464&type=3 Behind the Scenes Interview photos - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152352782563465.1073741837.23412623464&type=3 Twitter Takeover by cast member Jessica Wockenfuss - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152357203713465.1073741838.23412623464&type=3 Special Appearance by Liz McCartney and Steve Blanchard - https://madmimi.com/mimio/f7f484/preview INTERVIEWS AND PERFORMANCES Bleeckie Streetie, the puppet interview with Chelsea Morgan Stock - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g611L5xMTx4 Good Morning Texas - http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/Disneys-The-Little-Mermaid-The-Musical-star-performs-246005741.html Midday WFAA - http://www.wfaa.com/entertainment/Star-of-Little-Mermaid-talks-about-coming-to-Dallas-stage-246034401.html KTXD - http://www.ktxdtv.com/story/24763104/the-little-mermaid Selig Film News - http://gadielkon.com/2014/02/little-mermaid-review-and-interview-with-alan-mingo-jr/#.UwtUBnTnbIU Stage Talk Interviews with Chelsea Morgan Stock and Paul Rubin - http://www.prophotography.com/stage/lm/index.html Bobbie Wygant - http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/entertainment/the-scene/Dallas-Little-Mermaid-Features-Show-Stopping-Flying/247286031 Midday WFAA Cooking Segment - http://www.wfaa.com/home/Recipe-jambalaya-247286701.html REVIEWS Opening Night Reviews from the Dallas Audience - http://youtu.be/lAYagJ6Zs3Y The Dallas Morning News, Nancy Churnin - http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/nancy-churnin/20140219-disneys-little-mermaid-swims-into-kids-hearts-at-dallas-summer-musicals.ece The Column, John Garcia - http://thecolumnawards.org/columnonline/review/02-20-2014_DISNEYS-THE-LITTLE-MERMAID/ Oh So Cynthia - http://www.ohsocynthia.com/2014/02/dsms-little-mermaid-is-no-damsel-in.html The Nerds Wife - http://thenerdswife.com/2014/02/little-mermaid-dallas-summer-musicals.html Mommys Wish List - http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/2014/02/disneys-little-mermaid-lights-up-dallas.html Momma DJane - http://mommadjane.com/disneys-mermaid-musical-dallas The Flash List - http://www.theflashlist.com/assets/venue/us/tx/neast/dallas/arts/perform/org/dallassummermusicals/2014/thelittlemermaid/fp/dallas.html Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Mark Lowry - http://www.dfw.com/2014/02/21/870587/stage-review-the-little-mermaid.html D Magazine, Lindsey Wilson - http://frontrow.dmagazine.com/2014/02/theater-review-does-little-mermaid-recall-disneys-broadway-glory/ Selig Film News - http://seligfilmnews.com/2014/02/little-mermaid-musical/#.UwzH6rT6RI1 Vanna Collins - http://www.vannacollins.com/#!The-Little-Mermaid-is-at-Dallas-Summer-Musicals-until-March-2nd/c112t/FF234B1D-5254-4455-9441-CB9C4EFFE955 Red Carpet Crash - http://www.redcarpetcrash.com/interview-little-mermaid-star-chelsea-morgan-brings-ariel-life-dallas-summer-musicals/ ARTICLES The Dallas Morning News, Nancy Churnin - http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/family-fun/20140213-disneys-new-little-mermaid-should-get-on-swimmingly-in-dallas.ece?nclick_check=1 Culture Map - http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/arts/02-12-14-little-mermaid-music-hall-fair-park-flying-swimming-magic/ The Flash List - http://theflashlist.com/dallas/events/2014/02/arts/usa-texas-dallas-music-hall-at-fair-park-dallas-summer-musicals-disneys-the-little-mermaid.html Keep checking back for more videos, articles, and much much more! -DSM Amanda

We Will Rock You Comes to Dallas March 4-16!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:46:26 +0000

BOHEMIANS, REJOICE!

QUEEN AND BEN ELTON’S WE WILL ROCK YOU RECEIVED AN UPGRADE FOR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH MORE LAUGHS, MORE TECHNOLOGY, AND MORE QUEEN SONGS TO LOVE… COMING TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS MARCH 4-16 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

DALLAS, TEXAS…The worldwide smash hit ‘rock theatrical,’ Queen and Ben Elton’s We Will Rock You, built around 24 of Queen’s biggest hits, opens at the Music Hall at Fair Park Tuesday, March 4, 2014. We Will Rock You is produced by Queen Theatrical Productions, Tribeca Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and NETworks Presentations. Single tickets for We Will Rock You are priced from $15-$85, on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Preston Royal Shopping Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For complete performance schedule or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. Mini Packs for any four or more DSM season shows, starting as low as $61, are also on sale at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center. Mini packs are also available at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more get a 15% discount and priority seating; please call 214-426-GROUP214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. This hilarious, multi-award-winning and record-breaking phenomenon is created by celebrated British comedian and writer Ben Elton (TV’s “Mr. Bean” and “The Young Ones”), and boasts a fantastic score of Queen’s biggest songs including “Another One Bites The Dust”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “We Are The Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and, of course, “We Will Rock You.” For the US production, writer and director Ben Elton has redrafted his original script to resonate with US audiences as well as reflect the cultural changes since he first penned the storyline. “Apart from addressing the broader social and technological changes, I also get the chance to update moments of topical humor,” says Elton. New additions to the show include the most current pop culture references (yes, there is a Miley Cyrus twerking joke!) and the addition of a new song, “You’re My Best Friend.” “There is a scene where our two leads run away and discuss their loneliness and isolation,” Elton says. “In 2013, it seemed ridiculous for two kids to discuss friendship without reference to Facebook. Young people now live in a world where it’s possible to have many virtual ‘friends’ and ‘likes’ and yet still be entirely isolated and alone. The new dialogue with this changed emphasis brought the song ‘You’re My Best Friend’ into the show.” Tribeca producer Jane Rosenthal says, “With Ben’s updates, it’s almost a new show. However, in some ways, it was already ahead of its time when it opened in 2002. The overarching theme is a demand for individualism and intimacy in a world where everything is downloadable.” Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor are musical supervisors to the show, taking an active role in casting the singer/actors and musicians for every production worldwide. The cast features Brian Justin Crum as Galileo, Ruby Lewis as Scaramouche, Jacqueline Arnold as Killer Queen, P.J. Griffith as Khashoggi, Ryan Knowles as Buddy, Erica Peck as Oz and Jared Zirilli as Britney. Rounding out the ensemble are Danny Balkwill, Samantha Berman, Bentley Black, Jessica Crouch, Saccha Dennis, Sam Digiuseppe, Suzanna Dupree, Daniel Greenberg, Stephen Hernandez, Nathan Keen, William Joseph Lewis, Brooke Morrison, Jennifer Mote, Katie Murphy, Jennifer Noble, Fred Odgaard, Patrick Ortiz, Jason Sermonia, Stephanie Sy and Kasey Walker. The We Will Rock You band includes Rick Hip-Flores (Musical Director/Conductor), Brandon Ethridge (Assistant Conductor/Keyboards), Emily Marshall (Keyboards), Tristan Avakian (Guitar), Bob Wegner (Guitar), Mike Cohen (Bass), David Stevens (Percussion) and Danny Young (Drums). The show is in its 12^th year at The Dominion in London’s West End, one of London Theatreland’s biggest theatres, making it the venue’s longest-running production ever. We Will Rock You is now officially the 9^th longest running show in the West End and was crowned the UK’s favorite show at the 2011 Olivier Awards, the UK equivalent of the Tony Awards, in a category voted entirely by members of the public. Outside of the UK, the show has now been seen in local productions in 17 countries, playing to an audience of over 15 million people. We Will Rock You takes place in a future age on a planet once called Earth that is now controlled by a mighty corporation. Globalization is complete. Individuality is taboo. Everyone watches the same movies, wears the same clothes and thinks the same thoughts. Music is generated by the corporation’s computers, rock music is unheard and all musical instruments are banned. The hope of breaking free rests with an unlikely resistance – an alliance of rebel Bohemians, waiting for a hero to lead the battle to bring the power of rock back to the people. “This show is all about legend,” says Ben Elton. “We take the legend of Queen and create our own fantastical story of young kids battling the mighty corporation who wants to suppress their individuality and their love of music. They need a hero who can help them in their struggle, and we have two – the dreamer Galileo, and the sassy rock chick Scaramouche. Guess who ends up winning?” “Creating the show with Ben was very much a three-way thing,” says Roger Taylor. “It was great because he was a pleasure to work with and because he has such a fertile mind. He never stops churning out ideas.” Brian May adds, “The amazing bonus is that Ben's script subtly works as a metaphor too. People definitely come out of the theatre feeling that in a strange way they now know us, Queen, and our struggle, our journey.” The original production of We Will Rock You is a Phil McIntyre Entertainment, Tribeca Theatrical Productions and Queen Theatrical Productions presentation. Book and direction by Ben Elton. Music and Music Supervision by Queen/Roger Taylor and Brian May. Musical staging and choreography by Arlene Phillips. Production Design by Mark Fisher and Lighting Design by Willie Williams. Sound by Bobby Aitken. Costumes by Tim Goodchild. Tracey Flye is the Associate Director and Associate Choreographer of the North American tour. Queen Theatrical Productions is a production entity created especially by the band’s parent company Queen Productions Ltd to handle the development and production of We Will Rock You. Headquartered in New York, Tribeca Theatrical Productions was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, the acclaimed producers of the Meet the Parents franchise, Analyze This and Wag the Dog. Through Tribeca Theatrical Productions, De Niro and Rosenthal co-produced, along with Queen Theatrical Productions and Phil McIntyre Entertainment, the theatrical musical We Will Rock You, based on the music of Queen. DSM season shows continue March 18-30 with THE WIZARD OF OZ; April 15-27 with EVITA; June 3-15 with MAMMA MIA!, and September 2-14 with NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # # For media information, including photos, interviews, or reviewer passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371469-363-7371.

The Wizard of Oz Comes to Dallas March 18-30!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:30:08 +0000

Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals Music Hall at Fair Park March 18-30, 2014

Dallas, TX….Dallas Summer Musicals is delighted to announce that the first North American tour of the new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ will play March 18-30 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Single tickets are priced from $20-$90, on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Mini packs for any four DSM shows are still on sale at The Box Office, or online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more get a 15% discount and priority seating; please call 214-426-GROUP214-426-GROUP (4768) or send email request to groups@dallassummermusicals.org. THE WIZARD OF OZ had its North American premiere on December 20, 2012 in Toronto, ON, at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, where it ran through August 18, 2013. Starring Danielle Wade, who was chosen by the Canadian public through CBC TV's reality show “Over The Rainbow” as Dorothy, the tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic. Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this new production contains all the beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs from the Oscar^®-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ will feature the same award-winning creative team from London and Toronto: Jeremy Sams (direction), Robert Jones (set and costume design), Arlene Phillips (choreography), Hugh Vanstone (lighting design), Mick Potter (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video/projection design), David Cullen (orchestrations) and Graham Hurman (musical supervision). Animals will be provided by William Berloni. The national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ is produced by Bill Kenwright, The Really Useful Group, David Mirvish, Troika Entertainment & Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts’ desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for all the family. Costumes are made with Swarovski Elements. www.wizardofozthemusical.com. DSM 2014 season shows continue with EVITA April 15-27, 2014; MAMMA MIA!, June 3-15, 2014; and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. Please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org for more information about Dallas Summer Musicals. # # # For media information, including photos, interviews or reviewer passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371469-363-7371.

The Continuing Evolution of WE WILL ROCK YOU!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:48:49 +0000

The Continuing Evolution of We Will Rock You By Ben Elton

Way back in the year 2000, I got the chance to write the book for a musical based around Queens greatest hits. Queen had a terrific sense of humour and also quite a futuristic vibe (Flash! Ah ah!). Also, a kind of legendary feel, so I came up with a comical Dystopian ‘legend’. Sword in the Stone meets the Matrix. Except the sword was a guitar. The story imagined a world where technology is sufficiently advanced to allow the media entertainment machine to download the latest homogenised pop music, games and videos directly to every consumer on Earth at once. Thus creating a bleak and lonely world where the most significant relationship an individual has is with their personal computer. Clearly events have rather overtaken what, at the time, still seemed a futuristic vision. The ‘wrist held’ communicators of our original design through which the kids downloaded their every influence are scarcely a futuristic idea now everyone has a smart phone. There was no American Idol in 2000, no YouTube and no social networking. For a story about the death of live rock through a Net empowered corporate media machine, these are not developments that are possible to ignore. Back then, I called my brave new world Planet Mall, imagining Earth as one vast shopping precinct. A couple of years ago, I changed the name to the iPlanet. Nobody goes shopping in real time anymore. And that’s the great and exiting privilege I have with We Will Rock You. Because it’s still running in London and now being produced around the world, I get the chance to update the script. For example, in the story, our two teen rebels are captured and the police plant tracking bugs in their heads. These days we’re all tracked; my wife can see where our three children are at all times by looking at ‘Find My Phone’. Most young people actually announce their whereabouts themselves on social networking. If the cops want to get someone they can just follow their tweets. Because of WWRY’s longevity, I get to play with these developments and work them into the script. We even get to use different songs when it feels right. Queen’s hit catalogue is too vast to include them all, so for instance, You’re My Best Friend is not in the London show. There is, however, a scene where our two leads run away and discuss their loneliness and isolation. They realize that they are both friendless. These days, with the arrival of social networking, loneliness and isolation have taken on a very different form. It tends to be experienced not so much in the corners of cafes and schoolrooms but via headphones and a tiny screen. In 2013, it seemed ridiculous for two kids to discuss friendship without reference to Facebook. Young people now live in a world where it’s possible to have many virtual ‘friends’ and ‘likes’ and yet still be entirely isolated and alone. Factoring this into the story has added a whole new layer in which real friendship in real time is viewed with suspicion as almost deviant behaviour. The new dialogue with this very changed emphasis brought the song You’re My Best Friend into the show. Likewise, the stunning outreach and ubiquity of Broadband which has occurred in the last decade has led me to introduce the rock anthem Now I’m Here (Now I’m There) into the evil Killer Queen’s repertoire. Apart from addressing the broader social and technological changes, I also get the chance to update moments of topical humour. In the story, a group of rebels called Bohemians fashion themselves on half forgotten Rock Gods and so the script is peppered with references to rock and pop. Britney Spears for instance is the subject of a gag, but during the time of her very public emotional problems I took it out because what had been a fun and supportive joke suddenly felt dark and wrong. Happily, Britney’s back in the show but during her absence, Posh Spice, Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson all took a bow. Clay Aiken was a presence in the early days but Idols come and go; he’s moved on and so have we. When I was looking at the script for our upcoming US tour, I put in a reference to Hannah Montana. Since then, Miley Cyrus has twerked her way to ubiquity and so the gag had to change. Twerking is in the show now of course, but I think it will have a short shelf life. In the long run, the show is a celebration of live music. Something well worth celebrating in a world where the majority of ‘live’ music is a semi lip synched dance show taking place in a vast arena. And which the audience experience through a sea of camera phones including their own. Long live rock n’ roll. WE WILL ROCK YOU is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals March 4-16, 2014 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Great seats still available! Visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/yzbh33?brand=dallasmusicals for tickets and http://dallassummermusicals.org/shows_wewillrockyou.shtm for more information!

We Will Rock You’s creators talk about the show

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:50:35 +0000

We Will Rock You’s creators talk about the show By Jeff Lunden

Long before We Will Rock You, the rock theatrical featuring the songs of the super group Queen, became an enormous hit in London and throughout the world, it was simply an idea tossed out by an Academy Award-winning actor. More than a dozen years ago, Robert De Niro, who’s also a film and theater producer, approached the surviving members of Queen about taking their catalogue and turning it into a musical. “I’m not a fan of musicals as a genre,” says drummer/songwriter Roger Taylor, “so, basically, it’s nothing I was ever interested in.” Still, he and the band’s two other members decided to give it a try. Guitarist/ songwriter Brian May says the original idea was to make the show a biography of the late Freddie Mercury, Queen’s flamboyant lead vocalist, who died of AIDS in 1991. “We began to get keen on the idea,” he explains. But though they did a couple of theatrical workshops, the piece didn’t gel. “We didn't really feel comfortable with portraying our lives and Freddie's life -- it just didn't seem to sit well.” Enter Ben Elton, a multi-hyphenate stand-up comic-novelist-playwright-television writer, whose resume includes musicals with Andrew Lloyd Webber and writing for the cult TV series, Blackadder. Taylor and May approached him about finding a way to put Queen’s songs into a theatrical setting. “The reason they wanted to speak with me,’ says Elton, is “because I principally work in comedy – comedy with content. Queen has always had an immense sense of fun, never taking themselves too seriously. You can see it in everything Freddie did and the costumes they wore. They were very aware of the sort of theatrical silliness of performance.” Elton was a Queen fan to begin with, and appreciates the band’s continued popularity. “Queen’s music is so ubiquitous and all-pervasive. It belongs to us all,” he says. But he “became a much bigger fan when I began to investigate the studio albums, after Queen approached me.” Elton says the band’s songs – which fill two greatest hits albums – are “extraordinary; even more eclectic and varied than you would know.” And, he adds, they have an “exuberance and sense of theater.” The playwright and director crafted a satirical story set three hundred years in the future, a “tongue-in-cheek legend.” Elton wove twenty of Queen’s biggest hits into the dystopian narrative, which features a hero and heroine named Galileo and Scaramouche, a villainous Killer Queen and a group of underground rebels called the Bohemians. “I had this image of a guitar buried in rock, a world where rock music is banned, where live rock and roll is seen as the enemy of kind of computer-recorded industrialized-pop that is downloaded directly into the kids’ bedrooms, without recourse to their individuality,” he says. “And so that was where I began; the idea of one last guitar with which rock and roll will be reborn, and live music will again be played on the planet.” The man who wielded Queen’s axe, guitarist Brian May, says integrating songs into the story turned out to be pretty easy: “Strangely enough, it wasn't that difficult to put the songs in there, because a lot of Queen stuff is about finding yourself, finding freedom, breaking away from where you are, breaking in to the world. You know, “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “I Want to Break Free.” It's kind of all there. Most of the songs are delivered intact without even any lyric changes.” May says they did change some of the lyrics to their hit, “Radio Ga Ga.” He says it “becomes a song about what’s happening in the future; everything’s Internet, everything’s advertising, the kids have no freedom to think for themselves.” We Will Rock You opened in London eleven years ago, and has played at the Dominion Theatre ever since. It’s even a bigger international hit. Productions have played in Australia, Japan, Spain, Russia, South Africa and Canada, among other places. A sit down version played in Las Vegas. Writer/director Ben Elton says the show appeals not only to fans of Queen, but to broad audiences. “You don’t need to be a Queen fan to love it,” he says, chuckling. “You do need to be a rock and roll fan – you do need to like your rock!” For the North American tour, Elton has made script changes, as he does for every production. He says he adapts things for the individual skills of the actors cast. And also, “because there’s a lot of reference to popular culture, a lot of fun to be had with the history of rock and roll and the grandiose sort of vanities of rock stars and their excesses,” he’s constantly updating the script. As they have since the beginning, band members Brian May and Roger Taylor are actively involved in selecting not just the actors, but the musicians who will accompany the tour. “We put together the band, you know it's a completely live show,” says Taylor. “And the band has to be very, very hot and we personally audition them. It's become a huge family of musicians, all of whom are great. I love those guitarists who can do stuff that I can't do! ” On occasion, May has been known to join the band for the show’s finale. It was May who dubbed We Will Rock You a “rock theatrical” and the moniker stuck. The show features the kind of lighting and video projections that are part and parcel of the kind of arena rock Queen used to play. For the first time ever, Freddie Mercury’s epic hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is performed live onstage. The original version featured 180 vocal overdubs – onstage the choral parts are sung live by the entire cast. By the end of the show, Elton says “We’ve got a triumvirate of songs, which are stadium pleasers, and you can’t NOT be on your feet!” Brian May says over eleven years: “It’s never happened that people didn’t get up and get into it. So, it’s a joy. I love watching it and I love being a part of it.” Drummer Roger Taylor says he’s pretty sure audiences for the North American tour will react the same way: “I just hope the audiences leave the theater with a feeling of having been uplifted, having laughed a lot and having been ROCKED.” WE WILL ROCK YOU is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals March 4-16, 2014 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Great seats still available! Visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/yzbh33?brand=dallasmusicals for tickets and http://dallassummermusicals.org/shows_wewillrockyou.shtm for more information!

We Will Rock You - Q&A with Queen

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 14:50:49 +0000

Q&A with Brian May (Queen guitarist) & Roger Taylor (Queen drummer), We Will Rock You musical supervisors

INTERVIEWER: I’m just curious. How did this idea come about? I understand Robert De Niro might’ve been the first person to mention it. ROGER TAYLOR: I think he was involved very early on in the idea of a musical. I think he felt it was something that might be interesting to put a toe in. Brian and myself and our manager, Jim [Beach], had thought for years that it would be an interesting thing to do; just another way to get our music to people. And we went through a lot of scripts and we decided in the end that we needed to make it more of a mixed comedy with the music. INTERVIEWER: Brian, I understand you were the person who referred to We Will Rock You as a rock theatrical. BRIAN MAY: Well, it is a musical, but we came into it as a body of people who really didn't relate that well to the genre of musical theater. We didn't want to put on something like My Fair Lady. This is rock and roll and it had to be something very different. So, we kind of acquainted ourselves with the rules and we gathered together a team around us which was partly built from rock and roll people and partly from theatrical people; it became this great kind of mélange. A little uncomfortable at first, but from that came the strength to create something new. So, we called it a rock theatrical. It's something which is very rock and roll, very organic, but at the same time has the values of the musical theater, which is that you encapsulate the whole story. INTERVIEWER: Well, of course Queen was – and is – this sort of enormous cultural phenomenon. How did you take these great songs, which are theatrical in and of themselves, and put it in to this context? I understand that you worked closely with Ben? BRIAN MAY: Yeah, Ben Elton is the key. We workshopped a couple of ideas and we didn't like it. We felt uncomfortable because it was autobiographical and we didn't really feel comfortable with portraying our lives and Freddie's lives -- it just didn't seem to sit well. Along came Ben Elton, who's an incredibly successful writer in England. Ben came up with this idea. He said okay, “this musical is not about the past, it's not about history, it's about the future, it's about the future of kids and how they feel and how they want to express themselves and how they're looking for that thing which is rock and roll. And that's the quest of the whole thing.” Strangely enough, it wasn't that difficult to put the songs in there because those songs are root bound. A lot of Queen stuff is about finding yourself, finding freedom, breaking away from where you are, breaking into the world. You know “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “I Want to Break Free.” It's kind of all there. INTERVIEWER: Queen had such a distinctive sound. It was not a three-chord rock and roll sound, and you had the voice of Freddie Mercury. And in We Will Rock You, we’re hearing it in all kinds of different voices, not just the two leads, one of whom is a girl. What was it like to adapt the music for different voices? ROGER TAYLOR: Well, it wasn’t as hard as it might sound. We have a lot of our trademark high harmonies in there, which are very suitable for female voices. And I think the melodies are strong. They’re good tunes, and anybody that can sing, can carry a good tune, you know? So, I think the transition in that sense wasn’t hard. It’s not meant to sound exactly like Queen, but it is meant to put our music over. INTERVIEWER: Now, you know, a lot of songwriters might be content to just say, “here are the songs; be my guest, go ahead.” But you guys have been so much a part of this. I wonder if you can talk about that aspect of being so involved with each production, which changes apparently in each place. BRIAN MAY: Yeah, it's a great thing, because it has not become a rubber stamp. Most musicals, from Les Miserables to all of the American musicals, are moved from city to city, but they are stamped with exactly the same moves, the same way of singing and same way of acting. We Will Rock You has never been that way and we encourage people to bring their own talents in to it and make it what they can make it. There’s a script, obviously, and certain things which need to happen but, within that, there's a lot of freedom for people to be themselves. INTERVIEWER: What are you looking for when you're auditioning musicians and actors? BRIAN MAY: Well, it's a big ask really and it was very difficult in the beginning to find people who understood what we were trying to do, because you're auditioning people who have been brought up in musical theater. They're taught how to project, how to make each note last the length of the syllable, and it's very much not what we wanted. We wanted people to be instinctive and to be, in a sense, rock stars. So, they have to be able to act, they have to be convincing, they have to be able to sing. A lot of them have to be able to dance as well. And the final big ask is you have to actually be a rock star! INTERVIEWER: I saw it five or six years ago. One of the things I loved about it, was it had a slamming band. How involved are you in getting that slamming band together? ROGER TAYLOR: It’s always been very important to us. If the band’s not right, it’s just not going to work. The band takes a bow at the end of the show. It’s an essential part of the show. So the band’s very important: we insist on a very high level of musicianship in the bands, and that’s why we pay such close attention to it. BRIAN MAY: The band has to be very, very hot and we personally audition them. It’s become a huge family of musicians, all of whom are great. I love those guitarists who can do stuff that I can't do! And they evolve and they organically become a band; not just a bunch of musicians in a pit reading dots. I'm incredibly proud of the We Will Rock You bands that we've put together so far. We have a great opportunity here to build a band which will tour the States and I already know some of them, which is great. INTERVIEWER: You guys have this great fan base. How does We Will Rock You play for the Queen fans and how does it play for people who are maybe not Queen fans? BRIAN MAY: It's a bit of each really. We were conscious that if we just played to Queen fans, even in England, it would be over in a couple of months. So, by and large, we're playing to people who are not Queen fans. And they have to be led gradually into what to expect and what they're going to feel.. The show is funny, so, in a sense, you get the impression it's very light and maybe inconsequential. But by halfway through the second act, you realize that something has happened, you know you are feeling something which you probably didn't expect to feel, which is quite an emotional thing. And I see it every time I go and watch the show. You see people suddenly experience this kind of emotional involvement and they become part of the show. That's what Queen were about anyway. The audience became more and more a part of what we did. It was a very interactive thing. So, We Will Rock You is consciously designed that way, it's engineered to make the audience feel encouraged to drive the show towards its conclusion. INTERVIEWER: Towards the end of the show, not to give anything anyway, the audience really does become part of it. BRIAN MAY: They do. It's a great feeling, I'm very proud of it. You know if an audience just sat there and watched it, then we would have failed. But it's never happened that people didn't get up and get into it. So, it's a joy, I love watching it and I love being a part of it. INTERVIEWER: What is it like to be at the back of the house? To hear your songs and hear how this works, but not actually be in it yourself? ROGER TAYLOR: I think we feel delighted, you know, to be of any relevance after all of these years! It’s a long time. But I think it’s the songs. We live on in the songs, and who would’ve thought, you know? It’s nice to be involved in something that’s not extinct! INTERVIEWER: When you started this journey on We Will Rock You, did you have any idea that 11 years on it would be done not only in London, but all around the world and finally here in North America? BRIAN MAY: No, we had no idea. Well, it's the same as Queen; I had no idea there was anything bigger than The Rainbow in the world – The Rainbow was this theater in North London where we thought that would be the pinnacle if we could actually play there. And suddenly we're playing Madison Square Garden – my God, that's the place where boxers do their thing – and suddenly we're surrounded by 20,000 people! We're in Tokyo, we're in Rio, we're playing football stadiums; it's all beyond our wildest dreams! And We Will Rock You has been the same; it started off as, “oh, wouldn't it be fun to put a theater production together?” It grew to being a global phenomenon. And I'm thrilled [because] nobody knew how far this could go. INTERVIEWER: I read somewhere that you did one hundred eighty tracks on “Bohemian Rhapsody” to stack all that stuff up. BRIAN MAY: There's probably a hundred eighty voices – three of us multiplied many times. INTERVIEWER: Unbelievable. I mean that's such a distinctive sound. What’s it like to hear this in other voices? BRIAN MAY: It's really good. You get opportunities to take it to a slightly different place and part of We Will Rock You is that ensemble singing thing, to create the sort of Queen sound. A lot of people don't realize we don't like having anything on tape or hard disk. So, in some cases, you'll see actors on stage and suddenly there'll be quite a big vocal sound but, they're all backstage singing into microphones and monitors and creating that stuff live. INTERVIEWER: And I understand that We Will Rock You was really the first time that Bohemian Rhapsody was done live. BRIAN MAY: Well, in total, yes. We suddenly have the opportunity, all these voices, we can do “Bohemian Rhapsody complete” with the opera section. INTERVIEWER: What do you think’s going to be exciting for audiences to discover here on this new tour? ROGER TAYLOR: I just hope the audiences leave the theater with a feeling of having been uplifted, having laughed a lot, and having been ROCKED!

WE WILL ROCK YOU is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals March 4-16, 2014 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Great seats still available! Visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/yzbh33?brand=dallasmusicals for tickets and http://dallassummermusicals.org/shows_wewillrockyou.shtm for more information!

Curtain Call 2014 Broadway Bound! - DSM's Annual Gala

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 13:50:07 +0000

Curtain Call 2014 Broadway Bound! Features Broadway Star Vivian Reed benefiting Dallas Summer Musicals and their Education and Outreach Programs

DSM Special Events and Announcements Media Contact: Sharon Adams Adams Communications Public Relations 972-773-9289972-773-9289 Adamscomm1@aol.com DSM Contact: Kate Finley Director of Development 214-413-3961214-413-3961 kfinley@dallassummermusicals.org

(February 18, 2014 – Dallas, TX) Slated for Friday, May 2^nd, Curtain Call Broadway Bound! will take place at the Music Hall at Fair Park, chaired by Holly and Brad Reeves with honorary chairs Paddy and Barry Epstein. As DSM’s premier fundraiser of the year, Curtain Call is an exciting evening of gourmet delights, inspiration and entertainment! The evening begins as patrons and sponsors enter the Music Hall strolling along the red carpet and are greeted with fanciful and over-the-top decorations corresponding with the event’s theme. Guests enjoy the VIP cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a gourmet seated dinner prepared by M Dining at the Music Hall. Following dinner, everyone enters the theatre for a live auction and private concert featuring award winning Broadway performer Vivian Reed and performances from the 3rd Annual High School Musical Theatre Award winners Best Actor and Best Actress before they begin their journey to New York and the national competition, the Jimmy Nederlander Awards. The show also features the Best Musical Award winners, all in musical vignettes arranged by Michael Moricz and choreographed by Michael Tapley, two of Broadway’s best! Join us for a spectacular performance by the future stars of Broadway! Proceeds support Dallas Summer Musicals' mission to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas and provide for children's education and outreach programs. Sponsors’ support will bring the magic of musical theater to so many children who otherwise would never experience it — magic created through programs such as DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, Seats for Kids, DSM Academy of Performing Arts, Kid’s Club and Stage Right. Dallas Summer Musicals season sponsors are American Airlines, Dallas Morning News, WFAA Channel 8 and Texas Instruments. DSM Season partners are The Original Cupcakery and The Frontiers of Flight Museum. Curtain Call sponsors are Modern Luxury Dallas, Park Cities News/The Waters Family; Kick-Off party sponsor, SĒR Steak + Spirits; Invitations sponsor, Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians. Sponsorships and underwriting available starting at $2,500. Individual gala event tickets are $350 each and include all event benefits: Cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and concert. An Entertainment ticket is available for $50 for the concert only, including balcony seating and two drink tickets. All Curtain Call underwriting opportunities and benefits are available through the web site at: http://www.curtaincallgala.org For additional information, contact the Development Office at DSM, 214-413-3957214-413-3957 and email at curtaincall@dallassummermusicals.org

About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. Visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards: Patterned after Broadway’s Tony Awards^®, the event celebrates the power of the Arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Show business veterans and community celebrities come together to spotlight the achievements of high school students and their school’s musical theatre programs. DSM awards scholarships to a number of outstanding and deserving participants. Students are nominated by their teachers and judged by a separate scholarship committee.

DSM Academy of Performing Arts: The first component of Dallas Summer Musicals’ outreach initiatives, DSM Academy of Performing Arts, extends the legacy of former DSM Managing Director Tom Hughes’ vision, to create the broadest possible avenue for dramatic expression within our community. In 1999, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts was established to provide training for students ages 7 – adult, as well as continuing education for adults in theater arts. Professional instruction helps students integrate the disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting into the unique genre of musical theater. To ensure access and availability, the school offers limited scholarships to promising students with limited financial resources. Instruction includes classes, workshops and performance. When possible, workshops are provided by cast members of productions playing at Dallas Summer Musicals.

Seats for Kids: Created in 2003 to provide a meaningful theater arts experience to low-income, at-risk and special needs children, Seats for Kids serves approximately 2,000 children each year. Nonprofit youth agencies and Title 1 schools are eligible to participate in the program. DSM provides children, their teachers and chaperones with free tickets as well as a professionally drafted study guide to support attending the performance.

Kids Club: This free membership program for kids was created to develop tomorrow’s musical theater audience. Through exciting activities, special events, backstage tours and informational exchanges about shows included in the Kids Club membership, children gain an interest, knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts.

Stage Right: In 2005, the Stage Right program to introduce at-risk youth ages 12-15 to arts and cultural events, was created in partnership with the Dallas Police Department. Together, DSM and DPD are “Raising the curtain for education and spotlighting the appreciation of the arts through experience and positive quality lifestyles.” The students entering the program are recommended by Dallas area teachers and counselors and other youth programs including Boys & Girls Clubs, Girls Inc. and Dallas Recreation Centers as part of their ongoing efforts to keep students from joining gangs, getting involved in drugs and crime, or engaging in other activities that prevent their enjoying success in school. Stage Right, with educational support from the Phoenix House, seeks to raise awareness of the arts, increase appreciation for different lifestyles and also increase self-esteem.

The public can play a part in bringing the Best of Broadway to the young people in our community!

Charitable contributions are vital to the sustainability of these initiatives at Dallas Summer Musicals. Please assist DSM in its mission to build awareness for the enjoyment and educational values of musical theater as it does so through its ongoing outreach programs. For more information including sponsorships, booking or program details, please contact the DSM Development Department at 214.413.3957214.413.3957 or development@dallassummermuscals.org

We Will Rock You The Musical in Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 21:05:29 +0000

Originally posted on 3/11/14 at 4:05pm Updated on 3/14/14 at 1:05pm

Hello DSM and WE WILL ROCK YOU fans! This is your go to post for all things WE WILL ROCK YOU! Check out our inside look into the show with behind the scenes footage! Also, check out the great interviews with the cast, reviews from the critics, and articles about the show. We’ll be adding more as the show continues, so keep checking back here!

Inside Look Videos and Photos Ruby Lewis Photo Exclusive on Playbill.com - http://www.playbill.com/news/article/186790-PHOTO-EXCLUSIVE-Scaramouche-Scaramouche-On-the-Road-With-We-Will-Rock-You-Leading-Lady-Ruby-Lewis?tsrc=hph Sneak Peek Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak0lKa8h5FA The Cast of WE WILL ROCK YOU in Dallas Photo Album - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152388497178465.1073741841.23412623464&type=3 Interviews and Performances Interview with Ruby Lewis by Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News - http://artsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/we-will-rock-you-star-ruby-lewis-talks-about-rocking-the-music-hall-at-fair-park.html/ The Broadcast TV Performance with Brian Justin Crum and Ruby Lewis - http://www.ktxdtv.com/story/24892146/we-will-rock-you Interview with Ryan Knowles for StageTalk.net - http://www.prophotography.com/stage/WWRY/index.html Performance on Good Morning Texas with with Brian Justin Crum and Ruby Lewis - http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/We-Will-Rock-You-cast-rocks-the-GMT-stage-248856711.html Interview with Erika Peck by Gadi Elkon - http://gadielkon.com/2014/03/will-rock-dallas-summer-musicals-interview-erika-peck-oz/#.Ux9zx7Q_wik Interview with P.J. Griffith by TheaterJones - http://www.theaterjones.com/ntx/features/20140303103358/2014-03-04/QA-PJ-Griffith Reviews Opening Night Video - http://youtu.be/Z1EVcHW5Opg Kory with CBS Radio - KVIL - http://kvil.cbslocal.com/2014/03/10/korys-review-we-will-rock-you-dallas-summer-musicals/ John Garcia with The Column Online - http://thecolumnawards.org/columnonline/review/03-05-2014_WE-WILL-ROCK-YOU/ Thor Christensen with The Dallas Morning News - http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/arts/headlines/20140305-review-jukebox-musical-we-will-rock-you-nails-queens-camp-and-swagger-in-dallas-premiere.ece Punch Saw with Fort Worth Star Telegram - http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/03/05/5623985/stage-review-we-will-rock-you.html Gary Murray with Selig Film News - http://seligfilmnews.com/2014/03/will-rock/#.Ux9zs7Q_wik Shari Goldstein Stern with White Rock Lake Weekly - http://whiterocklakeweekly.com/view/full_story/24703341/article-THEATER-Queen-s-music-transforms-DSM-s-rockin--stage Dallas Voice - http://www.dallasvoice.com/consciences-queen-10169104.html Keep checking back for more videos, articles, and much much more! -DSM Amanda

The Wizard of Oz in Dallas March 18-30!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:03:11 +0000

Originally posted on March 24, 2014 at 10:03am Updated post on April 2, 2014 at 11:15am

Hello DSM fans and fellow Ozians! This is your go to post for all things THE WIZARD OF OZ! Check out our inside look into the show with behind the scenes footage! Also, check out the great interviews with the cast, reviews from the critics, and articles about the show.

Inside Look Videos and Photos For photos of the cast around Dallas, special events, inside look, and more, click here! Click here to see a sneak peek of the show! "Nigel The Rescue Dog is the Ultimate Toto in 'The Wizard of Oz'" by Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News - Click here for article. "'Wizard of Oz' Star Knows There's No Place Like Home." by Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News - Click here for article. Interviews and Performances Interview with David A. Rogers, the show's conductor and a Dallas native by TheaterJones.com - Click here for full interview. Danielle Wade (Dorothy) performs "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on WFAA Good Morning Texas - Click here for performance. Interview with David A. Rogers, the show's conductor and a Dallas native by CBS 11's Teresa Frosini - Click here for full interview. Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (The Wicked Witch of the West) performs "Red Shoe Blues" on FOX4 Good Day - Click here for performance. Interview with Danielle Wade (Dorothy) on The Broadcast TV with Amy Kushnir - Click here for interview. Interview with Danielle Wade (Dorothy) on StageTalk.net - Click here for interview. Reviews Click here to see what the Dallas audience had to say about Opening Night! "A spectacular ‘Wizard’ with a gentle heart at Dallas Summer Musicals" by Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News - Click here for review. "No Place Like Home" by Cheryl Callon with TheaterJones.com - Click here for review. "Musical Theatre Review: The Wizard of Oz" by Sherri Tilley with The Flash List - Click here for review. "'The Wizard of Oz' Is A Musical Joy to Behold" by James McDonald with Red Carpet Crash - Click here for review. "'The Wizard of Oz-The Musical'" by Gary Murray with Selig Film News - Click here for review. The Wizard of Oz was on stage at the Music Hall at Fair Park March 18-30, 2014. -DSM Amanda

Evita Returns to Dallas April 15 - 27!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:19:05 +0000

NATIONAL TOUR OF TIM RICE’S AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S

EVITA

IS COMING TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT APRIL 15-27 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

Dallas, TX…Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece, Tony Award®-winning musical EVITA. Dallas Summer Musicals presents EVITA April 15-27, 2014 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Single tickets are priced from $20-$90, available at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center #542 in Dallas, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount and priority seating. Please call 214-426-GROUP214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, this is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical, since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago. The New York Post said “The wait was worth it: packed with memorable tunes, EVITA is a MODERN MASTERPIECE!” Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Adored by her people as a champion for the poor, she became one of the most powerful women in the world — while her greed, outsized ambition and fragile health made her one of the most tragic. EVITA tells Eva's passionate and unforgettable true story, and features some of theater's most beautiful songs, including "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying, Adored." Produced by Hal Luftig, Scott Sanders and Troika Entertainment, the creative team includes tour director Seth Sklar-Heyn, tour choreographer Chris Bailey, Tony Award-winning scenic and costume designer Christopher Oram, Tony Award-winning lighting designer Neil Austin, Olivier Award-winning sound designer Mick Potter, wig and hair designer Richard Mawbey, projection designer Zachary Borovay, and music supervisor Kristen Blodgette, music director/conductor William Waldrop, orchestrations are by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Cullen, and dance arrangements are by David Chase. Josh Young who is performing the role of "Che" in the current national tour, is playing the part as it was originally written, as did his predecessor on Broadway. The narrating role of "Che" is reverted to the way it was conceived for the concept album - as an 'everyman' of the lower/working class, serving as the voice of the people, not Che Guevara. Using Che Guevara as inspiration for the role was a choice made by Hal Prince when he staged the original production. EVITA stars Caroline Bowman as Eva Peron, Tony-Award nominee Josh Young as Che and Sean McLaughlin as Juan Peron. The cast also features Desi Oakley as the alternate for Eva Peron, Christopher Johnstone as Magaldi and Krystina Alabado as the Mistress. EVITA, written by Tim Rice, with a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford. DSM 2014 season shows continue with MAMMA MIA!, June 3-15, 2014; and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14, 2014. Please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org for a complete schedule of performances or more information about Dallas Summer Musicals. # # # For media information, including photos, interviews or reviewer passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371469-363-7371.

Spiritual Leader of the Nation: Eva ‘Evita’ Perón of Argentina

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 21:25:19 +0000

Spiritual Leader of the Nation: Eva ‘Evita’ Perón of Argentina

Officially María Eva Duarte de Perón, known as Eva Perón and affectionately nicknamed Evita, this pivotal Argentinian figure not only won her nation’s heart in her short lifetime, but also had a major impact on the country’s politics. With the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical Evita touring North America in 2013, discover the life of the ‘spiritual leader of Argentina’. Born in 1919, Evita grew up in rural Argentina in a village called Los Toldos (where there is now a museum situated in the house of her birth). Her mother was the mistress of Juan Duarte and Evita was the youngest of five children from this relationship. Eventually her father abandoned this second family for his legal one, leaving Evita’s mother in financial hardships. Eager to make a name and fortune for herself, Evita left for Buenos Aries at the age of 15. Evita is celebrated in Argentina for her passion and commitment towards the working class in Argentinian politics. Although she youthfully dreamed of becoming an actress, it was meeting her future husband, Juan Perón, which would change the direction of her life. At the time of their meeting Juan was the Secretary of Labour and Social Welfare, and aspired to become the President. Marrying in 1945, the two worked together to campaign for Juan’s presidency and were immensely popular with the working class because of their focus on workers’ rights and welfare. Many elite figures were reportedly threatened by this, and consequentially sanctioned Juan’s arrest before the election. However, after hundreds of thousands of protestors gathered in front of the Government house demanding his release, he was soon freed, allowing him to gain victory in the Presidential Election of 1946.

Although holding no official political title other than First Lady, Evita was reportedly the Secretary of Labour ‘in everything but name’. She actively and passionately campaigned for workers’ rights, social welfare and higher wages, and was often made public appearances in places such as hospitals and factories, gaining further support. She was also renowned for her charity work, and even started her own organization called the Eva Perón Foundation, which helped children from disadvantaged backgrounds gain scholarships and financial assistance. On top of this, Evita was a supporter of women’s rights, and she is considered to have been influential in the gaining of women’s suffrage in 1947. Evita created the Female Peronist Party, further helping women become more active in politics in Argentina. With incredible popularity and the nation behind her, Evita considered running for Vice President under her husband in the 1952 elections. This caused tremendous political controversy, with the Argentinian military and the upper class officials outraged at the proposal, while her vast number of supporters literally cheered in their millions at a mass rally, encouraging her to officialise her candidacy. Several days after this rally Evita announced over the radio that she would not run as Vice President. Unknown to her at the time, Evita had advanced cervical cancer and feeling her health degenerating she was unsure whether she had the endurance for the campaign. Instead she continued to support her husband, helping him secure his re-election in June 1952. A little over a month later, she passed away and the country mourned her death. In a ceremony after this sad day, Evita was given the official title, ‘Spiritual Leader of the Nation’.

Evita inspired and changed a nation, and the love held towards her can still be felt in Argentina. In an attempt to capture this story and share it with the world, many artists and writers have used Evita as the subject of their work. One such project was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1976 Broadway Evita. With the lyrics written by Tim Rice, this musical was an international success and songs such as ‘Don’t Cry for me Argentina’ have become a part of musical history. This production was recently revived in Broadway in 2012, and has commenced a North American Tour throughout 2013. Re-exploring the life and influence of this national icon and receiving critical acclaim, Evita is ensuring that the world remembers the passion of Eva Perón, a woman who will forever be remembered as the spiritual leader of Argentina. EVITA is live on stage presented by Dallas Summer Musicals April 15-27 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Watch a sneak peek by clicking here! For more information about the show and to get tickets, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. Article By Andrew Kingsford-Smith

Evita and Agentine History

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:25:34 +0000

The classic and iconic musical EVITA is on stage now thru April 27th! Are you coming to see the show? Great! Here are some historical facts for you to take a look at before you come and see the show. I love how this show is so rich in history!

EVITA and ARGENTINE HISTORY

BUENOS AIRES The name of Argentina’s capital city translates as “Fair Winds.” Not only is it the largest city and port in Argentina, but one of the largest cities in the world. Strongly influenced by European culture, it is often referred to as the Paris of South America and is renowned for its sophistication and nightlife. The city was federalized in the 19th century and removed from the Buenos Aires province. At the same time the city limits were extended to absorb the former towns of Belgrano and Flores. In changes to the country’s constitution in 1994 Buenos Aires was declared an autonomous city. The population of the greater Buenos Aires area was recently estimated at eleven million people. It would have been about two million when Eva arrived in 1935. LUNA PARK Eva and Perón met at a charity event held in aid of Perón’s Relief Fund to benefit the thousands of San Juan earthquake victims. The final concert of a fundraising “artistic festival” was held at the Luna Park Stadium, Buenos Aires on January 22, 1944 and Perón invited many film and radio stars to appear, including Eva. Having met, they spent most of the night together and left the festivities together in the early hours. Scandalously, they moved in together soon after and were married the following year. Eva later recalled the gala as her “marvelous day.” TANGO The national dance of Argentina, Tango was originally introduced by Spanish settlers from Spain and Morocco. The Argentinean tango originated around 1880 in the bars, gambling houses and brothels on the periphery of Buenos Aires. The distinctive style may have grown from the gauchos visiting brothels. The close contact was shocking in an age when social dancing involved group patterns and certainly no closed holds between man and woman. Argentina developed very fast between 1880 and 1930 and was one of the ten richest nations in the world. The nobility all had second homes in Europe. Holding Argentinean parties to impress their foreign neighbors, the tango became the hit of Parisian salons and gained respectability in Rome and Berlin. In London, Tango Teas were enormously popular and the craze reached America too, helped by the onscreen presence of Rudolph Valentino in the 1920s. Now so popular with the upper classes in Europe, the dance returned to its homeland and was reclaimed by the people of Argentina as one of their national treasures. THE WEALTHY FEW Argentinean economic development during the 20th century was rapid due to foreign investment, mainly from Great Britain. Argentina was a British colony in all but name, with British railways, trams, banks, telephones, water systems, clubs, newspapers and sports. There was even a branch of the famous department store Harrods. The country was rich but all the wealth was in the hands of very few. DESCAMISADOS The literal translation of Descamisados is “shirtless ones.” While the well-to-do had coined the phrase as an insult to the workers, Eva adopted the phrase for the lower classes, whose support she craved, and turned it into a badge of honor. THE CASA ROSADA The Casa Rosada is the official Presidential Palace and Government Headquarters. It is situated on the Eastern side of the Plaza de Mayo at the heart of Buenos Aires. The name (translated as Pink House or Rosy Palace) is derived from the shocking pink color of the external walls. Dating back to the foundation of the city, it is constructed on the site of a fortress, post office and customs house. It was remodelled in 1776 when Buenos Aires became the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. The current building dates from 1873 and was built and painted during the Presidency of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. The famous balcony is traditionally used to address the population gathered in the huge square facing it. As well as Eva, General Galtieri, Diego Maradona and Pope John Paul II have all been seen on the balcony in worldwide media coverage. In the 1996 film of Evita, Madonna sang “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” on the real balcony. It is believed that Sarmiento chose the shocking pink color of the external walls in an attempt to defuse tension between the two opposing political parties of the time which were represented by the colors red and white. The original color was more likely to have been the result of the cow or bull’s blood which was mixed into the paint in order to help preserve the building’s plaster from the humid climate. RAINBOW TOUR As Argentina took its place in the United Nations after the war, Eva Perón embarked on a much-publicized tour of Europe in 1947 as part of a public relations exercise. She met dignitaries in a number of countries including Spain, Italy and France and the whole event was engineered as a nonpolitical tour without Juan Perón at her side. She was well-received in Spain, but the reception in Italy was less effusive. She suffered exhaustion during the tour which was not helped when the British King, George VI, refused to give her the honor of a state visit. Eva did not go to the United Kingdom and a visit to Switzerland went particularly badly (opposition rumors in Argentina even suggested the whole tour was planned to deposit funds in a Swiss bank account). She soon returned home with enough positive press behind her, and the “Rainbow Tour” became part of the iconography that surrounds her to this day. THE SOCIAL AID FOUNDATION Eva Perón’s Social Aid Foundation was established to eclipse every other charity in Argentina so that Eva could be revenged on the aristocratic officials of the Society of the Ladies of Benevolence. They had snubbed her by not offering her the role of Honorary President, as was the custom for the President’s wife. By the year of her death the Foundation’s income was equal to one third of the entire Argentine national budget (in the region of 100 million dollars). It paid no tax, received one fifth of the profits from the national lottery, and businesses and the stock exchange were obliged to make donations. Hospitals and schools were built but there were occasions where money was literally thrown in the air or people applied for welfare by lottery, hoping to have their names selected by Eva’s aides. No financial records were kept. EVITA is on stage now thru April 27th at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Get your tickets now by clicking here! See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

Evita - A Historical Background for Characters

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 23:38:02 +0000

Earlier this week, I did a blog post about the lady herself, Eva Peron! (Missed it? Click here!) Now I wanted to share a little history about some of the other real-life characters in EVITA, on stage now thru April 27th at the Music Hall at Fair Park! JUAN PERÓN Ambitious military figure who is initially ousted from power and then elected President of Argentina in 1946 and creates a powerful government administration with Evita’s help. Juan Perón’s father was of Sardinian descent and the real family name was Peróni. His formative years were spent on a sheep ranch in the remote southern region of Patagonia. At school he was more successful on the athletics field than in the classroom and he gained admission to the Colegio Militar (Military College) at the age of 16 in 1911. He continued to excel in sports, graduated two years later as a second lieutenant and progressed to Sargento Cabral Officers’ School. Leaving there as Captain Perón, he entered the Escuela Superior de Guerra (Superior War School) where he became Professor of Military History and was appointed to the War Ministry. He wrote several military volumes and was acknowledged as an expert on matters martial. In 1936 he was appointed military attache in Chile and his next posting took him to Italy. He absorbed the politics of Mussolini and visited other European states, including Hitler’s Germany. Returning to Argentina and its corrupt regime, Perón believed that only military rule could bring glory back to Argentina. He was instrumental in founding the Grupo de Oficiales Unidos (Group of United Officers) whose policy was simply to establish a military dictatorship. They met little resistance and staged a coup in 1943. Perón became Chief of the Secretariat of the War Ministry – an important man who could help Eva continue to succeed under the new regime. Perón’s military experience made him painfully aware that he could not survive in office with military backing alone. If his political ambitions were to be realized he needed the support of the majority – the labor forces of Argentina. With this in mind, he obtained the position of Director of the National Labor Department which in 1943 was elevated to become the Secretariat of Labor and Public Welfare. The 1944 earthquake disaster in San Juan provided him with a further boost to his popularity as he set up a Relief Fund and made sure that the press coverage concentrated on his caring side. CHE Our narrator, Che is the charismatic, passionate, hopeful yet cynical guide through the events of Evita’s life. As he narrates, he is present in many scenes, playing different “roles” to provide insight, criticism and commentary from a variety of perspectives. In Argentina people use the expression “che” in the way that English speakers use “hey” to attract someone’s attention. Argentineans often begin conversations with “Che (name) how are you etc…” As a term of affection it can also be used in the way we might say chum or buddy. Che therefore seemed an appropriate name for the narrator character of Evita. During discussions about the original 1978 production of Evita, the character evolved into a representation of the revolutionary Che Guevara although he would never actually have met Eva Perón. For this new production the creative team have returned the narrator figure’s anonymous status. As an everyman character Che is able to comment more naturally, and directly, on the developments in Eva’s life and career. MAGALDI Tango musician who is Evita’s first love interest. He is her “ticket” from small town life to the excitement and possibility of Buenos Aires. THE MISTRESS Juan Perón’s lover who Evita sends packing in order to take her place center stage in Perón’s life. It is a fact that when Perón began his relationship with Eva, the mistress she usurped was just 16 years old and he would occasionally pass her off as his daughter. Rumors of his sexual proclivity may have been exaggerated, but he did seem to like his women young. Eva was 24 years his junior and his third wife was 35 years younger than him. ENSEMBLE • THE PEOPLE The ensemble represents the variety of people of Argentina as Evita makes her rise to power and prestige, most dramatically as The Descamisados - “shirtless ones.” EVITA is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park thru April 27th! Click here for details and tickets. See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

Things to Know About The Revival of EVITA

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:42:39 +0000

The benefits of reviving a show on Broadway is that it can be reinvented and refreshed as if it is a new story being told. Of course, with EVITA, this is not only a musical that has had it's place in history, but it is one that is full and rich with real-life history. Here are some things to know about the changes and updates that have been made to this iconic and classic musical. FOCUS ON AUTHENTICITY The creative team has done extensive research about Argentina and the Peróns to present a more authentic look at the story, while still paying homage to the iconic moments. When ALW and Tim Rice wrote Evita in the 1970s, only Rice had visited Argentina, and there wasn’t as much accessible information about the Peróns outside of Argentina as there is today. In the 1970s, Latin culture was less familiar to the general English and American public than it is now so the musical was written with an admittedly “Anglo” perspective of Argentine culture for an audience that wouldn’t have had a reference. ALW and David Cullen have re-orchestrated the show to give it a more authentic, Latin sound. Rob Ashford’s choreography reflects a more Argentinean style by incorporating tango. Furthermore, this production features more dance than any of its predecessors as dance is an inherent and important part of the Argentine culture. The design is inspired by Argentine architecture. NEW SONG There is a new song added to the score since the original production: Oscar-winning “You Must Love Me” - written for the 1996 film and was included in the ‘06 London production. CHE In this production, the narrating role of Che is as it was written for the original concept album – an “everyman” (in Argentina, “che” means “guy”) that serves as the voice of the people; not Che Guevara. Using Che Guevara as inspiration for the role was a choice made by the original production’s director, Hal Prince. Webber & Rice have said they wrote the role of Che with a pop/rock star in mind (specifically: David Essex) Want to read about the history of Eva Peron? Click here to see our previous blog post. Want to read about the history behind the major scenes in EVITA? Click here to see our previous blog post. EVITA is on stage now thru April 27th at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for tickets and more information. See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

A Timeline of Events: EVITA and Eva Perón

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:40:16 +0000

Been wondering the timeline of the events in EVITA? Check it out below!

Eva Duarte was born May 17, 1919, in Los Toldos, a small village 150 miles west of Buenos Aires. Youngest of five illegitimate children, her parents never married. Her father died in 1926 and the family moved to Junin, where she met tango singer Agustin Magaldi as a teenager.
Eva moved to Buenos Aires (at age 15) with Magaldi in 1935 to become an actress
June 1943: The Grupo de Oficiales Unidos (GOU), who believe that only military dictatorship can bring glory to Argentina, march into Buenos Aires and depose President Castillo. Juan Perón becomes Chief of the Secretariat of the War Ministry.
January 1944: Eva met Juan Perón at a fundraising concert for earthquake victims.
1944: President Ramirez breaks off relations with Nazi Germany and is deposed. The new President Farrell makes Perón Minister of War and of Labour, and later Vice President.
1945: Perón and Eva court the support of the working class – “descamisados” – whose wages increase when Peron combines the unions into one big organization, the Confederation General de Trabejo. The Military powers become worried with Perón’s increasing power, and they demand his resignation.
October 1945: Plaza de Mayo is the scene of a massive pro-Perón demonstration with 50,000-100,000 workers calling for the re-instatement of Perón. Perón is released and appears in triumph on the Casa Rosada balcony. Perón and Eva marry in a private ceremony.
Perón is elected president in February 1946.
Eva Perón becomes First Lady of Argentina. She is hated by the aristocracy and military, and loved by the working class; she tells them she is taking riches only for them, so they may inherit them in the future. She also campaigned heavily for women’s suffrage (achieved in 1951)
Rainbow tour: In June 1947, Eva embarked on a tour of Europe, to gain the new regime respectability in the Old World, to bury old associations with Nazi Germany and to re-open European markets for meat and grain. 150,000 people saw her off at the airport; she was enthusiastically welcomed in Spain, treated with some respect in Italy, tolerated in Paris, insulted in Switzerland and snubbed in Great Britain.
1949: The Peronist Women’s Party is set up, with Eva as its President
October 1951: On the sixth anniversary of her first appearance on the Casa Rosada balcony, Eva makes her last public pronouncement, urging all who lover her to understand that her life has been devoted to the people, her country and Perón. Juan Perón declares October 17 “Santa Evita’s Day”
June 4, 1952 Juan Perón is sworn in for his second term as President. Eva collapse later that day in the Casa Rosada.
July 26, 1952, Eva Perón died of cancer in Buenos Aires, at age 33.
1952-1974: The working class slowly began to lose faith in Perón. His opposition began to get bolder, and in 1955, military leaders seized power in Cordoba and were able to drive Peron out. He spent the next 18 years in exile, mainly in Venezuela and Spain. Despite the fact that the new government made any support of Perón illegal (including even saying his name in public), he maintained great influence over Argentine politics from exile, and candidates he supported frequently won elections. By 1973, millions were clamoring for him to return and he was re-elected, but died of a heart attack in 1974.

Please note that many of these dates and details have been debated by experts and are not 100% confirmed. EVITA is on stage now thru April 27th! Click here for more information and tickets. Want to read about the history of Eva Peron? Click here to see our previous blog post. Want to read about the history behind the major scenes in EVITA? Click here to see our previous blog post. Want to read things to know about the revival of Evita? Click here to see our previous blog post. See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

Dallas Loves Evita, on stage now thru April 27th!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:04:09 +0000

Originally posted on April 18, 2014 at 9:04am Updated on April 25, 2014 at 5:20pm

Hello DSM fans! This is your go to post for all things EVITA THE MUSICAL! Check out our inside look into the show with behind the scenes footage! Also, check out the great interviews with the cast, reviews from the critics, and articles about the show. We'll be updating this frequently, so check back later for more! INTERVIEWS, & PERFORMANCES Josh Young (Che in EVITA) performed the National Anthem at the Texas Rangers game on Monday, April 14th. Click here to see it! (Please note, the beginning was accidentally cut off from the video.) Krystina Alabado (Mistress in EVITA) performed "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" on The Broadcast TV. Click here for the performance. Interview with Alison Mahoney (Ensemble in EVITA) on CW33 Nightcap. Click here for the interview. Katerina Papacostas (Evita u/s in EVITA) performed "Buenos Aires" on WFAA Good Morning Texas on Thursday, April 17th. Click here for performance. Alison Mahoney (Ensemble in EVITA) on StageTalk.net. Click here for interview. Josh Young interview on WFAA Midday News. Click here for interview. REVIEWS Check out our Opening Night Interviews with the Dallas audience! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd6LJz7NmI0?rel=0] "Impeccable ‘Evita’ national tour is a stunning success in Dallas" by Nancy Churnin, The Dallas Morning News - Click here for full review. "Evita" by John Garcia, The Column - Click here for full review. "Theater Review: 'Evita'" by Mark Lowry with Fort Worth Star Telegram - Click here for review. "Nothing to Cry About" by David Novinski with TheaterJones.com - Click here for review. "EVITA-THE MUSICAL" by Gary Murray with Selig Film News - Click here for review. "Evita - Dallas Summer Musicals Review and Interview with Krystina Alabado" by Gadi Elkon - Click here for review and interview. "Musical Theater Review: EVITA" by Sherri Tilley with The Flash List - Click here for review. "Evita: The Broadway Musical Now In Dallas At Dallas Summer Musicals" by Vanna Collins - Click here for the review. "Evita" by Drew Jackson, EDGE Dallas - Click here for review. INSIDE LOOK, ARTICLES & FEATURES

Q&A with Josh Young on TheaterJones with Cathy O'Neal - Click here for interview!

"Tony nominee Josh Young is playing Che a new way" by Nancy Churnin, The Dallas Morning News - Click here for the full article.

Check out our photo album full of behind the scenes pics of the cast around Dallas! Spiritual Leader of the Nation: Eva 'Evita' Perón of Argentina - Click here for the DSM blog post. EVITA and Argentine History - Click here for the DSM blog post. Things to Know About The Revival of EVITA - Click here for the DSM blog post. EVITA - A Historical Background for Characters - Click here for the DSM blog post. A Timeline of Events: EVITA and Eva Perón - Click here for the DSM blog post. Keep checking back for more exciting videos, photos, and more! EVITA is on stage now thru April 27th at the Music Hall at Fair Park! Tickets start at $15 - go to www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_evita.shtm for tickets and details! See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

A Big Week for DSM!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:22:57 +0000

Hey DSM Fans, Well, this week is a BIG week for DSM and Broadway! We have 2 major events, 7 performances by our DSM Academy, and the Tony Award Nominees were announced today! DSM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS - #dsmhsmta14 Our first major event is the 3rd Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Show tomorrow, Wednesday, April 30th at the Music Hall at Fair Park! What is the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards? Patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards, show business veterans and community celebrities come together to spotlight the achievements of high school students and their school’s musical theatre programs. Fifty-eight shows from Fifty-six high schools are participating. Throughout the year, three judges visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories. Each school’s performance is evaluated by a panel of judges and ballots are tabulated. The top scoring schools in each category are nominated as finalists. Click here to check out the nominees! Tonight is a special night as well - all the judges gather to choose the Best Actor and Best Actress from the nominated students based on their performances this evening. All of the previous scores gathered in the original judging have been eliminated. The winners will be announced at the Awards Show tomorrow evening. **Tune in to the DSM Twitter and DSM Instagram (@dsmusicals) tonight before, during, and after the Best Actor/Actress judging and tomorrow ALL DAY as we give you inside access and live updates for this annual event!** Want to come to the Awards Show? Click here for tickets! Can't make it? Just follow us on Twitter and Instagram - we'll be live tweeting and posting to give you live updates! DSM CURTAIN CALL 2014: BROADWAY BOUND Our second major event is our annual fundraising gala Curtain Call on Friday, May 2nd at the Music Hall at Fair Park! Curtain Call is an evening of entertainment preceded by a seated dinner and a live and silent auction. This year's featured performer is Broadway Veteran Vivian Reed. Proceeds from Curtain Call support Dallas Summer Musicals' mission to bring the best of Broadway to Dallas and provide for children's education and outreach programs, such as the DSM Academy (below) and DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards (above). Click here to learn more and get tickets!

DSM ACADEMY PERFORMS DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR.! - #littlemermaiddsma This weekend, the DSM Academy presents Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR. Three of our classes will present this musical at the Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie. Dates and times vary - please see below for this info! The DSM Academy strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach these arts professionally to students from ages 6 to adults. Admission to Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR. is FREE and seating is first come, first served. We hope to see you there to see our very talented students!

SATURDAY, MAY 3rd Improv 102: The BIG Mermaid - Park Cities Teen Class - 1:30pm Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR. - Park Cities Teen Class - 4:30pm & 6:30pm SUNDAY, MAY 4th Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR. Town North Youth Class - 11:00am & 2:00pm Park Cities Youth Class - 12:30pm & 3:30pm All performances are at the Uptown Theater, 120 E Main St, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. TONY® AWARD NOMINATIONS Nominations for the 2014 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, were announced this morning! Click here to see who and what shows were nominated. I can't believe it's Tony Season Y'all! :) We've been busy prepping for all of these events, and I've gotta hop back to it as well. I hope to see you all very soon at any of these awesome events! Oh, and get excited - It's Broadway's biggest night in less than 2 months! -DSM Amanda

Mamma Mia! Returns to Dallas June 3-15!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 13 May 2014 13:37:22 +0000

MAMMA MIA! WALKS DOWN THE AISLE OF THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

THE GLOBAL SMASH HIT WILL RETURN TO DALLAS FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY JUNE 3-15!

DALLAS, TX…Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park June 3-15, 2014. Performances begin on Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 15. Seen by over 42 million people around the world, MAMMA MIA!, is celebrating over 3,650 performances in its ninth smash hit year on Broadway at The Winter Garden Theatre and remains one of Broadway’s top selling musicals.. The original West End production of MAMMA MIA! is celebrating 10 years and over 4,000 performances in London, an international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities, and the blockbuster feature film adaptation is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing over $600 million worldwide. An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities. Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. Single tickets for MAMMA MIA! are priced from $20-$90, available at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center #542 in Dallas, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount and priority seating. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch. The special edition cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway. For information about MAMMA MIA! go to www.mammamianorthamerica.com. DSM season continues with NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, September 2-14 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. The champagne flows and the gin fizzes in this hilarious Tony® winning new musical. It’s the roaring twenties, and a cast of outrageous characters gather in New York to celebrate the wedding of wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter. But things don’t go as planned when the playboy meets Billie Bendix, a bubbly and feisty bootlegger who melts his heart. Featuring a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin’s most beloved instantly recognizable tunes, set in a fresh and funny song and dance spectacular with a book by Tony winner Joe DiPietro and direction by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall. Filled to the brim with such classic songs as “But Not for Me,’ “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” this sparkling tale combines laughter, romance and high-stepping Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour, and those glorious Gershwin songs. DSM will be kicking off their 75^th anniversary season Thursday, June 12 in the Band Shell at Fair Park…where they first started on that date in 1941. More information about this special event and invitations to attend will be sent soon. Season sponsors and partners for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # # For media information about Mamma Mia! or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, or reviewer’s passes, please email joannholt@gmail.com or call 469-363-7371.

Follow Us This Week: We've Taken Broadway By Storm!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 14 May 2014 12:07:02 +0000

Good morning DSM Fans! Some of our marketing team and our president and managing director have made the 3ish hour flight up to the Great White Way for the week to attend The Broadway League Spring Road Conference. (#src25) We'll be updating you on our whereabouts and activities throughout the week - we've already been updating you on Instagram and Twitter (@dsmusicals). Join in on the conversation! Lots of fun stuff has happened already. A Creative Conversation with the cast of A Raisin in the Sun (starring Denzel Washington!), performance and creative conversation with Aladdin (AMAZING!), brief performances by Sutton Foster and the cast of Violet and Kelli O'Hara, and a brief talk from Jon Stewart. And that was in less than 24 hours! I can't wait to see what else happens this week - I hope you will follow us as we give you updates! New York is one of my personal favorite cities in the world. It's new every time I come to this city, and it never ceases to surprise me. I love people watching - and boy, they are not in short supply here! Broadway is, of course, why I'm ultimately here - to see shows that we may have in Dallas. But I also love the large supply of different activities all around. I decided this trip to also go to see American Ballet Theatre, Madison Square Garden, and Yankees Stadium. I think it's important to see what a city has to offer, because it helps us get a better understanding of the people and the culture. I look forward to sharing with you these non-Broadway experiences as well. We're on Twitter and Instagram @dsmusicals and using the hashtag #src25. I hope to see you there! -DSM Amanda

ANNOUNCED – 2014/2015 DSM SEASON!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:13:14 +0000

It’s official! We have announced our 2014/2015 DSM Season! Last Thursday, June 12^th, at the Centennial Building on Fair Park Grounds, we announced our season show by show alongside Performing Arts Fort Worth, and it was an amazing evening! In case you missed it, here are the shows coming to DSM for the 2014/2015 Season: A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL – December 2-14, 2014 #ChristmasStoryDSM KINKY BOOTS – February 24 – March 8, 2015 #KinkyBootsDSM Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING & I – March 20 – April 5, 2015 #KingAndIDSM THE ILLUSIONISTS – April 7-19, 2015 #IllusionistsDSM Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA – June 9-21, 2015 #CinderellaDSM DIRTY DANCING – June 23 – July 5, 2015 #DirtyDancingDSM PIPPIN – July 7 – 19, 2015 #PippinDSM All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park. For photos from some of the shows, check out our slideshow at the bottom of this post! This year, we’re celebrating our 75^th Anniversary and our deeply rooted history. Since we opened the doors at the Fair Park Band Shell in 1941, we’ve been bringing the best of Broadway to the Dallas area! We hope you will join us next season to celebrate with us! Check out this video for a sneak peek at each show: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jpwVJ4dTX0?rel=0] Also, in case you hadn’t heard, we’re partnering up with Performing Arts Fort Worth for 4 of our shows: KINKY BOOTS, CINDERELLA, DIRTY DANCING, AND PIPPIN! These shows will play 2 weeks here at DSM in Dallas, then travel to the Bass Performance Hall for a one-week engagement. We are very excited to be working closer with PAFW and hope that this will help bring more people to see live theatre! Season tickets, priced from $140-$775, are now on sale online at www.dallassummermusicals.org, and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or purchase online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to $97 over the cost of single tickets. Also, for your enjoyment, check out some of the news articles about our season announcement!

The Dallas Morning News – “Dallas Summer Musicals: Stayin’ alive with plans to thrive at 75.” Click here for article by Nancy Churnin
The Dallas Morning News – “From Kinky Boots to glass slippers, DSM and Bass Hall strut with shared stars.” Click here for article by Nancy Churnin
BroadwayWorld.com – Click here for article
The Column – Click here for article by John Garcia
Fort Worth Star Telegram – Click here for article by Mark Lowry

You can also check out this video from WFAA Good Morning Texas – Ellen Marie Marsh (from Kinky Boots) performing “History of Wrong Guys” and an interview with our President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins discussing the new season! We’re so excited about our upcoming season, and we hope you are too! For more information about each show, season tickets, etc., please visit our website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. We’ll see you at the theater! -DSM Amanda [gallery type="slideshow" link="none" columns="1" ids="1647,1646,1648,1649,1652,1655,1656,1650,1653,1651,1654"]

Official Release - DSM Kicks Off Year-Long Celebration of our 75th Year!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:00:12 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS KICKS OFF YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF THEIR 75^TH YEAR WITH SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT JUNE 12 DALLAS, TX…Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announced their 2014/2015 season of shows at Fair Park Thursday June 12. Heavy rain forecasts moved the 75-Year kickoff event from the Fair Park Band Shell where DSM first performed their shows to the nearby Centennial Building. DSM has been bringing the Best of Broadway to North Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainment since 1941. Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, said, “We believe in creating memories that will last a lifetime, so our 75th year will be filled with musicals offering an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family. We will kick off the 2015 season with a hilarious musical straight from Broadway, A CHRISTMAS STORY, in December of 2014. Three of our 2015 shows are still playing on Broadway, and one has never been seen outside of Australia.” In addition to the 2014/2015 shows, Jenkins also announced that DSM’s collaboration with Performing Arts Fort Worth (PAFW) would be extended to include four touring Broadway shows that will be presented by DSM and PAFW at their separate venues. KINKY BOOTS, DIRTY DANCING, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, and PIPPIN will be presented by DSM at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas and by PAFW at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. “This is a partnership that has worked well in the past,” Jenkins said, “and we are looking forward to working closely with President and CEO Dione Kennedy and our colleagues at PAFW as we plan future seasons. We will also produce our own version of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S THE KING & I, as we did with our 2014 production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID. Our efforts to reach new audiences, and to bring the latest Broadway shows to North Texas, include investing in and producing shows on Broadway and expanding our DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, which last year brought 56 Texas schools together to compete for recognition and scholarships. Our DSM Academy of Performing Arts also provides valuable training to students of music, dance and acting with locations across the Metroplex.” DSM 2014/2015 SEASON--PERFORMANCES AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, December 2-14, 2014. A sparkling new stage musical adaptation based on the popular 1983 family classic film featuring Ralphie Parker. He longs to find an official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle under the Christmas tree. Direct from Broadway, where it won three 2013 Tony Award® nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, A CHRISTMAS STORY is directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. KINKY BOOTS, February 24-March 8, 2015. Winner of the 2013 Tony® Award for Best Musical and five other Tony Awards, it’s an exhilarating Broadway musical still playing to packed audiences on Broadway, that lifts spirits to new high-heeled heights. Inspired by a true story that follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from an entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, KINKY BOOTS features a joyous, Tony-Award winning score by Cyndi Lauper, direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and a hilarious , uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Feinstein. ABC News called it “The Hottest Broadway Show of the Year.” THE KING AND I, March 20-April 5, 2015. East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and eventually respect one another in a truly unique love story. Along with the dazzling score, the comparable Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” is one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage. DSM will produce the musical. THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015. Coming to Broadway in the fall, the world’s best-selling magic show showcases mind-blowing, spectacular talents of seven of the most incredible illusionist on earth. Shattering box office records across the globe, THE ILLUSIONISTS dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions. RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015 The Tony-Award winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific, CINDERELLA is still delighting audiences on Broadway with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more—plus some surprising new twists. Be transported back to childhood and rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream, or a really great pair of shoes. Associated Press said, “Pure Magic! Broadway’s new Cinderella crackles with sweetness and freshness.” DIRTY DANCING, June 23-July 5, 2015. The classic story on stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this smash hit musical tells the classic story of two fiercely independent young spirits from difference worlds who come together for the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” this record-breaking live theatre sensation offers audiences the time of their lives. PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. The 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival, PIPPIN is a magical, unforgettable production The New York Times declared “Astonishing! A PIPPIN for the 21^st Century.” Direct from Broadway and back for the first time since it thrilled audiences 40 years ago, with a beloved score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked), PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? This captivating new production is directed by Tony winner Diane Paulua (Hair and The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess). PIPPIN features sizzling choreography in the style of Bob Fosse, and breathtaking acrobatics by Les 7 Doigts de la Main, the creative force behind the nationwide sensation Traces. Season tickets, priced from $140-$775, go on sale Thursday, June 12 at 9 p.m. online at www.dallassummermusicals.org, and Friday, June 13 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or purchase online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to $97 over the cost of single tickets. Season sponsors and partners for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, The Original Cupcakery, 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. # # # 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 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com.

Cast Announced for PIPPIN National Tour!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:08:46 +0000

U.S. NATIONAL TOUR CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE TONY AWARD-WINNING HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL

PIPPIN

TOUR LAUNCHES SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 AT DENVER’S BUELL THEATRE www.PippinTheMusical.com

The producers of the Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical PIPPIN are pleased to announce casting for the U.S. national tour which launches on September 10, 2014 at the Buell Theatre in Denver, CO. This all-new production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz’s PIPPIN is directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus and features choreography by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse and circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers). The national tour of PIPPIN will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park July 7-19, 2015, during their 75^th anniversary year-long celebration. For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. The national tour will feature Sasha Allen (a finalist on the 4^th season on NBC’s “The Voice”) as Leading Player, Kyle Selig (The Book of Mormon on tour) as Pippin, Tony Award winner John Rubinstein (created the role of “Pippin” in the 1972 original Broadway production) as Charles, Sabrina Harper (Pippin, original Broadway Revival cast) as Fastrada and Kristine Reese (Wicked on tour) as Catherine. The company also includes Skyler Adams, Sascha Bachman, Bradley Benjamin, Dmitrious Bistrevsky, Mark Burrell, Mathew deGuzman, Fernando Dudka, Mirela Golinska, Kelsey Jamieson, Preston Jamieson, Lisa Karlin, Alan Kelly, Melodie Lamoreux, Tory Trowbridge, Mackenzie Warren and Borris York. Additional casting, including the role of Berthe, will be announced soon. With a book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN featuresmusic supervision and arrangements by Nadia DiGiallonardo, orchestrations by Tony Award winner Larry Hochman, scenic design by Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design by Tony Award nominee Dominique Lemieux, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner, sound design by Tony Award nominees Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm. PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? The show is noted for many Broadway standards including “Magic To Do,” “Corner of the Sky,” “Glory,” “No Time at All,” “Morning Glow,” and “Love Song.” The original production of PIPPIN, directed by Bob Fosse, premiered on Broadway in 1972. It won five Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, and ran for close to 2000 performances before closing in 1977. This production of PIPPIN debuted at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA where it ran December 5, 2012 to January 20, 2013. It opened on Broadway on April 25, 2013 and went on to win four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Director of a Musical. This production also received Best Revival of a Musical honors from the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League. The New Broadway Cast Recording for PIPPIN is available on Ghostlight Records. Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan present the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) production of PIPPIN with Lisa Matlin, Kyodo Tokyo, A&A Gordon/Brunish Trinchero, Tom Smedes/Peter Stern, Broadway Across America, Independent Presenters Network, Norton Herrick, Allen Spivak, Rebecca Gold, Joshua Goodman, Steve McManus, David Robbins/Bryan S. Weingarten, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, Jim Kierstead/Carlos Arana/Myla Lerner, Hugh Hayes/Jamie Cesa/Jonathan Reinis, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Ben Feldman, Square 1 Theatrics, Wendy Federman/Carl Moellenberg, Bruce Robert Harris/Jack W. Batman, Infinity Theatre Company/Michael Rubenstein, Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway/Ken Mahoney. Join us… for this magical, unforgettable production the New York Times declared “Astonishing! A PIPPIN for the 21st Century.” # # # For more information, visit www.PippinTheMusical.com Follow PIPPIN on Twitter: @PippinMusical or on Facebook. For media information about PIPPIN in Dallas, or any Dallas Summer Musicals presentations, please contact DSM Publicist Jo Ann Holt at joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371.

DSM Academy Partners with iSchool High of Flower Mound!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:45:52 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts Partners With iSchool High of Flower Mound in a New Pathway in Performing Arts

MPowered and Dimensions Dance are both associated with the new program

(Flower Mound and Dallas, TX) Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts, in association with MPowered and Dimensions Dance, has joined with iSchool High of Flower Mound, a tuition-free college preparatory high school, to offer a new pathway in Performing Arts, beginning this fall semester, August 25^th. Enroll now! Classes include Musical Theatre, Dance: Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary; Voice, Choir, Jazz Band, Group Piano, Digital Music Creation, Music Theory, Acting, Improvisation, Shows and Touring Troupes. Tours are each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Call ahead at 972.899.2521. Limited enrollment space is available. Anyone of high school age can apply via the website at ischoolhigh.com/flowermound. iSchool High is located at 500 Parker Square in Flower Mound, TX 75028 and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency. In addition, special after-school tuition-based programs are open to the entire community for ages 10 and up beginning September 15^th. Upcoming student show is BUGSY MALONE, JR. For details on this special offering and to register, visit the Academy’s website at AcademyAtDSM.org or call 214.969.7469. About DSM Academy Of Performing Arts: The DSM Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1999 and operates as an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals in several locations in the Dallas area. Dallas Summer Musicals is a company that produces and presents Broadway, off-Broadway, West End and touring theatrical productions. The DSM Academy is comprised of students ranging in age from 6 to 20. The Academy is proud of its diverse and ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships. The Academy helps to prepare the amateur and the professional for involvement in the performing arts. The purpose of this page is to connect people who have a common interest in the performing arts of any type. Mission: Recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience, DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally. About iSchool High of Flower Mound: iSchool High of Flower Mound is an Early College Opportunity Public Charter School. The process by which students achieve credits is unique at iSchool. Instead of the entire class following along as the teacher lectures, the students work independently through their KnowledgeUnits® and complete an exam for each unit. Each course is composed of ten individualized Units of instruction with an accompanying exam which must be passed to earn credit for the course. The credit that is earned at our school is comparable to a credit earned at any other public school. Dual Credit courses are offered through North Central Texas College as an option to receive a college credit while attending our school. Students are expected to maintain a momentum that will ensure they graduate on time and are encouraged to accelerate and graduate early. We set our expectations high, and we offer a system that will assist in meeting these expectations. iSchool High is a ResponsiveEd School: The ResponsiveEd community of schools are tuition-free, public charter schools dedicated to helping students of all ages achieve their full potential. At ResponsiveEd, we're all about options in education. Strongly tied to the communities they serve, the mission of our schools is to provide hope for students through an innovative, character-based, personalized learning environment where they are academically successful and develop into lifelong learners. Utilizing the best technology has to offer, the creativity our educators possess, and the resources provided to us, we will continue providing opportunity and hope to every student. ###

The Illusionists - Witness The Impossible, Coming to Dallas in April!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:00:28 +0000

“It's deliciously, self-knowingly over the top and brain-bendingly spectacular. Genuinely satisfying family entertainment that should not be missed." - Daily Telegraph

THE ILLUSIONISTS – WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™

Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park April 7-19, 2015 DSM Season Tickets on Sale Now!

Blockbuster Theatrical Show Has Dazzled Sold-Out Audiences Worldwide

Dallas, TX – THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ (http://www.theillusionistslive.com), the world’s best-selling touring magic show, will play the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas April 7-19, 2015, for a limited six-week run. DSM season tickets including THE ILLUSIONISTS are on sale now, available at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 in Dallas, or by phoning 214-346-3300, or faxing 214-691-7386. For more information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, MagicSpace Entertainment, Road Show Entertainment LLC, and The Production Office. Conceived by Simon Painter, the show’s creative team also includes executive producer Tim Lawson, director Neil Dorward and creative director Jim Millan. Having shattered box office records around the world, THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ is now coming to captivate New York. This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth. Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, THE ILLUSIONISTS has dazzled audiences of all ages. Creative Producer Simon Painter said, “We can’t wait to bring this electrifying show to Broadway for a truly entertaining experience for the whole family. THE ILLUSIONISTS is the most non-stop and powerful mix of outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage.” The seven stars, each a master in their own field, are:

The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin. Considered a rising superstar in the world of magic; Yu Ho-Jin was recently named the 2014 “Magician of the Year,” by Academy of Magical Arts and was the first Asian to win the Grand Prix at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques, also known as the “Olympics of Magic.”
The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry. Described as Marilyn Manson meets David Copperfield, Dan combines the art of magic with the macabre and is one of the top-10 most Googled people, thanks to a legendary “America’s Got Talent” appearance.
The Trickster, Jeff Hobson is the epitome of glamour and showmanship. Don’t be fooled by his innocent appearance; Jeff has audiences laughing long after the curtain goes down.
The Escapologist, Andrew Basso. Italy’s star escape artist, Andrew considers Houdini his hero and is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular illusionists. He is the only person in the world to perform Houdini’s famous Water Torture Cell with absolutely no covers.
The Inventor, Kevin James, known for innovative illusions, is an inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual. Kevin is one of the most prolific inventors of magic in the world and has created some of the most celebrated illusions of the last century.
The Warrior, Aaron Crow, a strong and silent type specializing in weapon magic, has mastered some of the most dangerous acts without saying a single word. Belgium’s international magic sensation, a first place finisher at the World Championships of Magic, he uses swords, paintball guns and powerful crossbows to keep fans on the edge of their seat.
The Futurist, Adam Trent, shatters stereotypes and brings a new generation of magic to fans fusing technology illusions, dancing and comedy with classic techniques.

CURRENT TOUR DATES (more to come) Akron, OH - EJ Thomas Hall, November 19 – 20, 2014 Bloomsburg, PA - Haas Center for the Arts, November 22, 2014 Broadway’s Marriott Marquis Theatre, November 26 2014-January 4 2015 Washington, DC – The Kennedy Center, January 6 – 11, 2015 Indianapolis, IN – Old National Centre, January 20 – 25, 2015 Schenectady, NY – Proctors Theatre, February 17 – 22, 2015 Philadelphia, PA – Academy of Music, February 24 – March 1, 2015 Rochester, NY – RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre, March 3 – 5, 2015 Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Performing Arts Center, March 6 – 8, 2015 St. Paul, MN – Ordway Center for the Performing Arts – March 24 – 29, 2015 Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park, April 7 – 19, 2015 Detroit, MI – Fisher Theatre, April 28 – May 10, 2015 Tampa, FL – Straz Center, May 26 – May 31, 2015 Houston, TX – Jones Hall, June 2 – 6, 2015 San Jose, CA – San Jose Center, June 9 – 14, 2015 Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre, June 23 – 28, 2015 SIMON PAINTER, CREATIVE PRODUCER Simon Painter is a visionary creative theatrical producer who hails from London. Simon started his career on stage as a classical violinist, and performed the lead role for Spirit of the Dance in Las Vegas. The first show he produced, Le Grand Cirque smashed box office records at the Sydney Opera House selling over 40,000 tickets in 10 days. His two subsequent productions, Aerial Dreams and Adrenaline also broke records in Sydney and across the world and achieved critical acclaim. In 2010 Simon had five versions of Le Grand Cirque playing concurrently. In late 2010 Simon joined forces with Australian producer and close friend Tim Lawson and began assembling the greatest magical minds from a wide spectrum of disciplines. His production of The Illusionists has already performed to record breaking crowds in theatres and arenas across the globe including Australia, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In addition to The Illusionists: Witness The Impossible, Simon’s current projects include Le Noir (The Dark Side of Cirque) and Illusionists 2.0, both of which are currently playing extensive international tours. Simon is also due to open a third installment of The Illusionists (The Illusionists 1903) in January 2015. TIM LAWSON, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Tim Lawson is the CEO of TML Enterprises, servicing Australia and international territories with first class musicals and family entertainment with productions spanning across over 100 cities in 20 countries. Australasian theatrical touring credits include Sweet Charity, Buddy – The Musical, Jolson starring Rob Guest, Spirit of the Dance, Oh! What A Night, Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, It’s A Dad Thing!, Weary – The Life of Sir Edward Dunlop, Shout! The Musical, Brave Men Run In Our Family, Jekyll and Hyde starring Brad Little and The Rocky Horror Show narrated by Richard O’ Brien. Tim's award winning production of A Chorus Line transferred to the prestigious London Palladium, and his production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recently completed a 13 month tour. With partner Simon Painter, credits include Le Grand Cirque, Ariel Dreams, Adrenaline, Le Noir – The Dark Side of Cirque, The Illusionists and The Illusionists 2.0, all enjoying record breaking success and extensive international arena and theatrical touring. The Illusionists 1903 - The Golden Age of Magic premieres in Australia in January 2015. www.tmlenterprises.com About MagicSpace Entertainment MagicSpace Entertainment is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, Steve Boulay and Bruce Granath and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows, concerts and museum exhibits worldwide for over 30 years. Consistently one of the top promoters in North America, MagicSpace Entertainment typically produces and presents more than 250 events in 75 cities per year. Broadway credits include Donny & Marie – A Broadway Christmas, The Who’s Tommy, American Idiot and RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles On Broadway. National tour credits include Lord of the Dance created by Michael Flatley, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage starring in Mythbusters - Behind The Myths, Alton Brown Live, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, Donny & Marie Christmas, RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles, David Copperfield, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line and concert tours by Janet Jackson, Cher, and Fleetwood Mac to name just a few. Museum exhibitions produced on the road include the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition, Titanic: The Exhibition and Diana – A Celebration. MagicSpace Entertainment has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. www.magicspace.net About Road Show Entertainment LLC Road Show Entertainment LLC (Producer) is an innovative and progressive entertainment company that was formed through the merger of two established media and entertainment companies, Kilburn Media and The Production Office, with a design to operate and grow a new finance and production company in the live entertainment industry. Road Show’s management team, Mark Manuel and Greg Young, have already achieved great success within their respective industries, namely filmed entertainment and live theatrical shows, respectively. Mark is a top tier Hollywood financier and has grown Kilburn Media into an elite Hollywood based finance and production company. TPO was built on decades of tenacity and ingenuity, offering a trusted boutique of artist management and producing services to the discerning artist. TPO has a longstanding history of producing and managing hits on Broadway, award winning Las Vegas residencies, major music theaters, stadiums, and television which includes live, digitally and streamed filmed distribution. TPO has subsequently built a trusted brand producing Tony Award winning productions as well as representing artists and events with a knowledge base and skill sets acquired from owning, operating and promoting through the most successful venues in America. About The Production Office The Production Office (Producer) is a top tier innovative, collaborative artist managing production company in the entertainment industry. Producing partners Greg Young and Atanas Ilitch built TPO on decades of tenacity and ingenuity, offering a trusted boutique of artist management and producing services to the discerning artist. TPO acquires, develops, and exploits entertainment properties with a focus on the artist's perspective. TPO has a longstanding history of producing and managing hits on Broadway, award winning Las Vegas residencies, major music theaters, stadiums, and television which includes live, digitally and streamed filmed distribution. TPO has subsequently built a trusted brand producing Tony Award winning productions as well as representing artists and events with a knowledge base and skill sets acquired from owning, operating and promoting through the most successful venues in America. TPO is known for taking an entrepreneurial approach for its clients, seamlessly blending their role of personal management services with properties in the live entertainment sector. TPO strives to embrace the ever-changing dynamic of the music industry while discovering fresh and innovative ways to connect music fans with new artists as well as to reintroduce the prospects for established artists. TPO has been an active member of the Broadway League since 1997. TPO is currently bringing Mozart l’Opera Rock to the Broadway stage in 2015. For other credits, see www.TheProductionOffice.com http://www.theillusionistslive.com/

Cinderella Announces Casting for National Tour!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:00:50 +0000

THE 2013 TONY® AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CASTING FOR FIRST NATIONAL TOUR [caption id="attachment_1650" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Original Broadway Company[/caption] Producers of the Tony® Award winning musical Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman and Stephen Kocis, have announced additional casting for the First National Tour launching in Providence, RI at PPAC on October 10, 2014. The touring production will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park June 9-21, moving the next week to be presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Hall June 23-28. Ready to sweep Cinderella off her feet, Andy Jones will play the role of Prince Topher. Andy was a member of the original Broadway company of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA and understudied the role of Prince Topher. He currently appears in Bullets Over Broadway The Musical. The tour cast will also feature Kecia Lewis (Leap of Faith, The Drowsy Chaperone) as Marie, The Fairy Godmother, Blake Hammond (First Date, Sister Act) as Sebastian, Aymee Garcia (Shrek The Musical, Avenue Q) as Charlotte, Ashley Park (Mamma Mia!) as Gabrielle, David Andino (50 Shades! The Musical) as Jean-Michel and Antoine Smith (Memphis) as Lord Pinkerton. Rounding out the ensemble are Adrien Arrieta, Adrian Badoo, Summer Broyhill, Audrey Cardwell, Jennifer Evans, Alexandra Frohlinger, Richard Gatta, Jordana Grolnick, Eric Anthony Johnson, Danielle Jordan, Bruce Landry, Ben Lanham, Stephanie Jae Park, Blakely Slaybough, Paige Williams, Thad Turner Wilson, John Yi and Alexandra Zorn. It was previously announced Paige Faure, Broadway’s current reigning princess, will launch the tour in the title role this fall. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too. Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Music adaptation, supervision and arrangements are by David Chase and orchestrations are by Danny Troob. One of Rodgers + Hammerstein's most popular titles, Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA was written for television -- debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews. In 2013, the show made its long-overdue Broadway debut. Along with CINDERELLA, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Mr. Beane's book for Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA blends masterfully with the musical's cherished score with songs including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible/It's Possible," "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" The creative team includes scenic design by Tony® Award nominee Anna Louizos, costume design by six-time Tony® Award-winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony® Award-winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony® Award nominee Nevin Steinberg. For more information please visit www.CinderellaMusicalOnTour.com Facebook: Facebook.com/CinderellaTheMusical Twitter: @CinderellaBway [caption id="attachment_1649" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Original Broadway Company[/caption] ### The tour will be appearing in: Providence, RI (Providence PAC) Oct. 10 – Oct. 18 Tampa, FL (Straz Center Center) Oct. 21 – Oct. 26 Miami, FL (Arsht Center) Oct. 28 – Nov. 2 Charlotte NC (Blumenthal The Belk) Nov. 4 – Nov. 9 West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center) Nov. 11 – Nov. 16 Durham, NC (Durham PAC) Nov. 18 – Nov. 23 Philadelphia, PA (Kimmel Center Academy of Music) Nov. 25 – Nov. 30 Buffalo, NY (Shea's PAC) Dec. 2 – Dec. 7 Rochester, NY (RBTL Auditorium Theatre) Dec. 9 – Dec. 14 Chicago, IL (Broadway in Chicago Cadillac Palace) Dec. 16 – Jan. 4 Cincinnati, OH (The Aranoff) Jan. 6 – Jan. 18 St. Louis, MO (The Fox) Jan. 20 – Feb. 1 Denver, CO (Denver Center The Buell) Feb. 3 – Feb. 15 Portland, OR (Keller Auditorium) Feb. 17 – Feb. 22 Seattle, WA (The Paramount) Feb. 24 – Mar. 1 San Jose, CA (San Jose Center for the Performing Arts) Mar. 3 – Mar. 8 Tempe, AZ (ASU Gammage) Mar. 10 – Mar. 15 Los Angeles, CA (CTG The Ahmanson) Mar. 17 – Apr. 26 Las Vegas, NV (The Smith Center) Apr. 28 – May 3 San Diego, CA (Nederlander Civic Center) May 5 – May 10 Sacramento, CA (Community Center) May 12 – May 17 Houston, TX (Hobby Center) May 26 – Jun. 7 Dallas, TX (Music Hall at Fair Park) Jun. 9 – Jun. 21 Fort Worth, TX (Bass Performance Hall) Jun. 23 – Jun. 28 Des Moines, IA (Civic Center) Jul. 14 – Jul. 19 Cleveland, OH (Playhouse Square The Palace) Jul. 21 – Aug. 2 Greenville, SC (Peace Center) Aug. 4 – Aug. 9

DSM Announces Texas Instruments as Presenting Sponsor!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 16:30:11 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ANNOUNCES TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AS PRESENTING SPONSOR Announcement coincides with Dallas Summer Musicals’ 75^th Anniversary Season Dallas, TX….Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), the largest producer of live musical theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, announced today that Texas Instruments will be the official presenting sponsor for Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2015 75^th Anniversary Season. Funding from both Texas Instruments and the Texas Instruments Foundation will help support DSM’s 75^th Season. The announcement was made by Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals, at the season kick-off party June 12, 2014. "This partnership underscores Texas Instruments’ philosophy of community involvement and volunteerism, as well as their commitment to giving back through innovative philanthropy programs and partnerships,” Jenkins said. “TI’s generosity and community spirit are to be commended. Their donations of time, talent and funds are the definition of a good corporate citizen." Jenkins said, “We are honored to acknowledge TI as DSM’s official presenting sponsor. For many years, TI has generously supported DSM, and we have enjoyed a solid, longstanding relationship. Anytime we can continue to reinforce an established bond with greater support from and recognition for a company that is committed to our organization and the Dallas area, it makes the agreement that much sweeter." Jenkins continues, “As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on funding from the community to bridge the gap between ticket revenue and rising production costs. The corporate support of community-minded organizations, like TI, makes it possible for us to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable prices and to continue to grow our education and community outreach programs.” Jenkins adds, “TI is a first-class organization that is enriching our local community through their contributions, and we are grateful to be their partner.” Andy Smith, Executive Director, Texas Instruments Foundation, said, “We are proud to continue our support of the Dallas Summer Musicals, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate DSM’s 75^th anniversary than to be the presenting sponsor. TI invests in the arts because we know that it helps improve the quality of life in our community, it makes our city more vibrant and a better place to live. That helps our community build a stronger economic base, attract new businesses, potential employees and visitors to our city. The DSM, with their education and outreach programs and outstanding performances, is a vital component of the Dallas arts community.” About Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com. About Texas Instruments Foundation The Texas Instruments Foundation, founded in 1964, is a non-profit organization providing philanthropic support for educational and charitable purposes primarily in the communities where Texas Instruments operates. While its primary focus is on providing knowledge, skills and programs to improve science, technology, engineering and math education, the Texas Instruments Foundation also invests in arts and culture and in health and human services programs that meet the greatest community needs. About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals presented by Texas Instruments 2014/2015 Season Performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, December 2-14, 2014 KINKY BOOTS, February 24-March 8, 2015 THE KING AND I, March 20-April 5, 2015 THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015 DIRTY DANCING, June 23-July 5, 2015 PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015 Season tickets, priced from $140-$775 are on sale now at www.dallassummermusicals.org and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or purchase online at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Presenting Sponsor for Dallas Summer Musicals is Texas Instruments. Season Sponsors and partners are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, America Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. # For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Texas Instruments, call (214) 421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. For media information about any of the individual shows and for videotape, photos, or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com. # Photo # 8566 by Chris Waits Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals; Andy Smith, Executive Director, Texas Instruments Foundation celebrate the announcement of DSM’s 2015 75^th Anniversary season and Texas Instruments as presenting sponsor at a party in Fair Park recently. Funding from both Texas Instruments and the Texas Instruments Foundation will help support DSM’s 75^th Season. ###

Nice Work If You Can Get It Coming To North Texas!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:30:36 +0000

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, BROADWAY’S GERSHWIN-INSPIRED MUSICAL COMEDY, LAUNCHES NATIONAL TOUR IN NORTH TEXAS!

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, the award-winning musical comedy that played Broadway from 2012-2013, will launch its national tour in North Texas next month. The tour kicks off at the Music Hall at Fair Park September 2-14, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Then the tour rolls into Fort Worth, where it’ll play at Bass Performance Hall September 16-21, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. It's the Roaring Twenties, and a cast of outrageous characters gather in New York to celebrate the wedding of wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter. But things don't go as planned when the playboy meets Billie Bendix, a bubbly and feisty bootlegger who melts his heart. The champagne flows and the gin fizzes! NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is filled to the brim with classic songs, including “But Not For Me,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” This sparkling, madcap tale combines laughter, romance and high-stepping Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour and the glorious songs of Gershwin. The musical comedy features music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis) inspired by material by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. The production features direction and choreography by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes), recreated by David Eggers. The creative team also includes Shoko Kambara (scenic design, based on the original Broadway scenic design by Derek McLane), Martin Pakledinaz (costume design), Amy Clark (costume coordinator), Paul Toben (lighting design, based on the original Broadway lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski), Keith Caggiano (sound design, based on the original Broadway sound design by Brian Ronan) and Paul Huntley (hair and wig design). Alex Enterline and Mariah MacFarlane will star as wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter and feisty bootlegger Billie Bendix, respectively. The tour will also feature Reed Campbell as Cookie McGee, Aaron Fried as Duke Mahoney, Stephanie Gandolfo as Jeannie Muldoon, Stephanie Harter Gilmore as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Benjamin Perez as Senator Max Evergreen, Rachael Scarr as Eileen Evergreen, Thomas Schario as Chief Berry and Barbara Weetman as Millicent Winter. Rounding out the company are Jessica Bare, Christian Bufford, Elyse Collier, Carl DeForrest Hendin, Nick Jones, Kristina King, Alison Morooney, Sarah Primmer, Kevin Michael Raponey, Chelsea Jane Ryan, Justin Schuman, Heather Stinson and Chris Woods. For Dallas tickets: Single tickets, priced from $15-$85, are available at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center #542 in Dallas, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount and priority seating. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets, priced from $38.50-$99, are available online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817-212-4280 or in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales call 817-212-4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com. For more information, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org and www.basshall.com. [gallery columns="1" type="slideshow" ids="1688,1689,1690,1691" orderby="rand"] # # # For Dallas Summer Musicals, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com. For Performing Arts Fort Worth, please contact Malcolm Mayhew at 817-212-4319 or mmayhew@basshall.com.

Dallas Loves Nice Work If You Can Get It!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:30:56 +0000

Original Post: Monday, September 8, 2014 at 11:30am Updated Post: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at 12:55pm

Hello DSM fans! This is your go to post for all things NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT! Check out our inside look into the show with behind the scenes footage! Also, check out the great interviews with the cast, reviews from the critics, and articles about the show. We'll be updating this frequently, so check back later for more! INTERVIEWS & PERFORMANCES Behind the Scenes of Nice Work If You Can Get It - News Feature on CW33 NewsFix: http://cw33.com/2014/09/04/behind-the-scenes-nice-work-musical-launches-in-dallas/ Performance by Mariah MacFarlane (Billie Bendix) singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" on KTXD - The Broadcast TV: http://www.ktxdtv.com/story/26451712/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass Alex Enterline (Jimmy Winter) performing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" on Good Morning Texas (WFAA): http://tinyurl.com/kzgam8c Interview with ensemble member and Highland Park native Carl DeForrest Hendin on WFAA – Midday News 8: http://www.wfaa.com/story/entertainment/2014/09/03/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-broadway-dallas-musical/15023673/ Highland Park alum Carl DeForrest Hendin talks ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ with Nancy Churnin from The Dallas Morning News: http://artsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/highland-park-alum-carl-deforrest-hendin-talks-nice-work-if-you-can-get-it.html/ REVIEWS Here's what the Dallas audience had to say about the show on Opening Night: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbEL-xUK-wU?rel=0] "Theater review: ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ will brighten your life" by Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News: http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/nancy-churnin/20140905-theater-review-nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-will-brighten-your-life.ece "You Can Get It: The tour of the newish Gershwin show Nice Work If You Can Get It launches in Dallas, and delights all the way." by Cheryl Callon with TheaterJones: http://www.theaterjones.com/ntx/reviews/20140907122318/2014-09-07/Dallas-Summer-Musicals/Nice-Work-If-You-Can-Get-It "Nice Work if You Can Get It Kicks off the Dust and Bursts with Sass" by Lindsey Wilson with D Magazine: http://frontrow.dmagazine.com/2014/09/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-kicks-off-the-dust-and-bursts-with-sass/ "Nice Work If You Can Get It" by Gary Murray with Selig Film News: http://seligfilmnews.com/nice-work-can-get/#.VAhbwcwqCjI.gmail "Theater Review: “Nice Work If You Can Get It” Is Top-Notch Entertainment" by James McDonald with Red Carpet Crash: http://redcarpetcrash.com/theater-review-nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-is-top-notch-entertainment/ Review from The Flash List: http://www.theflashlist.com/assets/venue/us/tx/neast/dallas/arts/perform/org/dallassummermusicals/2014/niceworkifyoucangetit/fp/dallas.html "Nice Work If You Can Get It kicks off national tour in Dallas" by Lea Ann Stundins from Mommys Wish List: http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/2014/09/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it-kicks-off.html The Clubhouse Podcast: Podcast Listen: http://podcasts.theclubhousepodcast.com/Podcasts/Season_5/iTunes_Exclusive_Episode_Nice_Work_If_You_Can_Get_It.mp3 Rob’s Review - http://www.theclubhousepodcast.com/#!news/nws1/F38570EA-0277-42AC-A509-B3EA49B47659/rob-reviews-%22nice-work-if-you-can-get-it%22 Chad’s Review - http://www.theclubhousepodcast.com/#!news/nws1/C299CE45-1AE3-4A29-B3A2-4FC14DA72686/chad-reviews-%22nice-work-if-you-can-get-it%22 Don’s Review - http://www.theclubhousepodcast.com/#!news/nws1/5355E2FA-C685-4987-918E-AE1CE2419DEF/don-reviews-%22nice-work-if-you-can-get-it%22 Review by John Strange with Selig Film News: http://seligfilmnews.com/nice-work-can-get-review-john-strange/#.VA3_FNh0zb0 Quick Review by Elizabeth Ygartua with People Newspapers: http://www.parkcitiespeople.com/2014/09/05/dallas-summer-musicals-is-doing-nice-work/ "See what's so "Delishious" about Nice Work If You Can Get It at DSM!!" by Vanna Collins: http://www.vannacollins.com/#!See-whats-so-Delishious-about-Nice-Work-If-You-Can-Get-It-at-DSM/c112t/CE1BC020-80BF-4201-9953-DFEC6C1888A2 Review by Richard Blake with The Column: http://thecolumnawards.org/columnonline/review/09-12-2014_NICE-WORK-IF-YOU-CAN-GET-IT/ INSIDE LOOK, ARTICLES & FEATURES Sneak Peek at Scenes from the show: http://youtu.be/ljUopZ4CPS0 Playbill.com Article - PHOTO CALL: "Sweet and Lowdown"; A First Look at the National Tour of Tony-Winning Nice Work If You Can Get It: http://playbill.com/news/article/photo-call-sweet-and-lowdown-a-first-look-at-the-national-tour-of-tony-winn Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News: Top 5 Theater Picks: http://artsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/nancy-churnins-top-5-theater-picks-buyer-cellar-nice-work-fiddler-more.html/ Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News Feature Article - "Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall happy about ‘Nice Work’" http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/nancy-churnin/20140906-tony-award-winner-kathleen-marshall-happy-about-nice-work.ece

Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News Feature Article - "Highland Park HS pitcher taps in ‘Nice Work’ at DSM": http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/nancy-churnin/20140829-highland-park-hs-pitcher-taps-in-nice-work-at-dsm.ece

Keep checking back for more exciting videos, photos, and more! NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is on stage now thru September 14th at the Music Hall at Fair Park, then will be at Bass Performance Hall September 16-21! Tickets on sale now - go to http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/nicework.html for tickets and details! See you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

The Top 5 Reasons to see NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:40:41 +0000

On the fence about seeing NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT? Check out our list of the Top 5 Reasons to see the show! Top 5 Reasons to see NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Comedy – Lots of Laughs
- Get ready to laugh! From slap-stick comedy to very clever dialogue, the most unexpected aspect of this show is the hilarious comedic timing. If you need a lighthearted, good laugh, this is definitely the show for you.
Set during the Prohibition Era
- Alcohol is illegal. Secret speakeasys and bootlegging are at its peak and anti-alcohol activists are on the lookout. What could go wrong? Well, when a woman bootlegger and a wealthy playboy cross paths, it’s only the beginning of a hilarious journey.
Gershwin Tunes
- NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT has a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin's most beloved, instantly recognizable tunes, including "But Not For Me," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Get ready to dance in your seat and sing along with all of the songs you already know!
Lots of 20’s Style Dancing
- From the Charleston to the shimmy, this show has all of your favorite 1920s-30s dance moves with several big dance numbers! Lots of glitz and glamor! Want a sneak peek of the show? Click here to see!
Cast of Characters
- A feisty woman bootlegger with her 2 bootlegging coworkers, a “head-in-the-clouds” wealthy playboy, a self-obsessed fiancé, an anti-alcohol senator and his activist sister, and lots of girls and glamour make up a cast of different and hilarious characters! Check out photos from the show below!
BONUS: Critics Love It!
- Check out our blog post here with all of the reviews we’ve received for this show – and the praises keep coming in!

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is on stage at the Music Hall now thru September 14th, then jumps to the Bass Performance Hall September 16-21. For more info and tickets, click here. We hope to see you at the theater soon! -DSM Amanda [gallery type="slideshow" link="none" ids="1705,1706,1707,1708,1709,1710,1711,1712,1713,1714"]

Press Club of Dallas Names Michael A. Jenkins 2014 Newsmaker of the Year

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 22:24:44 +0000

Press Club of Dallas Names Michael A. Jenkins 2014 Newsmaker of the Year Dallas, TX…The Press Club of Dallas will present the 2014 Newsmaker of the Year Award to Michael A. Jenkins celebrating his international reputation as a theatre visionary, Dallas Summer Musicals producer, world-wide theme park developer, and Broadway impresario. This exciting evening of music and tributes brings together theatre legends, friends and colleagues to pay homage to Jenkins’ vigorous, creative leadership as DSM enters its 75th year of entertaining Dallas with extraordinary musical theatre. The Tribute gala will be held at the Music Hall at Fair Park Thursday, November 13 starting at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event, featuring performances by such Broadway stars as Cathy Rigby and Rachel York, are officially sold out. Belo Distinguished Chair in Journalism at Southern Methodist University Tony Pederson, immediate past president of the Press Club, said, “The Press Club of Dallas is pleased to honor Michael A. Jenkins as Newsmaker of the Year 2014 for his outstanding and lifelong contributions to the performing arts, his leadership of Dallas Summer Musicals, and his award-winning producing ability. Michael has brought national acclaim through his dedication to philanthropy and education of young people in the arts, and for serving as an exemplary citizen of the City of Dallas.” Press Club of Dallas committee members are thrilled with the generous support received for the November 13th "Playbills, Popcorn and the Press" fundraiser. KLUV Radio's Jody Dean will emcee the gala and tributes are expected from such dignitaries as Baylor College President Judge Kenneth Starr. Honorary Chairmen are Chuck and Cindy Gummer, and Pat Porter is chairing the event. Underwriters for the event are The Ruth C. and Charles S. Sharp Foundation, Inc., Ruth and Ken Altshuler, and Cindy and Chuck Gummer, honorary chairs. Donors include Joel and Diane Allison, The Bartner Family Foundation, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Gene and Kathryne Bishop, The Bozman Family, Mrs. Sis Carr, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dr. Gary and Sheila Cook, Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cooper, Dolorie and Paul Corley, Cottrell Foundation, Peggy Dear, Earth Day Texas, Dr. Jack and Deb Graham, Rick and Donna Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Ron W. Haddock, Dr. and Mrs. O.S. Hawkins, Andy Horner, Caroline Rose Hunt, Dr. Robert and Amy Jeffress, Gemey and Mickey Kaliff, Mark and Patty Lavvorn, Sara and David Martineau, Dr. and Mrs. John McCoy, Jr., Lester and Cynthia Melnick, Jim and Barbara Moroney, William H. Pitt Foundation, Jack Pogue, Marjorie Purnell, Billie Leigh Rippey, Ken and Marilyn Sandstad, Carol and Don Spies, and Steve and Sandy Watson. The Michael A. Jenkins Tribute Host Committee members are Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Honorary Chairs; Joel and Diane Allison; Ed and Donna Bratton; Dr. Gary and Sheila Cook; Dr. and Mrs. Ken Cooper; Paul and Dolorie Corley; Dr. Jack and Deb Graham; Dr. O.S. and Susie Hawkins; Andy Horner; Dr. Robert and Amy Jeffress; Mark and Patty Lovvorn; Steve and Jennifer Metzger; Jim and Barbara Moroney; Jack Pogue; Rick and Susan Rogers; Ken Sanstead; Carol and Don Spies; Judge Ken and Alice Starr; and Steve and Sandy Watson. The Tribute committee members are Pat Porter, Chair; April Bosworth (Events and Florals); Cindy and Chuck Gummer; Phyllis Hammond; Jo Ann Holt; Paulette Hopkins; Wendy Jenkins; Brian Mayes; Liz Oliphant; Tony Pederson; and Sandy Watson. The mission and purpose of the Press Club of Dallas is to initiate, promote, foster and provide for cultural, literary, educational and social activities and undertakings in the field of journalism and related professions. Chartered by the state of Texas in 1951, the Club received its nonprofit 501 (c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service in 2012. The Club has a tradition of service to its members and the community through its longstanding programs, including providing college scholarships to aspiring journalists. Four North Texas students are currently receiving scholarships. In addition to scholarships, the Club offers networking and professional development opportunities through programs and workshops, forums on news-making topics, book signings and actively supports the First Amendment and the public’s right to know. The Club helps the public understand the historic and current roles of journalism and its emerging and evolving forms of delivery. The Press Club has members from all major news media in North Texas plus professionals in advertising, public relations, corporate communications and various genres of digital media. The Press Club’s goal is to support truth, trust and transparency in journalism and all communications. # # # Media Contact: Jo Ann Holt joannholt@gmail.com or 469-363-7371

Mini Packs On Sale Now! Pick Three or More Shows For as Low as $55!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:05:39 +0000

Mini Packs On Sale Now! Pick Three or More Shows For as Low as $55! Mini Packs for any three or more DSM season shows, starting as low as $55, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 at Preston Royal Shopping Center. They may also be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 214-691-7200. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP(4768). DSM 2014/2015 SEASON--PERFORMANCES AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, December 2-14, 2014. A sparkling new stage musical adaptation based on the popular 1983 family classic film featuring Ralphie Parker. He longs to find an official Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle under the Christmas tree. Direct from Broadway, where it won three 2013 Tony Award® nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, A CHRISTMAS STORY is directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. KINKY BOOTS, February 24-March 8, 2015. Winner of the 2013 Tony® Award for Best Musical and five other Tony Awards, it’s an exhilarating Broadway musical still playing to packed audiences on Broadway, that lifts spirits to new high-heeled heights. Inspired by a true story that follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from an entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, KINKY BOOTS features a joyous, Tony-Award winning score by Cyndi Lauper, direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and a hilarious , uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Feinstein. ABC News called it “The Hottest Broadway Show of the Year.” RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S THE KING AND I, March 20-April 5, 2015. East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and eventually respect one another in a truly unique love story. Along with the dazzling score, the comparable Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” is one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage. DSM will produce the musical. THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015. Coming to Broadway in the fall, the world’s best-selling magic show showcases mind-blowing, spectacular talents of seven of the most incredible illusionist on earth. Shattering box office records across the globe, THE ILLUSIONISTS dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions. RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015 The Tony-Award winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific, CINDERELLA is still delighting audiences on Broadway with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more—plus some surprising new twists. Be transported back to childhood and rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream, or a really great pair of shoes. Associated Press said, “Pure Magic! Broadway’s new Cinderella crackles with sweetness and freshness.” DIRTY DANCING, June 23-July 5, 2015. The classic story on stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this smash hit musical tells the classic story of two fiercely independent young spirits from difference worlds who come together for the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” this record-breaking live theatre sensation offers audiences the time of their lives. PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. The 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival, PIPPIN is a magical, unforgettable production The New York Times declared “Astonishing! A PIPPIN for the 21^st Century.” Direct from Broadway and back for the first time since it thrilled audiences 40 years ago, with a beloved score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked), PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? This captivating new production is directed by Tony winner Diane Paulua (Hair and The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess). PIPPIN features sizzling choreography in the style of Bob Fosse, and breathtaking acrobatics by Les 7 Doigts de la Main, the creative force behind the nationwide sensation Traces. The Presenting Sponsor for Dallas Summer Musicals is Texas Instruments. Season sponsors and partners are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. 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. Please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org for a complete schedule of performances or more information about Dallas Summer Musicals. # # # 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 469-363-7371, or email joannholt@gmail.com

Full Casting Announced for A Christmas Story The Musical!

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 17:08:52 +0000

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2014 – 2015 NATIONAL TOUR OF

Big League Productions is thrilled to announce casting for the 2014–2015 national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The beloved holiday movie will be brought to life on Broadway stages across the country. This sparkling new production will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-14.

The national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical will feature Evan Gray and Colton Maurer sharing the role of the bespectacled Ralphie Parker, with Max Thayer as Jean Shepherd, Christopher Swan as The Old Man, Susannah Jones as Mother, Cal Alexander as little brother Randy and Avital Asuleen as Miss Shields. The cast also includes Andrew Berlin, Christian Dell’Edera, Elizabeth Flanagan, Cole Hagen, Tierney Lee Howard, Seth Judice, Maria Knasel, Rico Lebron, Allison Maldonado, Lea Mancarella, Brooke Martino, Johnny Marx, Michael McClure, Deanna Ott, Charles Pang, Ellie Poon, Brandon Szep, Chris Van Vleet and Danny Wilfred. Two area students, 12-year-old Grace Moore and 10-year-old Peyton Nicholson, were chosen by choreographer Jason Sparks at local auditions to appear in the ensemble for A Christmas Story, the Musical during its Dallas run. A Christmas Story, The Musical chronicles young Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”). An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish. Chock-full of delightful songs and splashy production numbers, with a heartwarming story set in the heartland of America, A Christmas Story, The Musical, has proudly taken its place as a perennial holiday classic for the whole family. A Christmas Story, The Musical premiered on Broadway in 2012 and was a critical and commercial success. The musical was nominated for three TONY Awards® including Best New Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical. The Associated Press called A Christmas Story, The Musical “a joyous Christmas miracle,” while The New York Times wrote “I was dazzled. You’d have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face.” A Christmas Story, The Musical features a festive and nostalgic holiday themed score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Joseph Robinette, based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. The new national tour direction is by Matt Lenz with inspiration from the 2012 Broadway direction by TONY Award® winner John Rando. TONY Award® winner Warren Carlyle’s Broadway choreography is being recreated for the tour by Jason Sparks. Scenery, costumes, and lighting will be based on the 2012 Broadway designs by Walt Spangler, Elizabeth Hope Clancy, and Howell Binkley, with the new concepts for the national tour created by Mike Carnahan, Lisa Zinni, and Charlie Morrison respectively. The hounds will play themselves. A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced by Big League Productions, Inc. Led by President and Executive Producer Daniel Sher, Big League is celebrating its 27th season of producing, general managing and booking Broadway musicals and special attractions for touring throughout North America and the world. For more information visit www.bigleague.org. Single tickets, starting at $25, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Preston Royal Shopping Center #542 in Dallas, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available by calling 800-982-ARTS (2787), online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount and priority seating, and groups of 35 or more receive a 20% discount with two free tickets. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email groups@dallassummermusicals.org. Dallas Summer Musicals 75^thAnniversary Year continues with KINKY BOOTS, February 24 – March 8, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I, March 20 – April 5, 2015; THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015; DIRTY DANCING, June 23 – July 5, 2015; and still on Broadway PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. The Presenting Sponsor for Dallas Summer Musicals is Texas Instruments. Season sponsors and partners are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. 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. Please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org for a complete schedule of performances or more information about Dallas Summer Musicals. # # # For media information, including production photos, interviews or reviewer passes, please contact Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or joannholt@gmail.com. A Christmas Story, The Musical Cast Biographies: EVAN GRAY (Ralphie) is very excited to be a part of A Christmas Story, The Musical. Favorite past credits include The Addams Family (Pugsley) and Charlotte’s Web (Wilbur). COLTON MAURER (Ralphie) is honored to play the iconic role of Ralphie. His professional debut was in Oliver! (workhouse boy) at Paper Mill, where he also attends the conservatory. www.coltonmaurer.com. MAX THAYER (Jean Shepherd) A military veteran, as well as a consummate veteran actor, he has appeared in many diverse productions from NYC to LA. CHRISTOPHER SWAN (The Old Man) Most recently played Prof. Callahan in the original cast of LEGALLY BLONDE: The Musical on the NCL Getaway, and previously toured with DAMN YANKEES as Mr. Applegate. Other regional credits include Forever Plaid (TBPAC), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theatre-by-the-Sea), Little Shop of Horrors (American Stage), Angels in America (Arkansas Rep), and Clybourne Park (Hippodrome Theatre). Christopher holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory. SUSANNAH JONES (Mother) New York City: Marvell Repertory, New Georges, NYC Fringe, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Planet Connections. Regional: Portland Shakespeare Project, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Stageworks/Hudson, Hudson Stage Company. Web Series: PLANT (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy LA Webfest 2014). www.susannahjones.info. CAL ALEXANDER (Randy) is grateful for this opportunity to be in his second Broadway tour. He played the Small Boy in the Billy Elliot national/international tour. AVITAL ASULEEN (Miss Shields) favorite credits include Mrs. Snoring Man in White Christmas (Westchester Broadway), Anytime Annie in 42nd Street (Surflight), and productions of Cabaret, On Your Toes, and No No Nanette.

Your 2014 DSM Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:11:45 +0000

It’s that time of year again – gift buying season is here! Sometimes the task can be a bit daunting, but we’ve got your current (and soon-to-be) Broadway fans covered! Check out Dallas Summer Musicals’ Holiday Gift Guide for some ideas and inspiration!

Mini Packs are perfect if you prefer to pick and choose. Select 3 or more shows starting at $55! Click here for more info!
Single tickets for A CHRISTMAS STORY are on sale now! Click here to find your tickets!
CYBER MONDAY PRESALE for KINKY BOOTS available beginning Monday, December 1st! Click here and use code: FIRST (all caps) for any performance in any price level! Offer ends December 14th!
Gift Certificates are great for the Broadway fan in your life that you aren’t sure what show they would enjoy the most. Just call our Box Office at 214-691-7200 or visit them at 5959 Royal Lane Suite 542.

Not sure who to give Broadway to this season?

For the Christmastime Fanatic – A CHRISTMAS STORY – On Sale Now and On Stage beginning December 2^nd!
For the Fashionista – KINKY BOOTS – Presale Begins Monday, December 1^st!
For the Classic Musical Fan – THE KING AND I – add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Thrill-Seeker – THE ILLUSIONISTS – add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Princess or Prince – CINDERELLA – add it to your Mini Pack!
For the Child of the 80s – DIRTY DANCING – add it to your Mini Pack!
For the “Cirque Du Soleil” Fans – PIPPIN – add it to your Mini Pack!

8 Reasons Tickets Make A Great Gift:

You’re giving an EXPERIENCE.
Do you really remember every gift you received last year? 5 years ago? Give your loved ones something they’ll remember for years to come.
You won’t be wasting your hard earned cash – unlike a sweater, tie or pink bunny footie pajamas… tickets won’t get pushed to the back of a closet.
Instead of playing the gift guessing game with a toy that gets tossed to the side, introduce the kids to the magic of theatre.
Date night. Need we say more?
We all know that in-laws are difficult to buy for. Make it a 4-pack and they’ll be pleased with your willingness to share date night with them.
Ladies: choose to give tickets over gift cards this year, and change up your Girl’s Night Out routine!
Check the entire family off of your gift-giving list and make it a family affair! It only takes 10 people to qualify for our Group Discount!

From all of us here at DSM, we hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season! -DSM Amanda

Breaking All Records - DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 17:05:40 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards Breaks All Records Sixty-five schools are participating – more than double our first year’s total

(Dallas, TX - November 3, 2014) Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is thrilled to announce record breaking news! In its fourth year of the program, DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) has 65 schools participating- that is more than double the first year's total of 30 schools participating, representing 33 school districts across north Texas. Among the 65 are also 7 private schools. In addition, six schools have entered two musicals this year for a total of 71 productions to be evaluated. This represents a new all-time high of schools, teachers and students taking part in the program. DSM HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and one of the largest programs in the country. DSM HSMTA has been recognized by the National High School Musical Theater Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas. Since DSM’s First Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting schools as far away as Denton and Allen to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east. Slated for Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, the awards show is a red carpet affair and the public is invited to join in the excitement. Red carpet arrival begins at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. with performances which include separate medleys of the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, production numbers from Best Musical nominees and an opening number featuring all nominated performers accompanied by a live orchestra. The show is topped off with a finale of performers from each participating high school. Based on Broadway’s Tony^® Awards, the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each are awarded. In 2014 DSM awarded $35,000 in scholarships, including several $5,000 scholarships, to outstanding students. Michael said, “This program encourages participation in the musical arts throughout North Texas. It is important to encourage these talented students to follow their dreams and goals and to draw attention to the excellent work being done in education in musical theater in our area schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved and a great show! We are grateful to founding sponsors Leah and Jerry Fullinwider for their support and vision, which literally brought this awards program to life.” Jenkins praised the community’s support saying, “For our pre-eminent educational outreach program to have grown so significantly in such a short time is a tribute to DSM as a resource to our community and a wonderful testament to the tremendous contribution of the teachers, judges, committee members and volunteers. We encourage everyone to visit the schools and watch the shows first-hand.” A complete listing can be found on the website at dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm A three judge panel of entertainment industry professionals and veteran educators will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Students from each participating school as well as finalists in categories of Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Musical will be invited to perform at the 4^th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 when winners are announced. The public is invited to join in this exciting celebration. Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. HSMTA media sponsors are The Dallas Morning News and WFAA Channel 8. Dallas Summer Musicals season sponsors are American Airlines, WFAA Channel 8, The Dallas Morning News and Texas Instruments. For a listing of participating schools and their shows, details or any questions, visit the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm or contact Tracy Jordan, the program manager at 214-413-3951 or tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org . Facebook page is constantly updated at https://www.facebook.com/DSMHSMTA National program website here: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions About Dallas Summer Musicals: As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theater, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, call 214-421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org Get updates and news through our social media web sites here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasSummerMusicals Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmusicals YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dsmusicals Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/dallas-summer-musicals/4f204f6b0cd6445b05407d98 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dsmusicals WordPress: http://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com ###

A Christmas Story The Musical In Dallas Thru Sunday Only!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:50:59 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! A Christmas Story The Musical is on stage now at the Music Hall thru this Sunday, December 14th only! We are so thrilled with the overwhelming response to this show that we wanted to share with you what people are saying! Also, we've included some additional links to give you a sneak peek of the show, inside info with interviews and performances, and even some information about the audition process for both Ralphie and the local child performers in the show! We will continue to update this, so check back for even more fun facts and info! About The Show [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlN7uSaW6WY] Article on BroadwayWorld.com About The Show: Click here. Auditions Part 1 of Ralphie Auditions: http://vimeo.com/106282595 Part 2 of Ralphie Auditions: http://vimeo.com/106285106 About Local Child Auditions: Article by Nancy Churnin - Click here. About Local Child Audition Winners: CW33 Interview with the winners - Click here. Article by Nancy Churnin - Click here. Article by The Flash List - Click here. Features "A Christmas Story and Usher top best weekend events in Dallas" - Click here to read this feature article by Culture Map Dallas. Culture Map 10 Dallas Christmas Productions: Click here to see the listing. "Where to Celebrate Christmas 2014 In Dallas" on D Magazine - Click here to see listing. Interviews and Performances CW33 - NewsFix (Peyton Nicholson and Grace Moore) - Click here for interview. FOX4 - Good Day Dallas (Susannah Jones) - Click here for performance and interview. KTXD47 - The Broadcast (Susannah Jones) - Click here for performance and interview. WFAA8 - Midday News (Christopher Swan) - Click here for interview. Reviews [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEFNR5Jv_Wc] Review by Christian Alexander Fashion - Click here to read. Review by Mark Lowry in the Fort Worth Star Telegram - Click here to read. Review on The Column - Click here to read. Review by Nancy Churnin in The Dallas Morning News - Click here to read. Review on The Flash List - Click here to read. Review on Selig Film News - Click here to read. Review on Edge Dallas.com - Click here to read. Review on Theater Jones.com - Click here to read. Review on Red Carpet Crash - Click here to read. "The Clubhouse Podcast"

Click here to listen to the podcast.
Click here for Rob's written review.
Click here for Chad's written review.
Click here for Don’s written review.

We will continue to update this, so check back for even more fun facts and info! A Christmas Story The Musical is on stage NOW thru Sunday at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. We hope you'll spend this Holiday Season with us! -DSM Amanda

Kinky Boots Coming To North Texas!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:00:00 +0000

2013 TONY® AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL

IS COMING TO NORTH TEXAS!

FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 8 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 1 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX (January 15, 2015) – KINKY BOOTS, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony^® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy^® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony^® Award-winner for Best Score for KINKY BOOTS), opens at the Music Hall at Fair Park February 24 – March 8, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. The tour will roll back into Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall October 27 – November 1, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth.

Directed and choreographed by Tony^® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, KINKY BOOTS opened on Broadway April 4, 2013 and continues to play to standing-room-only crowds nightly. The show, which has broken all box office records at the Hirschfeld Theatre, recouped its costs in October 2013, after just 30 weeks on Broadway.

KINKY BOOTS took home six 2013 Tony^®Awards, the most of any show in the season, including Best Musical, Best Score (Cyndi Lauper), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus) and Best Sound Design (John Shivers). The show also received the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Broadway.com Awards for Best Musical and the Grammy^®Award for Best Musical Album, along with many other accolades.

In KINKY BOOTS, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Harrison Ghee (The Color Purple) is kicking his heels up as Lola. Steven Booth (Avenue Q, Glory Days, Dogfight) plays shoe factory owner Charlie Price. Booth and Ghee are joined by Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Lysistrata Jones) as Lauren, Joe Coots (TV’s “Inside Amy Schumer,” Full Monty national tour) as Don, Craig Waletzko (Guys & Dolls, Young Frankenstein) as George and Grace Stockdale in her touring debut as Nicola.

Rounding out the ensemble are Damien Brett, Stephen Carrasco, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Amelia Cormack, Troi Gaines, J. Harrison Ghee, Blair Goldberg, Darius Harper, Andrew Theo Johnson, Crystal Kellogg, Jeffrey Kishinevskiy, Jeff Kuhr, Ross Lekites, Patty Lohr, Mike Longo, Tommy Martinez, , Nick McGough, Stewart Adam McKensy, Bonnie Milligan, Kenny Morris, Anthony Picarello, Horace V. Rogers, Ricky Schroeder, Anne Tolpegin, Juan Torres-Falcon, Hernando Umana and Sam Zeller.

The design team for KINKY BOOTS includes Tony^® Award nominee David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony^® Award-winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Tony^® Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Tony^® Award-winner John Shivers (Sound Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Randy Houston Mercer (Make-up Design), Telsey + Company, Justin Huff, CSA (Casting), Adam Souza (Musical Direction), with Musical Supervision and Arrangements and Orchestrations by Tony^® and Grammy^® Award-winner Stephen Oremus.

KINKY BOOTS is produced on Broadway and on tour by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergere, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein and Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom and Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp and Jujamcyn Theaters.

The producers of KINKY BOOTS announce a student rush for all performances February 24 – March 8. Beginning 1 hour before each performance, students can purchase a $25 ticket on a first come first served basis at the Music Hall Box Office. A valid student ID is required at the time of purchase for a maximum of 1 ticket.

Single tickets for KINKY BOOTS are now on sale online at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Mini Packs are also available online or may be ordered by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214.346.3300 or through fax at 214.691.7386. Season subscribers and other patrons who have questions about their tickets can call The Box Office at 214.691.7200.

Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets will go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10 am. Season tickets are currently available online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817.212.4280 or in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales call 817.212.4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com.

Dallas Summer Musicals 75th Anniversary Season will continue as follows: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I, March 20–April 5, 2015; THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015; DIRTY DANCING, June 23–July 5, 2015; and PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015.

In Response To The Asian American Performers Action Coalition And Others:

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:00:40 +0000

Glenn Casale and I are in receipt of your numerous emails and form emails. The reason for the delay in answering is that during the holidays I was in the hospital, and I have been recovering at home from a deadly blood disease. First, Mr. Casale, our Director, has directed multiple years of productions using not only Asian actors and actresses, but diverse ethnic groups. Second, I have produced probably the most shows using Asian actors and actresses. For example, Flower Drum Song on Broadway, Flower Drum Song national tour, Brooklyn the Musical, and Bombay Dreams, just to name a few. I can assure you that neither Glenn Casale nor I ever intended or conceived a thought that this would be disruptive, negative or disrespectful to anyone. It’s interesting. Going back in the history of The King and I, Mr. Yul Brenner was actually from Russia, and Mr. Lou Diamond Phillips was born on a naval base in the Philippines and is an American. Mr. Paul Schoeffler has played the role in theatres across America in the past. And after looking at several Asian prospects for the role, they were all “on hold” pending a call back from the Lincoln Center Production. The cast for this new production consists of 28, of which 25 are of Asian-descent. Of the 15 children in the cast, all are of Asian descent. We even went to a Thailand Temple to audition children for the production to be as authentic as possible. Both Mr. Casale and I would never intentionally do anything contrary or negative to your culture, and we have both provided numerous opportunities to the Asian community in the past. Mr. Casale and I visited yesterday. We have heard your comments, and we have heard your concerns, and we are now going back to find an actor of Asian descent for the role of the King. WE HAVE HEARD YOU, and we are working to guarantee a positive result for both you and also for a quality production. We have heard you and we take your comments seriously. Michael Jenkins

A MOTHER'S LETTER TO KINKY BOOTS

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 16:00:00 +0000

KINKY BOOTS struts into Dallas on Tuesday and we couldn't be more excited! This feel-good show is fun for everyone, just take a look at what this mother of two had to say about her experience: I just wanted to share an experience that we had yesterday at The Smith Center. My family and I have been season ticket holders since the beginning. I have a 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son that join us for almost all of the shows, although I did not take either of them to Book of Mormon. I wasn't sure I wanted to take my son to KINKY BOOTS, not really knowing what it was about, I almost gave his ticket away to a friend. At the last minute I changed my mind and I couldn't have been happier. What a fabulous show with an amazing message. At intermission my son turned to me and said, "it's intermission already?" He has NEVER said that before. In most cases it's more like, "how much longer?" He's a 12-year-old boy and honestly I know the theatre is not on the top of his list for Sunday afternoons. My daughter turned to me at least 5 times through out the show and said, "I love this so much." They talked about KINKY BOOTS almost the entire way home, and again this morning. Thank you so much for bringing KINKY BOOTS to Vegas! Our family thoroughly enjoyed KINKY BOOTS and I just wanted to pass a note on, and I ask that you forward my email on to the producers of Kinky Boots. I just want them to know that they have won over a fickle teenage girl and an adolescent boy whose first love is definitely not the theatre.

-Anonymous KINKY BOOTS Patron The Smith Center, Las Vegas

KINKY BOOTS is on stage February 24 - March 8, 2015, at the Music Hall at Fair Park. GET TICKETS HERE!

Regarding The Weather - The Show Must Go On!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 19:42:57 +0000

The Show Must Go On!

The weather outside is frightful, but the show is so delightful! Kinky Boots opens tonight! We have been looking forward to this show for a long time, but what bad timing this icy and snowy weather has! You know the show biz saying though, so we won't cancel any performance, but we don't want you to feel you have to come if you don't feel like you can safely make it here.

Here's what you need to know if you have tickets for Kinky Boots during this bad weather time:

The show will perform as scheduled.
Patrons contacting us before the show starts, who do not believe they can safely get to the Music Hall, can exchange for another performance of KINKY BOOTS (only), subject to availability and our standard exchange policy regarding difference in ticket price.
Patrons who do not contact us before the show starts can check with The Box Office and we will try to accommodate them on a standby/best-available basis on another performance of KINKY BOOTS (only).

How do you get in contact with The Box Office? Just call 214-691-7200 or email at theboxoffice@dallassummermusicals.org.

Please be safe and use your best judgement. We hope to see you at the Tony-Award winning KINKY BOOTS while the show is here in Dallas at the Music Hall thru March 8th!

For details and information about KINKY BOOTS, click here.

Be safe and stay warm!

-DSM Amanda

Regarding The Weather - The Show Must Go On!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:22:51 +0000

Update to this post: All performances will be performed as scheduled. No performances will be cancelled or rescheduled. The Box Office has been overwhelmed with phone calls and emails and are trying to respond as quickly as they can. If you have or had tickets for any of the bad weather days, just bring your tickets to another performance of KINKY BOOTS. The show leaves on Sunday after our 1:30p matinee. The box office at the Music Hall opens 1.5 hours before each performance. This weather snuck up on all of us - I hope you and your family are staying safe and warm! Thanks, DSM Amanda

Auditions THIS Saturday - DSM Academy's Industry Showcase

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 16:00:47 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals Academy Announces Auditions for the Academy Industry Showcase

The DSM Academy of Performing Arts is pleased to announce auditions for an opportunity to be selected for the Academy Industry Showcase. As the Academy expands its relationship with the premiere Industry professionals in the Metroplex, we will find the most “industry ready” actors to present their finest skills to top agents, casting directors, and other professionals. Auditions will be held Saturday, March 14^th from 8:30 a.m.to Noon and 1:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. for the first 75 people, ages 10 or older, to sign up. Younger students may be invited. An additional audition day on Tuesday, March 17^th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. will be added, if needed. Audition appointments are five minutes in length and will be held at: Central Christian Church 4711 Westside Dr., Dallas, TX 75209 ATTENTION: You must prepare a one minute monologue from a play. You may be asked to sing and dance as well. The showcase is limited to 24 participants. Click here to sign up to audition. Those selected will become part of a 10 week intensive that will meet at the Central Christian Church on Saturday, March 21^st through May 30^th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will culminate in a performance on Wednesday evening June 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. following a 5:00 p.m. performance for Family and Friends at: International Conservatory of Performing Arts 3321 Premier Drive, Plano, TX 75023 There is no charge to register for the audition. Student must be 10 years of age or older unless invited by the Academy. If selected, the program cost is $249 for 10 weeks. The class will be led by DSM Academy Instructor and Director Steven Kavner (award-winning actor, former member of the legendary Los Angeles improvisation company The Groundings, and Peabody Award-winning Producer). Mr. Kavner will be supported by DSM Academy’s musical, dance and production staff. Class: Industry Showcase Showcase Auditions: Ages 10 and up, Saturday March 14, 9:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Class & Audition Location: Central Christian Church, 4711 Westside Dr., Dallas, TX 75209 Class Dates & Times: Saturdays, March 21-May 30, 2015, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Class Limit: 24 students Performance: Wednesday June 3, 2015, 5:00 p.m. for family and friends, 7:30 p.m. for industry professionals Performance Location: International Music Conservatory, 3221 Premier Dr., Plano, TX Program Cost: $249 - There is no cost to audition. Audition Registration: http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/rxy8RjbqconiaOCEVs9Jd3B8d Details on our website at: http://www.academyatdsm.org/ Call for more information: 214-969-7469 About DSM Academy Of Performing Arts: The DSM Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1999 and operates as an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals in several locations in the Dallas area. Dallas Summer Musicals is a company that produces and presents Broadway, off-Broadway, West End and touring theatrical productions. The DSM Academy is comprised of 75% teens and 25% adults ranging in age from 7 to adult. The Academy is proud of its diverse and ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships. The Academy helps to prepare the amateur and the professional for involvement in the performing arts. The purpose of this page is to connect people who have a common interest in the performing arts of any type. Mission: Recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience, DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally. ###

The King and I Opens Friday at the Music Hall!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 23:00:08 +0000

A NEW MUSICAL PRODUCTION BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS IS COMING TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MARCH 20 – APRIL 5

Rachel York Starring In

Dallas, TX (March 9, 2015) – Based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam and hit classic Broadway musical, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I is making its North Texas debut at the Music Hall at Fair Park, produced by Michael A. Jenkins (six-time Tony^® Award winner) and Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. This exciting new production features a revamped script, timeless songs, and a new physical production with an entirely fresh interpretation of the musical. East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna's assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story. Along with the dazzling score, the incomparable Jerome Robbins ballet, ‘The Small House of Uncle Thomas,’ is one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage. Directed by Glenn Casale with original choreography by Bob Richard, the all-star cast includes Rachel York (Anna Leonowens), joined by Alan Ariano (the King of Siam), Ted Deasy (Captain Orton/Sir Ramsey), Ray Rochelle (the Karalahome), Yoon Jeong Seaong (Tuptim), Tami Swartz (Lady Thiang), Devin Ilaw (Lun Tha), Aidan Winn (Louis Leonowens), and Stephen Major Yongji Curda (Prince Chulalongkorn). Rounding out the ensemble are Frenie Acoba, Carol Angeli, Eric Badique, Korey Buecheler, Alysia Chang, Alex Chester, Louise Cornillez, Justine “Icy” Moral, Jan Javier, Jolina Javier, Peter King-Yuen, Bety Le, Eddy Lee, Stephanie Lo, Azumi Milligan, Rumi Oyama, Marcus Shane, Sai Somboon, Sam Tanabe, and Jee Teo. “What makes Dallas Summer Musicals’ THE KING AND I revival special is the chemistry between Alan Ariano as the King and Rachel York as Anna. It is a musical to share with the entire family that has a great story and a lush score,” said director Casale. “A truly timeless production that will have you invested in the story leaving you humming all of its songs.” Glenn Casale (Director) helmed the new production of Dallas Summer Musicals Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID this past year. Casale’s work is seen in the Broadway production of PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby and filmed by A&E. Off Broadway he directed THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS GARLAND, DRAGAPELLA at Studio 54. Internationally he directed Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Casale’s work has been seen throughout the U.S. in productions of DR. DOLITTLE; BALLROOM starring Tyne Daly and Charles Durning; WRESTLERS starring Mark Harmon and George Clooney; FROM THE TOP starring Carol Burnett; CAMELOT starring Michael York; and THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE with Jason Alexander. He is artistic director for the California Musical Theater in Sacramento. Bob Richard (Choreographer) has pleased audiences with classics such as THE KING AND I, THE MUSIC MAN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and ANNIE, as well as the world premiere production of Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow’s FOOTLOOSE and the Tenth Anniversary Production of Frank Wildhorn’s JEKYLL AND HYDE. Bob also choreographed the first productions of both HAIRSPRAY and LES MISÉRABLES to ever be staged in the round. His work can be seen every year at the Old Globe Theatre, with the long‐running family production of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!: THE MUSICAL. Encompassing a career of more than 30 years of dancing, teaching and choreographing in major cities all over the world, Richard is the resident choreographer for Sacramento Music Circus and has staged over twenty‐nine productions there over the past 13 years. The design team for THE KING AND I includes Michael Anania (Scenic Design), Costume World, Inc. (Costume Design), Charlie Morrison (Lighting Design), Timothy K. Schmidt (Sound Design), Wigboys (Hair Design), Stephanie Klapper CSA (Casting), Craig Barna (Music Direction). Preview performances for THE KING AND I will be March 20-22. The official press opening night is Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. with the last performance playing Sunday, April 5. All evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., and matinee performances will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and select Thursdays during the show’s run. Single tickets, priced from $25-$108, are now on sale online at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Mini Packs, which allow all ticket buyers to pick 3 or more shows for as low as $55, are also available online or may be ordered by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214.346.3300 or through fax at 214.691.7386. Season subscribers and other patrons who have questions about their tickets can call The Box Office at 214.691.7200. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Dallas Summer Musicals 75th Anniversary Season will continue as follows: THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015; DIRTY DANCING, June 23–July 5, 2015; and PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. ###

Dorsey Baskin Named Chairman of the Board for 2015

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:00:39 +0000

Dallas Business Executive and Civic Leader Dorsey Baskin Named Chairman of the Board of Dallas Summer Musicals

Dallas, TX… Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, has named Dorsey Baskin, a global accounting firm executive and civic leader, Chairman of the DSM Board of Directors for 2015. Baskin began his career in public accounting immediately after earning an MBA from Texas A&M University. Beginning as a line auditor with Arthur Andersen, he progressed, eventually taking on the role of National Technical Director and Industry Liaison for the Banking Industry audit practice and then Managing Director of the Assurance Professional Standards Group. After more than 25 years with Andersen, Dorsey moved to Grant Thornton LLP, another global accounting firm in 2002. Currently, he is a partner in Grant Thornton’s National Office, working as the Managing Partner of Innovative Services Development. He monitors upcoming changes and developments in laws, regulations, and the business environment and works with the audit, tax and advisory services lines to develop integrated solutions that bring confidence to the financial reporting, tax planning, IT systems development and other objectives of dynamic organizations. Dorsey is co-editor of Current Issues in Auditing, an academic journal, and a member of the board of the Grant Thornton Foundation. Dorsey is married to another native Texan, Cynthia, and they have two daughters, both born in Houston. One daughter, Natalie Crawford, is an architect living in Richardson with her husband, Brian, also an architect, and son, Nathan. The other daughter, Jennifer Arnold, is a CPA who lives in northern Virginia outside Washington, D.C. with her husband, Ryan, a banker, and daughter, Annie. DSM President and Managing Director Michael A. Jenkins said, “We are very lucky to have an outstanding executive and business leader like Dorsey Baskin take the helm as Chairman of the Board of Dallas Summer Musicals for 2015. He combines an impressive record of 37 years of achievement in his profession with volunteer leadership in support of the arts and has been a big supporter of DSM for some time. His firm, Grant Thornton, also counts the ballots for the annual High School Musical Theatre Awards Show and is a long-time supporter of DSM.” New DSM Board Chairman Baskin said, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead this prestigious arts organization, especially during its 75th Anniversary in 2015. DSM belongs to the people of Dallas and we are here to safeguard it and make sure that it is passed along in good condition to the next generation. As a nonprofit, we work year-round to bring the best that Broadway has to offer to Dallas at an affordable ticket price and provide performing arts education opportunities to our children. With the help of sponsors, subscribers, volunteers, elected officials of the City of Dallas, and the community at large, we will continue this tradition for many years in the future.” Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Richard Rogers, Executive Vice President of Texas Capital Bank, with Ted Munselle, Chief Financial Officer of Landmark Nurseries, serving as Chairman Elect. Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. Other DSM Officers for 2015: Vice President – Audit, Brian Dill; Vice Presidents – Community Relations, Glenda Kemple and Nancy Natinsky; Vice President – Development, Jane Schoen; Vice President – Finance, Randy Wright; Vice Presidents – Marketing, Jennifer Altieri and Jay Fox; Vice President – Nominating, Richard Rogers; Vice President – Personnel & Compensation, Steve Watson; Secretary, Steven C. Metzger; Treasurer, David Dienes and Education and Children’s Committee Vice President, Downie Mathis. Members of the Executive Committee are: Ruth Altshuler; Jennifer Altieri; Steven E. Beene; Ed Bratton; Brad E. Cheves; Karl Chiao; J. Diane Childress; Scott T. Collier; O. Paul Corley, Jr.; David Dienes; Brian D. Dill; Barry Epstein; Patti Flowers; Jay Fox; Stanley D. Gardner; Louis J. Grabowsky; Rick J.W. Graham; Charles L. Gummer; Sally Hoglund; Darrell E. Jordan; Sheffield Kadane III; Rebekah Hamilton Kay; Glenda Kemple; Marvin M. Lane, Jr.; Downie B. Mathis; Dr. John McCoy; Steven C. Metzger; Andrew N. Meyercord; Ted R. Munselle; Nancy Natinsky; Craig G. Ongley; James R. Pitts; Gail H. Plummer; Mark B. Plunkett; James W. Porter, Jr.; Holly Reeves; Richard L. Rogers; Jennifer Ryan; Kenneth D. Sandstad; Jane Schoen; Donald K. Spies; Michael C. Steindorf; Paul A. Stotts; Steve B. Watson; Randy Wright; and Kimberly J. Yamanouchi. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM are Ed Bratton; O. Paul Corley, Jr.; Stanley D. Gardner; Rick J.W. Graham; Gary Griffith; Charles L. Gummer; Darrell E. Jordan; Steven C. Metzger; James W. Porter, Jr.; Dick Quisenberry; Kenneth D. Sandstad; Donald K. Spies; Michael C. Steindorf; Paul A. Stotts; Steve B. Watson; and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen O. Paul Corley, Sr.; J. Frank Miller III; Douglas Perry; and Charles Pistor are deceased. Now celebrating its 75th season, Dallas Summer Musicals is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theatre organization in the United States, and the sixth largest nonprofit theatre company in the nation. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local 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. This year’s season is presented by Texas Instruments and began with A CHRISTMAS STORY, December 2-14, 2014; followed by KINKY BOOTS, February 24 – March 8, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I, March 20–April 5, 2015; THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015; DIRTY DANCING, June 23–July 5, 2015; and PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org. # # # For media information, please contact Francisco Chairez at 214-413-3909 or fchairez@DallasSummerMusicals.org

Nancy Natinsky Chairs 4th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:00:15 +0000

Nancy Natinsky Chairs 4^th Annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards

Finalists announced Monday, March 30 | Awards Show Wednesday, April 29 (Dallas, TX – March 6, 2015) Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announced long-time supporter and DSM Board Vice-President Community Relations Co-Chair Nancy Natinsky has been named the chairman of the 4^th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards. Nancy worked with her husband Ron in starting and managing seven successful businesses over 37 years, resulting in participating in international business relationships in Asia, Europe, Mexico and Canada. During this time, she continued her education in the promotional products industry to achieve the highest designation of Master of Advertising Specialty. She serves now and previously on various boards and as an officer of many clubs and organizations. She and Ron, a former Dallas City Councilman, have been married for 46 years. Since she retired 11 years ago, she enjoys her club work along with antiquing, traveling, helping with the garden railroad in their yard, reading, and volunteering. “Nancy’s experience in the community as a dedicated leader and volunteer, along with her business acumen and insight, is the perfect combination for her role as an officer on DSM’s Executive Committee and as chair of the High School Musical Awards,” Jenkins said. “I am honored to chair this program and be a part of its continued development and success,” Nancy replied. “The reach of this program across North Texas is growing and we look forward to even more schools participating next year.” In its fourth year, DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) has 65 schools participating- that is more than double the first year's total of 30 schools participating, representing 33 school districts across North Texas. Among the 65 are also 7 private schools. In addition, six schools have entered two musicals this year for a total of 71 productions to be evaluated. This represents a new all-time high of schools, teachers and students taking part in the program. DSM HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and one of the largest programs in the country. DSM HSMTA has been recognized by the National High School Musical Theater Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas. Since DSM’s First Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting schools as far away as Denton and Allen to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east. Slated for Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, the awards show is a red carpet affair and the public is invited to join in the excitement. Red carpet arrival begins at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. with performances which include separate medleys of the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, production numbers from Best Musical nominees and an opening number featuring all nominated performers accompanied by a live orchestra. The show is topped off with a finale of performers from each participating high school. Based on Broadway’s Tony^® Awards, DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each are awarded. In 2014 DSM awarded $35,000 in scholarships, including several $5,000 scholarships, to outstanding students. Jenkins said, “This program encourages participation in the musical arts throughout North Texas. It is important to encourage these talented students to follow their dreams and goals and to draw attention to the excellent work being done in education in musicals in our area schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved and a great show! We are grateful to founding sponsors Leah and Jerry Fullinwider for their support and vision, which literally brought this awards program to life.” Jenkins praised the community’s support saying, “for our preeminent educational outreach program to have grown so significantly in such a short time is a tribute to DSM as a resource to our community and a wonderful testament to the tremendous contribution of the teachers, judges, committee members and volunteers. We encourage everyone to visit the schools and watch the shows first-hand.” A complete listing can be found on the website at DallasSummerMusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm A three judge panel of entertainment industry professionals and veteran educators will visit each school and judge the performers in 15 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Featured Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton. Students from each participating school as well as finalists in categories of Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Musical will be invited to perform at the 4^th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Ceremony show at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 when winners are announced. The public is invited to join in this exciting celebration. Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. HSMTA media sponsors are The Dallas Morning News and WFAA Channel 8. For a listing of participating schools and their shows, details or any questions, visit the website at http://DallasSummerMusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm or contact Tracy Jordan, the program manager at 214-413-3951 or tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org . Facebook page is constantly updated at https://www.facebook.com/DSMHSMTA National program website: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions Get updates and news through our social media web sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasSummerMusicals Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmusicals YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dsmusicals Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/dallas-summer-musicals/4f204f6b0cd6445b05407d98 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dsmusicals WordPress: http://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org. ###

The Illusionists, Direct from Broadway, Comes to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 02:03:48 +0000

PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS COMES TO THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

APRIL 7-19, 2015

Blockbuster Theatrical Show has Dazzled Audiences around the World

Dallas, TX (March 20, 2015) – THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ the world’s best-selling touring magic show, will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas, TX on April 7-19 as part of a 20 city U.S. tour and Dallas Summer Musicals 75^th Anniversary Season. The show had a highly successful holiday run on Broadway this past year and is ready to wow audiences in North Texas. THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, MagicSpace Entertainment, Road Show Entertainment LLC, and The Production Office. Conceived by Simon Painter, the show’s creative team also includes executive producer Tim Lawson, director Neil Dorward and creative director Jim Millan. Having shattered box office records around the world, THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ is a mind-blowing spectacular showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth. Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, THE ILLUSIONISTS has dazzled audiences of all ages. Creative Producer Simon Painter said, “We can’t wait to bring this electrifying show to Dallas for a truly entertaining experience for the whole family. THE ILLUSIONISTS is the most non-stop and powerful mix of outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage.” The seven stars, each a master in their own field, are:

The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin. Considered a rising superstar in the world of magic; Yu Ho-Jin was recently named the 2014 “Magician of the Year,” by Academy of Magical Arts and was the first Asian to win the Grand Prix at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques, also known as the “Olympics of Magic.”
The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry. Described as Marilyn Manson meets David Copperfield, Dan combines the art of magic with the macabre and is one of the top-10 most Googled people, thanks to a legendary “America’s Got Talent” appearance.
The Trickster, Jeff Hobson is the epitome of glamour and showmanship. Don’t be fooled by his innocent appearance; Jeff has audiences laughing long after the curtain goes down.
The Escapologist, Andrew Basso. Italy’s star escape artist, Andrew considers Houdini his hero and is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular illusionists. He is the only person in the world to perform Houdini’s famous Water Torture Cell with absolutely no covers.
The Inventor, Kevin James, known for innovative illusions, is an inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual. Kevin is one of the most prolific inventors of magic in the world and has created some of the most celebrated illusions of the last century.
The Warrior, Aaron Crow, a strong and silent type specializing in weapon magic, has mastered some of the most dangerous acts without saying a single word. Belgium’s international magic sensation, a first place finisher at the World Championships of Magic, uses swords, paintball guns and powerful crossbows to keep fans on the edge of their seat.
The Futurist, Adam Trent, shatters stereotypes and brings a new generation of magic to fans fusing technology illusions, dancing and comedy with classic techniques.

SIMON PAINTER, CREATIVE PRODUCER Simon Painter is a visionary creative theatrical producer who hails from London. Simon started his career on stage as a classical violinist, and performed the lead role for Spirit of the Dance in Las Vegas. The first show he produced, Le Grand Cirque smashed box office records at the Sydney Opera House selling over 40,000 tickets in 10 days. His two subsequent productions, Aerial Dreams and Adrenaline also broke records in Sydney and across the world and achieved critical acclaim. In 2010 Simon had five versions of Le Grand Cirque playing concurrently. In late 2010 Simon joined forces with Australian producer and close friend Tim Lawson and began assembling the greatest magical minds from a wide spectrum of disciplines. His production of The Illusionists has already performed to record breaking crowds in theatres and arenas across the globe including Australia, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In addition to The Illusionists: Witness The Impossible, Simon’s current projects include Le Noir (The Dark Side of Cirque) and Illusionists 2.0, both of which are currently playing extensive international tours. Simon is also due to open a third installment of The Illusionists (The Illusionists 1903) in January 2015. TIM LAWSON, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Tim Lawson is the CEO of TML Enterprises, servicing Australia and international territories with first class musicals and family entertainment with productions spanning across over 100 cities in 20 countries. Australasian theatrical touring credits include Sweet Charity, Buddy – The Musical, Jolson starring Rob Guest, Spirit of the Dance, Oh! What A Night, Fiddler on The Roof starring Topol, It’s A Dad Thing!, Weary – The Life of Sir Edward Dunlop, Shout! The Musical, Brave Men Run In Our Family, Jekyll and Hyde starring Brad Little and The Rocky Horror Show narrated by Richard O’ Brien. Tim's award winning production of A Chorus Line transferred to the prestigious London Palladium, and his production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recently completed a 13 month tour. With partner Simon Painter, credits include Le Grand Cirque, Ariel Dreams, Adrenaline, Le Noir – The Dark Side of Cirque, The Illusionists and The Illusionists 2.0, all enjoying record breaking success and extensive international arena and theatrical touring. The Illusionists 1903 - The Golden Age of Magic premieres in Australia in January 2015. www.tmlenterprises.com Single tickets, from $15-$88 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Mini Packs, which allow all ticket buyers to pick 3 or more shows for as low as $55, are also available online or may be ordered by mail or in person at The Box Office and by phoning 214.346.3300. Season subscribers and other patrons who have questions about their tickets can call The Box Office at 214.691.7200. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Dallas Summer Musicals 75th Anniversary Season will continue as follows: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, June 9-21, 2015; DIRTY DANCING, June 23–July 5, 2015; and PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. About MagicSpace Entertainment MagicSpace Entertainment is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, Steve Boulay and Bruce Granath and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows, concerts and museum exhibits worldwide for over 30 years. Consistently one of the top promoters in North America, MagicSpace Entertainment typically produces and presents more than 250 events in 75 cities per year. Broadway credits include Donny & Marie – A Broadway Christmas, The Who’s Tommy, American Idiot and RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles On Broadway. National tour credits include Lord of the Dance created by Michael Flatley, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage starring in Mythbusters - Behind The Myths, Alton Brown Live, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, Donny & Marie Christmas, RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles, David Copperfield, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line and concert tours by Janet Jackson, Cher, and Fleetwood Mac to name just a few. Museum exhibitions produced on the road include the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition, Titanic: The Exhibition and Diana – A Celebration. MagicSpace Entertainment has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. www.magicspace.net About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at www.dallassummermusicals.org www.theillusionistslive.com ###

Nominees Announced for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards!

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 12:38:26 +0000

And the Nominees are in! We've waited all year - amazing performances from amazing high schools were judged by industry professionals since last fall through a few weeks ago. Now, we can finally announce the nominees for the 4th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards! Well, all but the Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Musical Nominees...these will be announced tomorrow on WFAA-TV Midday News between Noon and 1pm. For the other 12 categories, see the full list below (in alpha order by high school)! Congratulations to each high school, students, and teachers for an outstanding year of musicals! Direction

Abilene High School, Urinetown
Guyer High School, Pippin
Mansfield High School, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
North Lamar High School, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
Pearce High School, Urinetown
Plano West High School, Jesus Christ Superstar
Richardson High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Wylie East High School, Seussical

Choreography

Aledo High School, Footloose
Denton High School, Mame
Grapevine High School, Oliver
Guyer High School, Pippin
Mansfield High School, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
Pearce High School, Urinetown
Plano Senior High School, Hello Dolly
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Wylie East High School, Seussical

Musical Direction

Abilene High School, Urinetown
Liberty Christian High School, Annie Get Your Gun
Marcus High School, Little Women
Richardson High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Richland High School, Shrek
Rockwall High School, Sweeney Todd
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Wakeland High School, Cinderella
Waxahachie High School, Guys and Dolls
Wylie East High School, Seussical

Orchestra

Berkner High School, Little Shop of Horrors
Carroll High School, Tarzan
Centennial High School, Seussical
Crowley High School, Anything Goes
Grapevine High School, Oliver
Mansfield High School, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
North Forney High School, Disney's High School Musical
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Rockwall High School, The Wizard of Oz
Waxahachie High School, Guys & Dolls

Scene Design

Carroll High School, Tarzan
Greenhill School, High School, The Addams Family
Liberty Christian High School, Annie Get Your Gun
Mabank High School, Cinderella
Plano West High School, Jesus Christ Superstar
Rockwall High School, Sweeney Todd
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Waco High School, Tarzan
Wylie East High School, Seussical

Costume Design

Abilene High School, Urinetown
Bishop Lynch High School, The Wedding Singer
Colleyville Heritage High School, Curtains
Denton High School, Mame
Grapevile Christian High School, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Grapevine High School, Oliver
Guyer High School, Pippin
Rockwall-Heath High School, The Music Man
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Waco High School, Tarzan

Lighting Design

Mansfield High School, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
Marcus High School, Little Women
McKinney Boyd High School, Les Miserables
Plano Senior High School, Hello Dolly
Plano West High School, Jesus Christ Superstar
Richardson High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Rockwall High School, Sweeney Todd
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Waco High School, Tarzan

Stage Crew & Technical

Abilene High School, Urinetown
Carroll High School, Tarzan
Guyer High School, Pippin
Lake Ridge High School, Shrek
Marcus High School, Little Women
McKinney High School, All Shook Up
Plano Senior High School, Hello Dolly
Plano West High School, Jesus Christ Superstar
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan
Wylie East High School, Seussical

Ensemble

Abilene High School, Urinetown
Aledo High School, Footloose
Liberty Christian High School, Annie Get Your Gun
Pearce High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Plano Senior High School, Hello Dolly
Richardson High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Richland High School, Shrek
Rockwall-Heath High School, The Music Man
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian High School, Peter Pan

Supporting Actor

Colleyville Heritage High School, Morgan Young - Officer Lockstock, Urinetown
Lake Ridge High School, Isaiah McInnis - Donkey, Shrek
Mansfield High School, Zach Montou - Lumiere, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
McKinney North High School, Joseph Campbell - Fester, The Addams Family
North Forney High School, Allen Porterie - Chad Danforth, Disney's High School Musical
Pearce High School, Noah Heller - Officer Lockstock, Urinetown
Pearce High School, Josh McCoy - Bud Frump, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Richardson High School, Nathan May - Motel, Fiddler on the Roof
Weatherford High School, Cole Lucas - Farquaad, Shrek
Wylie East High School, Clay Mobley - Horton the Elephant, Seussical

Supporting Actress

Abilene High School, Louisa Lee - Little Sally, Urinetown
All Saints Episcopal High School, Grace Evans - Melpomene, Zanadu
Bishop Lynch High School, Payton Reeves - Holly, The Wedding Singer
Colleyville Heritage High School, Audrey Jefferies - Georgia Hendricks, Curtains
Mansfield High School, Anna Pritchett - Mrs. Potts, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
Marcus High School, Haley Sutherland - Marmee March, Little Women
McKinney Boyd High School, Sarah Hubner - Madame Thenardier, Les Miserables
North Forney High School, Savanna Morgan - Taylor McKessie, Disney's High School Musical
Rowlett High School, Sarah Manns - Princess Puffer, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Wylie East High School, Libby Villagas - Mayzie LaBird, Seussical

Featured Performer

Greenhill School High School, Ali Simenc - Grandma Addams, The Addams Family
Heritage High School, Olivia Callan - Hunyak, Chicago
Lake Ridge High School, Michael Flake - Lord Farquaad, Shrek
Mansfield High School, Justin Alozie - Cogsworth, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
McKinney High School, Yoki Ongwella - Sylvia, All Shook Up
North Lamar High School, Jared Chenevey - Cogsworth, Disney's Beauty & the Beast
Pearce High School, Jack Durham - Hot Blades Harry, Urinetown
Poteet High School, Cameron Smith - Amos, Big Fish
Richardson High School, Jacob Redmon - Perchek, Fiddler on the Roof
Richland High School, C.J. Sutton - Donkey, Shrek

Who will win? We will find out at the 4th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Evening on Wednesday, April 29th at 7pm at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Want to catch all the action? Tickets are on sale now! Just click here or call 800.514.ETIX. Congratulations to all of the nominees! To find out the nominees for the Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Musical, tune into WFAA-TV Midday News between 12p and 1p! Also, check back here after 1p or on our website at www.dsmhsmta.org! We hope you will join us for an evening you will never forget! -DSM Amanda

Now Announced - Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Musical for DSM HSMTA!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:30:34 +0000

The final 3 Nominations for the 4th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards have been announced! Congratulations to each high school, students, and teachers for an outstanding year of musicals! See the list below. For the full list of nominations, check out our website at www.dsmhsmta.org! Best Actress

Colleyville Heritage High School- Monica Lockwood as Carmen in Curtains
Guyer High School- Katelyn Cave as Leading Player in Pippin
Independence High School- Sophia Kaiafas as Jane in Tarzan
Mansfield High School- Shelby Priddy as Belle in Beauty & the Beast
Marcus High School- Kara Lyons as Jo March in Little Women
Pearce High School- Sydney Kane as Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Plano West High School- Meg Grinde as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar
R L Turner High School- Chandler Bates as Anna in The King and I
Southwest Christian School- Grace Tucker as Peter Pan

Best Actor

Abilene High School- Ryan Garmoe as Bobby in Urinetown
Carroll HS- Drew Brown as Tarzan in Tarzan
Grapevine Faith Christian School-Quint Erwin as Caratacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
McKinney Boyd High School- Logan Reid as Javert in Les Miserables
Plano Senior High School- Tanner Dillon as Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly!
Plano West High School- Chris Clark as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar
Pearce High School- Sam Snyder as J Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Richardson High School- Griffin Camacho as Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof
Rockwall High School- Drew Mitchell as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd

Best Musical

Colleyville Heritage High School, Curtains
Mansfield High School, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Pearce High School, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Plano Senior High School, Hello Dolly!
Plano West High School, Jesus Christ Superstar
Richardson High School, Fiddler on the Roof
Rowlett High School, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Southwest Christian School, Peter Pan

Who will win? We will find out at the 4th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Evening on Wednesday, April 29th at 7pm at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Want to catch all the action? Tickets are on sale now! Just click here or call 800.514.ETIX. Congratulations to all of the nominees! For the full list of nominees, check out our website at www.dsmhsmta.org! We hope you will join us for an evening you will never forget! -DSM Amanda

Dallas Loves THE KING AND I! #KingAndIDSM

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:23:14 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I is on stage now at the Music Hall thru this Sunday, April 5th only! We are so thrilled with the overwhelming response to this show that we wanted to share with you what people are saying! Also, we’ve included some additional links to give you a sneak peek of the show and inside info with interviews and performances! Enjoy! Articles/Features [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0IzUqsonMw] Click here for photos with the cast from on stage, behind the scenes, and around Dallas! CW33 - NEWSFIX behind the scenes look at THE KING AND I production and a mention of the DSM Academy Dance Workshop – Click here. Lia Chang feature article of THE KING AND I – Click here. The Dallas Socials featured article of THE KING AND I – Click here. Digital Mom featured article of THE KING AND I – Click here. Seniorific News featured article of THE KING AND I – Click here. Denton Record Cronical featured story on Parker and Madison (The Kings Children) – Click here. Helene In Between featured article of THE KING AND I – Click here. Interviews/Performances WFAA8 ABC – Good Morning Texas: Rachel York (Anna) performs “Getting To Know You” – Click here. WFAA8 ABC – Midday News: Alan Ariano (The King) gets interviewed by Ron Corning – Click here. The Dallas Morning News – Top Theater Picks Yoonjeong Seong (Tuptim) and Devin Ilaw (Lun Tha) perform “We Kiss in a Shadow.” – Click here. The Dallas Morning News Asian Column – Interview with Stephanie Lo (Eliza) cast of THE KING AND I – Click here. SeligFilmNews interview with Rumi Oyama (Angel George/Dance Captain) – Click here. TheaterJones interview with Glenn Casale, Director of THE KING AND I – Click here. AXS interview with Devin Ilaw (LunTha) – Click here. Broadway World interviews Rachel York (Anna) – Click here. (In Spanish) HOYDallas show review and interview with Sam Tanabe – Click here. SeligFilmNews interview with Yoonjeong Seong (Tuptim) – Click here. Reviews Fort Worth Star-Telegram review – Click here. The Dallas Morning News review of THE KING AND I – Click here. Dallas Voice review of THE KING AND I – Click here. TheaterJones review of THE KING AND I – Click here. SeligFilmNews review of THE KING AND I – Click here. Real Posh Mom's THE KING AND I review – Click here. Vanna Collins THE KING AND I review – Click here. A special edition of "The Clubhouse Podcast" reviewing this musical that is 24 minutes and 11 seconds in length. The review is on i-Tunes of course but can be listened to on Quicktime by clicking here.

Rob's written review: click here.
Chad's written review: click here.
Don Ford’s written review: click here.

MilkAndCuddles review of THE KING AND I – Click here. IrishFilmCritic review of THE KING AND I – Click here. EDGEDallas review of THE KING AND I – Click here. Red Carpet Crash Musical Review: 'The King And I' Is A Well Performed Classic BrandonDoesDallas review of THE KING AND I – Click here. THE KING AND I is on stage NOW thru Sunday at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. We hope you enjoy the show! -DSM Amanda

THE ILLUSIONISTS - Witness The Impossible wows audiences in North Texas! #IllusionistsDSM

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 00:32:16 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! We are excited to be presenting one of the most magical, thrilling and mystifying shows to hit Broadway THE ILLUSIONISTS - Witness The Impossible at the Music Hall thru April 19. This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth. Check out some sneak peeks below and what the DFW Metroplex has to say about it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aFMeforJ6k[/embed] PERFORMANCES & INTERVIEWS: WFAA8 ABC Good Morning Texas – Interview and performance with Adam Trent “The Futurist” The Dallas Morning News Top Theater Picks – Interview with Kevin James “The Inventor” and Andrew Basso “The Escapologist” CW33 News FIX – Interview with Kevin James “The Inventor” and Andrew Basso “The Escapologist” KDFW FOX4 Good Day Dallas - Interview with Jeff Hobson "The Trickster" WFAA8 ABC Daybreak - Interview with Andrew Basso "The Escapologist" (Spanish) KXTX Telemundo39 Acceso Total - Interview with Andrew Basso "the Escapologist" Stage Talk – Interview with Jeff Hobson “The Trickster” Selig Film News – Interview with Jeff Hobson “The Trickster” ARTICLES & FEATURES: The Flash List – Interview with Dan Sperry “The Anti-Conjurer” Uptown Latino – (In Spanish) Interview with Andrew Basso “The Escapologist” Selig Film News – Interview with Dan Sperry “The Anti-Conjurer” The Dallas Morning News Asian Column – Feature of Yu Ho-Jin “The Manipulator” Broadway World – THE ILLUSIONISTS Feature AXS – THE ILLUSIONISTS Feature The Dallas Socials – THE ILLUSIONISTS Feature Digital Mom – THE ILLUSIONISTS Feature REVIEWS: The Dallas Morning News – Review Dallas Voice - Review North Dallas Gazette - Review The Column – Review TheaterJones - Review Selig Film News - Review The Clubhouse Podcast - Special Edition Review (22:40 in length)

Rob from The Clubhouse - Review
Chad from The Clubhouse - Review
Don from The Clubhouse - Review

Red Carpet Crash – Review Real Posh Mom – Review Irish Film Critic – Review Vanna Collins - Review THE ILLUSIONISTS is on stage NOW thru Sunday, April 19 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Don’t miss out on the magic and keep checking back for more content! - Cisco

2015 Tony Awards® Nominations Tomorrow!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 22:39:03 +0000

Hello DSM Fans, This year we are excited to once again syndicate the live webcast of the Tony nominations announcement from our website for everyone to enjoy; click here or on the image above. The live streaming will begin tomorrow Tuesday, April 28 at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT) from the Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Mary-Louise Parker and Bruce Willis will do the honors as the co-host of this year’s announcements. TonyAwards.com will webcast the event in its entirety, and it will be shown on TWC NEWS/NY1 cable. CBS This morning will also cover part of the event. The 69th Annual Tony Awards®, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will take place on June 7. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS live from Radio City Music Hall at 8/7c (delayed PT). About the Tony Awards® The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards® are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Robert E. Wankel is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the American Theatre Wing, William Ivey Long is Chairman and Heather Hitchens is President. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the Executive Producers of the 2015 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2015 Tony Awards. IBM, the official information technology partner of the Tony Awards®, develops, designs, and hosts the official Tony Awards digital experience across platforms, including www.TonyAwards.com. Carnegie Mellon University is the first-ever, exclusive higher education partner of the Tony Awards. United Airlines is the official airline of the Tony Awards®. Paramount Hotel is the official hotel partner of the Tonys. City National Bank is the official bank of the Tony Awards®. Porsche Cars North America, Inc., manufacturer of exclusive sports cars, is celebrating dynamic performance as the official sports car of the Tony Awards®. La Crema, known for elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, is the official wine of the Tony Awards®. USA TODAY is the official media partner of the Tony Awards®. PEOPLE is the official magazine partner of the Tony Awards®. Clear Channel Spectacolor is an official media partner of the Tony Awards® and co-producer of the Tonys Simulcast in Times Square. The Hollywood Reporter is an official media partner of The Tony Awards®. - DSM Cisco

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA COMES TO NORTH TEXAS!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 18 May 2015 14:59:06 +0000

THE 2013 TONY® AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL

IS COMING TO NORTH TEXAS

JUNE 9-21 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

AND JUNE 23-28 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX – RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of SOUTH PACIFIC and THE SOUND OF MUSIC, will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park for a limited engagement from June 9-21, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. The tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall June 23-28, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too. CINDERELLA has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Music adaptation, supervision and arrangements are by David Chase and orchestrations are by Danny Troob. One of Rodgers + Hammerstein's most popular titles, CINDERELLA was written for television -- debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews. In 2013, the show made its long-overdue Broadway debut. Along with CINDERELLA, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Mr. Beane's book for CINDERELLA blends masterfully with the musical's cherished score with songs including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible/It's Possible," "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" The creative team includes scenic design by Tony® Award nominee Anna Louizos, costume design by six-time Tony® Award-winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony® Award-winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony® Award nominee Nevin Steinberg. The CINDERELLA tour is produced by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Caiola Productions, Roy Furman, Peter May, Sanford Robertson, Eric Schmidt, James Spry and Blanket Fort Productions. Single tickets for CINDERELLA, from $25-$98 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Mini Packs, which allow all ticket buyers to pick 3 or more shows for as low as $55, are also available online or may be ordered by mail or in person at The Box Office and by phoning 214.346.3300. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets are now on sale from $44-$132. Additionally, CINDERELLA is also part of a Choose Your Own Season Ticket Package. Single and season tickets are currently available online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817.212.4280 or in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales call 817.212.4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals 75th Anniversary Season will continue as follows: DIRTY DANCING, June 23–July 5, 2015; and PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will continue as follows: DIRTY DANCING, July 7-12; PIPPIN, July 21-26; JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Sept. 18-20; and KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth.

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Just Announced - 2015/2016 DSM Season!

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 21:27:01 +0000

It’s official! We have announced our 2015/2016 DSM Season! Here are the shows coming to DSM next season: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC November 3-22, 2015 #SoundOfMusicDSM The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical returns to Dallas! For more details, click here. ELF THE MUSICAL December 8-20, 2015 #ElfDSM ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, who embarks on a journey to NYC to find his birth father and discover his true identity. For more details, click here. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY February 2-14, 2016 #BridgesDSM THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, one of the most romantic stories ever written, is now an irresistible, two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical. For more details, click here. Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID March 11-27, 2016 #LittleMermaidDSM THE LITTLE MERMAID returns to Dallas with the story about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find love. For more details, click here. WICKED April 20 – May 22, 2016 #WickedDSM Back by “popular” demand, long before that girl from Kansas, two girls meet in the land of Oz! For more details, click here. RAGTIME THE MUSICAL May 24 – June 4, 2016 #RagtimeDSM The lives of a family of upper-class WASPs, an African-American couple and some Eastern-European Jewish immigrants intersect as they try to make a success in America. For more details, click here. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY June 14-26, 2016 #BulletsDSM Based on the Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath film, this musical comedy is loaded with big laughs, colorful characters, and the songs that made the 20s roar! For more details, click here. 42^nd STREET June 28 – July 10, 2016 #42StreetDSM Facing adversity from all directions, the young but talented Peggy Sawyer learns about show business and discovers which relationships are most important in life. For more details, click here. All performances are at the Music Hall at Fair Park. For photos from some of the shows, check out our slideshow at the bottom of this post! We hope you will join us next season!

Check out this quick video for a sneak peek at each show:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk5VMBZPlvo] Also, in case you hadn’t heard, we’re partnering up with Performing Arts Fort Worth for 3 of our shows: THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE LITTLE MERMAID, and 42^nd STREET! These shows will play 2 weeks here at DSM in Dallas, then travel to the Bass Performance Hall for a one-week engagement. We are very excited to be working closer with PAFW and hope that this will help bring more people to see live theatre! Season tickets are now on sale online at www.dallassummermusicals.org, and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300 or by faxing 214-691-7386. For groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP. Season subscribers enjoy such benefits as first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus huge savings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logo merchandise. Plus, season subscribers have first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up to $101 over the cost of single tickets. We’re so excited about our upcoming season, and we hope you are too! For more information about each show, season tickets, etc., please visit our website at www.dallassummermusicals.org. We’ll see you at the Music Hall soon! -DSM Amanda [gallery type="slideshow" link="none" size="large" ids="1854,1851,1861,1862,1863,1849,1859,1860,1852,1864,1865,1855,1869,1868,1867,1866,1853,1850,1857,1858,1848"]

DIRTY DANCING - The Classic Story On Stage Comes to North Texas!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

IS COMING TO NORTH TEXAS

JUNE 23 – JULY 5

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

AND

JULY 7-12

AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX – DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage, comes to life at the Music Hall at Fair Park for a limited engagement from June 23 – July 5, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. The tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall July 7-12, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. DIRTY DANCING is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” London’s Sunday Express says “This crowd-pleasing stage adaptation hits the jackpot!” It’s the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is on vacation in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Mesmerized by the racy dance moves and pounding rhythms she discovers in the resort’s staff quarters, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort’s sexy dance instructor. Passions ignite and Baby’s life changes forever when she is thrown into the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady, both on-stage and off. DIRTY DANCING began as an eight-week staged workshop in Manhattan in the fall of 2001. It was first performed at the Theatre Royal in Sydney, Australia in November 2004 before embarking upon a hugely successful tour of Australia and New Zealand. A new production opened at the Theater Neue Flora in Hamburg, Germany in March 2006 where it broke records for achieving the highest advance in European history. The production began performances on London’s West End in October 2006 with an £11 million advance and went on to become the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre. It closed in July 2011 in advance of a two-year UK national tour and then returned to London for a strictly limited season at the Piccadilly Theatre. Starring Samuel Pergande (Johnny Castle) and Gillian Abbott (Frances “Baby” Houseman), this North Texas premiere features a company of 26 that also includes Doug Carpenter (Billy Kostecki, Singer), Jerome Harmann-Hardeman (Tito Suarez), Ryan Jesse (Neil Kellerman), Caralyn Kozlowski (Marjorie Houseman), Gary Lynch (Max Kellerman), Scott McCreary (Robbie Gould), Herman Petras (Mr. Schumacher), Emily Rice (Lisa Houseman), Mark Elliot Wilson (Dr. Jake Houseman) and Jenny Winton (Penny Johnson). The ensemble comprises John Antony, Rachel Boone, Amanda Brantley, Josh Drake, Rashaan James II, Joshua Keith, Alexandra Matteo, , Phoebe Pearl, Virginia Preston, Jennlee Shallow, Nicole Spencer, Christopher Tierney, and Paul Victor. “The company that we have assembled for our North American tour is beautiful and truthful,” says Eleanor Bergstein, screenwriter of the film Dirty Dancing and book writer for the musical. “I originally wrote the movie because I love to dance. And since the movie first appeared, the openhearted audience response has made me believe that everyone has a secret dancer inside them, one they feel could connect them to the physical world in the way they dream. This remarkable cast brings those dreams to life through their extraordinary talent and exceptional skill. It’s been a deep pleasure for us to watch audiences around the country respond as this lovely group of people brings Dirty Dancing home to North America.” The production’s book is written by Eleanor Bergstein and the North American tour will be directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch based on the original choreography by Kate Champion. The creative team also includes Stephen Brimson Lewis (set design), Tim Mitchell (lighting design), Jennifer Irwin (costume design), Bobby Aitken (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video and projection design), Bernie Ardia (hair design), Conrad Helfrich (music supervisor and orchestrations) and Alan Plado (music director). DIRTY DANCING has gone on to perform across the world in markets as diverse as Utrecht, Holland, Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. Most recently, it has been represented by a new UK tour (which launched March 2014 in Bristol), a German tour (which launched April 2014 in Berlin) and a French tour (which is currently playing Paris). The show returned to Australia with a new tour that premiered in late 2014 in honor of the stage production’s 10th anniversary. The current North American tour launched in Washington, DC in August 2014 and is currently booked through the 2015-2016 season. The North American tour of DIRTY DANCING is produced by Amber Jacobsen, NETworks Presentations LLC, Grove Entertainment, and Col Joye in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions. Single tickets for DIRTY DANCING, from $20-$93 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets are now on sale from $44-$132. Additionally, DIRTY DANCING is also part of a Choose Your Own Season Ticket Package. Single and season tickets are currently available online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817.212.4280 or in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales call 817.212.4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals 75th Anniversary Season will close a wonderful year with PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will continue as follows: PIPPIN, July 21-26; JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Sept. 18-20; and KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth.

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North Texas Gives Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Rave Reviews! #CinderellaDSM

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 20:34:29 +0000

Hello DSM Fans, We are delighted to present the 2013 Tony® Award winning Broadway Musical Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA at the Music Hall at Fair Park through June 21, 2015. The tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall June 23-28. With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic fairytale combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising new twists! Check out what North Texas has to say about this magical production. - DSM Cisco [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZjzZWI1ArE[/embed] TV & RADIO INTERVIEWS/PERFORMANCES ABC8 – Good Morning Texas: Performance and interview with Paige Faure (Ella) ABC8 – Midday News: Interview with Kecia Lewis (Marie, The Fairy Godmother) CW33 – News Fix: A backstage look with Jose Sullivan (Assistant Company Manager) The Dallas Morning News – Top Theater Picks Bleeckie The Puppet: Interview with Paige Faure (Ella) Stage Talk: Interview with Paige Faure (Ella) 570 AM KLIF & The Flash List Podcast REVIEWS The Dallas Morning News Katy Trail Weekly Theater Jones Dallas Voice Al Dia (Spanish Publication) The Flash List The Column Selig Film News Red Carpet Crash Irish Film Critic EDGE Media Network The Clubhouse Podcast 23 min podcast The Clubhouse Podcast – Rob The Clubhouse Podcast – Chad The Clubhouse Podcast – Don Travel Lady Oh So Cynthia Dallas Mommy Blog Real Posh Mom Brandon Does Dallas Mommy Upgrade The Frugal Mom Vanna Collins CAST & PRODUCER INTERVIEWS The Dallas Morning News – Cover and three page spread Dallas Voice – Andy Huntington Jones Al Dia (Spanish Publication) – Aymee Garcia Broadway World – Audrey Cardwell Selig Film News – Andy Huntington Jones PREVIEWS & FEATURED ARTICLES D Magazine Focus Daily News Uptown Latino Magazine (Spanish Publication) Advocate Magazine CultureMap Broadway World The Flash List AXS Examiner Dallas Socials My Crazy Savings Genpink Dallas Single Mom Macaroni Kid SW Dallas Christian Alexander Fashion Live Be Dallas CINDERELLA is on stage NOW thru Sunday, June 21 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Don’t miss out on this dazzling musical and keep checking back for more content!

Top 5 Reasons to See #PippinDSM!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:15:14 +0000

PIPPIN comes to Dallas July 7-19, and we can't think of a better show to close our 75th Anniversary Season! We hope you will come celebrate with us, so here are the TOP 5 REASONS to come and see this modern and professional musical! #1 Winner of FOUR 2013 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical! #2 PIPPIN is a completely re-imagined version of the story you know and love – this revival is like nothing you’ve ever seen before! Check out this quick look at the show: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1YgbDiameI] #3 This cast of highly entertaining characters will make you laugh out loud! Click here to see the full list of the talented cast coming to the Music Hall! #4 Awe-inspiring acrobatics and show-stopping numbers will keep you on the edge of your seat! The breathtaking acrobatics are by LES 7 DOIGTS DE LA MAIN, the creative force behind the nationwide sensation TRACES. #5 The unique twist on this timeless show has an unforgettable score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell). PIPPIN is a night of theater that will leave you wanting more! Single tickets are ON SALE NOW! For more details and to purchase tickets, click here! We hope you will "join us" for this "extraordinary" show! -DSM Amanda

PIPPIN – Four Time Tony® Award-Winning Musical Comes To North Texas!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 17:38:31 +0000

FOUR-TIME TONY® AWARD WINNER

IS COMING TO NORTH TEXAS JULY 7-19 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK AND JULY 21-26 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX – Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony® Award-winning musical PIPPIN - described as “An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!” by NY1. PIPPIN is back for the first time since it thrilled audiences 40 years ago… With a beloved score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, GODSPELL), PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory. This captivating new production is directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (HAIR and THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS). It features sizzling choreography by Tony Award-nominee Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse and circus creation of breathtaking acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers), the creative force behind the nationwide sensation TRACES. PIPPIN is noted for many Broadway standards including “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic To Do,” “Glory,” “No Time at All,” “Morning Glow,” and “Love Song.” PIPPIN, the most nominated Broadway show of 2013, won four 2013 Tony® Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, four Drama Desk Awards, seven Outer Critic Circle Awards, and the Drama League Award. This thrilling production continues to dazzle audiences on tour across the U.S.! With a book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN features music supervision and arrangements by Nadia DiGiallonardo, orchestrations by Tony Award-winner Larry Hochman, scenic design by Tony Award-winner Scott Pask, costume design by Dominique Lemieux, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner, sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm. Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan present the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) production of PIPPIN with Lisa Matlin, Kyodo Tokyo, Stephen E. McManus, A&A Gordon, Tom Smedes/Peter Stern, Broadway Across America, Independent Presenters Network, Norton Herrick, Allen Spivak, Rebecca Gold, David Robbins/Bryan S. Weingarten, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, Hugh Hayes/Jonathan Reinis/Jamie Cesa, Jim Kierstead/Carlos Arana/Myla Lerner, Ben Feldman, Just For Laughs Theatricals, Square 1 Theatrics, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Wendy Federman/Carl Moellenberg, Infinity Theatre Company/Michael Rubenstein, and Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway/Ken Mahoney. Join us… for this magical, unforgettable production The New York Times declared “Astonishing! A PIPPIN for the 21st Century.” Single tickets for PIPPIN, from $25-$98 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849), and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets are now on sale from $44-$132 (pricing subject to change) and are available online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817.212.4280 or in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales, call 817.212.4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season has been announced kicking off with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, November 3-22, 2015; followed by ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016 as a season add-on; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount. For WICKED, groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will continue as follows: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Sept. 18-20; and KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2015-2016 Season kicks off with the Fort Worth debut of THE BOOK OF MORMON Dec. 1-6, 2015, followed by MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Jan. 13-17, 2016, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID March 29-April 3, 2016, THE WIZARD OF OZ June 7-12, 2016, 42ND STREET July 12-17, 2016, THE SOUND OF MUSIC Aug. 17-21, 2016 and, closing out the season, the spectacular new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Oct. 20-30, 2016. Broadway at the Bass season tickets are on sale online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The shows will play in Dallas for two weeks, then head to Fort Worth for limited, one-week runs. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth.

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DSM's Best Actor & Actress on the road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 02:04:38 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! It’s that time of year when after countless hours of searching for the best of the best we get to experience the National High School Musical Theatre Awards through the eyes of our very own 2015 DSM HSMTA Best Actor (Chris Clark) and Best Actress (Katelyn Cave) as they spend a whole week preparing to compete in the nationals. Check out what their experience has been like after arriving yesterday in the Big Apple. Here’s what Chris and Katelyn had to say after their first full day in NYC: Hello Dallas! Though I miss you dearly, New York has been an experience of a life time! I'm writing you now as I'm on my way to see an American in Paris, my first Broadway show I'll ever see. The rehearsals are intense but Chris and I are pushing forward and soaking up every bit of knowledge we can. So far we've already met a Broadway producer, the president of the Broadway League, the famous composer of Jekyll and Hyde, and there's bound to be more that we haven't even noticed in our rehearsals! It's all been a dream come true and I'm so grateful for the experience thus far. - Katelyn Today was Day 2 in NYC! We learned the opening number vocals last night, and it's going to sound amazing! There are so many Broadway shows represented in the music and it's a blast to sing with the other nominees who are sooooo talented! Today was Katelyn and I's first coaching session with our coach, Michael McElroy. He is so amazing and is so much fun to work with! We are on our way to Sardi's for dinner and then An American in Paris! This is such an amazing experience! - Chris [caption id="attachment_1894" align="aligncenter" width="224"] 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards Best Actor & Best Actress Nominees![/caption] [caption id="attachment_1896" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A photo from our first meeting last night! Lots of important people up here. We just met the president of the Broadway League.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1898" align="aligncenter" width="225"] About to watch An American In Paris at the Palace Theatre in NYC![/caption] If you are as excited as we are to have these two wonderful up and coming actors representing us in the nationals, make sure to check back and follow our daily blog as Chris and Katelyn make their way to the 2015 NHSMTA competition. - DSM Cisco

The road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards - Blog 2

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 02:39:04 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! We are back for round 2 of the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards. This time Chris and Katelyn sent us some neat little videos they capture of their journey from day 2 in NYC. Take a look below. [embed]https://youtu.be/zrXr9_kkKd4[/embed] [youtube=http://youtu.be/ptkchcmgD78] [youtube=http://youtu.be/hHgnR9B24HU] Here is a sneak peek of their adventures from day 3. [caption id="attachment_1914" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Getting an exclusive talkback with the cast and creative of An American In Paris![/caption] [caption id="attachment_1917" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Had to leave the building for a short alarm break.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1916" align="aligncenter" width="225"] At a meeting with our distinguished coaches during lunch. Telly Leung, Julia Murney, Adam Kantor, Eden Espinosa, and Michael McElroy.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1915" align="aligncenter" width="225"] With our AMAZING coach Michael McElroy![/caption] Check back tomorrow for a recap of their third day as Chris and Katelyn take NYC! -DSM Cisco

The passion sizzles in DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage at Dallas Summer Musicals! #DirtyDancingDSM

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 14:14:58 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth are thrilled to co-present the globally acclaimed production of DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage at the Music Hall at Fair Park thru July 5, 2015. The tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall July 7-12. DIRTY DANCING is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Check out what the critics thought of this great stage adaptation of the film. - DSM Cisco [embed]https://youtu.be/9vNy-dsw08A[/embed] TV & RADIO INTERVIEWS/PERFORMANCES WFAA ABC8 – Good Morning Texas does the Walk Down with Nicole Spencer (Swing) WFAA ABC8 – Daybreak’s Brian Glenn learns some dance moves from Rachel Boone (Ensemble) CW33 – NewsFix goes behind the scenes with Christopher Tierney (Ensemble) REVIEWS The Dallas Morning News CBS Radio The Column The Flash List Selig Film News Real Posh Mom Mercado Bilingue Theater Jones The Forney Post Red Carpet Crash The Clubhouse Podcast - Rob's written review - Chad's written review - Don's written review Dallas Single Mom Vanna Collins CAST & CREATIVE INTERVIEWS KLUV interview with Gillian Abbott (Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman) Theater Jones interview with Michele Lynch (Choreographer) Informate DFW interview with Joshua Keith (Ensemble) Al Dia Spanish interview with Emily Rice (Lisa Houseman) Uptown Latino Magazine Spanish interview with Emily Rice (Lisa Houseman) PREVIEWS & FEATURED ARTICLES The Dallas Morning News: Arts Lead The Dallas Morning News Top Theater Picks Video Blog The Dallas Morning News Feature Article KLIF 570 AM & The Flash List KPAX The Flash List Live Be Dallas Star Local Media Brandon Does Dallas Travel Lady My Crazy Savings Genpink Digital Mom Blog The Frugal Mom Dallas Observer Southlake Style DIRTY DANCING is on stage NOW thru Sunday, July 5 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Join us and Have The Time of Your Life!

The road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards – Day 3

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 02:28:50 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! We are back for Day 3 of the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! Before we give you the update on Day 3, our 2015 Best Actor Winner Chris Clark sent us his thoughts on his 2nd Day in NYC. Take a look: 6/25/15 12am Tonight we saw An American in Paris on Broadway and it was phenomenal! All of the dancing and set and music and lightings were all so beautiful and was stunning to watch! We were lucky to get a talk back session with many members of the cast including by Tony nominees Leanne Cope, Max Von Essen, and Brandon Uranowitz! They were so much fun to talk to and learn about their experiences with the show and their journeys as performers. It was such a great opportunity to talk to about 15 people from a blockbuster Broadway show we had just seen. Also today we had Composer, Frank Wildhorn, as our guest speaker. He has written some of my favorite shows like Bonnie and Clyde, Jekyll and Hyde, and the Civil War. It was incredible to talk to some one who is responsible for several of the songs I sing. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I can't wait to see what's in store! -Chris [gallery ids="1935,1936,1937,1938"] Chris also filled us in on his experiences yesterday. Check it out: Today was the longest, hardest, but one of the most rewarding days so far! They started staging the medley today, and that is super exciting! It's starting to come together and looks incredible; my medley is a lot of ballads from shows like Miss Saigon, Les Mis, Tarzan, and Little Shop. All the guys are super talented, and it's so humbling working with them. It was out last coaching session with Michael McElroy today, and I really made a lot of progress on the story telling of my song. I finally feel ready to put it in front of judges on Sunday! We got to meet the director/choreographer of An American in Paris, Christopher Wheeldon, and ask questions about his experience with the show. It's so cool to meet all these Broadway professionals. Another long, hard working, and fun day tomorrow here at the Jimmy Awards in New York City! -Chris Clark Be sure to continue to cheer on our Best Actor and Actress Winners as they are in their final day of rehearsals tomorrow (Sunday)! Check back in the morning for their update on Day 4 in NYC for the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! -DSM Amanda

The road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards – Day 4

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 14:00:24 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! We are back for Day 4 of the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! Yesterday, Katelyn and Chris sent us a quick video talking about their very challenging (but rewarding) day of rigorous rehearsal. Check it out! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wB9KMLC5rk] Chris also gave us a quick summary of the day. Here it is: Today was a very crazy, hectic day here in NYC at the Jimmy awards. The morning was spent running everyones contrasting song for Van Kaplan, the direcotr and producer of the Jimmys. I'm feeling confident in my song, and I know I will be proud of whatever happens tomorrow night when we perform our song for the distinguished judges; I'm very excited! After lunch we began running our medlies, and running our medlies, and running our medlies, and running, and running.....over and over again. The rehearsal process is no joke, but it's all so our performance on Monday night is perfect and almost second nature. After dinner we finished blocking and cleaning up the opening number and running that a lot as well. We have been working on the opening since Wednesday, and it has evolved into something i cant wait to put infront of an audience, let alone a broadway audience! Although we didn't meet any celebrities or see any shows today, it was still an amazing experience. I'm constantly reminded throughout this process how much I love performing and performing with others. I'm so lucky to work with these talented performers, choreographers, directors, stage managers, and pianists every day on this journey. Every time i see a "National High School Musical Theatre Awards" sign I remember how cool it is to have accomplished this dream of mine. And just waking up every morning and seeing the empire state building outside my window speaks for itself! Tomorrow is going to be another say of getting the show ready for the Minskoff Theater on Broadway! Will keep you posted! Thanks for folloing our journey! -Chris Be sure to continue to cheer on our Best Actor and Actress Winners - the day they've been working and waiting for arrives tomorrow! Check back in the morning for their update on Day 5 in NYC for the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! -DSM Amanda

The road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards – Day 5

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:58:29 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! We are back for Day 5 of the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! Yesterday, Chris and Katelyn had another very full day of rehearsal, but ended the day with their auditions for the National HSMTA Judges! Check out below what they had to say about their day! [caption id="attachment_1949" align="aligncenter" width="225"] "Running through the entire show before the big day!"[/caption] From Katelyn: Hi Dallas! So it's been a crazy few days so far of non stop rehearsal and fine tuning to put up a great show on Broadway. This place is like musical theatre boot camp. The hours are long, the material is taught fast, and very little breaks in between. But I wouldn't want to be doing anything else with this time. I'm trying to absorb any and all lessons I'm given and treasure every moment that I've been in the presence of a Broadway star. This is the kind of stuff I (along with every other participant) live for. [caption id="attachment_1948" align="aligncenter" width="225"] "Made friends with the MC from CABARET! He thinks I look like Liza Minelli. Us Fosse kids gotta stick together!"[/caption] Today was the day we performed our solos and medley for the judges of the Jimmy's, all of which include some of the most famous casting directors of New York (one of them being the casting director of CHICAGO THE MUSICAL's across the nation,) so you can imagine the pressure I felt while performing 2 different Fosse pieces in front of her. Chris and I did the very best we could and both of us feel no regrets toward our performances. We've got high hopes, but no matter what happens, we will leave this place better actors than we were before with some beautiful memories. Thanks for all the support! [caption id="attachment_1950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Can you spot Katelyn and Chris in the group? They're rehearsing the opening number for the Jimmy Awards![/caption] From Chris: Sunday is done, and tomorrow we perform on Broadway! Today was a long day of cleaning up the opening number, cleaning medleys, and staging and running the closing number. We ran the whole show through, and it's looking fantastic! Tonight we performed our medleys and solos for the judges, which was a lot of fun and an incredible opportunity and experience. I'm so grateful to be here amongst these incredibly talented young men! [caption id="attachment_1951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Final Night at Tisch NYU![/caption] Tomorrow's the big day! We head off to the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway in the morning and spend the day rehearsing to open that night! Tomorrow will be a rewarding day topped off with getting to see, and hopefully meet, our host, Sutton Foster!!! I still can't believe that's happening! Can't wait to be in the theater tomorrow and perform that night! [caption id="attachment_1952" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From their chaperone Stacie Smith: "After being judged tonight, they still have smiles on their faces. They both have winning attitudes!"[/caption] Today is the big day for Chris and Katelyn - they get to perform on Broadway for the very first time! Unfortunately we can't see the performance here at home, the Jimmy Awards are tonight at 7:30pm ET at the Minskoff Theatre (where THE LION KING calls home). Chris and Katelyn will keep us updated about their day, and of course, we will let you know LIVE if anything big happens! We will be back tomorrow morning with our next blog to let you know what happens today. Please help us cheer them on as they compete tonight! -DSM Amanda

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: How Stephen Schwartz ran off with the circus

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:00:00 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: How Stephen Schwartz ran off with the circus by John Moore | Aug 20, 2014 [caption id="attachment_1957" align="alignleft" width="200"] Stephen Schwartz[/caption] Stephen Schwartz likes to joke that somewhere, “Bob Fosse is surely looking up and laughing.” He kids about the direction. But not the director. Fosse was Schwartz’s legendary collaborator on the musical Pippin, which in war-torn 1972 brought a surreal collision of violence, innocence and sexuality to the Broadway stage. Fosse, known for his provocative choreography and fiery temper, died in 1987. Last year, a significantly re-imagined Pippin won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, and its new national touring production will launching in Denver on Sept. 6. “I think Bob would be thrilled with this,” said Schwartz, the composer who 40 years ago openly questioned the darkness and overindulgence that Fosse brought to Schwartz’s sweet story of a naïve boy searching for meaning in his life. “There were specific choices Bob made that I honestly thought were heavy-handed and crude, and not in a good way,” Schwartz said. But now at age 66, Schwartz added, “I joke that I have ironically become the defender of Bob's vision.” Schwartz and book writer Roger O. Hirson have been approached dozens of times over the years by artists wanting to revisit Pippin. “Frankly, I think merely reproducing the original -- if that were even possible -- would have felt quite dated,” Schwartz said. “And none of the new approaches made much sense to us.” Any revival would bring big challenges. “The Fosse choreography is so iconic, and the performance of Ben Vereen (as the Leading Player) was so indelible, even to people who didn't actually see it,” Schwartz said. “So it really would need a concept that was going to overcome all that without obliterating the show. And that was quite difficult to come by.” Enter Diane Paulus, the groundbreaking director who brought the Vietnam musical Hair back to explosive life on Broadway in 2009. Her new idea? The original mysterious troupe would now be a circus family performing the story of Pippin. Now the young prince’s quest for meaning would be a death-defying one, set against live and often breathtaking acrobatics. Schwartz and Hinson were apprehensive at first. “But I think I can speak for Roger when I say we have been totally won over,” Schwartz said. “Frankly, I think Diane is a better director of scenes and actors than Bob Fosse was. And consequently, I think the story is better told.” Pippin began as a 17-year-old Schwartz’s spin-off of The Lion in Winter, a play about the foibles of King Henry II in 1183. Over the next seven years, the Pippin project came to reflect Schwartz’s own journey as a young man in his 20s. Fosse, then 47, agreed to direct and choreograph Pippin on Broadway if allowed to make the story more dark and sophisticated. Fosse brought in Ben Vereen, fresh off his electric performance in Jesus Christ Superstar, to play the Leading Player, a narrator of sorts who leads Pippin down many dangerous roads. Schwartz says it’s “absolutely accurate” to suggest that, essentially, he is Pippin, “particularly in talking about me at age 24,” he said. “I think more and more that the character of Pippin became a great deal like me at that time.” But what became intriguingly clear to Circus Creator Gypsy Snyder, who had never seen Pippin before the recent revival, is that Fosse is the Leading Player. “When you look at the sexuality and the seduction and the violence and the eroticism of the piece,” Snyder said, “ … then we are really looking at a retrospective of Fosse's life. And then you have is the innocent side of Pippin: The loving family man, the ‘Corner of the Sky” Pippin. That was absolutely the Stephen Schwartz that I got to know through this production. He's just so positive and so hard-working and he keeps an innocent eye. That’s Pippin.” Schwartz concurs. “Bob’s was the more worldly-wise point of view,” Schwartz said. “And Roger Hirson, who was in his 40s when we opened, may have been the Charlemagne character.” Read more about this and more in this exclusive, expansive interview with one of the leading figures in American theatre history. Schwartz, who has contributed to Wicked, Godspell, Children of Eden and many more, is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and president of the Dramatists Guild. He has three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and, shockingly, no Tony Awards. John Moore: So where did I find you today? Stephen Schwartz: I am getting ready to visit Trumbull, Conn., because a high school there has a drama troupe run by a girl who very bravely last year resisted censorship on their production of Rent. And The Directors Guild, of which I am president, has honored her with a courage award. Now her troupe is doing Children of Eden, so it’s kind of come full circle. And so, in appreciation for what she has done, I am taking myself to Trumbull. John Moore: It meant a lot to the students attending last month’s Jimmy Awards in New York when you stopped by to speak to them. Stephen Schwartz: Well, Music Theatre International, which represents most of my shows, is very active with the Jimmy Awards, and they asked if I would come and talk with them. And pretty much anything MTI asks me to do, I do -- because they have been very good to me over the years. John Moore: Well, I think you have been pretty good to MTI, too. Stephen Schwartz: (laughing): Well, thanks. I really enjoyed getting a chance to talk to the kids. They were amazing. It was really cool to spend a little time with them. John Moore What was your message of encouragement to them? Stephen Schwartz: I am a big believer in -- and living proof of -- the theory of ‘follow your bliss.’ This is a very difficult and often very mean business. But if this is your dream, and you persevere at it, it is possible for people to make a living, and make a life, in this profession. My advice to them is the same as my advice to my own children: If you pursue what you want to do, you may not wind up where you thought you were going to, exactly, but it will take you somewhere you are more likely to want to be than if you made the ‘safe,’ or perhaps the ‘sane’ choice. If you think, 'I'll wait, and at some point I'll pursue what I actually want do do' ... then I don't think that necessarily works out for the better. John Moore: Wait, I didn't think we were talking about Pippin yet. But apparently we are. Stephen Schwartz: Well yes. There we are... You know, Pippin, in the end, makes the sane choice. John Moore: I am sure you have been told over and over about how your music has changed the course of young peoples' lives. But for my generation, it was and Pippin doing the life-changing, and now you have this whole new generation of theatre kids all geeked out because, hey: You're the guy who wrote Wicked. Stephen Schwartz: It is sort of strange, isn’t it? But obviously it's nice that at my … advanced … age, if you will, that I have come up with something – along with my collaborators -- that has spoken to people of all ages, but particularly to a young generation. John Moore: So whose idea was it to revisit Pippin now? Stephen Schwartz: It was really (Director) Diane Paulus, who had been wanting to do it for quite a while. I was an admirer of her work, particularly on (the Broadway revival of) Hair, which I thought was excellent. I felt Diane had managed to both honor the original but also make it fresh, and that is a quite tricky line to walk. After I really got to see her way of thinking, and her creativity, in a show called Blue Flower at her (American Repertory Theatre) in Boston, I became enthusiastic that she was someone who might be able to pull this off. And, of course, she has proven that in spades. John Moore: So what did you think when Diane said, 'I want to put this in a circus'? Stephen Schwartz: I had actually heard the idea of a circus before. And it wasn't something that I thought was a great idea, to be honest, because I was picturing a different kind of circus. But then Diane, who has done work with Cirque du Soleil, told me about this troupe from Montreal called Les 7 doigts de la main, or ‘The 7 Fingers of the Hand.’ I went to see a show of theirs that happened to be touring the States. We discussed it further and I began to have a glimmer of what Diane was talking about. But I have to say that until I saw it, I really didn't truly understand what she meant, and what her vision was. I just didn't. I think that's one of the things about someone who is as gifted and as visionary as Diane. She had these ideas in her head that are difficult to express verbally -- but then when you see them, you get them. John Moore: And so now that you have lived in it, how do you articulate to people that this is the winning formula? Stephen Schwartz: That is a good question. Other than by assertion, I'm not sure that I know how to do that. It’s important for you to understand that Diane did not just overlay circus performance on top of the show as some kind of gimmick. First of all, she integrated the idea of the circus performances into the storytelling. It's not as if the show grinds to a halt and they do a circus trick, and then the story starts up again. Secondly, the way that she and Gypsy Snider did the circus part of the show, and the way Chet Walker did the choreography, is very special, I think. In some instances, the choreography is a very faithful re-creation of Bob Fosse's work. And in other places, I think what Chet has done is a very creative interpretation of what Bob might have done under these new circumstances. So it really is a complete re-envisioning of Pippin. This is a revisal as well as a revival of the show -- on all levels. John Moore: How do you think Bob would have liked this new approach? Stephen Schwartz: I think Bob would be thrilled with this. I think if we had been able to think of some of the changes we have made together, he would have been extremely enthusiastic about them. Just the sheer sort of theatricality of the staging and this presentation, I think would have pleased him very much. John Moore: You have said the inspiration for Pippin actually comes from James Goldman’s play The Lion in Winter. Stephen Schwartz: That’s true. It started as a sort of a medieval court intrigue musical melodrama. And then it gradually transmogrified into being semi-autobiographical. And then it turned into the story of my generation -- as I saw it. John Moore: So here’s a quick Lion in Winter story: I was reviewing a production by a venerable community theatre for The Denver Post. And as we are leaving, an older audience member sees my notebook and stops me. She says, ‘Now you be sure to put in your review that that was the most understandable Shakespeare play I have ever seen!’ Stephen Schwartz (laughing): That is so great. And you know what? She is right. That is absolutely the best description of The Lion in Winter I have ever heard. I hope you put it in your review. That is perfect. John Moore: You bet I did. Stephen Schwartz: That is just hilarious. John Moore: So getting back to of Bob Fosse ... I've noticed over the years that whenever you are interviewed, you are so disarmingly honest in your answers. One might even say Pippin-esque -- Stephen Schwartz: Yes, and that gets me into trouble a lot of the time. John Moore: Well I respect how you’ve openly discussed your initial, honest discomfort with how far Mr. Fosse was taking things. So I am wondering how you feel about this new version in those terms. Stephen Schwartz: I do feel quite honestly that there were some choices Bob made that I thought were just – well, overindulgent is the best word. That went beyond the concept of the sexuality that he injected into it. John Moore: And here’s where I think the real danger lies: It's not whether Broadway gets it right, or the national touring production, because you control that. But you can’t know how that indulgence expresses itself in local productions across the country that might not have someone to reign it in. I have seen productions of Pippin where they take that Bob Fosse element and they times it by 10. Stephen Schwartz: Yes, I know -- and that's so not the show. And it really misses the tone that Bob was going for, and I think largely succeeded with. What I like about this new production, is that, yes, it is still a very sexy show. And a lot of those elements that Bob created remain in the show intact. But I think Diane, with her intelligence -- and frankly with her taste -- never lets it go over the line. Even in the famed ‘sex ballet’ section, it doesn't go over the line, I feel. John Moore: You may get a kick out of the headline of my essay after having seen the new revival on Broadway last October. It read: "Broadway wins over a Pippin pessimist." Stephen Schwartz: Well you know what? That could MY headline on this one, too. John Moore: You’re kidding … Really? Stephen Schwartz: Oh, yeah. Because Roger and I resisted for so long going forward. I don't know if we were pessimistic, but we certainly had trepidation about it. And I think I can speak for Roger when I say we have been totally won over. I am just a huge fan of this production. John Moore: I never had any question about Pippin the character, or his story, because it's so clearly universal. I wrote, 'You don't have to be 17 and coming of age to feel this show in your open heart and rambling bones. You just have to have come of age.’ That has to be somewhat true of any 17-year-old of any century. But my first Pippin was a very small community theatre production in 1986, and I remember feeling that it felt like this was a signature work for its time – which was the 1970s. So at first, I wasn't sure how revisiting it in 2012 could really work, or why it was even necessary – not without turning it into a whole new modern, hipper theatre experience. But I think what impressed me the most about this new version was how muscular it was. I mean, this show is a true physical display of athletic and acrobatic skill. I also thought it was just charming in how self-deprecating it was in its telling. Stephen Schwartz: I agree with all of that. So much of Pippin was of its time. It was written in the time of the Vietnam War and the Generation Gap and 'Don't trust anybody over 30.' And in that whole context, frankly, I think merely reproducing the original -- if that were even possible -- would have felt quite dated. That's one of the reasons I was optimistic when Diane approached me, because that's one of the things she achieved with Hair. It was of its time, but it had a contemporary sensibility. It was like living in the moment, and then looking at the moment at the same time -- and I thought that was a pretty remarkable achievement. Pippin is certainly less specifically of its time than Hair was of its, but I still think that's part of what Diane has achieved here. John Moore: I'm glad you brought up the Vietnam War, because I am of the generation that just missed most of that, so I did not grow up thinking of war as a universal. But now, everyone who is Pippin's age in America has lived their entire conscious lives with their country in a state of military conflict. Stephen Schwartz: Exactly. John Moore: … So maybe young people today will take a perspective into this new Pippin that's more in line with the young people who saw Pippin in 1972. War is a universal for this generation – because, for them, it’s always been there. Stephen Schwartz: Well, that's unfortunately a “for sure.” And in that same kind of controversial and divisive way that the Vietnam War was. It’s not like World War II, where everyone was united in thinking this was something that we had to do as a country. Iraq was extremely polarizing and divisive, so … yeah. John Moore: Let’s touch on a couple of other key elements. First, you have changed the ending. What can we say about that without giving anything away? Stephen Schwartz: Now, that is something I have no doubt Bob Fosse would have been happy with, if only we had thought of it back then. There are reasons we couldn't have – reasons that go beyond just that we weren't smart enough to think of it. But I will say this new ending is so clearly the right ending for the show. John Moore: Why do you say you two could not have eventually come up with this new idea the first time around? Stephen Schwartz: It has to do with the fact that, in the original show, the character of Theo was a little boy. He was 6. In this cast, he is a bit older than that. John Moore: OK, I am going to leave it at that. Stephen Schwartz: And so will I. John Moore: You mentioned Ben Vereen. Obviously a huge change is having your Leading Player be played by a woman. Stephen Schwartz: I knew one of the problems we would have to overcome in doing any big, commercial revival of Pippin would be memory of Ben Vereen everybody would bring into it. You’d start out with people wanting to see that. And, of course, that's impossible. So we had to either somehow break that -- or overcome that. So when Diane said, 'Well, what if the character of the Leading Player is a woman?' -- that made us think, 'Well … then you can't be sitting there saying, ‘He’s no Ben Vereen!’ -- which is what I think any male performer would have encountered. Oddly enough, I feel like, now that we have done this -- If at some point in the future we wanted to go back to a male Leading Player, there are certain things about the way the show is written, and some of the new things that we have added -- particularly between the Leading Player and Catherine -- that I think would not go down as well if the Leading Player were male. It would seem a little brutal. John Moore: And before we leave: How great is it that you have John Rubinstein coming on board to play Pippin’s father after having originated the role of Pippin in 1972? Stephen Schwartz: Is that the best? I mean, is that the best ever? And this was not stunt casting. We walked into the auditions and John Rubinstein’s name was on the list. There were some other really good people, too. Of course, we were amazed and delighted that John was coming in to audition. But he was the best. Frankly, I don't think we would have done it if we hadn't felt that he was the best choice. But the idea of it was so irresistible. There was one moment in auditions, and it was only for Roger and me. John read the chapel scene and there is a line where Pippin says, 'Time has passed you by, father.’ And Charlemagne's line back is, 'And your time has come, my son?' I mean, hearing that from John? I can't even talk about it. It was just so emotional to hear John Rubinstein say that line. I know it doesn't have the same resonance for people who are just seeing the show for the first time. But for Roger and me? That was a pretty emotional moment. John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

PIPPIN is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals July 7-19 at Music Hall at Fair Park. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Just go to http://tinyurl.com/og2sxh7. For more details, click here. Want a chance to win tickets to opening night? Download our mobile app and take our quick trivia quiz! To download our app, Apple users click here and Android users click here!

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: Diane Paulus on directing without a net

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 20:00:17 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: Diane Paulus on directing without a net by John Moore | Aug 22, 2014 [caption id="attachment_1966" align="alignleft" width="400"] Diane Paulus[/caption] Director Diane Paulus’ mantra as an artist is to always expand the boundaries of theatre ... or why bother? “As a director,” she says, “one of my biggest interests is creating a visceral experience for audiences.” Audiences will be feeling visceral come Sept. 6, when the national touring production of Paulus’ Tony-winning musical revival Pippin launches in Denver. They will be witnessing death-defying flips, tight-rope walks, knife-juggling and more. And “those acrobatic tricks you see are real, “ she said, “and they are real every night." That means be no protective cables. No safety nets. "With every performance, those are real, extraordinary achievements happening on that stage. It's live. It's happening there. And the audience witnesses it in the moment. And that makes the production so immediate.” It is that kind of theatrical daring that earned Paulus spot on Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. … In the world. Paulus is the Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University in Boston, where she debuted Pippin on its way to Broadway; and where she just opened a pre-Broadway run of a new Peter Pan musical based on the film Finding Neverland. Paulus brought the London theatrical phenomenon Sleep No More to America in 2011 on its way to New York. That’s an immersive version of Macbeth that plays out on multiple floors of a warehouse in the meatpacking district of Manhattan. Paulus calls that kind of thing “adventure theatre.” The same can be said of Pippin. Paulus got the green light to mount the first major revival of Pippin in 40 years when she told composer Stephen Schwartz she wanted to set his story of a young man search’s for meaning in the dangerous world of the circus. “It wasn’t about layering something on that didn’t need to be there,” Paulus said. “It was about the theme of the story: How far are we willing to go to be extraordinary in our lives? That question is at the heart of Pippin’s journey. That question is also at the heart of every circus performer’s life. And it’s a literal one: How far will I go? Will I jump and land upside down on someone’s hand? Will I leap through a hoop on fire? How far can I push my human body to aspire to be extraordinary?” What follows are excerpts from our expansive interview with one of the leading figures in the American theatre. John Moore: We’re talking to you as you are just days away from opening the Broadway-bound Finding Neverland at your American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Diane Paulus: Yes, we are in the middle of previews right now. John Moore: Well, then, I can't imagine how you can be in any kind of a Pippinheadspace, so thank you for making time. Diane Paulus: It's a little crazy, but I have my Pippin T-shirt on right now, so I am already in Pippin land a little bit. It's all good. John Moore: What was your introduction to Pippin? Diane Paulus: I saw Pippin as a little girl growing up in New York City. I was 8 years old, and seeing it on Broadway marked me. It made such a huge impression. I remembered those characters. I remembered that world that (Director and Choreographer) Bob Fosse put on stage. I remembered Ben Vereen and all those players. And of course, I grew up on the score. I wore out my album. I played Corner of the Sky on the piano. I also sang With You at my brother's wedding -- not really understanding that, in the show, that's a song about Pippin getting together with a lot of different women. I sing No Time at Allwith my college friends at our reunions. So I've been living that Pippin score my whole life. I have always wanted to touch this show again. John Moore: What appealed to you most about revisiting it? Diane Paulus: A lot of people remember the Fosse and they remember the music, but you don't have a lot of people saying to you, 'Oh, what an amazing story.’ But I have always felt there was a very powerful and important story there. To me, Pippin is almost a pageant play, like a trial of the soul in all these different stages of a man’s life that are theatricalized -- going to war, the temptation of the flesh, the ordinary life. Pippin is the son of King Charlemagne, but he could stand in as an everyman. I got very excited about trying to make the meaning of his story viscerally felt. John Moore: And what does it mean -- to you? Diane Paulus: For me, the theme of Pippin is this: How far do we go to be extraordinary in our lives? Right now, that is such a relevant question -- more than ever. Just how far do we push ourselves? What is glory? What is it to be extraordinary, and what are the choices that we make in our lives? Ultimately, what I love about Pippin is that it's not a moralistic story. It doesn't say, 'Well, here's the right answer.' It really puts the question out to the audience. When we first did Pippin up at A.R.T. (in Boston), we’re in a college town, and there were young college kids coming to see the show who were completely relating to Pippin. They were asking questions like, 'What am I doing with my life?' 'What is my purpose in life?' 'What am I going to be, and who am I, and why am I here on the planet?' And you know what? I am a mom in my 40s, and I am thinking about things like, 'What are the choices I've made, and how do I negotiate a career and a family, and what does it mean to be extraordinary in my life?' Over the course of this production, I have seen entire generations of people affected by it. I saw an elderly man in his 80s weeping at the end of the show, and I just thought, 'Cleary, this show pushes you to think about the choices you are making, or the choices you have made in your life.’ John Moore: So what was your biggest directorial challenge? Diane Paulus: My biggest directorial challenge was determining what the world of this play was going to be. John Moore: (Composer) Stephen Schwartz told me you weren't the first to come to him wanting to put Pippin in a circus. But he did say that your concept was the best. How did you came up with your idea, and what was the pitch? Diane Paulus: I really got interested in this idea of circus because, to me, the show has to have an identity for the troupe of players. And the circus has such a strong identity. It's a traveling family that pitches their tent from town to town. They transform the lives of the people who dare to enter that tent. And then they pick up and leave, and they go somewhere else. So you don't ever really know a lot about who those circus people are. You don't think about them doing ordinary things like going to the supermarket and cooking. They just sort of come alive for you for as long as they are in that tent. It's a fantasy world. That was the hook for me: What if this group is a circus troupe, and they have come to town, and they have pitched their tent, and the Leading Player is literally standing outside that tent seducing you, the audience, to come inside and ‘join us.’ And if you dare to enter that tent, who knows what you will experience? Who knows how you will be transformed? You might be so transformed that you might even decide that you want to run away with the circus. That's another metaphor for me: How many of us in our lives have wanted to run away with the circus? Either literally, or metaphorically? When in our lives have we decided to take that leap—and when have we decided, "No," because, for any number of reasons, I can't run away with the circus right now. I have to choose other things. That was the metaphor me. John Moore: Your goal is always to expand the boundaries of theatre, and that certainly seems to be what the circus achieves in Pippin. Diane Paulus: I have been a great admirer of Les 7 doigts de la main (The 7 Fingers of the Hand). So when I met (Circus Creator) Gypsy Snider, I asked if she would ever want to work on a musical. And then we started talking about Pippin, and the theme meant so much to her. That's when I knew this collaboration would work. Because it wasn't about layering something on that didn’t need to be there. It was about the theme of the story: How far are we willing to go to be extraordinary in our lives? That question is at the heart of every acrobat and circus performer. That’s the first thing Gypsy said to me: ‘That is the life of an acrobat.’ John Moore: And how does that translate into the theatre experience? Diane Paulus: I am always interested in embracing theatre for what I think it should be, which is the absolute, live experience that is witnessed by each audience member. It’s not something we can later replay on our telephones or computers. As an audience member, you are seeing it, and what you are seeing can only be experienced right then and there, and it will be different every night. John Moore: How did you decide how you would go about replicating the Fosse choreography – and how much? Diane Paulus: There is no one like Bob Fosse. I have always worshiped at the altar of Fosse for what he did as an artist, and for his unique vision. I knew if we were going to bring back Pippin, we had to bring back the Fosse. It's just too connected. Chet Walker was part of that original Broadway production of Pippin. He had worked with Fosse for years, and so having Chet on the team was so important to me. When I first met Chet, he said to me, 'Bob Fosse would never want to re-create something. He never wanted to repeat himself. He and Stephen Schwartz also told me that Fosse loved Fellini. And when you look at it, this fascination with Fellini and clowns is all over even the original choreography. It's almost inside the DNA of the original production. But we had an opportunity with our production to take it further. John Moore: When you approached Gypsy, she had never seen Pippin before. She said the first thing that became obvious to her was that the Leading Player was Bob Fosse, and Pippin was Stephen Schwartz. When I mentioned that to Stephen, he just kind of paused and said, ‘That's exactly right.’ What do you think of the comparison? Diane Paulus: I am such a huge fan of both of those artists. It was so interesting to work with Stephen because here it was, 40 years later, and he was no longer the young college kid who wrote the show. He's now a mature artist looking back on his life. And I think now he had an appreciation for what Fosse saw in it when they made this in the '70s. So I think Stephen really helped me understand what the brew was back in the '70s between he and Fosse. Looking at it now for this revival as a mature artist, I think Stephen was able to identify more with Fosse. It was so edifying and inspiring for me to really understand the original production and everything that made that birth happen. A lot of people think of Pippin from having done it at their camp, or at their community theatre, or at their college. And so, for a lot of people, they know it as The Kumbaya Pippin. And this is not The Kumbaya Pippin. This story is deep, and it is profound, and it has really intense meaning. I think that was there in the original collaboration between Stephen and Bob Fosse. I remember that heat from when I was a kid, and I wanted to re-create that heat and take it even further. John Moore: Obviously a big change with this production is that a woman is playing the Leading Player. Stephen felt no male actor could possibly follow in Ben Vereen’s footsteps. Diane Paulus: Well, you know, in the script, it just says, "Leading Player." It doesn't say anything about race or gender. There is no other information, aside what is in the text. So I sent Stephen a note saying, ‘Tell me about this Leading Player. What do I have to know?' Just give me some details.' And he said back, 'The Leading Player can be anyone. Male. Female African-American, white, whatever demographic or ethnicity you want.' The only thing he said is that the Leading Player has to feel different from Pippin. The Leading Player has to represent everything Pippin has not experienced in life. So, with that … I agree with Stephen. The specter of Ben Vereen is huge, and for me that meant we had to have someone who could sing as well as Ben, who could dance as well as Ben, and who could act as well as Ben. So that was really the gauntlet that was thrown down. We had to find someone who is a true triple-threat. I knew Ben could do everything, and I knew we had to find someone who could deliver in all those departments. And, in our case -- maybe also someone who is willing to get on a trapeze and be a little fearless with some of the circus stuff. John Moore: How hard was that to find all in one performer? Diane Paulus: We auditioned everyone. We auditioned men and women. Every possible ethnicity came through our door. We had no agenda about who we were going to cast. However, I have to confess that Patina Miller was secretly in my brain, because I had worked with her on Hair. And then she helped create this stamp on this role of a powerful woman and leader. She proved that a woman could tell this story in such an interesting way for a modern, 21st-century audience. So now, the female Leading Player is integral. We’re looking forward to what Sasha Allen does with the role now. John Moore: Speaking of Hair, I have to ask you about your Jeannie, who was played by Colorado’s sweetheart, Annaleigh Ashford. Diane Paulus: Oh my gosh. She is such a joy, and, as everyone knows, so hysterically funny. There is not one word that can come out of that women's mouth that doesn't make you laugh. I loved working with her on Hair. She was so quirky and funny and such a pro. And she is so committed as an artist. I felt really lucky to have had that experience with her. John Moore: It looks like Finding Neverland is going to be the next big thing. Can you give us a sneak peek into what kind of a theatrical experience we're in for? Diane Paulus: What I love about the show is that it's the story of the power of the imagination through the life of J.M. Barrie. Speaking of expanding the boundaries, he took a leap of faith and created something that everyone felt was crazy back in 1904. I mean, this was a story with boys who could fly and fairies and mermaids and crocodiles. Everybody thought he was nuts. He created Peter Pan -- something we all now think of as a brand of peanut butter. And if people have seen it, they say, ‘Oh, yeah, I've seen it a thousand times, and it’s the most mainstream, accessible musical you could point to.’ But it wasn't in its creation. John Moore: This must be fun for you, having daughters. Diane Paulus. Yes. Because at the heart of it, this is about is seeing the world through the eyes of a child. I am making Finding Neverland for my two daughters. What does it means to have spirit of a child in your life? What kind of worlds can we see through their eyes? I love the show. The heart of it is very strong. John Moore: Before we go, I am curious what you think about the new ending forPippin. Without giving anything away, why do you think this new ending is the right ending? Diane Paulus: Our ending now makes perfect sense. This show is about all the trials we have to go through in our lives, and everyone goes through them. And so when Pippin ends, you have this sense that it is all going to begin again. I tell you, when we were making this production, there were kids all over the place, because so many of us have children, and I let everybody watch rehearsal. It was like a circus of children. Every time we finished rehearsal, all of the kids would rush on to the stage and try to climb the poles and try to do all the acrobatic tricks. It was sort of primal. I looked at them one day and I thought, ‘That's the story!’ Even though we know we are going to fall, a kid will always want to climb a tree. A kid will always want to try to climb a pole. It’s a part of human nature, and that to me is what we get in this new ending. John Moore: And also looking at it from Pippin’s perspective. He has to make a decision. And I think Stephen was always a little uncomfortable that people might interpret the original ending of a man choosing to be a responsible husband and father as somehow settling. In this day and age, we really should be celebrating those men who choose fatherhood and family, should we not? Diane Paulus: Every individual has to face certain decisions at some point in their lives. And you make your choice for a reason. And I think each choice is extraordinary, if you really get in touch with yourself. To me, that's the story. Stop doing what people tell you to do. Identify what's in your heart. That might mean running away with the circus. That might mean choosing a family, and to love someone, which means you can't run away with the circus right now. It's all about the choice. It’s all about the risk of the choice. It's not about which choice you actually make. Can you hear your heart and follow your heart and the truth inside yourself? That is the journey of Pippin. That’s your journey. And that’s my journey, too. John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

PIPPIN is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals TOMORROW, July 7-19 at Music Hall at Fair Park. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Just go to http://tinyurl.com/og2sxh7. For more details, click here.

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: Circus Creator Gypsy Snider

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 20:00:46 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: Circus Creator Gypsy Snider by John Moore | Aug 09, 2014 [caption id="attachment_1977" align="alignleft" width="300"] To lifetime circus performer Gypsy Snider, "circus is like eating and sleeping and family." Photo courtesy Gypsy Snider.[/caption] In Pippin the Musical, a family of circus performers defies death to tell their story with every flip, tumble and mid-air spin. The same is true of those actors performing in Pippin the Musical. And the same has been true of Pippin Circus Creator Gypsy Snider since she began her career as a circus performer at the tender age of 4. With all respect to Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked and Pippin, Snider was defying gravity long before Elphaba was a green twinkle in his orchestral eye. Snider’s parents are the founders of San Francisco’s pioneering Pickle Family Circus, an acclaimed alternative circus often cited as a primary influence on the creation of Cirque du Soleil. Snider is the co-founder of Montreal’s 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main), a pioneering form of live entertainment that has twice brought Traces to Denver. That innovative show used astonishing displays of athletic skill to tell the real-life stories of seven street teens. Snider embraces circus as its own narrative storytelling form. Her brand of physical theatre requires strength, agility and grace. Her upbringing was like no other. She grew up around the likes of circus legends Bill Irwin and Geoff Hoyle. She appeared among an entire town of street performers in Robert Altman's 1980 film Popeye. By 18, she was attending a physical-theater school in Switzerland. She co-founded 7 Fingers in 2002 and, for her first foray into Broadway, she was called upon by Pippin Director Diane Paulus to help re-tell Schwartz’s iconic story of a young prince’s quest for meaning in life set within the world of circus. Pippin won the 2013 Tony Award for best musical revival. Its first national touring production launches at Denver’s Buell Theatre on Sept. 6. Modern audiences who have a familiarity with circus generally think of Cirque du Soleil. But while Snider toured with Cirque and has a deep love for it, she says Pippin should not be mistaken for it. If anything, she said, it should evoke the old days of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. “This is old-school, hard-core circus,” she said. We’re talking juggling knives and swallowing fire. “I would say that Cirque du Soleil is like the grandfather, and we are the rebellious teenagers,” she said. Pippin culminates with a boy becoming a man, having to choose between a life of adventure or family. Snider has never had to pick between the two – her small children are also embracing the circus life. But Snider’s life turned upside down in 2008, when she were diagnosed with advanced-stage colon cancer. “It was definitely a life-changing experience,” she said. Much surgery, chemotherapy chemotherapy and radiation followed. “Suddenly, my work felt trivial and my family became more important than ever before,” Snider said in a previous interview with Broadway Buzz. “I began to question how taxing show business can be and wondered if I should just move to the country and raise my two daughters in a stress-free environment, instead of in the glory of this wonderful but all consuming lifestyle. It was during this difficult time that Diane Paulus reached out to me about the possibility of collaborating on a new production of Pippin.” And when she did, her charge to Snider was simple: “Come make this thrilling.” Here are more excerpts from our recent conversation with Snider for MyDenverCenter.Org. It took place just before rehearsals were to begin for the national touring production of Pippin as Snider and her family were visiting her parents' family retreat in the Berkshires. [caption id="attachment_1980" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Broadway cast of "Pippin," above. The first national touring production of the iconic musical, with circus creations by Gypsy Snider, launches in Denver on Sept. 6. Photo by Joan Marcus.[/caption] John Moore: When you brought Traces to Denver in 2011, could you have even imagined what your immediate future had in store for you? Gypsy Snider: Actually, Denver plays a semi-big part in this. When I was working in Denver, I saw all of the other productions that were being staged there at the time. I remember sitting there watching the (Denver Center Theatre Company’s) A Midsummer Night's Dream. That’s when I knew that I wanted to get back to the States, that I wanted to work in the English language and that I wanted to work in the theatre. I remember saying that to (Denver Center for the Performing Arts President) Randy Weeks afterward. I got really excited about the possibilities from Denver on. John Moore: How did the Pippin opportunity come about? Gypsy Snider: My first conversation with (Director) Diane Paulus and (Producer) Barry Weissler coincided with Traces being in Denver. She had just done a Cirque production called Amaluna, so she was really starting to be familiar with the Montreal circus scene. She had already seen tons of videos of things we had done. Barry had been following us for several years. At my first meeting with him in New York, I was like, 'What am I doing? How did I end up here?’ But Barry said, ‘Look, I don't know what to do with you. But I know that I love what you do.’ And so, he continued to follow our shows. Later on, when Diane said, ‘I think we need to put circus into the Pippin story,’ Barry said, ‘How about Gypsy? And she said, 'I totally know who you are talking about.’ And so then they sent me the script. John Moore: I read somewhere that you had never seen Pippin before. Gypsy Snider: No, I had not. Maybe I had remotely heard the music, but I didn't associate it with the story. So I read the book and … it’s a very strange piece of literature. But I fell in love with it. I instantly knew what I wanted to do with it. I read it in one hour in my bed and I just … knew. When I met with Diane, I rambled on and on. I had no idea what I was getting into. But she was sold. John Moore: Sounds to me like you are the rambling river in that story. Gypsy Snider: Oh, Diane Paulus is a big river instigator. She saw my enthusiasm. And when she feels someone has an idea that is flowing, she does an incredible job of pushing that flow and guiding that flow. John Moore: What specifically did you bring to the creative conversation? Gypsy Snider: At 7 Fingers, we have a way of bringing emotion and texture into acrobatics. In a way, I think the passion and the theatricality that circus brings to it quickly became the backbone of this new project. Of course, Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz are the backbone of Pippin. But in terms of rejuvenating it, the circus became the backbone of doing it this way. John Moore: What was it like high-flying into the world of the original Pippin choreographer, the late Bob Fosse? Gypsy Snider: I was fascinated to learn the extent to which Bob Fosse was a huge influence on my career -- unbeknown to me. There is a kind of sexuality and a violence in his artwork that I always need whenever I am creating a show. I know that sex and violence sells TV shows, but Fosse really criticized the entertainment industry for the addictive and seductive nature of sexuality and violence in entertainment. I don't mean to go off on a crazy tangent, but if we are talking about seducing Pippin into a living a more extraordinary life by luring him into something that could be potentially fatal … that’s the entertainment industry. In that way, we are really looking at a retrospective of Fosse's life. That's what I found so, so fascinating about it. And then there is the innocent side of Pippin: The loving family man, the “corner of the sky” Pippin. That was absolutely the Stephen Schwartz that I got to know, amazingly, through this production. He's just so positive and so hard-working. John Moore: How do you think Bob Fosse would have liked the idea of setting Pippin in a circus? Gypsy Snider: I feel like Bob Fosse would have wanted us to do this, and that he would have done it himself if this were available to him at the time. Maybe not to this extent, but … it was there. It was already there in the words. John Moore: With this reimagined version of Pippin – both setting it in the circus and, more tellingly, in consideration of the life choice Pippin faces in the end – it seems to me as if maybe Diane Paulus is saying that Pippin is you. Gypsy Snider: I think so. Diane and I are both the same age, and we both have two daughters. We have discussed on a very personal level the seduction of the business and this balance you try to achieve, being professional women who have families. It’s really like we are the Catherines -- but we are also being seduced like the Pippins. It was interesting for both of us how we connected on an emotional level to this musical. Pippin has this choice to make, and one of them it to embrace this simple home life with an older woman and her child living out in the country where there is no magic and there is no makeup -- which is something Fosse presented in a very boring, very pejorative manner. And yet here I am talking to you right now while I am out here in the country with my children -- and I love it. But I also love my work. I feed on it so much, and I am proud to show my children how passionate I am about my work. John Moore: For 40 years, both audiences and writers alike have argued whether the ending to Pippin is a tragedy ... or a compromise ... or a perfect, happy ending. I imagine, given your life story, that you are split right down the middle. Gypsy Snider: I am split down the middle. For me, circus is like eating and sleeping and family. It's my brother; it's my mother; it's my father. Just talking about it makes me so emotional. There were maybe a few moments in my life when I felt like walking away from it, or perhaps trying something totally different. Circus is a very physically demanding life. It's a very itinerant life. And when my kids started going to school, I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ But circus is my family, too. Sometimes I like to think of it as the mafia because it's a very closed, tight-knit circle. But the reason is because there is so much danger and risk and sacrifice involved. True circus people know each other, and there is a whole sort of respect and value system to it that is so honorable and so genuine and so truthful. To true circus people, there is no nonsense. There is no competition. There is no, 'I am better than you are.' There is no, 'I am going to be a star, but you are not going to be a star.' Each individual circus performer is absolutely unique, and that uniqueness is valued. There is no one way to do anything. Unfortunately, it's not like dance. To survive in the dance world, you have to sacrifice so much of your individuality and soul. Everyone wants to play Romeo, for example. In circus, that is not ever an issue. People don't compare themselves. There is somehow a place for everyone. John Moore: How do you feel about getting the whole Pippin creative team together and doing this all over again with a new cast? Gypsy Snider: Diane, (Choreographer Chet Walker) and I have been talking about how exciting it is going to be to get back in the room. I am feeling like this is going to be an incredible reunion for all three of us. John Moore: Well, then … welcome in advance to Denver. Gypsy Snider: I am so excited. There is a place in Denver that sells poutine (gravy fries with cheese curds), so I am definitely looking forward to that. John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: John Rubinstein, the first prince, is now his father

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 20:00:57 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: John Rubinstein, the first prince, is now his father by John Moore | Aug 29, 2014 [caption id="attachment_1987" align="alignleft" width="300"] John Rubinstein originated the title role in 'Pippin' on Broadway in 1972. When the new national touring production launches in Denver 42 years later, he will be playing Pippin's father, King Charlemagne. Photo by John Moore.[/caption] Stephen Schwartz talks about it like a giddy teenager. “Isn’t that the best? I mean, isn't that the best ... ever?” he asks rhetorically. The legendary composer is talking about one of those wonderfully quirky little creative coincidences that come around once in, oh, about every 40 years. John Rubinstein was the first actor ever to play Pippin in the iconic 1972 Bob Fosse-Stephen Schwartz musical of the same name. Remarkably, he is now performing in the new national touring production of Broadway’s 2013 Tony Award-winning revival that launches in Denver on Sept. 6. Rubinstein is no longer a kid acting out the young prince’s search for meaning in his existence. Now, he is a seasoned pro playing Pippin’s disapproving father, King Charlemagne. Isn’t that the best … ever? “We would not have done it if we didn’t feel that John was the best choice for the role,” Schwartz said. “But the idea of it was irresistible.” Gypsy Snyder, one of the key creators of this new version of Pippin, said watching Rubinstein audition for the role of Charlemagne was like ... maple syrup. “It was just so sweet and so right and so juicy to see,” she said. “It was incredible. It was mind-blowing." The new Pippin is significantly changed from the 1972 original also starring Ben Vereen, Jill Clayburgh and Irene Ryan. The story is now a yarn being told by a troupe of circus performers who impart it while performing death-defying acts of aerial and acrobatic skill. Vereen’s dynamic, enigmatic Leading Player is now being played by a woman. And the ending of the show has been changed to better illuminate universal truths about any young person’s quest to live an extraordinary life. “The feeling of the show is bigger and brighter and faster,” Rubinstein said. He compares revisiting Pippin at this stage of his life to revisiting a childhood home. “It's like you lived in a house," he said. "You were there when they built it; you were the first family to live in it, and you grew up in it. Then you go back to that house 40 years later, and there it is: Same house. Same place. Same birds singing in the trees outside. But it's all different now. They've redecorated the living room, and they have added a more modern feel to the old dining room where you all spent so many years eating together. Outside the window, they have added a swimming pool where there used to be a flower garden. You don't feel like you are in the same place. But you are. That's sort of what it is like. On the hot days, we used to have to turn on the hose and pour it over our heads. Now we can jump into this beautiful new swimming pool. But you sort of miss the old flower garden, too." Rubinstein has enjoyed a steady career in TV and film, but the son of internationally acclaimed pianist Arthur Rubinstein is also an accomplished composer himself. He scored the music for the iconic 1970s Robert Redford films Jeremiah Johnson and The Candidate. “One of the great thrills of my life, still to this day, was watching the Oscars when The Candidate won for best screenplay,” Rubinstein said. “I was watching on the TV, and when Jeremy Larner walked up to the podium, they played my theme. I almost fainted.” Rubinstein won the 1980 Tony Award for his portrayal of James Leeds in Children of a Lesser God. Other Broadway appearances include Hurlyburly, M. Butterfly and Fools. His films include 21 Grams, Someone to Watch Over Me and The Boys from Brazil. His 150-plus TV credits include Family (as Jeff Maitland),Crazy Like a Fox, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the series finale of Friends. (He played the doctor who delivered Monica and Chandler's babies.) But Pippin, Rubinstein said, will always be one of the seminal moments of his career. “Doing your first Broadway show, at a time when I was having my first two kids? It was absolutely a gigantic moment in my life ... one that lasted 2 1/2 years." Please enjoy the following excerpts of our expansive conversation with John Rubinstein just before the cast shifted its base to Denver, where the national touring production of "Pippin" opens in the Buell Theatre on Sept. 6. Rubinstein had been temporarily added to the Broadway cast as part of his preparation for the tour: John Moore: So you have been rehearsing all day with the touring cast, and then performing at night with the Broadway cast. How weird is that? John Rubinstein: Well, it's a little weird. I have been doing the show for nine weeks now, so I have a rhythm going with the Broadway cast. And we're all developing our rhythm together as a touring cast. It's not as hard as it seems. It's just long hours. It will be lovely to get out there to Denver and just focus on that. John Moore: OK, but let's be honest: You have been doing this show for a lot more than nine weeks. John Rubinstein: Ha-ha, yes … but with a very substantial break in between. John Moore: Yes, like 40 years. John Rubinstein: Exactly. John Moore: Why was this something you wanted to do at this point in your life? John Rubinstein: Well, it doesn't take a lot of convincing for me. I have a lot of children. I had my first child a week after I learned that I got the part in the first Pippin. My second child was born during Pippin on a matinee day. And I've had three other kids since. I now have two kids in college. And my youngest is now 8. So pretty much anybody who wants me, gets me (laughs). John Moore: When you heard Pippin was coming back, take me through the audition process. Were you thinking, ‘What a perfect way to complete a circle of life?' Or did someone from Pippin call you and say, 'You have to come in for this'? John Rubinstein: It was a little bit of both. I live in Los Angeles, but I happened to be in New York to speak at my 50th high-school reunion. I delivered this big speech on that Friday. Rather late that day, my agent called and said, 'Hey, John, is there any way you can get yourself to New York?' And I said, 'Hey ... I'm here!' And then he said, ‘On Monday morning, they want you to audition to take over for Terrence Mann as King Charlemagne in Pippin.' And I thought that would be really fun. I hadn't been on Broadway since I did Ragtime in 1999. I had been looking for a reason to spend some time in New York again, so I said, sure. On Monday morning, I went in and auditioned, and there was good old Stephen (Schwartz) and (Book Writer) Roger Hirson and (Choreographer) Chet Walker and a bunch of old friends. I met Gypsy Snider for the first time and (Director) Diane Paulus and some of the other people involved. So I auditioned for them. Then they made me wait around for an hour or so while they got (Producer) Barry Weissler to come down. Then they made me do it all over again, and I flew happily back to California. The next week or so, they called and offered me the tour. And I thought, 'Gee, I haven't toured since 1968.' That was for On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever, a bus-and-truck tour with Howard Keel and John Raitt. Good people. But it was grueling. I remember we went through Denver on that tour. John Moore: May I read you a quote from Stephen Schwartz about your audition? John Rubinstein: Sure. John Moore: He told me: ‘There was this one moment when John read the chapel scene. There is a line where Pippin says, 'Time has passed you by, father,' and Charlemagne's line back is, 'And YOUR time has come, my son?' I mean, hearing that from John? I can't even talk about it. It was just so emotional to hear John Rubinstein say that line. I know it doesn't have the same resonance for people who are just seeing the show for the first time, but for Roger Hirson and me? That was a pretty emotional moment.' John Rubinstein: Oh, that's so moving. Those are very well-written scenes by Roger Hirson. Very actable. To me, the chapel scene is the best actor scene in the play. Now, keep in mind: I was not reading opposite the actor who is now playing Pippin. I was reading with a young lady from the audition team. But nonetheless, yes, to be looking at Pippin and saying that? I felt that resonance, too. When I said that line in the audition -- ‘And YOUR time has come, my son?' with that heavy sarcasm and that feeling of the inevitability of the passage of the baton, yeah, it was a thrill. When I do that scene in the show every night now, I get the chills just kneeling down and talking to Pippin about it. John Moore: You can't take a thing from the great Terrence Mann. But for audiences who hear you say that line, it's just got to be different, given that you were the first Pippin. John Rubinstein: Well, for audiences who are old enough to have either seen the original production or listened to the original cast album, maybe. I would say that only about 3 percent of the audience has any inkling about that. I'm just the old guy in the beard. John Moore: Well, we're going to singlehandedly make it ... 6 percent then. John Rubinstein: OK, then. John Moore: We can't tell people specifically how the ending has changed in this new version of the show, but I think having the original Pippin performing as the new Charlemagne just makes the new ending that much more perfect. John Rubinstein: Yes, that's true. Those little magic similarities are beautiful. And they are there for the finding in this show … if you find them. John Moore: How different has it been for you as a creative team putting together this new Pippin together without Bob Fosse in the room? John Rubinstein: Well, there is a lot of Bob Fosse in the room. No doubt about it. The show was certainly created by Bob and Stephen and Roger, but when you originate a show, whether you are one of the dancers or playing the title role, as I was, you are all creating it together as a team. That may sound ostentatious, but it is not entirely false to say that we all made that show. Bob Fosse was clearly the driving force, and the vision, and the boss. There's no way, not even 42 years later, that I don't carry a lot of the inner workings, and the subtext, and the background with me still. They are just there. When I hear the music, I feel them. When I say the words, I am living still with Bob Fosse in the rehearsal studio. John Moore: In what ways does it feel different to you then? John Rubinstein: This is a completely new re-imagining of the entire staging. When we first did it, there was plenty of entertainment value in it, for sure -- but it was a darker show. What made it spectacular were the dancing and the dancers -- every one of them hand-picked by Bob Fosse. And certainly Ben Vereen's performance as the Leading Player. Not to minimize the work of anyone else, but what really made that staging was the difficult choreography and how amazingly it was executed and interpreted by that particular group of dancers. Do you still cross paths with Ben Vereen? John Moore: John Rubinstein: Oh, sure. We're brothers. He has visited me a bunch of times while I have been doing the show in New York. We've eaten together. We've cried and laughed together. We love each other. John Moore: I am curious how he feels about a woman now playing the Leading Player. John Rubinstein: We haven't talked about that particular detail. We have just said to each other: 'This is a different show. It's not our Pippin revamped and re-mounted. It's Pippin re-conceived and re-presented. It's a different show. And there are some poignancies about that, for sure. John Moore: OK, so when you are sitting in rehearsal, how do resist the urge to tap the new Pippin on the shoulder and say, 'Let me tell you how it's done, kid.' John Rubinstein: No, never, never. I would never dream of doing it. It would be contrary to all etiquette. Aside from that, I don't need to. These guys are way better playing this part than I ever was. John Moore: I would think that from the young actor's vantage point, you would be an incredible resource in the room. John Rubinstein: He doesn't need to ask me anything. He really doesn't, and therefore … he doesn't. He's great. He's amazing. He's a wonderful actor. He's full of sensitivity. And he sings like an angel. John Moore: But wouldn't that be a little like, say, if you did Jesus Christ Superstar in 1970, and now, 40 years later, Ben Vereen is back playing ... Pontius Pilate? There's a new kid playing Judas and Ben Vereen is right there in the room. I don’t know. I might have to ask him about the hanging scene. John Rubinstein: You know what? I had that very experience. I'm talking to you by phone from the Union Square Theatre, where we are rehearsing for this tour. And it is in this very same theatre that, back in 1987, I played Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. That is a very difficult, challenging, wonderful masterpiece written by Tom Stoppard in 1966. And the third character in the play is, get this … the Leading Player. That's no coincidence. Certainly they (Stoppard and Schwartz) got that from Hamlet. The Leading Player brings the acting troupe. And I believe that when Stephen first wrote Pippin, the Leading Player was not supposed be a song and dance person -- man or woman. It was supposed to be an old fuddy-duddy, Shakespearean actor, just like he is in Hamlet. The head of a troupe of players. An older guy with a huge repertoire and a big, booming voice. I think it was the combination of Bob Fosse and Stephen and Roger working together that changed that concept, and the Leading Player became … Ben Vereen. John Moore: Awesome. But back to 1987. John Rubinstein: I am playing Guildenstern and Stephen Lang is playing Rosencrantz. In the room with us, playing the Leading Player, was the great British actor John Wood, who had originated the role of Guildenstern on Broadway 20 years earlier -- and he won a Tony Award for it. Now he is 20 years older and playing the Leading Player in our show, and he is watching me struggle to put Guildenstern together, day after day in rehearsal. So I definitely lived that experience, and it was very daunting. I was like, 'How do I do this?' And there is John Wood, standing there watching me do it. But he never said a single word to me -- and I never asked him, because that's just not what's done. John Moore: Stephen Schwartz and I talked about the 1972 production being a real reflection of its times. So I am curious what the original Pippin thinks about why it is still relevant for a teenage boy or girl to experience the message of this show now. John Rubinstein: It’s a very universal tale. It’s an everyman's story. It's got elements of Huck Finn and Candide. The framework is this callow youth who is born into privilege and he has all these choices. He’s slightly narcissistic and slightly arrogant. He’s easily displeased and even spoiled, you could argue. But then he goes on this journey of discovery and self-discovery. And what he discovers is humility and being peaceful and feeling satisfied with a life that is relatively commonplace and relatively mundane. That's a very moving story, because we all go through this as we are growing up. When we are children, we all want to be a policeman or a fireman; an astronaut or a movie star. We want to be a great athlete or a rich tycoon. We want to be glorious and amazing and accomplished, And then when we hit a certain age, if we are lucky, we realize that we are really happy to have a woman who loves us … and a child who doesn't hate us … and a dog who is happy to see us when we come home. And maybe that's our greatest accomplishment. John Moore: Bigger than all of those other things. John Rubinstein: In this country, we are taught from birth that money is the only thing that matters. When they say the United States is about democracy and freedom, they really mean it's about money. Your worth as a person is only really measured by the amount of money you make, or that you have. It doesn't matter if you are the Koch brothers, and you never did a lick of work in your life, and you inherited everything from your father. You are still considered a driving force in this country. Because you have money. You are listened to, and you are respected. Now if you are a great human being and you have done amazing things but you don't have a big bank account? Not so much. Pippin is a story that says your biggest accomplishment is how you find happiness in the little things. In the commonplace. In what we all have within our reach. John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: Bob Fosse protégé Chet Walker

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 20:00:05 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: Bob Fosse protégé Chet Walker by John Moore | Aug 14, 2014 [caption id="attachment_1994" align="alignleft" width="300"] Choreographer Chet Walker believes the legendary Bob Fosse "had a style, not a technique."[/caption] Bob Fosse has been gone for 27 years, but protégé Chet Walker still refers to the icon of modern dance exclusively as “Mr. Fosse.” “He deserves that respect,” Walker said. When Walker met Fosse in 1972, “I was the size of a peanut,” he said. Walker was 16 and auditioning to join the cast of Fosse’s TV concert, Liza with a Z. Two years later, he was added to the company of Pippin, playing a peasant. That led to several impressionable years “behind the table” assisting and observing Fosse, who died in 1987. Walker then conceived the Broadway tribute Fosse, which won the 1989 Tony Award for best musical. Walker doesn’t know the driven, oversexed hothead many people remember as the semi-fictional character Roy Scheider played in the Fosse-directed film, All that Jazz. The mentor Walker knew never raised his voice or got angry. He says the primary lessons Fosse taught him were “humanity, how to be with people and how to listen.” Wait … not technique? 'That’s the thing: Mr. Fosse didn’t have a technique,” said Walker. “What he did have was incredible style.” When Pippin Director Diane Paulus knew she wanted to bring Pippin back to life and set it in the athletic and sensuous world of circus acrobatics and gymnastics -- “we knew we had to bring back the Fosse, too,” she said. “It's just too connected.” Paulus also knew there was only one man for the job of "bringing back the Fosse": Choreographer Chet Walker. “He had worked with Fosse for years, and so having Chet was so important to me,” she said. When Paulus told Walker she wanted to transplant Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hinson’s quintessential musical search for meaning inside the world of the circus, she got all the confirmation she needed that she was on the right path from Walker. “He told us about Fosse’s fascination with all things (Federico) Fellini and clowns,” Paulus said. “And really that’s all over even the original choreography. It’s almost inside the DNA of the original production.” When they got into the rehearsal room, Pippin Circus Creator Gypsy Snyder says Walker “was the holder of all things Fosse.” But the goal was not – except in certain circumstances, to merely re-create Fosse’s signature choreography. It was to tell the story “in the style of Mr. Fosse,” Walker said. In a wide-ranging interview, Walker talks about being “the keeper of the Fosse flame,” and what exactly “the style of Mr. Fosse” really means. And take our word for it – it ain’t “jazz hands” .... John Moore: What goes through your mind when you’re told, ‘You are the only person for this job’? Chet Walker: It's interesting because I didn't know exactly what ‘my job’ was going to be in the beginning, or how it was all going to work. You had what Gypsy was doing with the circus, and then you had Diane’s vision, and then there was this question of how to incorporate Mr. Fosse's work -- or the work that would be in his style. We knew we should not just try to repeat Mr. Fosse's work, because the concept of this show is very different. So … it was daunting, I can tell you that. To be honest, I didn’t really know how to do it at first. But Diane is such an amazing director, and she was very clear as to the possibilities. So we literally looked at all the possibilities of how the circus and dance and acting could all work together, and I think we ultimately got it to be very seamless. But I don't think we knew exactly how to do that in the beginning. John Moore: That had to be the fun of it though, wasn’t it -- the not knowing? Chet Walker: Oh, yes. But you have to understand that back in the 1970s, we didn't question anything. We did what Mr. Fosse said to do. He was a Svengali in a very positive way. You see, I wasn't in the original Pippin cast. I came in when everyone went to Chicago, about two years after it first opened. Back then, our entire version of Pippin was based on Mr. Fosse's vision of that show. When you look at this new version of the show, very little has changed in the script, and nothing at all has changed in the music. And yet nevertheless … it's a whole different show. It's amazing that after 40 years the same story can be told in a whole different arena. It's not really a revival, per se … I believe it is truly a new show. John Moore: What were your first impressions of meeting Mr. Fosse? Chet Walker: Oh my gosh, I was a mere child. I went to the audition for Liza with a Z. I had my tights on, my white little socks, my ballet shoes and a black and green and white striped shirt. I was the size of a peanut. It was a Saturday, and it was raining, and I really don't know why I even showed up. But I did. I was this embryonic little person surrounded by all of these men. But the way that Mr. Fosse responded to me was not like he responded to anybody else. He allowed me to stay. He was kind, and so generous. The whole time, my eyes were just … open. I had not been around a male figure like that before. A lot of my dancing teachers were female, so I had never really been around a dominating male figure who was that charismatic. I mean, let’s face it: The guy was charismatic. John Moore: What did you learn from him? Chet Walker: His teaching wasn't like teaching. It was like observation. It was like being in a lab and being able to observe everything from many different points of view. A lot of the people who were around him were muses, or people he was creating things for. I was really a different person in the room. Yes, I was a performer for him, but my relationship was always behind the table, talking about why, when, how this and that. And that made my relationship with him so different. So when people talk about him the way they do, I don't recognize this person that they talk about. John Moore: After spending so many years over his shoulder, what was it like when it was your time to step forward? Chet Walker: Well, his passing made that happen. When he passed away while we were doing Sweet Charity, I figured I would just be a dancer for as long as I could dance, and that would be it. On his passing, yes, mine was one of the shoulders it was put on. I would go out and do all kinds of things that were related to Mr. Fosse. But I had created what we now know as (the musical) Fosse long before it was called Fosse. It started with a TV show that I brought to him back in 1985. And it took me 15 years to finally get it to where it was a Broadway show. That was a huge responsibility -- but it was one that I wanted to have. When you want to have a responsibility, it's not such a hardship. And boy, you think you know someone … until you start to really do the work. I remember on my first meeting with him about the show, I brought all my research to him. And he looks at it and says, 'Well you know, this is not everything I've done.' And I’m like, ‘Oh no?’ He would always have that smirk because he would tell you things and you would say, 'Oh my God, you're kidding me -- You did that, too?' It was interesting. The whole process of knowing this man and knowing his work and watching how he worked in the business ... you can't go to school for that. John Moore: I mean this next question in all sincerity, although it's going to sound provocative. But I think you have made quite a legacy for yourself when a man from the dance world, which is not widely known by the general public, is identifiable by the mere saying of the words … ‘Jazz hands.’ Everyone knows you are talking about Bob Fosse. Chet Walker: Well I never equate that to Mr. Fosse, because ‘jazz hands’ is a position. And in Mr. Fosse's world, those hands in a dance would have ended up being some sort of imagery. It's funny because people go, 'I'm a Fosse dancer,' and I always go, 'Well, that's interesting, because if you didn't actually work with Mr. Fosse, then you are not a Fosse dancer. It's sort of like, 'You're not a Balanchine dancer unless you have worked with Mr. Balanchine. Now, you may have learned from other Balanchine dancers, which is just phenomenal, but … it's not the same thing. Mr. Fosse would never have called what he did 'Fosse.' Do you know what I mean? He would never have said, 'OK everyone, today, we are going to do Fosse.' What he did was all imagery. It’s weird because people like to say, 'Oh, I am going to teach the technique of Bob Fosse,' and I say, 'But he didn't have a technique.' He had an incredible style. I don't believe that there is any one person other than Jack Cole who had a specific, ‘Wow pow, oh my gosh’ moment like Mr. Fosse. Now, Jack Cole had both a technique, and a style. But Mr. Fosse didn't have a technique per se. He had a style that was amazing. John Moore: And how would you describe that style? Chet Walker: Well, it’s unlike anyone else's. Other choreographers use many kinds of styles. And many of those styles were unbelievable. But Mr. Fosse's? When you see that walk, or you see those arms -- it is just kind of breathtaking. It really is, because it's not something that you see all the time. There is such acting in it. There is such imagery in it. It's not just dance movement. There is drama, there is humor, there is entertainment. If you look at any musical that Mr. Fosse ever had his hand in, there was always something that I call ‘the underbelly.’ There's always an underneath side of what's going on. He totally could entertain you, but if you look beyond the entertainment aspect of it, he's probably saying something else. And in Pippin -- most definitely. When Mr. Schwartz wrote this with Roger O. Hinson in the 1970s, there were a lot of things going on that pertained to the piece -- Charles Manson, the war, what our government was doing. Things were not always as they appeared. Mr. Fosse was very much an advocate of making it show business, and making it so that you can see the show of it. So we have a whole war section in Pippin. And then there's this whole business of The Manson Trio. That’s an iconic piece of vaudeville as we are tap-dancing through the war. And if you relate that back to Vietnam or any other war that this country has ever gone through, there's a lot that seems to be a cover-up. There is a lot of not wanting to actually see it for what it is. There is a lot of show business to it. Mr. Fosse was such a patriotic man. [caption id="attachment_1959" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Anthony Wayne, Patina Miller and Andrew Fitch perform Bob Fosse's iconic "The Manson Trio" in the 2013 Broadway revival of "Pippin." Photo by Joan Marcus.[/caption] John Moore: You have said Mr. Fosse called the signature Manson Trio dance that because the Leading Player is a bit of a charismatic cult leader, as was Charles Manson. That he liked the juxtaposition of song-and-dance with people being killed. So will we see The Manson Trio in the new Pippin? Chet Walker: Absolutely. The Manson Trio is all his. That's Mr. Fosse's. That's not mine. There would be no way I could have ever created anything more perfect than that. John Moore: When you see any Fosse show today, you still know instantly who originally choreographed it. Can you talk about how Mr. Fosse lives on in what you’ve done? Chet Walker: Well, thanks that you think that. I think when you look at what we have created in Pippin, you will see a sense of showmanship to the circus, and to the theatrical. Hopefully I have paid homage to him well, and that you probably have never seen anything quite like it before. John Moore: We've all seen wonderful Broadway shows that play well in front of 1,000 people, and then they go out on the road and get swallowed up in these large, 3,000-seat roadhouses. But here the dancing and the circus element and the aerials actually allow Pippin the unique opportunity to actually grow into the space and take advantage of the larger canvas. Chet Walker: This show can be played to a huge audience or to a small audience, and I think it works for both. There's going to be an intimacy to it no matter what, because the story is intimate. But the story is also huge. It is small, but it's also so impactful. And then when you see all that we have happening on that stage, I think that's what makes it so powerful.” John Moore: Considering the gymnastics and high-flying and the muscular nature of this new Pippin, do you think if these performance techniques were available in the 1970s, Mr. Fosse would have done this same thing himself? Chet Walker: Oh, I think so. He absolutely loved clowns, and he collected all kinds of things about clowns. You never can really know what people would have thought, but if someone had come up with the idea of doing this in 1972, I think Mr. Fosse would have jumped on the bandwagon. He would have gone for the challenge and wanted to see what that was all about. Totally. John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

Countdown to PIPPIN with The 'Pippin' Profiles: Sasha Allen finds her voice in the raw art of live theatre

dallassummermusicals — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 20:00:49 +0000

The 'Pippin' Profiles: Sasha Allen finds her voice in the raw art of live theatre by John Moore | Sep 02, 2014 [caption id="attachment_2000" align="alignleft" width="200"] Sasha Allen[/caption] It’s not like the prospect of performing in front of nearly 3,000 people in Denver to launch the national touring production of Pippin doesn’t make Sasha Allen a little nervous. But intimidated? Hardly. “Try sitting there calmly when they are you counting you down from 5, 4, 3… and that, 'Oh, by the way, 30 million people are watching,' ” said Allen. “That’s scary.” The Harlem-born Allen has sung backing vocals for Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, John Legend and Usher. She rose to fame in her own right last year as a finalist on the fourth season of NBC’s singing competition, The Voice. (Photo left by Matthew Murphy.) The pressure to perform on live TV, she said, “is out of control.” By comparison, taking to the stage as the Leading Player in Pippin feels positively intimate. Still, she gets something out of performing on a theatre stage that TV just can’t match. “There is a serious transfer of energy when you are performing in front of live people,” said Allen, who in Pippin is taking on the iconic (and now feminized) role of the Leading Player, head of a troupe of circus performers who relate the story of a young prince’s search for meaning in his life. “On TV, when your eyelash falls off, they yell, ‘Stop.’ Someone comes on and fixes your eyelash, and you do it again. There is something organic about being on stage and everybody with you is there to take care of each other. Because nobody is going to come running on and fix your lash if it falls off. We can't yell, ‘Cut!’ It just doesn't work like that. “We are all sweating. Your shoes are stabbing you in your feet. Live theatre is a raw art, and I think you have to completely love it to want to do it.” Allen loves it – stabby shoes and all. She made her Broadway debut in 2010 when Director Diane Paulus cast her to join another signature revival American revival, Hair, as Dionne. What will make Allen a bit nervous is when you point out that she’s following in the footsteps of the great Ben Vereen. I saw his performance on tape, and I was I was like, 'Oh my God, he is just so electric,' " she said. It is intimidating. But I am thankful to be a female playing that role. It's just so different. It has to be.” What follows are excerpts from our extensive conversation with Pippin’s leading Player: John Moore: How is rehearsal going today? Sasha Allen: I have been sweating like a crazy person all day long. I smell like the gym. But it is going really, really good. For a second there, I thought I was going to jump off the cliff, because it’s a lot of hard work. But then it finally starts to click, and your body finally does what it is supposed to do. John Moore: It seems like all of you just jumped off the cliff together on this one. Sasha Allen: When you take on a project like this, you just know it’s going to be good in the end. That’s why you continue to do the work, but … man, it's hard. John Moore: Well, congratulations for the opportunity. Sasha Allen: Thank you. I know this is a life-changing moment. I just know that if I continue on my path, then I will be labeled as something better than I was yesterday. John Moore: It sounds as if you are on a Pippin-esque journey of your own. Sasha Allen: I definitely am. I called my mom after I crashed and burned during one rehearsal. I was like, 'Well, that didn't go the way I wanted it to go. And she was like, 'Well, now you know where you stand. Now, work it out. Moving on ... ' John Moore: Gotta love moms. Sasha Allen: Absolutely. I was like, 'Right. Exactly. Now -- get back to rehearsal.' John Moore: When was the first time you ever saw Pippin? Sasha Allen: I had seen Ben Vereen on tape. Just as a fan. I was like, 'Oh my God, he is so amazing. Let's rewind and watch that again.' But when I knew I was going to be auditioning (to join the Broadway cast), I went to see it (with Patina Miller playing the role of the Leading Player). It’s a strange feeling. You’re like, 'I can conquer this' … but it becomes intimidating at the same time. I was thinking, 'Damn. She never leaves the stage. She never takes a break.' I do know that when that show was over, I stood on my feet … and I meant it. There was a real feeling of, 'Get your butt up and clap for this production, because they just rocked the house.’ John Moore: So what is your take on the role of the Leading Player now? Sasha Allen: At first, I didn't like her so much. I really didn't. I was thinking, 'Well, then, so how do I get into a character that I don't like?' That's why (Director Diane Paulus) is so great. When she made us do character study, it was so necessary, because hating my character doesn't work for me playing her. I had to realize that everybody has a story. Everybody has something that has happened to them. I really do believe that everyone is born in innocence. I have children, so I know what innocence really looks like. So I thought, something must have happened to her. That’s why she is this strict, crazy, controlling, person. If you can understand where people come from, then you don't take it personally. As an actor, you can get joy out of a person's struggle. It's so real. You will find controlling people everywhere in the world, and I just wonder why. Me creating a pre-story for this character really helped me to understand where she's coming from. John Moore: I have talked to several people who have made the connection that (Composer) Stephen Schwartz is pretty much Pippin, and the Leading Player is really (original Director) Bob Fosse. Have you tried to tap into the Fosse context in any way? Sasha Allen: I don’t think of them as being the actual people. I know part of their inspiration for the Leading Player came from Charles Manson, and a lot of stuff in the script refers back to that. So I really watched Charles Manson. I think he's scary, but you know what? I didn't hate him. He made a lot of sense in a weird, crazy kind of way. I would never want to be in his presence because he would probably do a mind trip on me, but ... no, I never thought about Fosse being my character. John Moore: Love her or not, your character is such a necessary part of Pippin's journey. It might be tough love, but it seems to me that you're also his teacher. Sasha Allen: There are different moments throughout the show where I feel like his teacher. Then I feel like his mother. Then his friend. And then, in the end … I feel like his enemy. When Pippin doesn't do what I want him to do, she has a full-on meltdown. She will do whatever it takes to get him to feel what she is feeling. 'Oh, so you don't feel with me now? I am going to make you feel it this way.' A lot of people can relate to Pippin because we've all felt naive and innocent -- and now, someone is trying to take control of your life. But my character is also very human. Her antics are on the more dramatic side, but we can all relate to wanting to be in control of our lives. John Moore: You mentioned your appreciation for Ben Vereen. Sasha Allen: Oh, I love him. John Moore: In talking with Stephen about turning the Leading Player into a part for a female actor, he said no male actor would ever be able to live up to Ben Vereen's performance … or at least people's picture in their minds of Ben Vereen's performance. And Stephen didn't want to put that responsibility on any man. So they thought making the Leading Player a woman would be an opportunity to present the story in an entirely different way. But still, you are following in Ben Vereen’s footsteps. How does it feel to step into that lineage? Sasha Allen: I will say it is intimidating. But, as a woman, I am able to do make different vocal and creative choices. Stephen and Diane have really allowed me to do my own thing, and allow my signature to be put on it. And I am not sure if I could have done that if I were a male. And even if I weren’t a differently styled singer, I think it would feel disrespectful to change this great thing that has been made. As a female, I do feel lucky to be able to say, ‘Well, yes, Ben did that. And we all love him for that. But now ... look at me. I have a sexy outfit on!’ John Moore: Have you ever met Ben Vereen? Sasha Allen: I have. I was doing Hair, and he did Hair as well. Afterward, he invited some of the cast to his hotel room. We had a whole in-depth conversation about Hair, and his experience, and the times, and the racism. We got so deep. He was really so special. But I think you have to be to be that much of a genius. He is a phenomenal "thing." I mean, it doesn't even feel human. John Moore: So I want to ask you about working with all of these awesome women. When we look back on the original Pippin, it's Stephen Schwartz and it's Bob Fosse and it's Roger Hirson and it's Ben Vereen. It’s such a “guy's show” in many ways. And now you have Diane bringing it back to life on Broadway, and she has brought in Gypsy Snider for the circus elements. They are both mothers. You are a mother. Pippin is still a guy’s story, but there is a whole lot of girl power going on in this new production. Sasha Allen: Oh, I feel it. Definitely. And I can tell you, I don't know if a man yelling at me the way Diane yells at me would work. Do you know what I mean? There is just a different energy with women. When Diane is getting revved up, she is literally transferring her energy to me. She is not holding back at all. When she tells me to do something, you just do it. And if she pisses me off, that just makes it even better. It is a literal transfer of women power. She is truly inspiring. John Moore: That applies to new ending, too, doesn't it? We're not telling people exactly how it has changed. But there is something that was troubling, I think, about the way the original Pippin ended. After his period of adventure, there was this unintentional sense that Pippin was somehow settling for a family life. As if that's a bad thing. But it's an interesting thing when you put strong women in charge of the storytelling. Because I think they have brought some clarity to in terms of what we should consider to be extraordinary. Sasha Allen: I do not think that a young man choosing to be a husband and a father should ever be considered settling. We all have choices to make, and having a family is not a bad choice. It's just not. I have one. I think anybody can do whatever they want with their lives and make it exceptional. If you are going to be a father, then be an exceptional father. I think we all can be extraordinary, however we choose to be. John Moore: So … do you mind if we talk about The Voice? Sasha Allen: Oh yeah, yeah ... come on! John Moore: OK, so I have been asked to ask: When you had to choose between Shakira and Usher to be your mentor, you picked Shakira. But you were once a backing vocalist for Usher. How did you come to that decision? Sasha Allen: It was excruciating. It looks pretty easy when you are watching the show on TV. But when you are up there, you are sweating bullets. I was shaking inside. They put this weird music on, and the lights changed. It really is intimidating. Usher is an amazing singer. He's an amazing performer. But he is a technical dancer. You know, here we are talking about the strong women in Pippin: I felt like what I needed most was a strong woman to tell me what I needed to do as a woman to get this done. And that went down to everything from, ‘How do I wear my hair?’ to, ‘How do I wear my make-up?’ to, ‘What shade of lipstick?’ to, ‘What outfit should I wear?’ I know that sounds really off-topic, but these things are crucial in how people look at you. I was just talking to one of our costume designers, and she said, 'What I love is looking at how people dress. There is always a whole story behind it.' Well, there is a whole story behind what I wore on The Voice. John Moore: Did you learn any dance moves from Shakira? Sasha Allen: You know, we really didn’t really work on dance moves. I mean, I will never be able to dance like her. She's born and bred to dance. It was really the small details that I got from her. Shakira would tell me, 'Smile here, and then seduce the camera there.' She gave me a valuable lesson on brightening up a room, or seducing a room. If I am going to crawl, then it better be a good crawl. If you are going to do it, then make it sexual, or else don't even do it. Those are women tricks. John Moore: So The Voice wasn't that long ago, and now you are only a couple of days away from opening the tour of Pippin. Can you put your life into any kind of perspective right now? Sasha Allen: It's a blessing. It really is. I didn’t realize how much I was going to learn from The Voice, to tell you the truth. Because you look at the show and you're like, ‘Well, yes, it's corny and it’s cheesy. But I learned so much. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how hard I am willing to work. And I really learned how to practice. Note: "The Pippin Profiles" is a series of interviews by Arts Journalist John Moore with the "Pippin The Musical" cast and creative team leading up to the launch of the first national touring production in Denver on Sept. 6. Dallas Summer Musicals is re-posting these on the DSM Blog to countdown the Opening Night of PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park - July 7-19!

Fun Facts About #PippinDSM!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:30:52 +0000

It's OPENING NIGHT for PIPPIN, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals! In honor of the first evening of the show in Dallas, I thought I'd share some fun facts about the show before you come to see it on stage at the Music Hall NOW - July 19th! FUN FACTS ABOUT THE SHOW

There are 6 yoga balls used in the show.
The acrobats usually spend an entire hour warming up before a performance.
There are 15 hula-hoops used throughout the show.
There are 4 gym mats used in the show. 2 of them are for warm-ups before curtain.
PIPPIN was originally called PIPPIN, PIPPIN
The curtain drop at the top of the show is 26 feet high.
7 feather fans are used in the entire show.
There are 17 acrobatic tricks in Magic to Do.
Gypsy Snider, who created all the circus elements, said "The life of an acrobat is how far we go to be extraordinary."
The Manson Trio is named after Charles Manson. Bob Fosse was very interested in Manson.
Stephen Schwartz was only 24 years old when he wrote the show.
Stephen Schwartz saw “Glory” as a commentary on the Vietnam War, happening during PIPPIN’s creation.
The Leading Player and Charles Manson have something in common. Charismatic, cult Leaders.
There are 10 swords used during “War is a Science”
Take a look at King Charlemagne, John Rubinstein. He starred in the title role of PIPPIN in 1972.
Take a look at Fastrada, Sabrina Harper. She was part of the Broadway Revival cast having also played Berthe and Catherine!
Pippin’s name, historically speaking, is actually spelled Pipen. Stephen Schwartz changed it so it wouldn’t be perceived as an adaptation of the Steinbeck novel, “The Short Reign of Pepin IV”. They liked the word “Pippin” because it suggested the slang meaning of “pip” – something nifty.
It took about five and a half years for Pippin to grow- from the college version of PIPPIN at Carnegie Mellon to Broadway.
Pippin had try-outs in early fall 1972 in Washington D.C. It opened at the Imperial Theatre in NYC on October 23, 1972 and ran until 1977.
Bob Fosse had seen Ben Vereen perform in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and asked Ben to audition for PIPPIN. They were so impressed by Ben’s audition that they combined several small roles into the one role of Leading Player.
Hal Prince was approached to direct the show at one point.

[caption id="attachment_1980" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Broadway cast of "Pippin," above. Photo by Joan Marcus.[/caption] I hope you will join me and DSM as we close out our 75th Anniversary Celebration with PIPPIN! It will be a night of theatre you won't forget! Tickets are on sale now. Just go to: http://tinyurl.com/og2sxh7. Want a sneak peek? Check out this quick video: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1YgbDiameI] I'll see you at the show! -DSM Amanda

The road to the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards – Day 6

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 19:01:31 +0000

Hi DSM Fans! We are back for Day 6 of the 2015 National High School Musical Theatre Awards! Yesterday was the big day for Chris and Katelyn - they got to perform on Broadway for the very first time! Unfortunately we didn't get to see the performance here at home. Last night was the Jimmy Awards at the Minskoff Theatre (where THE LION KING calls home). And what an incredible evening! Though neither of them won the award for the night, they both have come away from this experience as a better actors and performers! Check out below to hear about their day and see some awesome videos and photos! From Chris: Such a bittersweet feeling leaving! I can't wait to be with my family in NYC, but also so hard to leave these amazing people I met over this week! Performing on Broadway yesterday was the most incredible feeling! I got to meet Michael Cerveris, one of the Matilda kids, and even got a high five from Robbie Fairchild during the closing number! This was the most incredible and rewarding experience of my life and I'm so great full to be here. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened :) Thanks Dallas! From Katelyn: The second the lights came up for the opening number, my heart began to race, my face lit up, and I felt exhilarated and so much at home all at the same time. After that I got to put a character I'd been working on for almost a year now on the Minskoff stage for some of the biggest names in the business. It will go down as one of the most memorable moments that changed my life. I got to perform on Broadway at the age of 18. That's something a lot of people can say at any age. I'm just so grateful I got the opportunity to come together with kids all across the country to pull off something incredible. The magic held in the walls of that building will stay with me forever. The people I met were amazingly talented and gifted in what they do whether they'd been all over Broadway, or a kid here for the first time. Check out these videos Chris sent us from backstage! After Rehearsal on stage in the Men's Dressing Room: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TJhwIi8in8] Here's Chris when they called places backstage: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFr5P2WGWnQ] Finally, their day was best captured via photos. Check them out in the slideshow below! [gallery type="slideshow" ids="2036,2037,2038,2025,2023,2039,2024,2032,2028,2040,2041,2026,2042,2043,2045,2046,2044,2022,2027,2029,2030,2031,2047,2048,2021"] What a fantastic experience Chris and Katelyn had in NYC. Thanks for tuning in to our blog every day to see their progress and their thoughts. They appreciate all of the love and support they received at home and will never forget this experience! We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and hope to see them back on Broadway soon! Until next year! -DSM Amanda

PIPPIN - Four Time Tony Award-Winning Musical Makes Its North Texas Debut! #PippinDSM

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:29:36 +0000

Closing its 75^th Anniversary Season, Dallas Summer Musicals in partnership with Performing Arts Fort Worth are excited to co-present the thrilling 2013 Tony® Award-winning musical PIPPIN at the Music Hall at Fair Park through July 19, 2015. The tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall July 21-26, 2015. PIPPIN, the most nominated Broadway musical of 2013, tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory. Check out below what the DFW critics have to say about this enchanting production! [youtube=http://youtu.be/7uTqSGDWDZ0] TV & RADIO INTERVIEWS/PERFORMANCES 98.7 KLUV Jody Denn & The Morning Team - Interview with Adrienne Barbeau (Berthe) ABC8 Good Morning Texas – Interview with Adrienne Barbeau (Berthe) & performance of Corner In The Sky by Sam Lips (Pippin) ABC8 Midday News – Interview with John Rubinstein (Charles), the original Pippin who is back on the tour as Pippins father King Charles ABC8 Midday News - Interview with Sasha Allen (Leading Player) CW33 News Fix – Media talkback with John Rubinstein (Charles) and Sasha Allen (Leading Player), plus an exclusive rehearsal preview. The Dallas Morning News – PIPPIN Makes Top Theater Picks In Dallas REVIEWS “‘Pippin’ revival is seductive, enchanting and darker than original” – The Dallas Morning News "Pippin is a razzle-dazzle entertainment" – Arts+Culture Magazine "You will NEVER and I mean NEVER will see a version of Pippin like this again. It’s that unique and special" – The Column "Pippin Is a High-Flying Hit to End Dallas Summer Musicals Season" – D Magazine "Pippin closes the Dallas Summer Musicals season on a high note" – Theater Jones "'Pippin' is an over-the-big-top, eye-popping, high-flying spectacle" – The EDGE “The magic of PIPPIN will captivate audiences who enjoyed the original” – Broadway World “Pippin is flippin’ spectacular!” – The Flash List “’Pippin’ sizzles from the minute it starts” – Red Carpet Crash “You can’t take your eyes off stage” – Real Posh Mom “This Production will make you laugh and also choke you up (in a good way)” – TCP Don Ford “Wowed me in so many ways” – TCP Chad Womack “’Pippin’ sets itself apart” – TCP Rob Ervin Special Podcast Edition Review – The Clubhouse Podcast CAST & CREATIVE INTERVIEWS PIPPIN Tour Meets the Press – Broadway World Exclusive Cast Talkback & Rehearsal Preview – Selig Film News Interview with John Rubinstein (Charles) – The Dallas Morning News Interview with Adrienne Barbeau (Berthe) – Selig Film News Interview with John Rubinstein (Charles) – Theater Jones PREVIEWS & FEATURED ARTICLES Pippin Has Magic To Do – The Dallas Morning News Magical Musical Pippin – Focus Daily News Thing To Do In Dallas – D Magazine Seven Top Theater Shows – Culture Map Best Weekend Events – Culture Map Awesome Thing To Do In Dallas This Week – Dallas Observer Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony® Award-winning musical PIPPIN – The Flash List Pippin, La Historia De Un Joven Principe – Uptown Latino (In Spanish) Pippin is heading to the Dallas Summer Musicals – My Crazy Savings PIPPIN is on stage NOW through Sunday, July 19 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Join us for this unforgettable and visually stunning production!

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Teri Adams

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:31:55 +0000

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Teri Adams

Teri Adams (Iowa Housewife) has been with Menopause The Musical®! since 2006, where she first played IH at The American Heartland Theatre in her hometown, Kansas City, where it ran for 5 months. Since then, she has joined the MTM national touring company, and although still based out of KC, she has performed this role on numerous tours and sit-down productions across the country. Regional credits include Ruthless!, Blues In The Night, Dirty Blonde, Baby, Lend Me A Tenor, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and the World Premiere of Gregg Coffin’s Rightnextto Me. Teri most recently appeared in MTM, as well as Church Basement Ladies (The Last Potluck Supper) at The Merry Go Round Playhouse (NY) for the Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival. Thanks to my G4 family and my actual family, and thank you all for supporting live theatre.

MY STORY

Cancer. I hate that word. The fact is, the word cancer strikes a terrifying chord with everyone, and most especially if you've watched it decimate your family. Everyone on my Mother's side had had a cancer diagnosis, three out of five dying from the disease, and my paternal aunt died of breast cancer at 31. I knew all too well about my family history. Cancer had been up close and personal. I had just turned 40, gotten married and was enjoying a particularly busy time in my career on stage. And then my doctor called. My cancer was discovered after a routine mammogram came back abnormal, resulting in a biopsy that revealed DCIS—a noninvasive, early form of breast cancer. It was good news, I was told. "If you're going to get cancer," my doctor said, "this is the type that is easiest to treat." I breathed a little easier and met with the surgeon who would perform the lumpectomy. My surgeon, the first of many, as well as my Oncologist were the same two women who had treated my Mother five years earlier. I was all scheduled to have the same surgery that had successfully removed my mom's tumor, when the doctor decided on a last minute scan. The technology involved, she explained, hadn't even been available when my mom was sick. That decision may have saved my life. The MRI discovered that I had several other spots in my right breast, and after biopsy, they told me that I would need a mastectomy. At that point, based on all of the information, as well as my family history, it didn't take very long for my doctors and I to decide to remove both breasts. On July 1st, 2008, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy. While in surgery, doctors discovered that the cancer had micro-metastasized, and my sentinel node biopsy revealed invasive cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage IIA ER-/PR-, HER2+ breast cancer, and after that things got complicated. As the diagnosis changed, so did the treatment plan. I went through a year of chemotherapy with docetaxel (Taxotere), carboplatin and trastuzumab (Herceptin). I was also treated for iron-deficiency anemia, and over the next few years I underwent multiple surgeries due to infections and other complications. There were too many bumps in the road to count. So many scopes and scans. So many needles. So much of my time for so long was spent inside the walls of the Cancer Center or in the hospital. Five years after my initial diagnosis, I’d had 12 surgeries—the last one to remove a small mass on my kidney. During treatment I was extremely tired, lost all but a tiny cap of my hair, and suffered from blood loss, resulting in severe anemia. There were countless sutchers, dressings and drains. And there was pain. But the body is an amazing thing, and after everything mine has been through, I'm starting to appreciate it in a much deeper way. Through it all, I made a point to be an active participant in the development of my treatment plan. I did a lot of online research and discovered that although there is useful stuff out there, contradictory information can get confusing and even cause more anxiety than peace of mind. I finally had to trust my medical team and started carrying a notebook with me to write down any questions I had, so I could later ask my doctor. My family was my backbone, and my husband was an amazing caregiver. They were there for me every step of the way. I also had support from a local organization that offered support groups, exercise classes, nutritional information and even help finding bras and wigs. Having support from women who understand your journey and are living proof that you can survive is beyond measure. The emotional impact, however, was a bit harder to handle. I felt like I was being pushed and pulled this way and that, from appointment to appointment, for different tests and treatments. It was easier to just go with the flow than to stop and digest how I was really feeling. I realize now that I dealt with the emotions more after the fact than in the middle of it all. Now, as I look back over that time, I am just now starting to fully appreciate and understand everything I went through and what it all means. It’s been an incredibly long road, but I’ve officially graduated from doctor visits every three months to an annual checkup with my oncologist. Although I’m still processing everything, I’ve come to realize that my cancer diagnosis helped me put a lot of things into perspective. I try to not sweat the small stuff, to be kinder to myself and others, and to accept that I cannot control everything. My scars make me beautiful. They remind me every day that I am a survivor. Cancer isn't as strong as I am. I realize now that I am stronger than I ever knew.

Menopause The Musical®: The Survivor Tour® is presented by DSM Management Group, Inc. July 21-26 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! The show that’s brought joy to millions worldwide is proving that laughter truly is the best medicine. With a cast of breast cancer survivors and co-survivors, Menopause The Musical® is partnering with Susan G. Komen® to offer inspiration, sisterhood, and hope. Four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! Menopause The Musical®: The Survivor Tour® Benefiting Susan G. Komen® is the first of its kind, donating a portion of every ticket sale directly to the ongoing effort to save lives and end breast cancer forever. For more details and tickets, click here.

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Judy Blue

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 14:30:44 +0000

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Judy Blue

Judy Blue (Soap Star) is once again delighted to be a part of this celebration of women with this incredible company. She is proud to have been a part of the Chicago company of Menopause, the Musical for over 2 years and a veteran of many adventurous MTM tours. Some of Judy's credits include: Gary, and The Way West (Steppenwolf Theatre); Talking Pictures/Blind Date, Frank's Home, House/Garden, and A Little Night Music (Goodman Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, and Winter's Tale (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); I Am Going to Change the World, Grande Hysterie, and Liquid Moon (Chicago Dramatists). Most recently having directed a well-received production of Mia McCullough’s Impenetrable at Clockwise Theatre she is currently narrating the audio book series of The Sleuth Sisters. Favorite musical roles have included the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Edith Piaf in Piaf and Eva Peron in Evita. Other theatre's include: Writers Theatre, Collaboraction, Theatre At the Center, Dallas Theater Center, B Street Theatre, Syzygy, NY Henry Street, Arkansas Rep, Theatre Three and Stagewest. TV/Film includes: Chicago PD, Breakfast with Joe, The Onion, and Hollywood Jerome. An Actors' Equity member for almost three decades, she is also a member and served on the board of SAG-AFTRA. She is an associate of The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, Chicago Dramatists and Syzygy Theatre of L.A. Love to the Girlie Girls.

MY STORY

Ah, the story. I am so grateful for here and now. I feel like the luckiest person. My breast cancer in 2011 could be removed with a lumpectomy and controlled with radiation and (seemingly) endless medication. All around me are other women who have gone through a similar experience and those women who are forced to embrace a much deeper battle. I remember the daily fear of not knowing, and the happiness and sweet smile of my surgeon, Dr. Jeruss, when she reassures me that my surgery was successful and I can begin to feel normal again without the worry. I will never forget the friend who called and simply said, “well, …you’re in the club.” Gee, that’s exactly how it feels. Now there is a responsibility to myself and to others to do what I can to keep the disease from returning. And a responsibility to pass on the information that is flooding to me, that has taken me out of denial. I am ready to find the answer for my nieces, their children, my friends and their children – I am not ready to welcome any more women into this club. We have better places to be.

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Megan Cavanagh

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 14:30:26 +0000

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Megan Cavanagh

MEGAN CAVANAGH (Earth Mother) is most recognized as Marla Hooch, from the Penny Marshall movie, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Other film credits include: Mel Brooks’ ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS (Broomhilde) and (Essie) DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT. She starred with Tim Allen and Kirstie Ally in FOR RICHER OR POORER (Levinia Yoder). She also starred with Christina Ricci in Disney’s remake of THAT DARN CAT (Lu). Megan voiced Judy Neutron in The Academy Award Nominated Animated Feature JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS, and she also had the pleasure of doing the Nickelodeon TV series. Other Cartoon voices are: Queen Luna on the Nickelodeon animated series, WINX CLUB, Slog on TAK AND THE POWER OF JUJU, and Amy Poehler’s animated series THE MIGHTY B, where Megan played Hillary Higgenbottom (Bessie’s Mom). Other TV credits include: Recurring character Trudy (who married Al on the last episode) on HOME IMPROVEMENT. Guest Starring on FRIENDS, WILL & GRACE, JUST SHOOT ME, WEST WING, ER, ROSEANNE and many others. Megan did eight episodes with Betty White and Bob Newhart in his series, BOB. She has performed in MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® Since 2004 as Earth Mother and Iowa Housewife in San Francisco and Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Noted Regional Credits include: Blithe Spirit (Madame Arcati), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pseudolus), Jubilee (Queen/Butch), High Spi its (Madam Arcati). Megan is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association Since 1987. MeganCavanagh.com

MY STORY

January 24, 2014 I had a routine mammogram and a 9mm node was discovered. I had a biopsy and was told I wouldn’t hear the results till Tuesday at the earliest, so when my phone rang at 8am Monday morning I knew it probably wasn’t good news. And I was right - “invasive carcinoma,” was the diagnosis. My head reeled. I was on tour with Menopause the Musical in Springfield, IL and I started to google what “invasive carcinoma” meant. I returned home and met with my surgeon, Kristi Funk at Pink Lotus (she sounds like a rock star) and she explained that given the size of the node I was probably Stage I ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma) and wouldn’t have to undergo chemotherapy just radiation, but we would have to go in and get the lump out and get it looked at under the microscope to see what we were dealing with. After a MRI five more nodes were found and I was scheduled for surgery March 3rd. I had a partial mastectomy and four lymph nodes removed from under my left arm. Three of the four lymph nodes tested positive for cancer so I was back under the knife a week later to remove seven more lymph nodes - which, thankfully, all came back negative. But those blasted three positive nodes meant I was going to have to endure chemotherapy. I was now Stage II ILC. I had four chemotherapy sessions every three weeks, and lost all my hair everywhere, then thirty radiation treatments. The radiation was intense but I got through it without a rash. During my treatments I discovered a cancer support center called WeSpark, in Woodland Hills, CA. Finding this place helped me so much! I joined an in-treatment support group and had a harp lesson. I got Reiki and acupuncture for free. I did mindful meditation and hypnotherapy. WeSpark is my new best friend and when I’m home between tours I race right back there to join my post treatment support group. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of having this kind of support when you are facing something as daunting as cancer. The day after my last radiation treatment, I was on a flight to the east coast to attend my nephew’s wedding and then join a new Menopause the Musical tour. I was bald and worried that I wouldn’t have the energy, but with the support of my spouse and the cast and crew I did it — followed by forty-eight more shows! I now am dealing with lymphodemia of the left breast. I undergo physical therapy two to three times a week and have to wear a device to help (the liquid that the lymph nodes would normally take care of) drain properly, along with a compression shirt. I also have to take Tamoxifen for five years. This drug inhibits the estrogen production in my body, as my cancer feeds on estrogen, but it also majorly increases hot flashes and night sweats. While traveling on tour I single-handedly steam up the van windows near me and I have totally become my Earth Mother character - dripping and dropping!! October 23, 2010 my sister, Mary Cay, died from brain cancer (gliablastoma). I miss her every day and I’m grateful that my cancer could show myself and my family that a diagnosis of cancer doesn’t necessarily mean death. My living through this has made me so much more alive - living each day and loving my life. Thanks to my immediate family, my WeSpark Family and my Menopause the Musical G4 family for being so supportive.

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Linda Boston

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 14:30:16 +0000

Menopause The Musical - Meet The Cast: Linda Boston

LINDA BOSTON (Professional Woman) - Multi-talented performer with theater, film, music credits and a long run with MTM. Her theater accomplishments include “Crowns,” “Sophisticated Ladies” and the award-winning one-woman-show “Jackie ‘Moms’ Mabley: The Naked Truth.” (www.lindaboston.com). As a singer-songwriter and requested vocalist, she's sung before Pres. Bill Clinton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, requested opening vocalist at the 2006 Detroit Mayoral Inauguration and much more. “Boston’s chops carry the set. Serve this one with moonlight and good conversation,” says Ambassador Magazine about her music CD, Permission: The Power Of Being. She’s heard in local, regional and national commercials, has over 20 supporting film credits, been recognized by the San Diego Black, Uptown and New Harvest Film Festivals, and has worked with performance greats including Michael Chiklis, Ray Liotta, Bencio Del Toro, Anthony Mackie, Whitney Houston, Tamala Mann and Pearl Cleage. Her 501c3 nonprofit, PEER Inc. (www.peerincredible.org), collaborates with organizations helping individuals develop their creative experiences. Linda says: “For everlasting change to come, KNOW we are all connected as ONE.” Thanks GFour, for connecting.

MY STORY

Challenges build integrity, while integrity builds fortitude. Is there any chance of it all building character? Well, that's a spiritual concept that must be seen intuitively to be recognized externally. In my life, cancer, Alzheimers, relocations in and out of state, marriage, child birth, mortality and divorce lumped themselves together. Unfortunately at the same time. And when your anguish is tied to and with those you love, you question all of what 'challenges' are supposed to build. However, I know love is MAAT which is the Kemetic, Dogon or Egyptian word for creativity. There is no destruction in the midst of creativity regardless of the challenge; other than what is rectified through the process of balance and harmony. And then, even in that, there is no destruction, only correction. It's simply the processes of change. And the only thing constant is the change. Our family was raised in Chicago. Knowing that two of my aunts and other friends and family members had passed on via their challenges with breast, uterine and other cancers, my sister Lorna boston had been working at MCI Telecommunications for eight years when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Additionally, our mother began showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. Yes, 1985 began the race toward the test. Lorna endured three years of chemotherapy and nine surgeries. At that time I was living in Detroit but I would go to help care for her as her marriage was dissolving. Trials and stress led to her unemployment and divorce, but it also grew her into the world of self-employment via the music industry. She formed her own band and began working in Chicago's well known music establishment, Lonie Walker's Underground Wonderbar, where she is still employed today and hosting the Tuesday Night Pro Jam. Simultaneously, our older brother, Lamonte was a major music influence to us both and was a integral part of the Wonderbar fabric, as well, known as LB's Machine, which made a major impact throughout Chicago's Rhythm & Blues community. Ironically, he was diagnosed with Lymphatic Leukemia in 1994. You can bet, much had been happening. In 1988 I moved our mother, Pearline Boston to my home in Detroit to manage her care. I married, gave birth to a daughter Aziza Gilbert, divorced and learned of the beauty, inspiration and strength in-home hospice can and will provide. Our mother made her transition in 1998 and my intuitive awakening became clearer. 'Purpose' was in the process of revelation so incidentally, her passing encouraged me to start a non-profit 501c3 organization called PEER Inc. (www.peerincredible.org). Then, after a long hard fight and several moments of remission, a virus further complicated our brother's immune system and he made his spiritual transition in 2007. There was more to come. 2008 to 2011, I had severe health challenges myself. One battle, in particular, brought me to the ebb of my own transitional mortality. Had stress caused dis-ease? No doubt, my past, present and future purpose had become evident? WHAT AN AWAKENING!!! Yes, we ARE spirits having human experiences. And though we may leave this earthen realm...as ancestors, we really go no where. This is just a training ground for the next phase. Now, more than ever, it is encouraging for me to surround myself with those who fervently seek the need to know and heal themselves from ALL diagnosis', by changing their diets, aligning themselves holistically and meditating spiritually and metaphysically. You may ask, "Why....when the doctor knows best?" Well, you can bet I realized something was going on, making the picture much bigger, greater, grander than the past pains, wars and challenges anyone in my family had been through, and music was a healing tool for all of us. Most importantly for my brother and sister. Our mother and father planted in us, the seeds of healing embedded in creativity. In fact, the songs I've written on my CD "Permission: The Power Of Being" reflect the spiritual walk I've been on. Through each and every challenge, to religious independence, onto metaphysical enlightenment...a paradigm shift, if you will, has taken place. Now, I seek the need to see myself as being part of the whole...incapsulated with past, present, future, earthen and cosmic realities. I now know I have the chance and choice to manifest my own intentions. And through my very own imagination, I WANT and WILL, to share in a process that manifests YOUR healing as well, regardless of the challenge. In the words of master physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, "....we're all connected to each other biologically, to earth chemically, and to the rest of the universe atomically....". To over-stand and maybe even inner-stand my walk and connection to the Creator Of All Things, visit PEER's satellite division at www.stompministries.com. There, you will see why and how I choose to KNOW LOVE IS MAAT...MAAT IS ETERNAL... and we have the power to heal the land, ourselves and each other...holistically. Join me, won't you? Ase.

Do Something More on North Texas Giving Day!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 14:30:09 +0000

Do Something More on North Texas Giving Day

As our 75^th year comes to a close, we want to thank you for making it a memorable one. The passion our patrons bring to the Music Hall is a huge part of why we are a cornerstone arts organization in Dallas. Last year, you vocalized your support of DSM on North Texas Giving Day and made us the number one performing arts organization in the online giving event. We need you to help us make this year an even bigger success! Every gift made through NorthTexasGivingDay.org on September 17^th increases our chances of winning one of 70 prizes awarded by the Communities Foundation of Texas, and every gift of $25 or more will earn bonus funds. These incentives help you make the most of your generosity. Beyond supporting the best of Broadway, a gift to DSM is an investment in the cultural fabric of North Texas. Your support directly powers the significant outreach programs that we offer to engage underserved children with musical theatre and the arts.

Seats for Kids gives children the opportunity to experience the magic of the musicals for what is likely their first time. Partnering with Title I schools and nonprofit youth agencies that serve at-risk and special needs children across the Dallas Fort-Worth area, DSM provides students and their chaperones with free seats for shows and a professionally drafted study guide to enhance the performance experience.
The Kids Club membership program deepens the developing arts appreciation of our youngest patrons through show-inspired art projects and activities as well as providing children with the unforgettable opportunity to meet cast members from their favorite shows.
Through the DSM Academy of Performing Arts and the annual High School Musical Theatre Awards, DSM cultivates and showcases the next generation of musical theatre talent. DSM also supports the promising talent of students who need financial assistance with scholarships.
Additionally, DSM is partnering with the Dallas Police Department to offer a positive alternative to gang-affiliated youth through our Stage Right program.

[gallery type="slideshow" size="medium" link="none" ids="2085,2086,2087,2088" orderby="rand"] The success of these education programs and initiatives inspires creativity and imagination, promotes academic investment, and has realized the dream of musical theatre involvement for thousands of passionate young performers. For our 76^th season, DSM looks forward to expanding its efforts of community support with new initiatives. Imagine being able to provide seats to hundreds of veterans and their families. With your support, we can open the doors of the Music Hall to more of our community and pave the way for 75 more years of magic at the Music Hall. We also want to celebrate you, our amazing patrons, and the spirit of giving in style this year! DSM will host a giving day soirèe at the House of Blues from 4pm – 8pm On September 17th. Join us for a live musical performance, donation stations for your giving convenience, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, prizes, photo booth fun, and the opportunity to connect with fellow supporters. Finally, we want to give you more opportunities to share your love of the musicals and our community. On September 1^st, we will be instituting the North Texas Giving Day DSM Photo Challenge, where contestants will share photos of themselves “Doing Something More” in the North Texas community OR of themselves in costume from one of our upcoming shows. The contest will run until 11:59 p.m. on September 15^th, with winners announced at our celebration at the House of Blues. Click here for the full scoop! Thank you again for making the Music Hall your home for music and memories. Thank you for the generosity which gives the same opportunity to all members of our community. Together, let’s Do Something More. #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

Cast Announced for New National Touring Production of The Sound of Music!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:43:54 +0000

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR NEW NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION OF

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

MAKES NORTH TEXAS DEBUT

NOVEMBER 3-22, 2015 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK & AUGUST 17-21, 2016 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX (July 21, 2015) – Casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. THE SOUND OF MUSIC premieres the Music Hall at Fair Park November 3-22, 2015, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This lavish production will return and play Fort Worth at Bass Performance Hall August 17-21, 2016, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. BEN DAVIS (Broadway’s VIOLET, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, LA BOHÈME) will play Captain Georg von Trapp and ASHLEY BROWN (Broadway’s MARY POPPINS, NBC’s The Sound of Music) will play The Mother Abbess with MERWIN FOARD as Max Detweiler, TERI DALE HANSEN as Elsa Schraeder, DAN TRACY as Rolf and PAIGE SILVESTER as Liesl. The von Trapp children will be played by ERICH SCHUETT (Friedrich), MARIA KNASEL (Louisa), QUINN ERICKSON (Kurt), SVEA JOHNSON (Brigitta), MACKENZIE CURRIE (Marta) and AUDREY BENNETT (Gretl). And introducing Jack O’Brien’s brand new discovery, KERSTIN ANDERSON as Maria Rainer. A current student at Pace University, Ms. Anderson won the coveted role from hundreds who auditioned. This will be her first national tour. “I’ve always believed Maria was a “star-making” part, rather than the leading role we remember from the movies; so I went looking for someone with star-making magic,” says director O’Brien. “And in through the audition door one day walked Kerstin Anderson, still studying at Pace University in New York. She opened her mouth, she sang and the tears welled up in my eyes. If ever there were an enchanting young woman standing on the brink of discovery — this was it! And now, the discovery is about to be all of ours!” The ensemble includes Carey Rebecca Brown, Ron Brown, Caitlin Burke, Christopher Carl, Kyla Carter, Austin Colby, Daniella Dalli, Elisabeth Evans, Donna Garner, Meghan Hales, Adam Hill, Jenavene Hester, Jeremy Lanuti, Darren Matthias, Kelly McCormick, Julia Osborne, Andrea Ross, Brent Schindele and Jim Schubin. THE SOUND OF MUSIC features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This new production is directed by Jack O’Brien (credits include: HAIRSPRAY, THE FULL MONTY, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE COAST OF UTOPIA), and choreographed by Danny Mefford (FUN HOME, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON). The design and production team is comprised of Douglas Schmidt, Set Design (Tony Award® nominee: 42ND STREET, INTO THE WOODS); Jane Greenwood, Costume Design (2014 recipient of Special Tony Award ® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), Natasha Katz, Lighting Design (Five-time Tony Award® winner: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, ONCE, AIDA, THE COAST OF UTOPIA, THE GLASS MENAGERIE) and Ken Travis, Sound Design (ALADDIN, NEWSIES, MEMPHIS). According to director Jack O’Brien, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC has been in our ears for decades, as it deserves to be. But it might be time to look once more, and more closely, at this remarkable work which, I feel, begins to reveal itself as deeper, richer, and more powerful than ever. It’s no longer ‘your mother’s’ familiar SOUND OF MUSIC. We are tearing off the varnish of the past from one of the great glories of our theatergoing experience and making it fresh! This is an opportunity we’ve all longed to create!” Producer Beth Williams (Grove Entertainment) said, “It’s a great privilege to bring this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to theaters across North America. We hope that people of all ages will continue to fall in love with it for the first time, or all over again, and that it will truly become one of their ‘favorite things.’ From our distinguished team led by the creative master Jack O’Brien, audiences can expect a truly magnificent production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.” In the words of Ted Chapin, President of Rodgers & Hammerstein, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC continues to be the world’s most beloved musical. When a major national tour was suggested, I not only agreed, but was willing to roll up my sleeves and do whatever I could to fashion a new stage production that would re-engage today’s theatergoing public. The show was originally created for Broadway, and seeing it on stage only reinforces the power of the story and the score. And with Jack O’Brien at the directorial helm – well, we simply couldn’t do better. Landing somewhere between THE COAST OF UTOPIA and HAIRSPRAY (shows for which Jack won the Tony®), his production will be smart, focused, and surprising. I can’t wait.” THE SOUND OF MUSIC enjoyed extraordinary success as the first live television production of a musical in over 50 years when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December, 2013; 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with such songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is part of Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season. The new season will continue with ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will continue as follows: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Sept. 18-20; and KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2015-2016 Season kicks off with the Fort Worth debut of THE BOOK OF MORMON Dec. 1-6, 2015, followed by MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Jan. 13-17, 2016, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID March 29-April 3, 2016, THE WIZARD OF OZ June 7-12, 2016, 42ND STREET July 12-17, 2016, THE SOUND OF MUSIC Aug. 17-21, 2016 and, closing out the season, the spectacular new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Oct. 20-30, 2016. Broadway at the Bass season tickets are on sale online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The shows will play in Dallas for two weeks, then head to Fort Worth for limited, one-week runs. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambiance on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth. ### Contact: Francisco Chairez, Dallas Summer Musicals (214) 413-3909 | fchairez@DallasSummerMusicals.org Malcolm Mayhew, Performing Arts Fort Worth (817) 212-4319 | mmayhew@basshall.com

Casting Announced for the National Tour of The Bridges of Madison County!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:45:20 +0000

ELIZABETH STANLEY & ANDREW SAMONSKY TO STAR AS FRANCESCA & ROBERT IN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF

THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MUSICAL TO MAKE NORTH TEXAS DEBUT FEBRUARY 2-14, 2016 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

“The score by Jason Robert Brown is SUMPTUOUS!” -New York Times “MAGIC! An evening you will cherish long after the show’s over!” -NPR “The beating heart of the show is Brown’s score. It’s richly melodic and rhythmic — and one of Broadway’s best in the last decade!” -Daily News “GORGEOUS, POWERFUL & RAPTUROUS! ‘BRIDGES’ is one of the few recent Broadway musicals to take up the challenges laid down by the great works of Rodgers and Hammerstein – to tell important stories and somehow make them sing.” -New York Magazine The producers of the upcoming national tour of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY have announced that Elizabeth Stanley, currently starring in the role of Claire De Loone on Broadway in the revival of ON THE TOWN, and Andrew Samonsky, last seen in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at the Paper Mill Playhouse, will star as Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid. Featuring gorgeous, soulful music by three-time Tony Award^®winner JASON ROBERT BROWN that draws upon the rich textures of Americana and folk and the sweeping balladry of classic Broadway, Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News hails it as “one of Broadway’s best scores in the last decade.” Tom Geier of Entertainment Weekly exclaims that Brown “has written a lush and deeply romantic score, filled with rich and melodic duets,” and NPR proclaims it’s “MAGIC! An evening you will cherish long after the show is over!” As previously announced, the production will begin performances on November 28 at the Des Moines Civic Center in Des Moines, IA and will continue to over 15 additional major markets across North America in its first season. Elizabeth Stanley is currently starring as the man-crazed anthropologist Claire De Loone in the Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN (Drama Desk Nomination). Other roles originated on Broadway: Dyanne in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET; Allison in CRY-BABY, and April in the Tony Award-winning revival of COMPANY First National Tour: Kira in XANADU. Off-Broadway: Gussie in the New York City Center, Encores! production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and The Nurse in HELLO, AGAIN (Transport Theatre Group—Drama League Nomination, best ensemble). Favorite regional roles: Kate in KISS ME KATE, Sugar in SUGAR, Constanze in AMADEUS. TV: Black Box, Made in Jersey, Fringe, The Chappelle Show, and PBS Great Performances --Company. Graduate of Indiana University. www.elizabethstanley.net Andrew Samonsky recently played Captain Phoebus in the American premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at the Paper Mill and La Jolla Playhouse. Broadway: THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROO (Neville), SCANDALOUS (Kenneth Ormisten, original cast recording), and SOUTH PACIFIC (Lt. Cable, including the Live From Lincoln Center PBS broadcast). Off-Broadway: Queen of the Mist as Frank Russell (Drama Desk Award nomination, original cast recording), and Encores! productions of Fiorello! and Merrily We Roll Along. Original productions of Somewhere in Time (Richard, Portland Center Stage), TALES OF THE CITY (Beauchamp, ACT), LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (La Jolla Playhouse, Joshua), and DISNEY'S ON THE RECORD (Original Cast Recording). He's a soloist with symphonies across the country. TV/Film: Elementary, Guiding Light. The critically acclaimed musical of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY features one of Broadway’s most accomplished creative teams with music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award^®-winning composer JASON ROBERT BROWN (PARADE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS), book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer MARSHA NORMAN (THE SECRET GARDEN, THE COLOR PURPLE, ‘NIGHT, MOTHER), and led by the Tony Award^®-winning director BARTLETT SHER (SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA). The team also includes scenic design by two-time Tony Award^®winner MICHAEL YEARGAN (THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, SOUTH PACIFIC), costume design by six-time Tony Award^® winner CATHERINE ZUBER (SOUTH PACIFIC, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, THE COAST OF UTOPIA), lighting design by two-time Tony Award^®winner DONALD HOLDER (SOUTH PACIFIC, THE LION KING), sound design by JON WESTON, orchestrations by JASON ROBERT BROWN, and movement by DANNY MEFFORD. Based on the best-selling novel by ROBERT JAMES WALLER, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It’s an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY will launch in Des Moines, IA at the Des Moines Civic Center with performances beginning Saturday, November 28^th and will travel to more than 15 cities in its first season. The previously released tour route is available by clicking here with additional cities to be announced soon. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, now available on Ghostlight Records, was released on April 15, 2014 and debuted as the #1 Cast Recording on the Billboard charts. For more information or to purchase the Cast Recording, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/bridgesofmadisoncounty. For more information about the upcoming tour, please visit www.BridgesMusical.com THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is part of Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season. The new season will kick off with the North Texas debut of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, November 3-22, 2015; followed by ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. ### BIOS: MARSHA NORMAN (Book) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and co-chair of Playwriting at Juilliard. She won a Tony for THE SECRET GARDEN, and another nomination for THE COLOR PURPLE. Her first play, GETTING OUT, received the John Gassner Playwriting Medallion, the Newsday Oppenheimer Award, and a citation from the American Critics Association. Other plays include THE LAUNDROMAT, THE POOL HALL, LOVING DANIEL BOONE,TRUDY BLUE, and her newest play, LAST DANCE. Published collections of her works include Four Plays, Collected Works of Marsha Norman, Vol. 1, and a novel, The Fortune Teller. She has also worked extensively in television and film and has an upcoming play for the UN about trafficking and violence toward women. She is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, a former advisory member of the Sewanee Writers Conference, and current vice president of The Dramatists Guild of America. She serves on the boards of the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Independent Committee for Arts Policy. Ms. Norman was elected to the Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees in 2003. She lives with her two children in Monterey, MA and New York City. JASON ROBERT BROWN (Music, Lyrics and Orchestrations) has won three Tony Awards for his groundbreaking work as a composer, lyricist, and orchestrator. His emotionally incisive, ferociously energetic, and deeply human scores for HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations), PARADE (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Drama Desk Award), 13, and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD have brought his unique voice and highly personal songs to stages all over the world. Other works include his "novel symphony," The Trumpet of the Swan (written with Marsha Norman), which he conducted with the National Symphony Orchestra. Jason also tours with his band The Caucasian Rhythm Kings, with whom he has recorded a CD, Wearing Someone Else's Clothes. BARTLETT SHER (Director). LCT: THE KING AND I; GOLDEN BOY (Tony nomination); BLOOD AND GIFTS; WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (also current London production); JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Tony nom.); SOUTH PACIFIC (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics awards; also London and Australia); AWAKE AND SING!, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (Tony noms.). Recent New York: THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (Schoenfeld), PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY (Playwrights Horizons), WASTE (Best Play Obie Award), CYMBELINE (Callaway Award, also at Royal Shakespeare Company), Don Juan, Pericles (TFANA, BAM). Artistic director of Seattle’s Intiman Theater (2000-2009). Previously company director for the Guthrie Theater and associate artistic director at Hartford Stage. Opera: Faust (Baden Baden); Two Boys (ENO, Metropolitan Opera); Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Le Comte Ory, L’Elisir d’Amore (Metropolitan Opera); Romeo et Juliette (Salzburg, Milan, Chicago); Mourning Becomes Electra (Seattle Opera, New York City Opera). Upcoming productions include Otello (Metropolitan Opera), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF(Broadway), Adam Guettel’s new musical MILLIONS.

Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth Announce 15/16 Broadway Seasons!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:45:55 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AND PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH ANNOUNCE 2015-2016 BROADWAY SEASONS! The two organizations will come together to co-present three shows Season tickets for both seasons are on sale now! Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth proudly announce their 2015-2016 Broadway seasons! Once again, the two performing arts groups, in a groundbreaking move spearheaded last season, will come together to co-present many of these titles, allowing patrons across North Texas ample opportunities to experience the Best of Broadway. Dallas Summer Musicals will kick off its highly anticipated 2015-2016 season with the North Texas debut of a brand-new stage adaptation of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The season will continue with the hilarious tale of a modern day Christmas, ELF The Musical; followed by the musical romance, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID; Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, WICKED, as a season add-on; a turn-of-the-century celebration, RAGTIME; the classic comedy musical BULLETS OVER BROADWAY; and, closing the season, the caper revival, 42ND STREET. “Building from the momentum of our 75th Anniversary Season, we are thrilled to continue to present the Best of Broadway in North Texas,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals. “This new season will bring something for everyone as we look forward to the next 75 years of creating memories, while continuing our legacy of presenting top quality family entertainment.” From the creators of “South Park” and winner of nine Tony Awards ®, THE BOOK OF MORMON will open the Broadway at the Bass season, held at Bass Performance Hall, and play a limited six-day engagement Dec. 1-6. The New York Times calls it "the best musical of this century" and Entertainment Weekly says it's "the funniest musical of all time." This season will close with Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. In between will be the direct-from-Broadway MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the story of Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID; a revival of the classic backstage romp 42ND STREET; the timeless classic THE WIZARD OF OZ; and a brand-new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. In addition, MAMMA MIA!, BLUE MAN GROUP and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER THE MUSICAL will return as add-on specials, along with the previously announced JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. The series also includes two shows in the intimate McDavid Studio – the previously announced DIXIE’S NEVER WEAR A TUBETOP WHILE RIDING A MECHANICAL BULL (AND 16 OTHER THINGS I LEARNED WHILE I WAS DRINKING LAST THURSDAY) and an all-new show in the “Late Night Catechism” series, BACK TO SCHOOL CATECHISM: THE HOLY GHOST AND OTHER TERRIFYING TALES. Both shows can be added on to season packages. Continuing a partnership that blossomed last season, Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. “We at Dallas Summer Musicals are delighted to continue this great partnership with Performing Arts Fort Worth” said Jenkins. “This cooperation not only provides us with new opportunities for our organizations but it further enhances our commitment in developing collaborative efforts that benefit both our patrons and the Dallas-Fort Worth arts community.” Dione Kennedy, President and CEO of PAFW, said: “This is a relationship that has worked extremely well for both us and Dallas Summer Musicals, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue this partnership with our new season.” Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, go on sale Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. online at DallasSummerMusicals.org and in person Monday, June 8 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. For season tickets, groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount. For WICKED, groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Broadway at the Bass season tickets go on sale online at www.basshall.com at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office at 10 a.m. Monday, June 8. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth. ###

DSM Guest Blog: My Weekend with Jason Robert Brown

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:45:21 +0000

My Weekend with Jason Robert Brown

by Megan Anthony, Guest DSM Blogger and DSM Intern

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to drive out to Fort Worth and see the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Texas Christian University was hosting their 2nd annual “Festival of American Song,” this year featuring the renowned musical theater composer. For those who don’t recognize the name, Jason Robert Brown is the composer and lyricist of The Bridges of Madison County, which happens to be coming to DSM in February 2016! In addition to Bridges, JRB is also known for The Last 5 Years (recently made into a movie starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan), Parade, and Songs for a New World (less a musical, more a set of songs that are brought together by the people singing them). JRB has received 3 Tony awards for his work. Bridges received the Tony awards for Best Orchestration and Best Original Score, and then in 1999 Parade won for Best Original Score. I first heard Jason Robert Brown’s music in high school, although it didn’t really occur to me until much later that it was all the same person, let alone that he was a “big deal.” Now that I’ve gone through college, growing in my knowledge of musical theatre, I became more familiar with his works. That being said, being able to see him in person was probably comparable to my little sister being introduced to Taylor Swift (it was more subtle I hope… but I’m serious.) The day started off with a masterclass, in which JRB worked with five of TCU’s recent alumni. [Side note: He was sitting 2 rows directly in front of me. I could have touched him. I might have been freaking out a little.] Right off the bat, I was impressed with how knowledgeable this man was. Each singer he helped to make their performance seem more natural and musical, while giving tips on how and where to stand (or sit) and what songs/characters they should/should not audition for. After the class, JRB momentarily sat down at a piano. But only to readjust the seat… still giving us hope that he would be playing later that night at the talk back entitled “A Conversation with Jason Robert Brown.” It was in this “conversation” that I (and the rest of the audience in TCU’s recital hall) learned how JRB began his career in music [a pump organ found in his grandfather’s basement] and how he chose his path after high school [he was a “good Jewish boy so he went to a university” and his grades were terrible… so his only choice was a music school. Eastman (one of the top music schools in the country)]. How he premiered Songs for a New World when he was only 25, and how he got asked to write the music for Parade on the whim of an impatient director [because “Steve” Sondheim backed out]. Every once in a while, in between questions, the moderator would turn and say, “Why don’t you play [insert random song choice here] for us?” And JRB would naturally agree and just start playing some of the most complicated piano music you’ve ever heard, all while keeping a beat with his left foot and singing his own songs. One song, “I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You” was actually cut from The Last 5 Years, and another “I Love Betsy” is featured in his most recent show, Honeymoon in Vegas. All in all, if I wasn’t excited about seeing Jason Robert Brown’s Bridges of Madison County before [false… I was already excited], I am even more so now! Make sure you come check it out at DSM, February 2-14, 2016, along with the rest of our 2015-2016 season beginning in November with The Sound of Music!!!

Megan Anthony is originally from Flower Mound, TX and has been an Intern with DSM this summer. She currently attends Hardin-Simmons University and will graduate with a degree in Music Business/Management.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals February 2-14, 2016 at Music Hall Fair Park. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, one of the most romantic stories ever written, is now an irresistible, two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It’s an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more. This stunning new production features gorgeous, soulful music by Tony Award®-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years) that draws upon the rich textures of Americana and folk and the sweeping, expressive balladry of classic Broadway. The Daily News hails it as “one of Broadway’s best scores in the last decade.” With a book by Pulitzer Prize Winner Marcia Norman (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple) and direction by Tony®-winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza), THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is “an evening you will cherish long after the show’s over!” (NPR)

Click on the poster below for more details and a sneak peek video!

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Do Something More Tuesdays

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Tapping of your toes in time to a powerful score. The swell of your chest as your heart goes out to a protagonist in peril. The collective laughs, cries, and sighs of the theatre audience as you share emotional lows and highs. The ability of the musicals to engage patrons in awe-inspiring experiences and with each other is unequaled. For 75 years, the Music Hall at Fair Park has been the home of such memories for millions of North Texans. Countless studies highlight what any theatre lover already knows from experience to be true – arts exposure and involvement increases a person’s quality of life. And thanks to the big hearts and far sight of our donors, the Music Hall doors and the magic that lies beyond them are open to children who are more greatly impacted by the experience but less likely to have the opportunity without support. For over a decade, DSM has partnered with Title I schools and social service agencies to bridge the arts access gap created by limited resources. Stage Right and Seats for Kids are two programs offered by DSM which are at the heart of our mission to open the theatre to all members of our community and support the increased engagement, creativity and academic involvement which early exposure to the arts fosters. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2131,2130,2129" orderby="rand"] Seats for Kids has coordinated with hundreds of schools and agencies to provide resource-limited youth with free seats to our award winning, family-friendly productions. School districts ranging from Dallas ISD to Red Oak ISD and agencies from Hope for Kids to the Oak Cliff Girls and Boys Club have all given their students what is very likely their first theatre experience at one of Dallas’ cornerstone arts organizations. Additionally, DSM partners with the Dallas Police Department to offer at-risk youth with a positive alternative to gang-affiliation through the Stage Right program. Participant recommendations are taken from area counselors and other youth program leaders in order to help children visualize a positive lifestyle and encourage self-esteem in addition to arts involvement. Stage Right’s mission is “Raising the curtain for education and spotlighting the appreciation of the arts through experience and positive quality lifestyles.”

On September 17^th, we invite you to Do Something More. Your online gift through northtexasgivingday.org will go farther to inspire more direction and cultivate more possibility for the children of North Texas.

#GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

DSM SHOWBIZ CREW

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:58:55 +0000

DSM SHOWBIZ CREW

With the announcement of its highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season, Dallas Summer Musicals is offering the public a chance to participate in a unique opportunity called DSM SHOWBIZ CREW. Are you a Broadway fan? Do you live in or near Dallas? Are you social media savvy? DSM is looking for theater lovers to promote and review its new season giving 4 individuals the chance to win access to see multiple shows including the North Texas debut of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC and BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID and the blockbuster musical WICKED to name a few. Other exclusive perks include cast chat backs and opening night cast parties after the evening performance where the winners will get to mingle with the cast and other VIP members. TO REGISTER: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/showbizcrew.shtm DEADLINE: AUGUST 21, 2015 REQUIREMENTS:

Winner must promote the show on their social media accounts
Post before attending the show (i.e. expectations, show summary/times, etc.)
Winners will be responsible to pick up their tickets at the Press Table the evening of designated performances
Post photos while at the venue or during intermission (not while inside the theater)
Post a review about the show
Send in a screen shot copy of all content

PERKS:

A pair of tickets on press night to designated shows
Access to any media event available such as cast chat backs and backstage tours
Content visibility throughout DSM’s social media platforms
Exclusive invitation to the show cast party following the performance

For updated information about Dallas Summer Musicals visit www.DallasSummerMusicals.org

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Pippin Music Box Theatre Cast List: Matthew James Thomas Patina Miller Andrea Martin Terrence Mann Charlotte d'Amboise Rachel Bay Jones Gregory Arsenal Andrew Cekala Lolita Costet Colin Cunliffe Andrew Fitch Orion Griffiths Viktoria Grimmy Olga Karmansky Bethany Moore Brad Musgrove Stephanie Pope Philip Rosenberg Yannick Thomas Molly Tynes Anthony Wayne Production Credits: Diane Paulus (Direction) Chet Walker (Choreography) Gypsy Snider (Circus Creation) Scott Pask (Scenic Design) Dominique Lemieux (Costume Design) Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design) Clive Goodwin (Sound Design) Larry Hochman (Orchestrations) Nadia Di Giallonardo (Music Supervision) Charlie Alterman (Music Direction) Other Credits: Lyrics by: Stephen Schwartz Music by: Stephen Schwartz Book by: Roger O. Hirson

Photo Credit Kinky Boots Broadway 71 - The original Broadway cast of Kinky Boots. (c) Matthew Murphy

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Hungry Eyes Josef Brown, Amanda Leigh Cobb and Britta Lazenga Photo Credit - David Scheinmann

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Photo Credit - Cinderella 2294 Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Original Broadway Company

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Photo Credit - Cinderella 1079 Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Original Broadway Company

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Photo Credit - Cinderella 2402-v2 Cody Williams, Laura Osnes and Andy Mills from the Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA Original Broadway Company. Photo by Carol Rosegg

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Dirty Dancing Tickle Amanda Leigh Cobb and Josef Brown Photo Credit - David Scheinmann

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Mambo2 Josef Brown and Britta Lazenga Photo Credit - David Scheinmann

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Annaleigh Ashford and Stark Sands from the Original Broadway Company_Photo by Matthew Murphy

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Photo Credit Kinky Boots Broadway224 - The original Broadway cast of Kinky Boots. Matthew Murphy

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PippinMusic Box TheatreCast List:Matthew James Thomas Patina Miller Andrea Martin Terrence Mann Charlotte d'AmboiseRachel Bay Jones Gregory Arsenal Andrew Cekala Lolita Costet Colin Cunliffe Andrew Fitch Orion Griffiths Viktoria Grimmy Olga Karmansky Bethany Moore Brad Musgrove Stephanie Pope Philip Rosenberg Yannick Thomas Molly Tynes Anthony WayneProduction Credits:Diane Paulus (Direction)Chet Walker (Choreography)Gypsy Snider (Circus Creation)Scott Pask (Scenic Design)Dominique Lemieux (Costume Design)Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design)Clive Goodwin (Sound Design)Larry Hochman (Orchestrations)Nadia Di Giallonardo (Music Supervision)Charlie Alterman (Music Direction)Other Credits:Lyrics by: Stephen SchwartzMusic by: Stephen SchwartzBook by: Roger O. Hirson

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THE ILLUSIONISTS - Witness The Impossible

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Samuel Pergande (Johnny) and the company of the North American tour of DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)

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The Cast of the National Touring Production of PIPPIN. Credit Terry Shapiro

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DSM 2015-2016 Season

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Do Something More Tuesdays - Imagine the Future of DSM

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At the heart of live theatre is the chemistry of shared experience, the electricity that charges a room in a dance of anticipation and connection. The palpable interplay between audience and performers enlivens each group, and meaningful performances ignite conversations and inspire memories that live on long after the show. By its very nature, theatre is community. Last week, we shared THIS POST about DSM’s longstanding history of making community connections that open the theatre to at-risk and resource-limited children. This week, we invite you to imagine the future at DSM. For our 76^th year, we have envisioned two new programs that would allow us to engage more of North Texas in the true communal experience offered by musical theatre. In March, DSM will bring Disney’s The Little Mermaid back to the stage in a beautifully reimagined production featuring completely new songs in addition to the movie’s Oscar-winning score. For one performance, DSM will offer the Dallas community every seat in the house! The DSM Community Performance aims to build a foundation of partner integration by engaging new patrons, volunteers, city officials, area nonprofits, businesses, and you! We will open our doors to members of our community who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend a performance, continue the dialogue on arts importance, and highlight historic Fair Park and its role as a Dallas landmark. Most importantly, we will create partnerships which promote access to the arts for all families of Dallas/Fort Worth. DSM also seeks to expand its efforts of community care by welcoming the men and women who have bravely fought for our nation to the Music Hall. Each year, thousands of veterans separate from the military and rejoin the workforce in North Texas alone. DSM aims to support our veterans and honor their service by facilitating their access to a theatre experience. Seats for Vets will subsidize seating, making access to outstanding family entertainment affordable for this distinguished group. School budget cutbacks and limited personal resources can deprive deserving people of the enriching experience of musical theatre entertainment. As a community, we have the power to provide this gift. On September 17^th, help us Do Something More. Your online gift through northtexasgivingday.org will help us get these initiatives off the ground and build the foundation for our next 75 years. Together, let’s Do Something More! #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

Nominate Your Hero for Season Tickets!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 01:03:46 +0000

This year, we want to honor a special, deserving person with 2015/2016 DSM Season Tickets! Do you have someone in your life that you look up to and admire? Will they also like to come and see all of the 2015/2016 DSM Season Shows? We want to hear about the heroes in your life! By clicking here, submit a nomination for who inspires you and why. We here at DSM will select the top 5 nominees and the grand prize winner will be selected by YOU, our DSM Fans, to win season tickets! HURRY though, because the nominations end on FRIDAY at 11:59pm! Voting begins on Monday, August 17^th at 10am through Friday, August 21^st at 12:00pm. The winner will be announced that afternoon. Thanks for participating! We wish you and your hero good luck! ‪#‎DSMSeason ‪#‎SeasonTicketContest ‪#‎DSMHeroes -DSM Amanda

Do Something More Tuesdays - Keron Jackson

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 01:57:23 +0000

Keron Jackson has a voice that hits you like a wave. Whether performing for DSM’s Curtain Call gala or at an intimate gathering, the power of his singing leaves an indelible impression. But the journey to shape and share his gift has been riddled with difficulty, beginning with an unstable, unsafe home life. Keron and his sisters experienced bouts of homelessness and bounced from house to house, living, as he puts it, “a life without a foundation. A one-note kind of life. The way I grew up, I didn’t know what it was to go to college, to have a career path, to pursue something. I knew what it was to stand on the corner and sell drugs, to be a hoodlum.” At 11, Keron’s grandparents took him in and enrolled him in middle school. He recalls wondering what the point of school was, not being able to see a tangible reward. That changed when his school took a field trip to see The Princess and the Pea, for which he had to forge his parents’ signatures on the permission slip. This was Keron’s first experience with the arts, and he laughs deeply as he remembers the awe he felt when looking up at the actors on stage. It was also the first time that he imagined a possibility for himself outside the bounds of a life whose only potentials seemed to include drugs, theft, and gangs. During high school, Keron had the amazing support of his theatre teacher Ernestine Rose. Rose exposed Keron to UIL competitions, took him under her wing, and further solidified his interest in the performing arts. He recalls watching his first UIL performance and knowing that he had found his calling. But after high school, Keron was again left on his own financially and struggled once more with homelessness. “It is one thing to start to believe in a dream and it is another to know how the dream is going to happen. If you don’t have support, it isn’t possible.” Rose had given Keron the exposure necessary to ignite his passion and the support necessary to instill self-confidence, but he still could not see the path to making his dreams a reality. He says he felt “torn between two worlds,” a world of clear but strife-filled boundaries and a world of hazy possibility. In his early 20s, dreams began to take shape. With the help of John and Janice King and the guidance of church organist Joyce Hughes, Keron began daily voice lessons and focused intently on honing his craft. He emphasizes, “Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.” Keron began winning music competitions and eventually earned a scholarship to Baylor. He attributes his success to a philosophy of perseverance: “Even if nobody else shows up for your dream, you still have to show up for it every day.” After a life of struggle, Keron is finally beginning to reap the rewards of developing self-worth and dedication. In the last year, Keron has performed at DSM’s Curtain Call gala, begun production on an album and received back-to-back standing ovations at Carnegie Hall. He swells with pride recalling that DSM President and Managing Director Michael Jenkins told him, “the world has chosen you.” Beyond sharing his voice, he says his purpose is to share hope with children who have a dream but don’t know how to realize it. “The importance of DSM’s programs is to see a new path. Kids in Compton have never seen the ocean. They live five miles from it and have never seen it. I want to show kids the ocean.” You’re invited to see Keron Jackson perform live at the House of Blues on September 17^th for our North Texas Giving Day celebration from 4:00-8:00pm. A gift on this day benefits the significant education and outreach programs that DSM promotes to open the door of possibility for at-risk and underserved youth. Together, let’s Do Something More! #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

DSM and Wow! Entertainment Partner Up To Develop New Works of Jukebox Jr. Musicals!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 19:00:49 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS & WOW! ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER UP TO DEVELOP NEW WORKS OF JUKEBOX JR. MUSICALS

Dallas, TX (August 17, 2015) – Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts in partnership with WOW! Entertainment, Inc. are thrilled to hold a triple threat program for ages 10 and up at Central Christian Church September 12 – November 14, 2015 from 11 am – 5 pm with a cost of $529 or $429 for YMCA members; some Saturday calls starting at 9 am. This workshop will prepare all students for the world premiere of the first Jukebox Jr. Musical entitled DO YOU WANNA DANCE? at Uptown Theater Saturday, November 21 at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm; auditions held the first day of class September 12. With a script by Mark Brymer and John Jacobson, both authors will be working with students to ready the script in a 90’s themed style jukebox musical. Students have the opportunity to register for this triple threat workshop that emphasizes acting, singing and dancing for the professional stage. No theatrical experience is necessary to participate. Students may enroll by mailing a completed enrollment form (attached separately) with payment to DSM Academy, P. O. Box 567671, Dallas, TX 75356, by fax at 972.408.4147, online at dsmschool.org (add $15 handling fee when enrolling through DSM), or in person at Park Cities YMCA. For payment plans, please contact Ty Lawrence at DSM Academy, 214.498.5434. Musical Theatre – DO YOU WANNA DANCE? & Steven Kavner’s IMPROV FOR THE ACTOR

Class: Ages 10 & Up
Class Location: Central Christian Church, 4711 Westside Dr., Dallas, TX 75209
Class Dates & Times: Saturdays, September 12-November 14, 2015, 11am-5pm; Some Saturday calls will start at 9am. Auditions for the musical are held the first day of class Saturday September 12.
Added class: Sunday, October 25, 1-5:30pm.
Mandatory Technical Rehearsal: Friday, November 20, 2015, 5:30-10pm, Uptown Theater
Performances: Saturday, November 21, Noon & 3:00pm, Uptown Theater 120 East Main St., Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Program Cost: $529 YMCA Members: $429

Please note that students should bring a non-refrigerated lunch, snack and capped drink. Students are not allowed to leave during class time without parent permission. DO YOU WANNA DANCE? will feature such well known songs as “Dancing In The Streets”, “Neutron Dance”, “Bust A Move”, “Walking On Sunshine” and “Boogie Wonderland”. Featuring DSM Academy students from all over the Metroplex, the show will be directed by the Peabody Award winning producer, Steven Kavner. In this musical romp, singing and dancing is what draws everyone to the town center of SnapHappy to meet Mayor Pete’s new wife, Mona Lightfoot. But after she literally pulls the plug on the May Day celebration, the politics of dancing start to take the Snap out of Happy. Delaney, Chad, Lucas, Emma, and all the SnapHappy kids are shocked when they hear that a new “Dance Tax” has been levied on anyone who dances in town. While their ‘Boogie Down’ parents try to cope with the new tax, all the kids come together and eventually find a way around it. But who could have ever imagined that “I Can’t Dance” Mona would turn into a Dancing Machine. Now that’s AWESOME! As DSM Academy of Performing Arts develops new initiatives with industry professionals across the Metroplex, it also expands the efforts of Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. of fostering future patrons for the arts. Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 season will kick off with the North Texas debut of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, November 3-22, 2015; followed by ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Contact: Francisco Chairez, Public Relations Associate (214) 413-3909 | fchairez@DallasSummerMusicals.org

Kevin Cook, Director of DSM Academy of Performing Arts (214) 969-7469 | kcook@DallasSummerMusicals.org

About DSM Academy Of Performing Arts:

Mission - Recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience, DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally. The DSM Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1999 and operates as an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals in several locations in the Dallas area. Dallas Summer Musicals is a company that produces and presents Broadway, off-Broadway, West End and touring theatrical productions. The DSM Academy is comprised of 75% teens and 25% adults ranging in age from 7 to adult. The Academy is proud of its diverse and ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships. The Academy helps to prepare the amateur and the professional for involvement in the performing arts. The purpose of this page is to connect people who have a common interest in the performing arts of any type.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Vote for our Top 5 DSM Hero Nominees!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:45:39 +0000

It's time for you to vote! This year, we want to honor a special, deserving person with 2015/2016 DSM Season Tickets! The nominations have been submitted and after A LOT of thought, we've announced our 5 ‪DSM Hero finalists! Now it's your turn to vote at this link for the person who you feel deserves 2015-16 season tickets to Dallas Summer Musicals the most. Thanks for your votes - voting ends Sunday! -DSM Amanda Thanks for voting! We wish the nominated heroes good luck! ‪#‎DSMSeason ‪#‎SeasonTicketContest ‪#‎DSMHeroes -DSM Amanda Vote Here: http://bit.ly/VoteDSMHero

Do Something More Tuesdays - DSM Academy of Performing Arts

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 03:04:20 +0000

An affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals, the DSM Academy of Performing arts was founded in 1999 to engage and educate children and young adults in musical theatre training. Accredited arts teachers and theatre professionals lead four comprehensive sessions yearly, all culminating with a public performance of a student production. Master classes also give students a taste of Broadway in lessons led by touring performers. The program is intentionally designed as a confidence-building experience, with a guarantee that every child will receive a speaking part. (For current class offerings and more details, click here.) [caption width="294" id="attachment_2207" align="alignleft"] Lynne and Bob Thompson signing a scholarship.[/caption]Each year, nearly 500 students take their first steps on the path to Broadway at the Academy. For some, the experience is made possible because of generous gifts from arts and education supporters. Among the most ardent of these supporters are DSM Board member Robert L. Thompson and his wife Lynne. The two are longtime DSM subscribers and Guild members who have been deeply touched by the dedication and development of the students at the Academy. Discussing the Academy’s importance, Mr. Thompson emphasized, “It means so much to the kids. It fosters their development which in turn fosters the development of the whole community. The Academy supports their self-esteem and worth, and it gives them a chance to develop into the great citizens that they have the potential to be.” In appreciation of his love of musical theatre, Endeavour International Corporation established the Robert L. Thompson Scholarship fund for Mr. Thompson as a retirement present in 2013. He and his family continue to financially back the fund and make musical theatre education possible for more students. “We want the community to know about the Academy and all of DSM. There is so much more happening at DSM than entertaining patrons. These experiences are integral to children’s development. The growth experienced by these kids cannot be overstated, and the scholarship program extends that opportunity to those who cannot do it without help.” [caption width="300" id="attachment_2208" align="alignright"] DSM Academy students take a master class taught by cast members from the National Tour of PIPPIN.[/caption]The Thompsons do not just offer their financial support to the students. Says Academy Director Kevin Cook, “Mr. and Mrs. Thompson attend the performance of each recipient to lend their support and applause.“ Lynne fondly recalls viewing the recent Pippin production. The Thompsons met Alexis Gonzalez, a scholarship student who starred in the production. “We were so impressed with Alexis and everyone’s ability. When Alexis hugged Bob and got choked up as she said she couldn’t have done it without him, we were so encouraged to stay involved and felt so rewarded.” Alexis became involved with the Academy after her high school theatre teacher encouraged her to audition. Alexis was interested in the program but was reluctant to audition because she knew her family couldn’t cover the full cost of tuition. Deadline looming, her teacher pulled her aside and filmed Alexis’ audition tape herself. Academy Director of Education Kevin Cook was impressed, and Alexis was brought into the Academy on scholarship. Alexis recalls feeling a little frightened in her first days at the Academy, not knowing what to expect. She quickly found her footing and the support she needed to expand her limits. “That first day it was scary, but that feeling of being by myself helped me grow, and the teachers were always there to push and help support us all, while being so welcoming.” Once, Alexis remembers thinking she was in trouble when Mr. Cook gave her a sideways glance during auditions. She had gone out for the smaller, comedic role of the chicken in Pippin and got called up by Mr. Cook during auditions for the lead part. She asked him if she was in trouble and he exclaimed, “No! Go audition!” She shares, “Then I got the part. Mr. Kevin and Ms. Ty pushed me to see that I am way more than I think I am sometimes.” Recalling her meeting with the Thompsons, Alexis’ voice floods with emotion. “Even though this man doesn’t know me, he gave me the amazing opportunity to do what I love and to make people smile. I could see how proud he was that he was helping students accomplish their dreams. He was proud of me even though he had never met me before.” She quickly transitioned from tears to laughter, “It made me laugh after the show because he said, ‘I had a meeting to go to, but I’m going to stay for the second show!’” Alexis plans to get a musical theatre education at NYU and pursue her Broadway dreams. She wants then to share her knowledge as a teacher and create the kind of experience that she had at the Academy for other students. “They all touch your heart and they all impact you. Those feelings like I learned at DSM of acceptance, confidence and love, they will stay with me.” Taking another moment of gratitude for the Thompsons, Alexis emphasized, “Just by one action, you can change someone’s life. Even though he had not yet met me, he changed my life.” [caption width="300" id="attachment_2087" align="aligncenter"] DSM Academy Students Say Thank You![/caption]Please join us in taking one action to create positive change for the children of North Texas. Gifts given to DSM on September 17^th through northtexasgivingday.org go father to support students of musical theatre who attend the Academy and all of the programs that DSM offers to open the door of possibility for underserved youth. You’re also invited to see Alexis perform at the House of Blues on September 17^th for DSM’s North Texas Giving Day celebration from 4-8pm. She will be joined by rocking Texas band GOODnGONE and local talent Keron Jackson. Together, let’s Do Something More! #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

About DSM Academy of Performing Arts:

Mission – Recognizing the positive influence of the arts on the human experience, DSM Academy of Performing Arts strives not only to increase appreciation of the performing arts, but to teach those arts professionally. The DSM Academy of Performing Arts was founded in 1999 and operates as an affiliate of Dallas Summer Musicals in several locations in the Dallas area. Dallas Summer Musicals is a company that produces and presents Broadway, off-Broadway, West End and touring theatrical productions. The DSM Academy is comprised of 75% teens and 25% adults ranging in age from 7 to adult. The Academy is proud of its diverse and ethnic student population. The DSM Academy has granted over 250 need-based scholarships. The Academy helps to prepare the amateur and the professional for involvement in the performing arts. The purpose of this page is to connect people who have a common interest in the performing arts of any type.

About Dallas Summer Musicals Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Here's to many more years of creating memories!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Hello DSM Fans! Building from the momentum of our 75^th Anniversary Season, we can’t wait to continue to present the Best of Broadway in North Texas! With an all new season filled with North Texas debuts, blockbuster hits, self-productions and tons of family entertainment, we want to take a few minutes to recap our last season. This past season was more than just a milestone, but also another wonderful year where we were able to create memories with every single one of you. Thank you for celebrating with us! - DSM Cisco [embed]http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpvum4prHeU&feature=player_embedded[/embed]

75th Anniversary Season Kickoff Event

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The Dallas Morning News – A Fairy-Tale Moment

WFAA Good Morning Texas – Live at the Music Hall

[caption id="attachment_2215" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A Walk Down Memory Lane[/caption]

FD Magazine – Stage Presents (Hot Birthday)

Selig Film News – Feature Interview

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9THNYL0W7Co&feature=player_embedded[/embed]

White Rock Lake Weekly – 75 Years On Dallas’ Great White Way

Parks Cities News – Nscene Inside Scoop with Michael Jenkins

DALLAS TURNS DSM BLUE

[gallery type="circle" ids="2224,2225,2226,2227,2228,2229"]

A CHRISTMAS STORY

"‘A Christmas Story, the Musical’ a questionable exercise in nostalgia" – The Dallas Morning News

“The terrific, Tony-nominated A Christmas Story, the Musical, becomes a welcome addition to the year's holiday offerings at Dallas Summer Musicals” – Theater Jones

"It's 'Ralphie to the Rescue' with high-action nostalgic entertainment, pink-bunny pajama-wearin', leg-shaped lamp-breakin', and more outrageous shenanigans!" – The Flash List

KINKY BOOTS

"If ‘Kinky Boots’ doesn’t get you clapping, check your pulse" – The Dallas Morning News

"Kinky Boots Will Leave You Pumped!" – This Week In Texas

"'Kinky Boots,' the 2013 Tony-winning musical, made its Dallas debut Tuesday night at the Music Hall at Fair Park and it's fabulous" – The EDGE

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I

"Dallas Summer Musicals triumphs with self-produced ‘King and I’" – The Dallas Morning News

"Dallas Summer Musicals’ The King and I Enchants With Grandeur, Daring"– D Magazine

"Dallas Summer Musical's King and I Whistles (and Sings) Happy Tunes" – Dallas Observer

"Exitoso debut del musical 'The King and I' en Dallas (Fair Park)" – HOY Dallas

THE ILLUSIONISTS

"‘The Illusionists’ a frothy evening with primeval moments of inspiration" – The Dallas Morning News

"You will hear gasps, laughter and even a few 'No ways' all around you" – The Column

"The Illusionists is a whole helluva lot of fun" – Dallas Voice

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA

"‘Cinderella’ is ‘A Lovely Night’ and no doubt lovely matinee, too" – The Dallas Morning News

"This new version of Cinderella was like a gusting force of freshness and artistic originality" – The Column

"Dallas Summer Musicals' production of Cinderella dazzles audiences with can-you-believe-your-eyes twirling makeover transformations" – The Flash List

DIRTY DANCING

“Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage Delivers Stellar Performances" The Forney Post

“Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage Is Nostalgic Fun" – Irish Film Critic

"Dirty Dancing mostly captures the magic of the movie, and the important part—the dancing—is exquisite" – Theater Jones

PIPPIN

“‘Pippin’ revival is seductive, enchanting and darker than original” – The Dallas Morning News

“Pippin is a razzle-dazzle entertainment” – Arts+Culture Magazine

“Pippin Is a High-Flying Hit to End Dallas Summer Musicals Season” – D Magazine

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. Thank you for celebrating 75 years with us! We look forward to seeing you at the Music Hall soon! Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 season will kick off with the North Texas debut of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, November 3-22, 2015; followed by ELF The Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Do Something More Tuesdays – Payton and Holly Reeves for HSMTA

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 02:29:04 +0000

Imagine a flash of stage lights in your eyes. Imagine giving yourself over to a flow of dance, dialogue, and movement that you’ve practiced for months. Imagine your efforts culminating with audience murmurs erupting into applause as you breathe an accomplished sigh. Each year across North Texas, students from over 60 schools work for this moment as they prepare for DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards. The event, structured like Broadway’s Tony© Awards, spotlights local, developing musical theatre talent. Students compete in 15 total categories, running the gamut from technical to artistic awards. The Best Actor and Actress receive coaching and take master classes in a five-day, all-expense paid trip to New York. There they have the opportunity to perform in the musical theatre hub and win scholarships and prizes at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. It takes passion, motivation and dedication to get to the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards stage, and that becomes even more apparent when talking to participant Payton Reeves. “It can be hard and overwhelming, but you have to realize that this is what you love doing, so every bit of it is worth it.” In her senior year at Bishop Lynch High School, Payton was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work as Holly in The Wedding Singer. She recalls her first impression of the program, “Overall, it was just amazing. They made you feel really comfortable, but you were also able to feel like a professional and get real professional experience. It was really well put together and exciting.” The DSM HSMTA program also provides college-bound students the opportunity to get instant feedback and direction from Broadway veterans and university faculty through their College Audition Prep Weekend workshop. Holly Reeves, DSM Executive Committee and Guild member, expounds on the boost the weekend gave her family, “The workshop really opened our eyes to not only how competitive this industry is for the high school students but also what a huge undertaking and process it is to become a theatre major. The information that this weekend provides is invaluable – you can’t find it anywhere else.” Talking to Holly, you quickly see that passion and dedication are Reeves family characteristics. “I just can’t tell you how much I support this weekend and how much I support the High School Musical Theatre Awards. If you don’t have a child who loves the theatre, you don’t probably get it. It’s like watching Dance Moms or Toddlers in Tiaras,” she laughs cheerily. “But once you have a child that has that fire and desire to perform, you have to get on board.” Getting on board includes facilitating and organizing all of the training, lessons, and outside commitments that a musical theatre student needs. Holly explains, “Musical theatre is very different. You’re talking about kids that sing, that act, and that dance. It is not unusual for these kids to take dancing lessons outside of school, singing lessons outside of school, acting lessons outside of school. Balancing Payton’s other duties while getting the experience she needed to take the next step was very difficult. We have had to find a way to balance all of it.” Holly’s support and Payton’s dedication have ultimately paid off. Payton received one of just thirteen spots in the Musical Theatre program at Abilene Christian University for the 2015-16 year. “Going through all the rehearsals and all the hard work, especially the audition process, and then finally being rewarded with a B.F.A. in this program makes it all worth it. In this career especially, you’re going to be told no. You didn’t get this part. That shouldn’t make you want to give up. That should make you want to strive to be better -- continue to put your heart into it and do what you love.” Payton also credits the program with her success. “I really don’t think I would have been able to get into my school’s program without attending this camp because there were so many things I learned that I didn’t even know I had to think about. It almost brought a sense of a certain comfort level when I was at auditions. I would have been a lot more nervous and doubting myself, but after coming here it made auditions so much easier. It gave me a lot of confidence.” The participants are not the only ones who appreciate the program. GLEE choreographer, co-producer and 2015 High School Musical Theatre Awards host Zach Woodlee says, “I was blown away by the talent pool of young actors in Texas! This program is a strong stepping stone that shines a light on our future stars. DSM is pretty much the Super Bowl for Texas musical theatre.” The DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards and the College Prep Audition weekend are two of the ways that Dallas Summer Musicals supports arts education for the youth of North Texas. Participating high school seniors who pursue higher education may also be awarded scholarships from Dallas Summer Musicals in recognition of outstanding academic achievement or by faculty recommendation. On September 17^th, gifts given to Dallas Summer Musicals through northtexasgivingday.org will go farther in helping to realize the dreams of these dedicated aspiring stars. Together, let’s Do Something More! #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

DSM is looking for our first official KID CRITIC!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:30:47 +0000

DSM is looking for our first official Kid Critic! Kids have an extra special way of being brutally honest, which is why they make great critics! We’re looking for DFW’s most promising, Broadway-loving junior journalist to become the first official DSM Kid Critic for our 2016 Season. If your child is passionate about Broadway musicals, we want to hear what they think! Please review the requirements and submit an application below! Application deadline: Sunday, September 27^th at 11:59pm. Requirements:

Child must be between the ages of 8-12 years old.
Child (+ one parent/guardian) must attend opening night performances of each show. These will be school nights! DSM will provide 2 complimentary tickets per opening night.
Parent/guardian must record and submit a 1-3 minute video of your child reviewing each show.
All video reviews must be submitted to DSM by 11:59pm the following day.
Parent/guardian must consent to the use of Kid Critic video reviews on DSM social media platforms and other DSM marketing outlets.

Some of the shows in our season have age recommendations that exceed the Kid Critic age requirements listed above. If you are not comfortable with your child seeing any of the shows in our 2016 season, we need to know in advance. Please indicate which shows you would prefer to skip in the parental consent section of your application Age Recommendations for our 2016 Season:

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (All ages)
ELF (8+)
BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (13+)
THE LITTLE MERMAID (All ages)
WICKED (8+)
RAGTIME (10+)
BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (13+)
42^ND STREET (All ages)

For show descriptions, please visit www.dallassummermusicals.org. Become the first official DSM Kid Critic! CLICK HERE TO APPLY.

SOUND OF MUSIC SING-OFF!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 22:00:36 +0000

In honor of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, we are holding a SOUND OF MUSIC SING-OFF!

If you have confidence that your group can effortlessly do-re-mi through any SOUND OF MUSIC song, now is your time to shine!

Who can participate? • Anyone! • Families, groups of friends, schools or choirs – all are welcome. • Group size: minimum 3 per group, maximum 30 per group. What are we looking for? • A solid combination of quality and creativity. • Get creative, have fun and show us why YOU deserve to win! Rules/Regulations: • Record a 1 minute video of your group singing any song from THE SOUND OF MUSIC. • Upload the video to YouTube. • Register your group + submit video link via the registration form by Wed. October 21st. • Finalists will be selected and announced Friday, October 23rd. • Winners will be voted on/selected by public. Voting time frame: Mon. 10/26 – Thu. 11/12. • Winners will be announced Friday, November 13th. Winners/Prize: • 1 Sound Of Music 50th Anniversary book for the group. • Complimentary tickets for entire group, to THE SOUND OF MUSIC on Tuesday, Nov. 17th. • (Pending show approval, the prize could also include a cast meet&greet or post-show backstage tour!)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for DSM’S SOUND OF MUSIC SING-OFF! Deadline: Wednesday, October 21st

THE SOUND OF MUSIC is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals November 3-22, 2015, at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

GOT A GROUP? GET A DEAL!

GROUPS OF 10+ GET 15% OFF* GROUPS OF 35+ GET 20% OFF*

CALL: 214.426.GROUP (4768) | EMAIL: Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org

*WICKED requires group of 15+ and offers 10% OFF for (T, W, TH Mat/Eve, Sun Eve) performances.

Do Something More Tuesdays - 5 W's for Giving

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 17:17:02 +0000

WHAT is North Texas Giving Day? North Texas Giving Day is an online giving event that provides nonprofits the opportunity to gain exposure to — and start relationships with — new donors, and for people in North Texas to come together to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits. In just six years, North Texas Giving Day has pumped more than $86 million into the North Texas community. In 2014, more than 98,000 gifts totaling $26.3 million benefited 80 nonprofits. Last year, online gifts to DSM were multiplied on North Texas Giving Day, where your generosity helped us raise over $146,000 dollars, making DSM the number one performing arts organizations in North Texas! This success was primarily driven by the participation of dedicated subscribers and patrons like you. This year, commit to Do Something More for DSM. WHEN is North Texas Giving Day? Giving Day 2015 is Thursday, September 17, from 6:00 am – 11:59 pm. WHY give on North Texas Giving Day? Your gift goes farther! Donations of at least $25 dollars given through the North Texas Giving Day website will receive bonus funds, and there are multiple potential incentives made possible by Communities Foundation of North Texas and other generous donors, including two generous matching gifts for DSM totaling $50,000! WHO Benefits from a gift given to Dallas Summer Musicals? DSM Academy of Performing Arts students [caption id="attachment_2087" align="aligncenter" width="640"] DSM Academy Students Say Thank You![/caption] High School Musical Theatre Award participants and scholarship recipients Seats for Kids and Stage Right participants [caption id="attachment_2130" align="aligncenter" width="640"] DSM Stage Right students from the Dallas Police Explorers program at PIPPIN.[/caption] Everyone who loves the musicals and the beloved Music Hall at Fair Park! HOW can I help? Do Something More:

Make a gift to DSM on September 17^th from 6am – 11:59pm at this link.
Attend the DSM North Texas Giving Day Celebration at the House of Blues on September 17th - Details Here!
Participate in our North Texas Giving Day Photo Contest (September 1^st-September 15^th) - Details Here!
Connect with us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram)!
Share your passion for DSM! Ask family, friends, and coworkers to support us too!

Your involvement means bettering the lives and prospects of thousands of children through enriching arts exposure. Together, let’s Do Something More! #GiveDSM #DSMisBIG #NTXGivingDay #DoSomethingMore

Musical Mondays - October Update for DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:02:29 +0000

You are invited to…

THE 5^th ANNUAL DSM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS!

500 of the most talented performers from over 70 schools, with a professional 25 piece orchestra, compete for 16 awards and 7 scholarships… live on stage at THE Largest Theatre in Big “D.” Save the date! Thursday, April 14^th, 2016 at the Music Hall at Fair Park! We will kick things off with our RED CARPET EVENT at 5:30 PM followed by our LIVE SHOW at 7:00PM! Thousands of hours of auditions, rehearsals and performances in high schools across Dallas and North Texas are celebrated each spring when this glittering evening marks an exciting culmination to the high school musical season. 58 schools have already registered to participate in this year’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS program with more school entering every week. DSM has already sent representatives to performances at Highland Park High School of CINDERELLA, J. J. Pearce High School of SWEENEY TODD, The Covenant School of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and Lake Ridge High School for the 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. The fun continues next week when the curtain goes up on Ft. Worth Academy of Fine Arts’ production of ALL SHOOK UP which runs October 16-18 and October 22-24, 2015. Halloween weekend will see a number of schools presenting ghoulishly fun shows we’re sure you won’t want to miss! Check out our roster of participating schools for show dates and times by clicking here. Keep up on all things “HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL” by following our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dsmhsmta and create your own post about your high school’s show on our Facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DSMHSMTA/ and don’t forget to check us out on Instagram by clicking here. Here are some pics from J Pearce’s SWEENEY TODD! [gallery type="slideshow" link="none" size="large" ids="2303,2304,2305" orderby="rand"]

About the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Celebrating its 5^th year, DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) had 65 high schools participating in 2015 - which is more than double the first year's total of 30 high schools participating, representing 33 school districts across North Texas. Among the 65 were also 7 private high schools. This represented a new all-time high of high schools, teachers and students taking part in the program.

DSM HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and the second largest program in the country. DSM HSMTA has been recognized by The National High School Musical Theatre Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas.

Since DSM’s First Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting high schools as far away as Denton and McKinney to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east.

Slated for Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, the awards show is a red carpet affair and the public is invited to join in the excitement. Red carpet arrival begins at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. with performances which include separate medleys of the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, production numbers from Best Musical nominees and an opening number featuring all nominated performers accompanied by a live orchestra. Winners and scholarship recipients are announced. The show is topped off with a finale of performers from each participating high school.

Based on Broadway’s Tony^® Awards, DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each are awarded. In 2015, DSM awarded seven cash scholarships of $5,000 each to outstanding participating students. To date, DSM has awarded over $100,000 in cash scholarships to outstanding students.

A three-judge panel of entertainment industry professionals and veteran educators will visit each high school and judge the performers in 16 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Male Performer and Best Featured Female Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant Thornton.

Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their high school in The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year.

Participating high schools and their shows will be listed on the website at http://DallasSummerMusicals.org/HSMAwards.shtm or for questions, contact Tracy Jordan, the program manager at 214-413-3951 or tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org.

Brand New Production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC Makes North Texas Debut!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 23:04:36 +0000

MAKES NORTH TEXAS DEBUT

NOVEMBER 3-22, 2015

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

& AUGUST 17-21, 2016

AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL.

“Sparkling, fresh and lively.” – Los Angeles Times

“An unabashed paean to the healing power of art.” – Hollywood Reporter

“Go see The Sound of Music, as it will be unlike any other you have encountered.” – LA Daily News

Dallas, TX (October 8, 2015) – A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, will make its North Texas debut at the Music Hall at Fair Park November 3-22, 2015, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This lavish production will roll back into Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall August 17-21, 2016, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. BEN DAVIS (Broadway’s Violet, A Little Night Music, La Bohème) will play Captain Georg von Trapp and ASHLEY BROWN (Broadway’s Mary Poppins, NBC’s The Sound of Music) will play The Mother Abbess with MERWIN FOARD as Max Detweiler, TERI HANSEN as Elsa Schraeder, DAN TRACY as Rolf and PAIGE SILVESTER as Liesl. The von Trapp children will be played by ERICH SCHUETT (Friedrich), MARIA KNASEL (Louisa), QUINN ERICKSON (Kurt), SVEA JOHNSON (Brigitta), MACKENZIE CURRIE (Marta) and AUDREY BENNETT (Gretl). Introducing Jack O’Brien’s brand new discovery, KERSTIN ANDERSON as Maria Rainer. A current student at Pace University, Ms. Anderson won the coveted role from hundreds who auditioned. The ensemble includes Carey Rebecca Brown, Ronald Brown, Caitlin Burke, Christopher Carl, Kyla Carter, Austin Colby, Daniella Dalli, Elisabeth Evans, Donna Garner, Meghan Hales, Jenavene Hester, Adam Hill, Jeremy Michael Lanuti, Darren Matthias, Kelly McCormick, Julia Osborne, Andrea Ross, Brent Schindele and Jim Schubin. THE SOUND OF MUSIC features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp. This new production is directed by Jack O’Brien (credits include: Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Coast of Utopia), choreographed by Danny Mefford (Fun Home, The Bridges of Madison County and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) and music supervision by Andy Einhorn (Bullets Over Broadway, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Brief Encounter, The Light in the Piazza). The design and production team is comprised of Douglas Schmidt, set design (Tony Award® nominee: 42^nd Street, Into the Woods); Jane Greenwood, costume design (2014 recipient of the Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), Natasha Katz, lighting design (Five-time Tony Award® winner: An American in Paris, Once, Aida, The Coast of Utopia, The Glass Menagerie) and Ken Travis, sound design (Aladdin, Newsies, Memphis). Casting by Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman, CSA. According to director Jack O’Brien, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC has been in our ears for decades, as it deserves to be. But it might be time to look once more, and more closely, at this remarkable work which, I feel, begins to reveal itself as deeper, richer, and more powerful than ever. It’s no longer ‘your mother’s’ familiar SOUND OF MUSIC. We are tearing off the varnish of the past from one of the great glories of our theatergoing experience and making it fresh! This is an opportunity we’ve all longed to create!” Producer Beth Williams (Grove Entertainment) said, “It’s a great privilege to bring this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to theaters across North America. We hope that people of all ages will continue to fall in love with it for the first time, or all over again, and that it will truly become one of their ‘favorite things.’ From our distinguished team led by the creative master Jack O’Brien, audiences can expect a truly magnificent production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.” In the words of Ted Chapin, President of Rodgers & Hammerstein, “THE SOUND OF MUSIC continues to be the world’s most beloved musical. When a major national tour was suggested, I not only agreed, but was willing to roll up my sleeves and do whatever I could to fashion a new stage production that would re-engage today’s theatergoing public. The show was originally created for Broadway, and seeing it on stage only reinforces the power of the story and the score. And with Jack O’Brien at the directorial helm – well, we simply couldn’t do better. Landing somewhere between The Coast of Utopia and Hairspray (shows for which Jack won the Tony®), his production is smart, focused, and surprising.” THE SOUND OF MUSIC enjoyed extraordinary success as the first live television production of a musical in over 50 years when “The Sound of Music Live!” aired on NBC in December, 2013; 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with such songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. Single tickets for THE SOUND OF MUSIC, from $25 - $106 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. For Fort Worth tickets: Single tickets on sale TBA. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. For group sales, call 817.212.4248 or email groupsales@basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season will continue with ELF The Broadway Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, in person at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016, to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount for all shows excluding WICKED where groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2014-2015 Season will close a great run with KINKY BOOTS, Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2015. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s 2015-2016 Season kicks off with the Fort Worth debut of THE BOOK OF MORMON Dec. 1-6, 2015, followed by MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Jan. 13-17, 2016, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID March 29-April 3, 2016, THE WIZARD OF OZ June 7-12, 2016, 42ND STREET July 12-17, 2016, THE SOUND OF MUSIC Aug. 17-21, 2016 and, closing out the season, the spectacular new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Oct. 20-30, 2016. Broadway at the Bass season tickets are on sale online at www.basshall.com, over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com. Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The shows will play in Dallas for two weeks, then head to Fort Worth for limited, one-week runs. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theater audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org. About Performing Arts Fort Worth: Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of Bass Performance Hall, presents national Broadway touring product under the Broadway at the Bass banner. Bass Performance Hall is the crown jewel of a city which boasts the nation's third largest cultural district. It is also an important symbol of one of the most successful downtown revitalization efforts in the country. The 2,056-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world. Bass Performance Hall is located on a full city block encompassed by Commerce, Calhoun, 4th and 5th Streets in the historic Sundance Square district of downtown Fort Worth.

###

John R. Clutts Chairs the 5th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards!

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 13:30:43 +0000

John R. Clutts Chairs The 5th Annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards

Mark your calendars for the Awards Show on Thursday, April 14, 2016

(Dallas, TX –August 28, 2015) Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), announced long-time supporter and DSM Board member John R. Clutts has been named chair of The 5^th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards.

[caption id="attachment_2331" align="alignleft" width="200"] Tracy Jordan, DSM HSMTA Manager, with John Clutts, 2016 DSM HSMTA Chair. Photo by Chris Waits.[/caption]

As president of The Clutts Agency, Inc., which is a Texas Talent Agency and a SAG/AFTRA franchised agency, John is a former Neiman Marcus executive with 25 years of experience in the photo industry, has performed on stage in many regional productions and taught musical theatre at Dallas Theatre Center. In addition to serving as a DSM board member, he also serves on the Advisory Board of The Dallas Children's Theater and the Board of Dallas Contemporary. He has served as: VP, USA Film Festival; Chair, Dallas Fashion Incubator; and Chair of the Board of Trustees, DIFFA/Dallas. He has chaired many charitable events, including Cabaret Gala benefiting Dallas Children's Theater 2011 and 2005; Fresh Faces of Fashion 2007 benefiting Suicide and Crisis Center and DIFFA|Dallas Collection 2001. In 2005, he was awarded DIFFA’s highest award, the Legend Award.

"John’s experience in the community as a dedicated leader and volunteer, along with his business acumen and insight, is the perfect combination for this role as chair of The 5^th Annual High School Musical Awards,” Jenkins said. “I am honored to chair this program and be a part of its continued development and success,” John replied. “The reach of this program across North Texas is growing and we look forward to even more schools participating next year.” Celebrating its 5^th year, DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) had 65 high schools participating in 2015 - which is more than double the first year's total of 30 high schools participating, representing 33 school districts across North Texas. Among the 65 were also 7 private high schools. This represented a new all-time high of high schools, teachers and students taking part in the program. DSM HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and the second largest program in the country. DSM HSMTA has been recognized by The National High School Musical Theatre Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas. Since DSM’s First Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting high schools as far away as Denton and McKinney to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east. Slated for Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, the awards show is a red carpet affair and the public is invited to join in the excitement. Red carpet arrival begins at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. with performances which include separate medleys of the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, production numbers from Best Musical nominees and an opening number featuring all nominated performers accompanied by a live orchestra. Winners and scholarship recipients are announced. The show is topped off with a finale of performers from each participating high school. Based on Broadway’s Tony^® Awards, DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards are designed to recognize and reward excellence in the production of high school musical theatre. Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each are awarded. In 2015, DSM awarded seven cash scholarships of $5,000 each to outstanding participating students. To date, DSM has awarded over $100,000 in cash scholarships to outstanding students. Jenkins said, “This program encourages participation in the musical arts throughout North Texas. It is important to encourage these talented students to follow their dreams and goals and to draw attention to the excellent work being done in education in musicals in our area high schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved and a great show! We are grateful to founding sponsors Leah and Jerry Fullinwider for their support and vision, which literally brought this awards program to life.” Jenkins praised the community’s support saying, “For our preeminent educational outreach program to have grown so significantly in such a short time is a tribute to DSM as a resource to our community and a wonderful testament to the tremendous contribution of the teachers, judges, committee members and volunteers. We encourage everyone to visit the high schools and watch the shows first-hand.” John added, “With the celebration of its 75^th Anniversary, DSM is putting the focus on the next 75 years as the High School Musical Theatre Awards program spotlights the Broadway stars of tomorrow.” A three-judge panel of entertainment industry professionals and veteran educators will visit each high school and judge the performers in 16 categories: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestra, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Ensemble, Best Crew, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Featured Male Performer and Best Featured Female Performer. Ballots will be submitted to the accounting firm of Grant Thornton. Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their high school in The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year. Participating high schools and their shows will be listed on the website at http://dallassummermusicals.org/HSMA-Participants.shtm or for questions, contact Tracy Jordan, the program manager at 214-413-3951 or tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org Facebook page is constantly updated at https://www.facebook.com/DSMHSMTA National program website: http://www.nhsmta.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions Get updates and news through our social media web sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasSummerMusicals Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmusicals YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dsmusicals Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/dallas-summer-musicals/4f204f6b0cd6445b05407d98 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dsmusicals WordPress: http://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, The Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrates the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. Hear Us Now!™ is DSM’s newest initiative. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Coming this fall, Seats for Vets will serve war veterans and their families by providing them with a unique theatrical experience and thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

### DSM HSMTA Media Contact, Sharon Adams (972) 773-9289 | Adamscomm1@aol.com DSM Publicist & Media Contact, Francisco Chairez (214) 413-3909 | fchairez@DallasSummerMusicals.org

Meet Our Showbiz Top 10!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 22:06:04 +0000

The DSM Showbiz Crew is Dallas Summer Musicals newest initiative to bring together a group of 10 young individuals that have a passion for the performing arts and who are social media savvy. The purpose of the group is to have a young and fresh perspective from each advocate about their experience throughout our 2015-2016 season; as they post and engage with their followers. Through this program we seek to foster and develop the future patrons for the performing arts as they embrace and feel the joy of live theater. Get connected with them and engage on their journey as we bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas! - DSM Cisco [caption id="attachment_2335" align="aligncenter" width="471"] Maya, Faith, Olivia, and Amelia at DSM's Do Something More Event[/caption] Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 season will kick off with the North Texas debut of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, November 3-22, 2015; followed by ELF The Broadway Musical, December 8-20, 2015; THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Visit our website for more details www.DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Brand New Production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC Makes North Texas Debut and DFW loves it!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 19:15:51 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth are delighted to co-present the North Texas debut of the brand new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Music Hall at Fair Park November 3-22, 2015. Directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, the spirited and romantic story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences taking the show back to its essence creating a deeper, richer and more powerful journey for a fresh interpretation of this timeless musical. Take a look below to see what DFW has to say. – DSM Cisco [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43wI1-ZUhhk&feature=player_embedded[/embed] TV Interviews & Performances ABC8 Good Morning Texas – Kerstin Anderson & Ashley Brown perform “My Favorite Things” FOX4 Good Day Dallas – Paige Silvester & Dan Tracy perform “16 Going On 17” ABC8 Midday News – Interview with Ben Davis CW33 NewsFix – Behind The Curtin: A Sneak Peek of The Sound of Music at DSM CW33 News Fix – Michael Jenkins DSM/SOM Social Media Initiatives Interview The Dallas Morning News – The Sound of Music Makes Top 5 Theater Picks Reviews "fresh, deeper and intriguingly complex" – The Dallas Morning News “the iconic tunes are all there—but this production has a youth and energy about it that brings it right into the moment.” – Theater Jones “The attention to detail evident in all aspects of this production makes for a satisfying experience…you will be fascinated and compelled to sing-along.” – The Column “Jack O'Brien dug deep into the Sound of Music trunk, hired new, fresh-faces to infuse energy to the principal roles, and wove the many songs and scenes into a seamless, revitalized tapestry. The result is simply magical!” – Broadway World “The classic movie that has been around for decades comes to life on-stage in Dallas in an unforgettable adaptation.” – Red Carpet Crash “’The Sound Of Music’ Is The Perfect Pitch Of Love, Triumph And Harmony.” – Irish Film Critic “Longtime fans of the classic movie are certainly liable to appreciate the close-to-original sound of the beloved songs that so many have grown to adore.” – The Flash List Special Podcast Edition Review - The Clubhouse Podcast “I am not afraid to say this is the best overall presentation that I have seen to date.” – Rob/The Clubhouse Podcast “Even if you have seen the film 100 times, you owe it to yourself to experience this in person while you can.” – Chad/The Clubhouse Podcast “scene to scene was very impressive…I truly felt like I was in the locations that they were trying to portray.” – Don/The Clubhouse Podcast "Our Love Is Alive With The Sound of Music" – The Positive Mom “This one can't be missed” – LiveBeDallas "It was SO good!" – Clink!

DSM SHOWBIZ CREW

(Click each image for their reaction)

[gallery type="square" ids="2348,2351,2349,2350"] Cast & Creative Interviews The Dallas Morning News – Jack O’Brien puts fresh spin on new opera and new revival White Rock Lake Weekly – Local Actress brings Texas hills alive at DSM Broadway World – Ashley Brown of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Music Hall At Fair Park Selig Film News – Interview with Kerstin Anderson (Maria Rainer) Dallas Voice – Acclaimed director Jack O’Brien, on reinventing an American classic Social Whirl – Ashley Brown Returns to Dallas Summer Musicals in The Sound of Music Previews & Featured Articles The Dallas Morning News – The Sound of Music makes Arts Lead CultureMap – 9 Can’t miss shows in DFW theater for November CultureMap – The Sound of Music makes Best Weekend Events in Dallas “The stage version—which was adapted into the beloved film—is the sweet, lyrical, and appropriately tense version you didn’t even know you were missing.” – Dallas Observer Brandon Does Dallas – The Sound of Music Feature AXS – The Sound of Music Show Preview Travel Lady – The Sound of Music Feature “It brings back some amazing memories and I want to do the same with my daughter!” – My Dallas Mommy My Crazy Savings – Sound of Music is coming to Dallas Summer Musicals The Frugal Mom – Catch The Sound of Music at Dallas Summer Musicals THE SOUND OF MUSIC is on stage NOW through Sunday, November 22 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Join us and don’t miss out on this fresh and timeless beloved production!

TOP 10 Reasons To See THE SOUND OF MUSIC!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:00:25 +0000

Ashley Brown’s goosebump-giving rendition of, “Climb Every Mountain” –bring tissues because it might bring a tear to your eye! Hear a taste of it in this video:
The velvet harmonies of Kerstin Anderson (Maria) and Ashley Brown (Mother Abess)!
The ever-so-charming patriarch, Ben Davis as Captain Von Trapp! (Not to mention his awesome blog devoted exclusively to... donuts! Click here for The Davis Donut Diary)
The absolutely adorable Von Trap children... need we say more?
Director Jack O’Brien’s fresh vision! Although it's based on the original stage production, this is not your mother's Sound of Music...
Hearing the orchestra play THE SOUND OF MUSIC score LIVE... As the overture fills the theater, it’s inevitably going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Kerstin Anderson as Maria. No, she’s not Julie Andrews, and we’re loving her! Hear what Ashley Brown and Ben Davis have to say about Kerstin taking on such an iconic role:
The costumes! Jane Greenwood (18 Tony Award nominations) has worked her magic yet again, with THE SOUND OF MUSIC. -And YES, Maria’s wedding dress train is still forever long, and it flows flawlessly!
Singing nuns! Their beautiful voices reach up to the rafters with angelic grace. They’re sure to impress!
THE FINALE. Tensions are high as the Von Trapp family flees Austria, scenic designer Douglas W. Schmidt’s final set will drop your jaw, and Ashley Brown’s incomparable voice strikes again to close the show. You DO NOT want to miss it!

-DSM Haley

The Sound of Music is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals November 3-22, 2015 at Music Hall Fair Park.

Your 2015 DSM Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:30:03 +0000

Choose Your Own Packages are perfect if you want to see multiple shows this season! Choose 3 or more shows starting at $54!* Click here for more info!
ELF THE MUSICAL – Single tickets are on sale now! The show is in Dallas for 2 weeks only, December 8-20. Click here to find your tickets! (Best availability during the weeknight performances.)
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY – Presale Tickets are exclusively available to DSM Fans beginning Thursday, November 26^th at 10am! Click here to get the best seats before the general public. (If prompted, please use the code FIRST (all caps).) Be sure to reserve your seats before December 4^th!
WICKED – Exclusively to DSM Fans, for 48 hours ONLY, we will be offering presale tickets for all performances in all price levels! Be sure to subscribe to our eNotes and follow us on Facebook to gain access to this exclusive offer! Presale tickets will be available on December 3^rd at 12:01am until December 4^th at 11:59pm.
THE LITTLE MERMAID – Save the date! Exclusive presale for single tickets begins Monday, December 7^th at 10am. Be sure to subscribe to our eNotes and follow us on Facebook to gain access to this exclusive offer! Single tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 18^th, so be sure to take advantage of this special offer!
Gift Certificates are great for the Broadway fan in your life that you aren’t sure what show they would enjoy the most. Just call our Box Office at 214-691-7200 or visit them at 5959 Royal Lane Suite 542 in Dallas. Click here for directions and operating hours.

Not sure who to give Broadway to this season? For the Holiday Family Outing - Elf The Musical For the Broadway Music Lover - The Bridges of Madison County For the Disney Princess or Prince - The Little Mermaid For the Oz Fan - Wicked For the History Buff - Ragtime The Musical For the Woody Allen Movie Fanatic - Bullets Over Broadway For the Showbiz Lover - 42^nd Street 8 Reasons Tickets Make A Great Gift

You’re giving an EXPERIENCE.
Do you really remember every gift you received last year? 5 years ago? Give your loved ones something they’ll remember for years to come.
You won’t be wasting your hard earned cash – unlike a sweater, tie or pink bunny footie pajamas… tickets won’t get pushed to the back of a closet.
Instead of playing the gift guessing game with a toy that gets tossed to the side, introduce the kids to the magic of theatre.
Date night. Need we say more?
We all know that in-laws are difficult to buy for. Make it a 4-pack and they’ll be pleased with your willingness to share date night with them.
Ladies: choose to give tickets over gift cards this year, and change up your Girl’s Night Out routine!
Check the entire family off of your gift-giving list and make it a family affair! It only takes 10 people to qualify for our Group Discount!

From all of us here at DSM, we hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season! -DSM Amanda

*Does not include processing fee. WICKED requires 4 or more.

ELF The Broadway Musical brings its sparklejollytwinklejingley cheer to Dallas!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 21:23:47 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals fills the Musical Hall with a warm festive glow as it kicks off the holiday season with the splashy, peppy, sugar-sprinkled holiday entertainment production of ELF The Musical at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 8-20, 2015. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy a young orphan who is raised by elves unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy making abilities cause him to face the truth. Through a journey to New York City to find his father and true identity, Buddy is determined to win over his family and help the Big Apple remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make even the biggest Cotton-Headed-Ninny-Muggin embrace their inner ELF. Check out what the DFW Metroplex is saying about this holiday favorite. – DSM Cisco [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhN5XZXplZY] TV Interviews & Performances ABC Good Morning Texas – Daniel Patrick Smith (Buddy the Elf) & Maggie Anderson (Jovie) perform “A Christmas Song” ABC Midday News – Interview with Daniel Patrick Smith (Buddy the Elf) Bleeckie The Puppet - Interview with Ken Clement (Santa) Reviews “‘Elf the Musical’ makes happy transition from screen to stage” – The Dallas Morning News “Elf the Msuical…what you need to keep the holiday blues away” – Theater Jones “Elf the Musical pours on the sugar as a treat for the masses” – CultureMap “From the moment the overture begins, and the stage is transformed with all things Christmas, you will be marveled, and pulled into the spirit of the season” – The column by John Garcia “The vibrant colors, stage props, upbeat music, and jolly ‘ole characters will for surely result in an unforgettable good time for families” – Red Carpet Crash “This well-written, well-performed show is rife with one-liners, slapstick comedy, and jazzy choreography that makes for pure 'elfin magic'” – The Flash List “Oversized Elf brings season’s joy to the Music Hall at Fair Park” – Focus Daily News “After watching the premier of Elf the Musical last night, we feel like we are right there with Buddy the Elf when he screams, ‘Santa! We know him!’” – Clink! “Buddy Takes Over Dallas In ‘Elf The Musical’!” – Vanna Collins Special Podcast Edition Review – The Clubhouse Podcast “This is a great family production that everyone will get something out of” – Rob/The Clubhouse Podcast “Delightfully surprised with this production would be understating things quite a bit” – Chad/The Clubhouse Podcast “Recommend this performance and is good for the entire family” – Don/TheClubhouse Podcast “ELF is fun Holiday entertainment! Take the whole family – it’s time you find your “Inner Elf”!!” – Real Posh Mom “’Elf The Musical’ Is A Knee-Stomping, Musical Adventure That Puts The Merry Back In Christmas” – Irish Film Critic “Elf The Musical is a delight in every way” – Milk and Cuddles “A very special Spirit of Christmas gift for you and your family” – Seniorific

DSM SHOWBIZ CREW

(Click each image for their reaction)

[gallery ids="2499,2497,2500,2498" type="square"] "This play will definitely get your whole family in the spirit of Christmas!" - Savannah Smiled "Seasonally Appropriate" - Maya's Musical Theater Thoughts Interview Q&A's, Previews & Featured Articles Interview with Ken Clement (Santa) and Gabrielle Mirabella (Emily) – Selig Film News The Dallas Morning News Top 5 Theater Picks Top Theater Picks For the Holidays – The Dallas Morning News The best Dallas events to spread holiday cheer – CultureMap 5 Family-Friendly Things To Do In Dallas This December – D Magazine 9 Christmas Plays and Holiday Productions to see in DFW – Where Magazine ‘Elf’ dances from screen to stage in time for holidays – Denton Record Chronicle “Elf The Musical is as sweet as sugar plums and as peppy as a tree covered in sparkling lights” – Travel Lady Holiday Fun Dallas Summer Musicals – GenPink ELF The Musical is on stage NOW through Sunday, December 20th at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and tickets. Don’t be a Cotton-Headed-Ninny-Muggin and join us to discover your inner ELF!

CONTESTS ALERT - The Bridges of Madison County

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 17:17:05 +0000

The Tony Award-winning musical THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY will make its Dallas debut at the Music Hall at Fair Park, February 2-14, 2016, and we'd like to give you the opportunity to win tickets to Opening Night! We have 2 contests happening right now - The Bridges Photo Exhibition and the BRIDGES: Covered Music Competition. Check out the details below. HURRY! The deadlines for submissions are VERY soon and we don't want you to miss out!

The Bridges Photo Exhibition

DSM is hosting a photography exhibition, offering you the chance to display your work at the Music Hall at Fair Park for the run of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Photographers, both amateur and professional, are invited to submit original photographs that capture the beauty of North Texas bridges. All submissions will undergo a review process and a special selection will be hand-picked for public display at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Photographers featured in the exhibition will receive a pair of tickets to opening night, Feb. 2nd! DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SUNDAY, 1/24! For more details and to submit your photo, click here!

BRIDGES: COVERED Music Competition

DSM is hosting a BRIDGES: COVERED Music Competition. We want to hear your best covers of Jason Robert Brown’s songs from the show! North Texas musicians, both amateur and professional, are invited to submit their own artistic take on the Tony Award-winning music of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Any and all genres and styles are welcome! Vocal, instrumental, solo, group, classical, jazz, hip-hop or anything in-between: we want you to bring your own unique style and creativity to this celebrated score! All entries will be reviewed by the DSM Team, and the top submissions will be selected as BRIDGES: COVERED finalists. The finalists will then be voted on by the public, and the crowd favorite will be deemed Dallas Summer Musicals’ BRIDGES: COVERED Music Competition winner! The Music Competition winner will receive tickets to opening night, Feb. 2nd! DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SUNDAY, 1/24! For more details and to submit your video, click here! We hope that you will join us in these contests and don't forget to have fun! We'll see you at the theater! -DSM Amanda

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS WELCOMES NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP NAMING TED MUNSELLE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR ITS 76TH SEASON

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:09:51 +0000

Dallas, TX (January 20, 2016) – Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM), the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in North Texas, has named Ted Munselle, a business executive and civic leader, Chairman of the DSM Board of Directors for 2016. Munselle’s love for musical theatre started early and was solidified in 1978, when he married his wife, Gay, a Music Educator and Choir Director. Gay and Ted were DSM season ticket holders early in their marriage and he jumped at the chance to serve on DSM’s Board of Directors when the opportunity arose in 2008. Since joining DSM’s Board, Ted served as Vice President of Investments and Vice President of Development before being named Chair-Elect in 2015. In addition, he has served DSM as a member of the Audit and Finance Committees. Ted is a Certified Public Accountant and has been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Landmark Nurseries, Inc., a wholesale nursery company headquartered in Coppell, Texas, since 1998. Before joining Landmark, Ted spent over 10 years with two national CPA firms (Laventhol & Horwath and Grant Thornton, LLP), then spent 12 years as an Audit Partner in two Dallas, Texas based CPA firms. Ted serves on the Board of Directors as Chair of the Audit Committees of four publicly traded corporations, and is actively involved as an Elder at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Gay and Ted have a son, Chris, who lives in Plano with his wife Kristine, and their four children (Josiah, Layla, Judah and Ivy), and a daughter, Elyse, who lives in Austin. DSM President and Managing Director Michael A. Jenkins said, “Ted Munselle brings DSM an outstanding track record of executive and business leadership as he takes the helm as Chairman of the Board of Dallas Summer Musicals for 2016. Combining an impressive record of 39 years of achievement in his profession with volunteer leadership in support of the arts, Ted has been a big supporter of DSM for many years. As a past member of the board, he has rapidly and actively engaged in advancing the transformation of DSM and we feel very lucky to welcome him as the new Chair.” New DSM Board Chairman Munselle said, “I am honored and excited to be able to serve as DSM’s Chair during its 76th season. I have loved the organization for many years and I look forward to working with our incredible team of officers as we lead DSM forward into the future, not only presenting the Best of Broadway to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but also providing educational opportunities to students with such programs as High School Musical Theatre Awards and Seats for Kids, to name a few. As a not-for-profit organization, we will continue to work together with our patrons, sponsors and volunteers, not to mention the City of Dallas and the community as a whole, to create a fun and welcoming experience each time we get together.” Immediate Past Chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals is Dorsey L. Baskin, Managing Partner of Innovative Services Development at Grant Thornton LLP, with Randy Wright, Tax Partner at BDO USA LLP, serving as Chairman Elect. Ruth Altshuler holds the title of Honorary Chair, and Michael A. Jenkins is President and Managing Director of DSM. In addition, other DSM Officers for 2016 include Vice President of Audit, Christopher McRorie; Vice Presidents of Community Relations, Nancy Natinsky; Vice President of Development, Jane Schoen; Vice President of Finance, Tom W. Watson; Vice Presidents of Marketing, Jennifer Altieri and Jay Fox; Vice President of Personnel & Compensation, Scott T. Collier; Vice President of Education and Children’s Committee, Downie Mathis; Secretary, Robert Witte; Treasurer, David Dienes; and Guild President, Juliann Krumbholz. Members of the Executive Committee include: Ruth Altshuler; Ed Bratton; Brad E. Cheves; J. Diane Childress; O. Paul Corley, Jr.; John R. Clutts; Joshua N. Curlett; Barry Epstein; Patti Flowers; Stanley D. Gardner; Rick J.W. Graham; Gary Griffith; Charles L. Gummer; Sally Hoglund; Darrell E. Jordan; Dr. Sheffield Kadane; Juliann Krumbholz; Steven C. Metzger; Andrew N. Meyercord; Scott Night; Craig G. Ongley; Honorable James R. Pitts; Gail H. Plummer; Mark B. Plunkett; James W. Porter, Jr.; Holly Reeves; Richard L. Rogers; Kenneth D. Sandstad; Donald K. Spies; Michael C. Steindorf; Steven H. Stodghill; Paul A. Stotts; Steve B. Watson; Kit Williams; and Dr. Kimberly Yamanouchi. Past Chairmen of the Board for DSM include: Dorsey L. Baskin; Ed Bratton; O. Paul Corley, Jr.; Stanley D. Gardner; Rick J.W. Graham; Gary Griffith; Charles L. Gummer; Darrell E. Jordan; Steven C. Metzger; James W. Porter, Jr.; Dick Quisenberry; Richard L. Rogers; Kenneth D. Sandstad; Donald K. Spies; Michael C. Steindorf; Paul A. Stotts; Steve B. Watson; and Kit Williams. Past Chairmen O. Paul Corley, Sr.; J. Frank Miller III; Douglas Perry; and Charles Pistor are deceased. Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season presented by Texas Instruments will continue with THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, February 2-14, 2016; followed by DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group, Inc. will also present the Broadway hit musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, February 27 & 28, 2016 for a limited engagement. About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders by making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

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Discover the Bridges of Madison County: THE REAL BRIDGES

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:56:06 +0000

THEY ARE IN THE TITLE of all three incarnations of the story. They are a character in their own right. A focal point and instigator of the action of the novel, film and musical. They are the real bridges of Madison County and they have a rich history. In the mid-1880s as the population of the Midwest grew and demand for the goods rose, farmers needed a way to get their products to market. In response to this need, counties began to improve rural roads and install bridges. These bridges were most often built using timber. It was quickly realized that timber bridges would rapidly deteriorate if left exposed to the elements and it would be much cheaper to cover the bridges rather than repair them. Madison County, Iowa, located southwest of Des Moines, once boasted 19 covered bridges. Only six remain today, five of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Five of the bridges: Roseman, Holliwell, Cedar, Imes-Cox and Hogback were built between 1870-1880 by Benton Jones. The Cutler-Donahol was built by Eli-Cox in 1870. The Roseman Bridge — featured in the love story - is also known as the “haunted bridge.” In 1892 two sheriff’s posses trapped a county jail escapee and it is rumored that the man rose up straight through the roof of the bridge, uttered a wild cry and disappeared. The escapee was never found. The bridges became nationally known because of the success of Robert James Waller’s novel The Bridges of Madison County. The bridges reached super stardom after the release of the film, in 1995. And according to the website roadtrippers.com the bridges of Madison County are the number one make out spot in Iowa. There will be photos of the bridges of Madison County on display at the Music Hall during the run of the show, so make sure you come see the show!! -DSM Megan

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals February 2-14, 2016 at Music Hall Fair Park. Tickets are ON SALE NOW! -Click here for tickets will be this link: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/eventSearch.jsp?event_id=1002163&partner_id=858&cobrand=dallassummermusicals -Click here for details/sneak peek is: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_bridges.shtm

Discover the Bridges of Madison County: COSTUME DESIGN

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 20:53:36 +0000

“As designers, it is our responsibility to search for those KEY VISUAL ELEMENTS that guide our journey through the story.”—Catherine Zuber, Costume Designer, The Bridges of Madison County. THE OLD CLICHÉ — “First impressions are everything” — is true; especially on the stage. Another cliché that theatre keeps alive — “Clothes make the man.” The full quote reads “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Thank you Mark Twain! In theatre, costume design is an indispensable tool that helps an audience navigate the world of the play. Reflections from Six-Time Tony-Award Winning Costume Designer CATHERINE ZUBER How would you describe what a costume designer actually does? A costume designer creates the first impression the audience has regarding a character. They assist and collaborate with the actor and the director to bring to life the exterior definition of the character they are portraying. How does the costume design help tell the story of The Bridges of Madison County? How do the costumes help the audience understand the people in the play? In The Bridges of Madison County, the costumes strive to capture Iowa in the mid-60’s. Some of the characters would have dresses that would have been home-sewn, or from a mail-order catalogue, or a dry-goods shop in the local town. It is the summertime, so the clothing contributes to creating those wonderful sultry August days. You said about the costumes in The Bridges of Madison County: “This isn’t the groovy side of the mid-‘60s. There is nothing urban about the clothes.” Can you talk about how the costumes help tell the time and place of the story? When we go to the state fair, we see a world outside of Madison County. However, it still is not the urban mid 1960’s ‘mod’ drifting into ‘hippie’ aesthetic of a big city. I was hoping that the costumes convey a world that is a hard-working, rural environment. The characters have dignity and care about their appearance, but not at the price of comfort and practicality. Theatre is a collaborative medium. How do you work with the director and your fellow designers? Can you give us a glimpse into that collaboration? Our director gives us his priorities for the story-telling. He encourages us to visually assist his vision by illustrating the emotions the audience should take away from the experience. As designers, it is our responsibility to search for those key visual elements that guide our journey through the story. Can you share something about the costumes for The Bridges of Madison County that an audience member could look for while watching the show? What is part of the design they will see that could only happen onstage rather than in the film or book? Francesca starts out in our story wearing pretty but simple and practical shirt-waist house-dresses. As Robert awakens in her romantic feelings that she didn’t realize were still possible, we see her making a choice that is out of character for her. She purchases a shoulder-baring dress in a deep shade of pink. Her hair is worn down. Regarding costume design, the progression that occurs in ‘When I’m Gone’ happens before our eyes, during the course of the song. This could happen in a film, but the theatricality of the amount of information that transforms us through 15 years of time in less than 5 minutes on stage is thrilling. —Company, The Bridges of Madison County -DSM Shelby

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals February 2-14, 2016 at Music Hall Fair Park. Tickets are ON SALE NOW! For more details and a sneak peek for the show, click here. Click here for tickets!

Discover The Bridges of Madison County: Lighting Design

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:28:49 +0000

When caught up in story, lost in drama, wiping tears of laughter or sorrow from our eyes, we don’t normally think of the set and the lights as part of the journey. But they are. These design elements provide the context for the story — establishing the tone, mood and style of a show. -Reflections from Two-Time Tony Award-winning lighting designer, DONALD HOLDER How would you describe what a lighting designer actually does? A lighting designer “reveals the world of the play or musical,” and is responsible for not only what the audience sees, but “how they see it.” Light provides the visual context for a theatrical event, or the lens through which a play is seen. It informs style, and has a clear subliminal effect on perception. Working with a strong understanding of the intentions of the director and his fellow collaborators, a lighting designer manipulates light to tell a particular story or to evoke a particular emotional response. How does the lighting design help tell the story of The Bridges of Madison County? The story of The Bridges Of Madison County unfolds on a relatively open space, in front of a vast expanse of Iowa sky, and takes place over the course of just a few days. Although much of the story is told in a linear fashion time- wise, there are several flashbacks that provide important context and deepen our connection with the characters. The passage of time is central to the telling of the story, and the sky, as rendered through light is the principal device used to communicate this, constantly changing during the course of the evening. We experience sunrise, sunset, dawn, twilight, moonlight, starlight. And the color of the sky and the direction of the sun or moon has a strong influence on all the other light that is introduced in the space. It's a world filled with ever- changing natural light, ebbing and flowing to respond to the emotional temperature of a scene or song. During the flashbacks, the sky takes on a surreal quality with very rich and intense colors, thus providing an important clue to the audience that we have stepped back in time. Theatre is a collaborative medium. How do you work with the director and your fellow designers? Because light can be so influential about how everything is perceived, it's very important that a lighting designer understands the intentions and objectives of the director and his design collaborators. Early conversations that get to the heart of the production and its overall vision are really crucial. And a great deal can be learned by studying the set design, as it will always provide a lot of information about how the show has been conceived and will be staged. Because lighting and scenery share the same stage space, the two disciplines must work in close collaboration. In the case of Bridges, Michael, Mikiko (scenic and associate scenic designers) and I spent a great deal of time working out the proper spatial relationships between lighting positions and scenery to get the sky looking just right. We also collaborated on the layout and details of the star field you'll see throughout the course of the evening, and the kinds of materials that were used to create the spectacular skyscapes that really are the visual centerpiece of the production. Can you share something about the lighting design for The Bridges of Madison County that an audience member could look for while watching the show? What is part of the design they will see that could only happen onstage rather than in the film or book? In Act One, Robert and Francesca meet at dawn as he photographs the sunrise at the covered bridge. It's a special moment in their relationship, I speculate it's when they fell in love. As all of this unfolds, the sky takes on a brilliant surreal red, with a single onstage tree silhouetted by a bright golden sun. It's a dramatic and poetically heightened moment that we see once again in Act Two. During the song “It All Fades Away,” as Robert considers his own passing, he remembers Francesca vividly and the sky returns to that same intense red and yellow at the musical and emotional zenith of this song. To me, it's one of my favorite images in the entire production. A lighting designer “reveals the world of the play or musical,” and is responsible for not only what the audience sees, but “HOW THEY SEE IT.”’ —Donald Holder, Lighting Designer, The Bridges of Madison County

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals February 2-14, 2016 at Music Hall Fair Park. Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Just click here to find your seats. For more details and a sneak peek for the show, click here. -Click here for tickets will be this link: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/eventSearch.jsp?event_id=1002163&partner_id=858&cobrand=dallassummermusicals -Click here for details/sneak peek is: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_bridges.shtm

Discover The Bridges of Madison County: The Power of Music

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 23:00:31 +0000

THE POWER OF MUSIC “The lyric theatre felt like the perfect vehicle to tell the story of Robert and Francesca.” —Jason Robert Brown, Composer, The Bridges of Madison County Composer’s Notes I had been writing comedies for several years, and the longer lines of romance and yearning and fantasy had been building up, swirling around my head unchanneled, imprecise. When Marsha and I did The Trumpet of the Swan, big music started to leak out, expansive music, something beautiful. I was afraid of turning off the tap, so I told Marsha we should look for a project that would be serious and intense and overflowing with unrestrained passion, which is not the kind of thing I say very often. I said I was ready to write La Traviata. We set out to find a story. The story found us. Robert James Waller’s agent approached Marsha to adapt The Bridges of Madison County, and she immediately knew this would be our project. I had never read the novel but I regarded it warily — I was a 22-year-old single guy living in Manhattan when it first came out, and I was not, to put it mildly, the target audience — but Marsha saw in it a deeper resonance and a fiercer moral energy than I would have perceived, and she sold me on the struggles of these two broken characters who each see a piece of themselves trapped inside the other. I suggested we conceive it as an octet, a piece for eight lonely voices on a large stage. The piano reflects my energy back at me, neurotic and complicated — I know the instrument so well by now that I sometimes have to wrestle with it to make it surprise me, and I knew that the skittery and dense music that the piano and I traditionally made together wasn’t the right sound for this piece. I’d played guitar the way most guys who hang around rock bands play it — I knew a couple of chords and I could keep time relatively well — but I felt the guitar was my way in to the world of the Johnson family in Winterset, IA in 1965, so I bought a black Takamine and hoped for the best. From the beginning, the music flooded out of me, music that I didn’t entirely recognize as my own but that was clearly speaking some revelation I had yet to confront in myself. I felt myself sometimes butting up against the corny, the cheesy, the sentimental, but I decided in those moments to push harder through it, not to be cynical about love or family but to sing about them with ecstatic truth. We can love in many different ways, and we can love different things simultaneously. It is hard — it is insane — to place one love above another. With every show I’ve written, I begin thinking it’s just a job, the story doesn’t have anything to do with me, and I end by realizing I have exposed some deep scary part of myself. I am unspeakably grateful to my beautiful family for holding our lives together while this score got pushed out into the world — I spent four years learning about Robert and Francesca and figuring out how and why they made the choices they did, and this show celebrates, in many ways, the staggeringly high price and the even greater value of the commitments and the choices we make to build a home. Jason Robert Brown March 28, 2014 New York, NY WHAT IS IT ABOUT MUSIC THAT CAPTURES OUR HEARTS AND IMAGINATIONS? Maybe we are born to respond to music. Sound is one of the first senses we develop in the womb. Before we see, taste or touch — we hear. The rhythm of our mother’s heartsbeat is our first connection to another person and the outside world. Music is an intimate act. The sound of a melody enters the ear and moves the ear drum. The texture and tone of the music is literally touching you. Music can capture the depth, sweep and complexity of pure feelings. It goes beyond language. It needs no translation. Music speaks the unspeakable, voicing the richness of the heart when words fall flat. Like love — how do you describe the feeling of love? The word itself fails to convey the intricacies, the fear, elation, longing, befuddlement, tenderness, sadness, joy. Eight words to get somewhat of an approximation of what it is to be in love. Maybe being in love is like a musical? That moment when language is not enough. When the emotion has to be expressed and it is too grand for the rigidity of syntax and grammar. That’s when the music begins to swell and the chorus hums. The hero or heroine opens their mouth and emotions float on melodies that we understand instantly, viscerally. Before our brains decipher the words, we know that Francesca is in love with Robert and we know from the tug the minor chords give our hearts that this love will be bittersweet. A song, a mere string of notes captures it all. Straight from our ears to our hearts and we understand what love is.

Discover The Bridges of Madison County: MARSHA NORMAN

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 20:28:36 +0000

A CONVERSATION WITH PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING WRITER MARSHA NORMAN by Journalist/Teaching Artist Marcos Nájera Marcos: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us Marsha. We want to give people a chance to learn a little about this story and you —a member of the creative team — before they experience The Bridges of Madison County. Marsha: Sounds good. This isn’t simply the story of Francesca and Robert. This is the big difference [between our musical] and the book and the movie. This is the story of the town. This is the story of the family. And the story of this couple in the course of a family, in the course of a town. It’s more like Our Town than the original material is. We really zoomed back so we can see the family life and the town life and we can learn Francesca’s history in Italy. We zoomed back and we panned around. I invented the neighbors. We invented the town. We invented the people who would really care about Francesca and who would be aware, in this small town, that she was going through something. That is wonderful. You mentioned Our Town by playwright Thornton Wilder. How did Our Town inspire your take on The Bridges of Madison County? I love Our Town. I don’t even know how many times I’ve seen it. I think it’s one of the great, inspiring pieces of American literature. It’s clear in the cemetery scene of Our Town how much they’ve all taken care of and watched out for each other. I also know that in a small town — as Our Town makes clear — a small town, like where Francesca and Robert are, everybody knows what’s going on. So everybody knows that the kids and Bud are headed off for the State Fair. And everybody knows that Francesca is there by herself. And everybody knows that there is a photographer, in town taking pictures. And everybody knows that she took him over to the bridge. Everybody knows everything. What I really wanted to do was to make it clear that Francesca makes her decision in the context of her family and her town and her history. Jason [Robert Brown, the composer] and I were eager to hop from Iowa all the way back to Italy — to show what the end of the war was really like in Naples and what she experienced as a girl. And why she is here [in the United States] and what kind of things she’s never really come to terms with as a human being. Because she’s spent her time adjusting so quickly. She came here, she was newly married, she didn't speak much English. She learned English, she learned to farm, and she learned to be a wife, to be a mom, and presto! Somebody shows up at the door and she realizes she does feel like an outsider. And now, she does need to think about how she has spent her life and she does need to feel alive again as she did as a girl. What Robert does is cause her to take a deep breath in and look around; to connect with herself and to connect to him, but mainly herself. It's this moment that people have when they think, “What about that other path? What about that love that I had to turn away from? What about that? What would have happened if I married that guy who went to the University of New Mexico? What would have happened? We can’t help but wonder those things, right? The people that I see crying the hardest in the audience are the people that have obviously left great loves behind. That’s something a lot of people respond to — including a lot people on the creative team. Everybody, I think! (Laughing) So yes, we have these questions. We all deal with this thing. We can’t have absolutely everything that we want to have in life. Because some of these things conflict. Robert’s description of [what his and Francesca’s] life would be is so seductive and wondrous. Whether she would actually be happy with him or not, it doesn’t even matter. She makes the decision to honor her responsibilities and she knows that if she leaves, her son is going to be in trouble. [Her daughter] Carolyn is going to be fine. But [her son] Michael? She still needs to stay to take care of Michael. To make sure Michael does okay. That’s why we see Michael’s graduation from medical school. She did have that effect. Michael was ready to bolt out of there and get in trouble with the law and his dad or whatever — and she saw that. She knew that he wasn’t going to be a farmer. She knows she has to stay. We sometimes have to make those really hard choices between the things that we care about. I wonder about the danger of the town watching all this happen. It seems like the stakes rise so much higher if everybody can see that she is talking to this stranger while Bud and the kids are away. Isn’t Francesca scared? She is scared. The fact that we don't do any of that —[Francesca] having a dangerous conversation with [the neighbor] Marge or Marge almost finds out [about the affair] — that seemed a little cheap to us in terms of the excess drama. But yes, it’s on her mind. Especially when she goes into town to buy a dress. Certainly, she knows that Marge knows. And there’s a whole conversation — unwritten and unspoken — that goes on between Marge and Francesca about what’s going on. That’s why Marge arrives at exactly at the right moment with the lasagna. Marge knows exactly what’s happened. It’s almost as if Francesca’s all-knowing neighbor, Marge, is cheering her on! She is. She certainly is not judging. The friendship with Marge is deep and powerful. For me, the most wondrous moment in the whole show is right there at the end when [Marge] leaves from Bud’s funeral and says, “See you tomorrow!” It’s like, “Things continue here and I’m going to see you tomorrow [Francesca]. You feel such a loss right now. You’ve lost both of these men now and here you sit. And I will see you in the morning.” (Laughing) That’s the kind of thing, the comfort that women can provide to each other. I was very interested in writing that in the piece. It is Francesca’s story. But it is [also] a story of what women can do for each other. That’s why I mentioned Our Town. Two generations ago, Thornton Wilder wrote about Grover’s Corner. Now, Jason and I are writing about Winterset, Iowa. It’s a continuing interest and dream that we all have of belonging to a place and belonging to a group of people and belonging in the family. To me, one of the awful parts of the virtual world is that, okay, we have a virtual family. But is that really okay? Is that good? Is that enough? Or do you want to know enough people so that if you make a pie, like that one I made last night that’s that good, you can call other houses and get the whole pie eaten? This pie last night was so remarkable that I thought, “I do not need to let it sit around here in the house where just my daughter and I are. I need to call three people to have some!” The pie should be enjoyed! Life should be enjoyed right? It makes me think about the scene in the Bridges movie where Meryl Streep is in the truck. And the camera focuses in as the muscles in her right hand tighten as she grips the handle and she’s about to open the door and go off to Robert. Do you think we live in a world now that is progressive enough for her husband Bud to just let her go?

“People come to musicals to watch that glorious search for home...” —Marsha Norman

The piece brings up all this “what would happen,” that’s fun to suppose about. But for Francesca she’s got to make that decision in-that-moment. The truck moment [from the film] is so crucial that we worked really hard to find something that would give us a sense of the truck moment. That’s what we call “The Rewind.” That’s where she appears to go to Robert. Suddenly, she turns around and stops and sees her family and knows what they would feel if she did that. And she walks back to them. And then time picks up again and she goes on into the Soda Shop. In that moment that she chooses her family — it’s Robert’s world that falls apart. That’s our theatrical way to investigate the “what- would-happen-if-I-did-this?”What I was able to do was give voice, give character, give personality, give wishes to every single person in this family. I think [Francesca] does the right thing. I totally think she does the right thing. But man, do I understand the struggle. That sense of being alive put up against the sense of being connected in a family or being responsible. This passion of feeling alive is pretty powerful, but the sense of being useful and being loved beats it every time. The book really tells the story from Robert’s point of view. Why did you decide to focus on Francesca’s point of view for this musical? The Francescas of the world are the 70% of the people buying the tickets to the theater. So women should have a story where they’re the lead. I have a picture that’s on my wall. It was taken at Samuel French. Kelli O’Hara [who played Francesca on Broadway] is standing there with no make-up and she’s holding a piece of paper on which is written “I need stories by women on stage because my daughter will hear the echo of their voices.” It’s an extraordinary picture. I’m the President of the Lily Awards, which is an organization that celebrates and honors the contributions of women in the theater and works for gender parity. Kelli received an award from us the year before last. I mean, she’s certainly played all the glorious [female leads on Broadway], but for [Bridges] to be the first time she has ever said words on stage that were written by a woman? I was hearing this for the first time as she was saying this on the stage [at the Lily Awards]. And it was a staggering experience for me and I think for the audience. I suddenly felt the significance of my staying alive in order to write. And my activism and the importance of this mission of gender parity, so the voices of women can be heard and the stories of women can be told. In regard to gender parity, if life worked the way the theater does, 4 out of every 5 things you heard would be said by men. In working for gender parity we are working to hear all the voices of the human chorus on the stage. All the voices. All the stories. In not hearing the voices of women, it’s almost as if theaters have chosen to only tell stories about things that happen in the daytime. It’s eliminating half of the experience of life on the stage. We need to hear all the voices in the human chorus. So yes, if an all-male team had written this —I’m sure it would have been the Robert story. I’m totally sure. And what is the Robert story? I came into town, I met this woman. We had a thing, I had a couple of thoughts of whether or not to haul her off in the truck with me and then I left. Got back to New York and saw the Hare Krishnas.So there’s not a musical in the Robert story. There’s only a musical in the Francesca story. As in Oklahoma, so it is in Iowa. The loners have to go on their way. It’s true with musicals in general. I teach musical book-writing [at Juilliard]. This is one of the big rules. The loners go on their way. But people come to musicals to watch that glorious search for home in song. It’s like The Wizard of Oz, where does Dorothy end up? It’s the Francesca story, it’s the Tevye story, it is every musical there is. [The playwright Jerome] “Jerry” Lawrence told me this: “All musicals are about the conflict between two worlds.” It’s Guys & Dolls, it’s West Side Story, it’s Oliver... you can go on down the list, The King & I. Two worlds. In this case, it’s the life of passion versus the life of family and community. If you think about us as a country — there are things that we’ve lost. And yes, we mourn them. We had to give them up in order to go forward towards the other things we believe. This making of choices is something that people respond to and in this case they get to really watch a big one, a big choice and it’s kind of the most elemental one. It’s a story about choice.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals February 2-14, 2016 at Music Hall Fair Park. Tickets are ON SALE NOW! -Click here for tickets -Click here for details/sneak peek

Two-Time Tony Award-Winner THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Makes North Texas Debut!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 22:30:27 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals is thrilled to present the North Texas debut of one of the most romantic stories ever written, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY at the Music Hall at Fair Park February, 2-14, 2016. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It’s an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more. Take a look at what critics and audiences are saying about this romantic story. Performances & Interviews ABC8 Good Morning Texas – Cullen Titmas (Bud) and David Hess (Charlie) perform “When I’m Gone” FOX4 Good Day Dallas - Elizabeth Stanley (Francesca) and Andrew Samonsky (Robert Kincaid) perform “One Second and A Million Miles” ABC 8 Midday News – Interview with Elizabeth Stanley (Francesca) and Andrew Samonsky (Robert Kincaid) lead stars of The Bridges of Madison County 98.7 KLUV – Interview with Elizabeth Stanley (Francesca) and Andrew Samonsky (Robert Kincaid) lead stars of The Bridges of Madison County The Bridges of Madison County Makes The Dallas Morning News Top Five Theater Picks The Dallas Morning News interviews with Jason Robert Brown (Composer) Theater Jones interviews with Marsha Norman (Book Writer) Focus Daily News interviews with Andrew Samonsky (Robert Kincaid, National Geographic Photographer) Selig Film News interviews with Mary Callanan (Marge, The Neighbor) Culture Map interviews with John Campione (Michael, Francesca’s Son) Reviews “’Bridges of Madison County' a complex, poetic and soaring surprise” – The Dallas Morning News “Talk about the perfect date night than seeing this romantic musical on Valentine’s Day!” – The Column “Lush music and strong singers” – Theater Jones “’Bold’ as in a small-scale, spectacle-free musical with big-scale musical ambitions” – Star-Telegram “An incredible musical score” – Selig Film News Media Mentions 9 Best Things To Do In Dallas – Culture Map 25 Best Valentine’s Day Date Ideas – D Magazine Bridges Valentine’s Day Contest – The Dallas Morning News Show Preview The Bridges of Madison County – Broadway World THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is on stage NOW through Sunday, February 14 at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for tickets. Join us and don’t miss out on this incredible love story!

Dallas Summer Musicals Community Performance is Sold Out!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:38:27 +0000

First community performance will reach over 3,400 families and children from 43 nonprofit organizations and DISD schools

Dallas, TX – Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announces its new investment in creating public access to the performing arts, the DSM Community Performance, has sold out! Engaging families and children from 38 nonprofit organizations and 5 DISD Elementary Schools from the Madison and Lincoln feeder patterns, this special show will provide over 3,400 seats to community organizations free of charge. This very special event is made possible with financial support from sponsors and the enthusiasm and interest of schools, neighborhoods, and other nonprofits as partners, volunteers, and advocates which have come on board to make this truly an event dedicated to community outreach, filling the Music Hall at Fair Park. “This event demonstrates Dallas Summer Musicals’ ongoing commitment to the Dallas community and our leadership role as a cornerstone nonprofit performing arts organization for the City of Dallas and its citizens in Fair Park,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM. “We are thrilled at the immediate response from community partners and grateful for the support from sponsors earmarked for this special event, including the Moody Foundation, the Hillcrest Foundation and Frost Bank, along with DSM season sponsors Texas Instruments, WFAA, American Airlines and The Dallas Morning News. Their involvement as corporate and community advocates has been crucial in making this Community Performance a reality.” Slated for Friday, March 11, 2016 the DSM Community Performance will take place during DSM’s 76^th season presentation of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, a proven family favorite, creating memorable experiences for children and parents to see a major touring Broadway production – many for the first time. Based on the animated film, this special show features a revamped script, new songs, and an entirely fresh interpretation of the film. Tickets for all other performances are for sale and open to the public during the show’s run through Sunday, March 27^th. Details are below. “Each year, DSM seeks opportunities to enhance its organizational mission of presenting extraordinary Broadway shows by giving back to organizations, families, and students in the Dallas and greater North Texas community through community ticket donations, initiatives like Seats for Kids and the newly-developed Seats for Vets, and through scholarship funds for both the DSM Academy of the Performing Arts and the High School Musical Theatre Awards,” Jenkins continued. “The DSM Community Performance represents our latest community investment concept, designed to demonstrate that what’s good for the Dallas community is good for Dallas Summer Musicals.” DSM is pleased to welcome students and families from five Dallas ISD elementary schools from the Madison and Lincoln feeder patterns. “Participating in and attending quality arts events enrich the lives of our students in many ways,” said Dr. Danna Rothlisberger, Executive Director-Visual and Performing Arts. “Studies show that students who engage in arts activities develop skills that help promote academic and life success. For certain, our young people who attend live performances gain a rich experience that provides much for classroom and family conversations long after the event. Therefore, we are so grateful that the Dallas ISD elementary students in the Fair Park neighborhood have this opportunity to benefit from the district’s new partnership with the Dallas Summer Musicals.” Ted Munselle, Chairman of the Board at DSM, agreed, saying, “This is a win-win-win for DSM, for Dallas, and for Fair Park and an intentional effort to expand on our community outreach. During the last presentation of Disney’s THE LION KING, for example, DSM organized a “Buy a Seat, Give a Seat” promotion for one of the performances, which enabled DSM subscribers, patrons and community partner organizations to purchase over 1,700 seats for underserved and low-income families to attend the performance. This community investment was a great success and that success is one inspiration for the DSM Community Performance.” Sponsors of the DSM Community Performance as of February 25 include: The Moody Foundation ($100,000), The Hillcrest Foundation ($50,000) and Frost Bank ($5,000), with additional annual education and community outreach program support from The Hirsch Family Foundation ($25,000), The Hoglund Foundation ($25,000), the Scovell Fund of The Dallas Foundation ($25,000). In-Kind partners include: Big Thought, Creativity Sponsor; Chick-Fil-A, food sponsor; DART, transportation sponsor; and Mother Ruckers, cookie sponsor. DSM is also grateful to season sponsors Texas Instruments, American Airlines, WFAA, and the Dallas Morning News for ongoing support in its 76^th year. Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season presented by Texas Instruments continues with DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 12-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group, Inc. will also present the Broadway hit musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, February 27 & 28, 2016 for a limited engagement. The public can make charitable gifts to support the DSM Community Performance and future performance by visiting https://dallassummermusicals.giv.sh/9c74 or contacting James Jenner, Director of Development, at (214) 413-3961 or jjenner@dallassummermusicals.org. About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

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And the Nominees are in!!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 00:15:09 +0000

And the Nominees are in! We’ve waited all year – amazing performances from amazing high schools were judged by industry professionals since last fall through a couple of weeks ago. Now, we can finally announce the nominees for the 5th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards! See the full list below (in alpha order by high school)! Congratulations to all of the high schools, students, and teachers for an outstanding year of musicals! Direction Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Aledo H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Narnia, The Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Choreography Aledo H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts – All Shook Up Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls Plano East H.S. – Urinetown Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Richardson H.S. – Footloose Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance University H.S. – Cinderella Musical Direction Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Narnia, The Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Orchestra Berkner H.S. – Grease Garland H.S. – The Music Man Highland Park H.S. – Cinderella Independence H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls Mansfield H.S. – Sweeney Todd Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Southwest Christian School – Shrek The Musical R.L. Turner H.S. –My Fair Lady Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Wylie H.S. – Shrek The Musical Scenic Design Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts – All Shook Up Lake Country Christian School – Titanic Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate Mabank H.S. – Thoroughly Modern Millie Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Plano West H.S. – Funny Girl Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waco H.S. – She Loves Me Costume Design Centennial H.S. – Disney’s High School Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Denton H.S. – Into the Woods Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts – All Shook Up Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate Mansfield H.S. – Sweeney Todd Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano East H.S. – Urinetown Rockwall H.S. – The Addams Family Southwest Christian School – Shrek The Musical Weatherford H.S. – Seussical Lighting Design Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate McKinney H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress North Forney H.S. – Happy Days, The Musical North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pantego Christian School – The Fantasticks Plano East H.S. – Urinetown Richardson H.S. – Footloose Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waco H.S. – She Loves Me Weatherford H.S. – Seussical Stage Crew & Technical Execution Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain University H.S. – Cinderella Wakeland H.S. – Mary Poppins Ensemble/Chorus Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me, Kate North Lamar H.S., Paris – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Best Supporting Actor Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Cody Free as Cat in the Hat, Seussical Aledo H.S. – William Pinckard as Man in Chair, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School –Brazos Pinto as Man in Chair, The Drowsy Chaperone Carroll Senior H.S. – Tyler James as Igor, Young Frankenstein Grapevine H.S. – James Myers as Carl Hanratty, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Tanner Garmon as Michael Banks, Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Robert Mahurin as Lucentio / Bill, Kiss Me, Kate Nolan Catholic H.S. – Justin Norris as Donkey, Shrek The Musical Pearce H.S. – Jake Griffin as Cosmo Brown, Singin’ in the Rain Rockwall H.S. –Travis Bomkamp as Patsy, Spamalot Waxahachie H.S. – Calvin Rehonic as King Arthur, Spamalot Weatherford H.S. – Jett Good as JoJo, Seussical Best Supporting Actress Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Shelby Walker as Mayzie LaBird, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Abby Dean as Janet Van de Graaf, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Grace Evans as The Chaperone, The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Hannah Detrick as Lucy, Narnia, the Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Breanne Jackson as Mrs. Pearce, My Fair Lady Grapevine H.S. – Josie Moyer as Paula Abagnale, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Ashlynn Stewart as Jane Banks, Mary Poppins Midway H.S. – Sarah Jane Byford as Jane Banks, Mary Poppins North Lamar H.S. – Kallyn Burchinal as Winifred Banks, Mary Poppins Nolan Catholic H.S. – Gabrielle Falcon as Dragon / Mama Ogre, Shrek The Musical Pearce H.S. – Claire Greenberg as Lina Lamont, Singin’ in the Rain Weatherford H.S. – Claire Crenshaw as Mayzie LaBird, Seussical Best Featured Actor Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Jess Westman as JoJo, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Andy Brite as Underling, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Austin Decker as Robert Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Luke Flowers as Peter, Narnia, the Musical Grapevine H.S. – Matthew Lavery as Frank Abagnale, Sr., Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Corbin Born as George Banks, Mary Poppins McKinney Boyd H.S. – Bryson Jackson as Nicely Nicely, Guys and Dolls North Lamar H.S. – Paul Bayer as Robertson Ay, Mary Poppins Northwest H.S. – Vincent Witherspoon, Eli Witherspoon, Jonathan Sneed, and Gibson Terry as The School Board, The Music Man Pearce H.S. – Jack Durham as R. F. Simpson, Singin’ in the Rain Rowlett H.S. – Zach Taylor as Major General, The Pirates of Penzance Weatherford H.S. – Robert Chavez as Horton, Seussical Best Featured Actress Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Raissa Teta as Sour Kangaroo, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Mallory Bomhoff as Kitty, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Renee Merrill as Kitty, The Drowsy Chaperone Berkner H.S. – Ashley Johnson as Jan, Grease Birdville H.S. – Olivia Simms as Susan, Narnia, the Musical Grapevine H.S. – Ashley Munson as Carol Strong, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Ally Roberts as Winifred Banks, Mary Poppins North Lamar H.S. – Anna Holbrook as Mrs. Brill, Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Shelby Griswold as Zelda Zanders, Singin’ in the Rain Richardson H.S. – Bethany Jelinek as Vi, Footloose Teague H.S. – Hannah Anderson as Miss Sandra, All Shook Up Weatherford H.S. – Kelsie Schlosser as Sour Kangaroo, Seussical Best Actor Carroll Senior H.S. – Drew Brown as Young Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Ryland Kaiser as Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Christian Wickoff as Edward Bloom, Big Fish Guyer H.S. – John Frederickson as Bert, Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Luke Weber as Sir Harry, Once Upon a Mattress Pantego Christian School – Ray Solis as El Gallo, The Fantasticks Pearce H.S. – Sam Snyder as Don Lockwood, Singin’ in the Rain South Garland H.S. – Sammy Swim as The Emcee, Cabaret Waxahachie H.S. – Blake Sauceda as Sir Robin, Spamalot Best Actress All Saints’ Episcopal School – Sarah Boone as Janet Van de Graaf, The Drowsy Chaperone Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Melanie Chandler as Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Alexandra Doke as Sandra, Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Malana Wilson as Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Sophia Kaiafas as Lady Larkin, Once Upon a Mattress Plano East H.S. – Claire Methvin as Little Sally, Urinetown Plano West H.S. – Meg Grinde as Fanny Brice, Funny Girl Waxahachie H.S. – Kaiden Maines as Lady of the Lake, Spamalot Weatherford H.S. – Emily Hatch as Gertrude McFuzz, Seussical Best Musical Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Who will win? We will find out at the 5th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards Evening on Thursday, April 14th at 7pm at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Want to catch all the action? Tickets are on sale now! Just click here or call 800.514.ETIX. Congratulations to all of the nominees! Our thanks to WFAA-TV Midday News and Nancy Churnin with The Dallas Morning News for helping us announce these nominees today! Be sure to check out our website at www.dsmhsmta.org for more details about this amazing event! We hope you will join us for an evening you will never forget! -DSM Amanda

Patterned after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, show business veterans and community celebrities come together to spotlight the achievements of high school students and their school’s musical theatre programs. High schools from all over North Texas participate. Throughout the year, three judges visit each high school and judge the productions in 16 categories.

Each high school’s performance is evaluated by a panel of judges who are all working professionals in the areas of entertainment, arts and theatre education, arts administration, talent management and production design. Ballots are tabulated by the accounting firm of Grant-Thornton and the top scoring high schools in each category are nominated as finalists.

As in the format of the Nationals, the Best Actor and Best Actress winners will not be decided solely by standings. The nominees will perform the evening before the Awards show for the assembled DSM judges and will be scored at that time. The winners will be revealed the next night at the Awards show at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Several cash scholarships of at least $1,000 each will be presented to outstanding participating students.

Winners of the Best Performance by an Actor and Actress will receive an all-expense paid trip for five days to New York City to represent their high school in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy TM Awards) for the chance to win prizes and scholarships, which vary by year.

For more information, please click here.

Dallas Summer Musicals Curtain Call Kicks-Off at Bistro 31

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:21:45 +0000

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Music Hall at Fair Park

(October 29, 2015 – Dallas, TX) Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) Curtain Call kicked-off its 2016 gala Cirque du Musicale on October 26^th at a soirée hosted by Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village. Gala chairs Suzanne and David Palmlund welcomed supporters announcing the gala date of Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, saying this gala will be like none other! Many surprises are in store at Curtain Call which supports Dallas Summer Musicals' mission to bring the Best of Broadway to North Texas and provide for children's education and outreach programs. Sponsors’ support will bring the magic of musical theater to so many children who otherwise would never experience it — magic created through programs such as DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, Seats for Vets, Seats for Kids, DSM Academy of Performing Arts, Kid’s Club, Stage Right and Hear Us Now!^®. Mayor Mike Rawlings is honorary chair. Special thanks went to Michael Bratcher, manager of Bistro 31 and host, as patrons enjoyed specialty hors d’oeuvres and wines, including a specialty cocktail created especially for this evening’s announcements. Patron Party chair Hilary Roberts, well-known Dallas performer, shared a story of her life-long passion for the arts, especially musicals, and treated the gathering to a beautiful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” Afterwards, she announced her own gift of $10,000 and challenged everyone to match those funds, starting with a $5,000 bid, which was matched. In another challenge to meet or beat that amount, a lump sum of $30,000 was pledged. Hilary remarked how this generosity and dedication to DSM touches all of our hearts, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. A total of $45,000 was raised at this evening’s event! DSM’s premier fundraiser of the year, Curtain Call is an exciting evening of gourmet delights, inspiration, and entertainment! Curtain Call – Cirque du Musicale will provide guests with a break from the traditional seated dinner format and transport them to a creative, cirque-influenced dining experience and evening filled with cirque entertainment, delicious tastes and bites from a select menu designed by a celebrity chef and prepared by M Dining at the Music Hall, exciting auctions, and open bars – all followed by a special performance in the theatre and a night cap at a cabaret, dessert, and cigar lounge. This is your opportunity to indulge in everything you love about DSM and musical theatre, and share in the Magic of the Music Hall at Fair Park with your closest clients, friends, and family. Sponsorships and underwriting available starting at $5,000. Cirque Party of 10 packages start at $4,000. Diamond Cirque VIP gala event tickets are $760 and include all event benefits: early access at 6: 00 p.m. to cocktail reception, first look at auctions, gourmet dinner, and concert. Individual gala event tickets are $400 and include: access at 7:00 p.m., cocktails and dinner, and concert. All Curtain Call underwriting opportunities and benefits are available through the web site at: dallassummermusicals.org and can be purchased online at dallassummermusicals.giv.sh/756d or by calling the Development office at DSM, 214-413-3961 and email at jjenner@dallassummermusicals.org Curtain Call Sponsors: The Greatest Star/Patron Party Sponsors: Hilary L. Roberts and J. Baxter Brinkmann; Superstar Cirque Announcer: Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians; Cirque Trapeze Star: Texas Instruments. Media Sponsors: Park Cities News/The Waters Family. Dallas Summer Musicals presenting sponsor is Texas Instruments. Season sponsors are American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News and WFAA Channel 8.

Beyond presenting Broadway shows and extraordinary musical theatre performances, DSM annually invests in sustaining and expanding the following DSM educational and programming initiatives:

DSM ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS offers professional training – integrating the disciplines of singing, acting and dancing – in satellite locations throughout the Dallas metro area. To ensure access to all learners, the school offers scholarships to promising students with limited financial resources. For more information, visit: dsmschool.org DSM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS is patterned after Broadway’s Tony^® Awards and celebrates the power of the Arts to significantly improve all areas of education. The 5^th Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards is scheduled for April 14, 2016. Sponsorships start at $5,000 and support college scholarships to outstanding and deserving participants. For more information visit: dallassummermusicals.giv.sh/b5c7 KIDS CLUB is a free membership program created to develop tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities, special events, backstage tours and informational exchanges, children gain an interest, hands-on knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. For more information visit: dallassummermusicals.org/showpage-forkids or email kidsclub@dallassummermusicals.org SEATS FOR KIDS provides a meaningful theatre arts experience to low-income, at-risk and special needs children. Every year DSM provides children in the Dallas area experience live musical theatre, many for the first time, through this program. HEAR US NOW utilizes five assistive listening device technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver clear and direct audio signal from the performers so that patrons with limited hearing abilities can enjoy the show. DSM SEATS FOR VETS - DSM has a long established tradition of providing discounted access to military veterans and their families. The new DSM Seats for Vets initiative is an intentional effort to do more – built on the idea that “their service deserves great seats.” DSM COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE – As a part of DSM’s 76^th season, Disney’s The Little Mermaid returns to the DSM stage for a three-week run organized by DSM in March, 2016. During the show’s run, DSM will organize a DSM Community Performance and offer the Dallas community complimentary seats in the Music Hall at Fair Park. DSM GUILD – The DSM Guild is looking for prospective members and sponsors. Guild members share a love of musical theatre, provide special Dallas hospitality to the traveling companies by hosting opening night cast parties and serving donated meals, and enthusiastically support DSM. Interested in joining please email dsmguild@dallassummermusicals.org DSM ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS –The DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals between the ages of 21 and 45. Their mission is to cultivate future patrons and leaders of DSM and to make DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. To learn more, please visit associateproducers.org

The public can play a part in bringing the Best of Broadway to the young people in our community! Charitable contributions are vital to the sustainability of these initiatives at Dallas Summer Musicals. Please assist DSM in its mission to build awareness for the enjoyment and educational values of musical theater as it does so through its ongoing education and community programs.

For more information including sponsorships, booking, or program details, please contact the DSM Development Department at 214.413.3961 or jjenner@dallassummermusicals.org.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders by making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

###

DSM’s Production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID Is Back By Popular Demand and the DFW Metroplex is loving it!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:13:22 +0000

WICKED - BROADWAY’S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER RETURNS TO NORTH TEXAS!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:00:00 +0000

BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND WINNIE HOLZMAN BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GREGORY MAGUIRE

BROADWAY’S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER RETURNS TO DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS APRIL 20 – MAY 22 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK *** * *** TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE

Dallas, TX (April 4, 2016) - Broadway’s biggest blockbuster and Dallas’s most popular musical, will return to The Music Hall at Fair Park April 20 – May 22, 2016 presented by Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM). Tickets for the return engagement are now on sale. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Academy Award®-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED is the winner of over 100 international major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards. Single tickets for WICKED, from $40-$179 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount (on weekday evening performances and Sunday nights as well as Thursday, April 21^st matinee), VIP handling, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. “We are thrilled to present once again Broadway’s greatest hit WICKED as we bring the Emerald City back to the Dallas Summer Musicals stage at the Music Hall at Fair Park. An enthralling musical, WICKED delivers splendid performances and a luscious visual production for a truly unforgettable experience. Our 5^th engagement of this spectacle will be one to remember” said Michael A. Jenkins, DSM President and Managing Director. The surprising tale of an unlikely friendship between two women in the Land of Oz, WICKED tells the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, long before Dorothy drops in. Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. Glinda is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. The remarkable odyssey of how these unexpected friends changed each other’s lives for good has made WICKED one of the world’s most popular musicals. WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly. WICKED has been performed in over 100 cities in 13 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, and Mexico) and has thus far been translated into five languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Korean. Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on to www.wickedthemusical.com. Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2016 Season will continue with RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Choose Your Own Package for any three DSM 2016 season shows, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org and by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849). They can also be purchased at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542, Preston Royal Shopping Center.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!®; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

# # #

Hearing Impaired Students and Families Experience DSM Hear Us Now!® During Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID

dallassummermusicals — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 15:00:16 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS SPONSORS HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE DSM HEAR US NOW!^® DURING DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID

(Dallas, TX) Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) in conjunction with the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and UTD, sponsored just over 60 hearing impaired students and their families to experience DSM’s newest advances in technology, Hear Us Now!^®, DSM’s trademarked state-of-the art sound system, during Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID recently. [gallery ids="2968,2969,2970,2971,2972,2973,2974,2975,2976,2977,2978,2979,2980,2981,2982,2983,2984,2985,2986" type="slideshow" orderby="rand"] Patrons attending the Music Hall at Fair Park are impacted by these dramatic advancements in hearing assistance to live theater which features a vibrant new clarity in theater sound. This is quite evident to everyone, benefiting those with hearing loss and those who are not hearing impaired. Under the direction of Dallas Summer Musicals, the Music Hall at Fair Park has undergone a major transition to significantly improve patrons’ listening experience including substantial advancements in DSM hearing assist connectivity options and sound quality. Close collaboration with nationally recognized experts including UTD’s Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Purdue University and Idibri Consulting have been key to the evolving program. Enhanced listening opportunities are delivered to patrons by a variety of methods ranging from DSM enhanced headsets to technology compatible with T-coil, FM receiver (Phonak channel 1 or equivalent), or selected streamers. HEAR US NOW!^® is so unique that a trademark has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. “Over the past few years we have dramatically improved the sound and acoustics hearing system for everyone, not just the hard of hearing,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director, DSM. Barry Epstein, Hear Us Now!^®program director and a member of DSM’s executive committee, is also a distinguished alumnus from Purdue University and winner of the university’s Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award. He said, “Additional improvements for the hearing assist systems have included syllable by syllable volume adjustment, enhancing the balance between music components and voice and we have added electronics to compensate for the building acoustics effect on hearing assist users. These are concepts not consistently used. We have done tremendous research to see what the advancements are that we can provide our hearing assist users. We have done them all.” DSM sound system technology has been updated, including new speaker technology especially suited to enhancing vocal clarity and enabling patrons to feel sonically closer to the stage. System interconnects marries the best of the traveling show’s sound systems to DSM’s, bringing the best of both worlds – DSM theater improvements coupled to the director’s music/dialog mix as originally intended and benefit of perhaps 50 or more wireless microphones worn by the cast and even sewn into their costumes. Mark Rivet, Head Sound, Elf Touring Company, said, “Acoustically, the Music Hall at Fair Park ranks among the very best theaters in the U.S. for live Broadway shows!” DSM has better headsets especially suited for these new features. The headsets are high powered enough they could be used in the place of a hearing aid. After the show, the children were enthusiastic about their hearing experience, some even commenting they had never heard a musical completely through before and, this time, they were able to hear all of the speaking parts, as well as the singing. Some parents expressed surprise, saying they had never known their child couldn’t hear everything during a show and were full of smiles as they described their children almost dancing in the aisle to the music and their favorite songs. The parents agreed: They will return to the shows at the Music Hall at Fair Park for sure and they are so thankful Dallas Summer Musicals has made the commitment to not only the hearing impaired, but everyone, to continue to develop Hear Us Now!^® saying, “It’s fun to come to the musicals again!” QUOTES:

“The sound now at the DSM Musicals is amazing. I look forward to being a season ticket holder and coming to all the musicals!” - Nancy W. Marcus (Dirty Dancing)

“Dallas Summer Musicals hearing assist sound is by far the clearest I have heard. DSM’s Hear Us Now!^® ensures every step in the sound process is attended to, and the results are spectacular.” - Professor Rick Thomas, Purdue University and a Fellow of the United States Institute of Theater Technology.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM's Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow's musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM's High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway's Tony^®Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!^®; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM's newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

# # #

WINNERS ANNOUNCED - DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards - #dsmhsmta16

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:33:14 +0000

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners for the 5th Annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards! BEST FEATURED ACTOR Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Jess Westman as JoJo, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Andy Brite as Underling, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Austin Decker as Robert Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Luke Flowers as Peter, Narnia, the Musical Grapevine H.S. – Matthew Lavery as Frank Abagnale, Sr., Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Corbin Born as George Banks, Mary Poppins WINNER: McKinney Boyd H.S. – Bryson Jackson as Nicely Nicely, Guys and Dolls North Lamar H.S. – Paul Bayer as Robertson Ay, Mary Poppins Northwest H.S. – Vincent Witherspoon, Eli Witherspoon, Jonathan Sneed, and Gibson Terry as The School Board, The Music Man Pearce H.S. – Jack Durham as R. F. Simpson, Singin’ in the Rain Rowlett H.S. – Zach Taylor as Major General, The Pirates of Penzance Weatherford H.S. – Robert Chavez as Horton, Seussical BEST FEATURED ACTRESS Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Raissa Teta as Sour Kangaroo, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Mallory Bomhoff as Kitty, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Renee Merrill as Kitty, The Drowsy Chaperone Berkner H.S. – Ashley Johnson as Jan, Grease Birdville H.S. – Olivia Simms as Susan, Narnia, the Musical Grapevine H.S. – Ashley Munson as Carol Strong, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Ally Roberts as Winifred Banks, Mary Poppins North Lamar H.S. – Anna Holbrook as Mrs. Brill, Mary Poppins WINNER: Pearce H.S. – Shelby Griswold as Zelda Zanders, Singin’ in the Rain Richardson H.S. – Bethany Jelinek as Vi, Footloose Teague H.S. – Hannah Anderson as Miss Sandra, All Shook Up Weatherford H.S. – Kelsie Schlosser as Sour Kangaroo, Seussical BEST SCENIC DESIGN Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts – All Shook Up Lake Country Christian School – Titanic Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate Mabank H.S. – Thoroughly Modern Millie WINNER: Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Plano West H.S. – Funny Girl Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waco H.S. – She Loves Me BEST LIGHTING DESIGN Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady WINNER: Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate McKinney H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress North Forney H.S. – Happy Days, The Musical North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pantego Christian School – The Fantasticks Plano East H.S. – Urinetown Richardson H.S. – Footloose Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waco H.S. – She Loves Me Weatherford H.S. – Seussical BEST COSTUME DESIGN Centennial H.S. – Disney’s High School Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Denton H.S. – Into the Woods Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts– All Shook Up Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate Mansfield H.S. – Sweeney Todd Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano East H.S. – Urinetown WINNER: Rockwall H.S. – The Addams Family Southwest Christian School – Shrek The Musical Weatherford H.S. – Seussical BEST ALL-STUDENT ORCHESTRA Berkner H.S. – Grease Garland H.S. – The Music Man Highland Park H.S. – Cinderella Independence H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls Mansfield H.S. – Sweeney Todd Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Southwest Christian School – Shrek The Musical WINNER: R.L. Turner H.S. – My Fair Lady Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot Wylie H.S. – Shrek The Musical BEST ENSEMBLE/CHORUS Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate WINNER: North Lamar H.S., Paris – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot BEST CREW & TECHNICAL EXECUTION Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone WINNER: Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain University H.S. – Cinderella Wakeland H.S. – Mary Poppins BEST CHOREOGRAPHY Aledo H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone WINNER: All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts – All Shook Up Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls Plano East H.S. – Urinetown Plano Senior H.S. – Legally Blonde Richardson H.S. – Footloose Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance University H.S. – Cinderella BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Narnia, The Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Forney H.S. – The Addams Family Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Grapevine H.S. – Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins McKinney Boyd H.S. – Guys and Dolls North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain WINNER: Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot BEST DIRECTION WINNER: Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Aledo H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Narnia, The Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Once Upon a Mattress Lake Highlands H.S. – Kiss Me Kate North Lamar H.S. – Mary Poppins Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Cody Free as Cat in the Hat, Seussical Aledo H.S. – William Pinckard as Man in Chair, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School –Brazos Pinto as Man in Chair, The Drowsy Chaperone Carroll Senior H.S. – Tyler James as Igor, Young Frankenstein Grapevine H.S. – James Myers as Carl Hanratty, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Tanner Garmon as Michael Banks, Mary Poppins Lake Highlands H.S. – Robert Mahurin as Lucentio / Bill, Kiss Me, Kate Nolan Catholic H.S. – Justin Norris as Donkey, Shrek The Musical WINNER: Pearce H.S. – Jake Griffin as Cosmo Brown, Singin’ in the Rain Rockwall H.S. –Travis Bomkamp as Patsy, Spamalot Waxahachie H.S. – Calvin Rehonic as King Arthur, Spamalot Weatherford H.S. – Jett Good as JoJo, Seussical BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Shelby Walker as Mayzie LaBird, Seussical Aledo H.S. – Abby Dean as Janet Van de Graaf, The Drowsy Chaperone All Saints’ Episcopal School – Grace Evans as The Chaperone, The Drowsy Chaperone Birdville H.S. – Hannah Detrick as Lucy, Narnia, the Musical Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Breanne Jackson as Mrs. Pearce, My Fair Lady Grapevine H.S. – Josie Moyer as Paula Abagnale, Catch Me If You Can Guyer H.S. – Ashlynn Stewart as Jane Banks, Mary Poppins Midway H.S. – Sarah Jane Byford as Jane Banks, Mary Poppins North Lamar H.S. – Kallyn Burchinal as Winifred Banks, Mary Poppins Nolan Catholic H.S. – Gabrielle Falcon as Dragon / Mama Ogre, Shrek The Musical Pearce H.S. – Claire Greenberg as Lina Lamont, Singin’ in the Rain WINNER: Weatherford H.S. – Claire Crenshaw as Mayzie LaBird, Seussical BEST LEADING ACTOR Carroll Senior H.S. – Drew Brown as Young Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Ryland Kaiser as Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Christian Wickoff as Edward Bloom, Big Fish WINNER: Guyer H.S. – John Frederickson as Bert, Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Luke Weber as Sir Harry, Once Upon a Mattress Pantego Christian School – Ray Solis as El Gallo, The Fantasticks Pearce H.S. – Sam Snyder as Don Lockwood, Singin’ in the Rain South Garland H.S. – Sammy Swim as The Emcee, Cabaret Waxahachie H.S. – Blake Sauceda as Sir Robin, Spamalot BEST LEADING ACTRESS All Saints’ Episcopal School – Sarah Boone as Janet Van de Graaf, The Drowsy Chaperone Colleyville Heritage H.S. – Melanie Chandler as Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Alexandra Doke as Sandra, Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Malana Wilson as Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Independence H.S. – Sophia Kaiafas as Lady Larkin, Once Upon a Mattress Plano East H.S. – Claire Methvin as Little Sally, Urinetown Plano West H.S. – Meg Grinde as Fanny Brice, Funny Girl WINNER: Waxahachie H.S. – Kaiden Maines as Lady of the Lake, Spamalot Weatherford H.S. – Emily Hatch as Gertrude McFuzz, Seussical BEST MUSICAL Abilene H.S. & Cooper H.S. – Seussical Carroll Senior H.S. – Young Frankenstein Colleyville Heritage H.S. – My Fair Lady Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy – Big Fish Guyer H.S. – Mary Poppins Pearce H.S. – Singin’ in the Rain Rowlett H.S. – The Pirates of Penzance WINNER: Waxahachie H.S. – Spamalot

About the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

Dallas Summer Musicals is a nonprofit organization committed to education, which led us to begin the awards program patterned after Broadway’s Tony Awards®. The 5th annual DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards brings stars, community celebrities, show business veterans and Dallas leaders together for an evening of celebration.

Tonight we shine our spotlight on the educational achievements of high school students and their high school musical theatre programs. Nominees arrive on the red carpet before entering the Music Hall at Fair Park. The award show begins with our opening number featuring students nominated for Best Actor & Actress, Best Supporting Actor & Actress, and Best Featured Actor & Actress. The show ends with 2 representatives from each participating high school together on stage. Between the opening downbeat and the final curtain, we present 16 awards and 8 Best Musical Nominee performances. In addition, we award 7 university scholarships to outstanding high school seniors. The energy and excitement in the Largest Theater in Big “D,” the Music Hall at Fair Park, is thrilling!!!

In five years, DSM HSMTA has become the second largest program in the country! We have grown from 33 high schools to 67 high schools presenting 70 productions. Each School’s performance is evaluated by a panel of judges, who are working professionals in the arts, entertainment, acting, music, dance, theatre education, arts administration, talent management and production design. Ballots are tabulated by the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP, and the top scoring schools in each category are nominated. Awards are given to: Best Actor & Actress, Best Supporting Actor & Actress, Best Featured Actor & Actress, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Ensemble, Best Orchestra, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting, Best Crew and Best Musical. In addition, several cash scholarships will be presented this year to outstanding students nominated by their teachers.

The Best Actor & Actress winners receive an all-expense paid five-day trip to New York City. They will perform on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre, where they will represent DSM HSMTA in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmy Nederlander Awards) for a chance to win prizes and scholarships.

DSM Guest Blog: My First Experience at the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 22:00:00 +0000

DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards started in 2012, just as I was wrapping up my first year of college. Over the next couple years, I heard it mentioned as my former high school and high school friends were nominated for different awards, not knowing that I would end up as an intern for DSM. Over the past few months I have had the unique experience to look behind the scenes as this event was carefully planned. This past Tuesday the auditions for the Best Leading Actor and Best Leading Actress were held at the Karaynis Rehearsal Production Center, where the Dallas Opera rehearses. I got to there to help with live streaming the event (for parents, family, and friends who were not able to be in the room where it happened). As soon as the students stepped in the room, you could feel their excitement and nerves as they performed the medleys for the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. It’s been a while since I have been to a high school production, and I had forgotten how immensely talented some of those students are. The actors and actresses in that room were the best of these students! After the medleys, there was a brief intermission while the nominees went to change for their individual performances. Their individual performance had to be a song that contrasted with the one they sang in the medley. As well done as the medley was, this was my favorite part of the auditions. What song they choose for themselves really says a lot about the person, and it was fun to see their versatility! (Also, I love performances like this, because I keep a running list of new music I need to listen to and shows I need to see!) The videos for the live stream currently have over 13,000 views and are still up on DSM’s Facebook page, so go check out these talented performers! [gallery ids="3004,3002,3003" type="rectangular"] I came prepared for the long and busy day on Thursday with excessive amounts of coffee. I knew that everyone was well prepared for the event, but there was still so much to do and so much happening around the Music Hall at Fair Park!! All day, there were rehearsals going on onstage, special DSM HSMTA T-shirts were being sold in the lobby, and students were arriving from schools as far away as Abilene! The opening number, featuring the nominees for Best Lead Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and Best Featured Actor and Actress, was rehearsed in the morning. Students and teachers got a break, when lunch was kindly provided by In-n-Out! Throughout the afternoon the schools nominated for Best Musical were given a chance to perform their number on stage during the dress rehearsal while fellow nominees cheered them on from the audience. However, the real fun started later: in the Music Hall driveway was a red carpet, surrounded by screaming fans, family and friends. At the end of the red carpet was a news crew from WFAA doing a live-stream of the event for their website, and paparazzi waiting to ambush the nominees and their dates at the step-and-repeat. As the Toyotas rolled into the driveway and nominees stepped out, the noise level noticeably increased, as people got more and more excited about seeing their favorite performers. The nominees walked down the red carpet, occasionally stopping for pictures from their fans/parents and were interviewed by WFAA before entering the Music Hall! Inside the Music Hall, it was organized chaos! High schoolers, parents, and teachers were roaming about getting pictures to make sure they remember every second of this night! Throughout the Music Hall, nominees were being pulled aside to be interviewed for podcasts, or by the DSM Opening Night Video team! In the Music Hall restaurant, there was a V.I.P. reception for the wonderful donors who made this night possible! As 7:00 got closer, I went backstage to assume my position at the social media table, where Amanda had already started live tweeting the whole event. The energy was palpable, as the opening number participants prepared themselves for their Jersey Boys medley and emcee Ron Corning got ready to take the stage. The whole show was a blur of activity, as performers rushed on and off stage, announcers were ushered in and out of the wings, and winners were announced! Through each reading of the nominees, cheers were heard from the audience as their school was called. The excitement grew, as the big awards of Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, and Best Musical grew closer! The night ended with the award for Best Musical being presented by Michael Jenkins, DSM President and Managing Director, to Waxahachie High School for Spamalot, followed by two students from each of the 70 schools that participated in this year’s High School Musical Theatre Awards singing “Stronger” from Finding Neverland. This is a one of a kind experience for these high schoolers. Theatre is a naturally competitive world, and giving the students a chance to compete at a higher level for something they love, makes them more motivated to achieve their dreams. DSM has created an environment that shows them that their dreams of Broadway can happen, and it gives them stepping stones (and even scholarships) to make that happen. The Best Lead Actor, John Fredrickson, and Best Lead Actress, Kaiden Maines, will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to New York City over the summer to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. While they’re there, they will meet agents, actors, and other industry professionals who will teach and encourage them to continue following their dreams! My favorite part of this whole week was not the music being performed, the excitement in the air at the red carpet, or even the confetti at the end of the show. I loved getting to see how these nominees have bonded with each other throughout this whole process. I noticed it at the auditions on Tuesday, how encouraging they were to each other, and even more so at the show itself. Being in such a competitive environment, these high school students were so genuine about their excitement for friends who won awards. This attitude towards others is so important, so shout out to the teachers and parents and other influential people in these students lives. Last night was a win for everyone involved!

Megan Anthony is originally from Flower Mound, TX and has been an Intern with DSM last summer and this spring. She attended Hardin-Simmons University, where she graduated with a degree in Music Business/Management.

WICKED Announces Lottery for $25 Seats!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:30:52 +0000

* * *

PERFORMANCES BEGIN APRIL 20 – MAY 22 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to to the Music Hall at Fair Park with performances from April 20 – May 22 presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Music Hall box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, CASH ONLY. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.

The surprising tale of an unlikely friendship between two women in the Land of Oz, WICKED tells the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, long before Dorothy drops in. Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. Glinda is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. The remarkable odyssey of how these unexpected friends changed each others lives for good has made WICKED one of the world’s most popular musicals. Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED is the winner of over 100 international major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Academy Award®-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly. WICKED has been performed in over 100 cities in 14 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico and Brazil) and has thus far been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese. WICKED begins performances April 20 – May 22. Single tickets for WICKED, from $40-$179 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Great seats are still available for weeknight performances. For best availability please contact our ticketing agents by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849). Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount (on weekday evening performances and Sunday nights as well as Thursday, April 21st matinee), VIP handling, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!®; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

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dallassummermusicals — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:39:31 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals to Chart New Course

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 02 May 2016 17:28:23 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals to Chart New Course

Veteran Arts Administrator David Hyslop named Interim Managing Director

(DALLAS, May 2, 2016) – The Dallas Summer Musicals announced today the beginning of “a new generation” of leadership at DSM, the non-profit institution that has delivered Broadway musical theater to North Texas for 76 years. David Hyslop, 73, a distinguished arts expert and administrator who assisted the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in a key transition period, was named Interim Managing Director of DSM. He replaces Michael Jenkins, who has been the President and Managing Director of DSM since 1995. Jenkins’s departure is effective immediately. Ted Munselle, DSM’s volunteer Chairman, said DSM is fortunate that a seasoned veteran, such as David Hyslop, is available to assist the organization in this transition period. “David knows Dallas; he knows the arts community very well,” said Munselle. “He immediately recognized the future opportunities for DSM and the Music Hall. Most importantly, he is a bridge builder, someone who wants to help us establish a collaborative partnership with the people who care deeply about Dallas, Fair Park and DSM’s leadership in the arts.” DSM’s Chair-Elect Randy Wright also praised Hyslop’s appointment saying he expects the new Interim Managing Director to push the Music Hall at Fair Park as an important venue in the competition for meetings and other entertainment events. “The Music Hall is a fabulous under-used city asset that can buoy the community’s effort to create a revitalized destination at Fair Park,” said Wright. “The Music Hall should be competing with local venues and nearby locations in other states for the best concerts and corporate events,” said Wright. “It has the best sound system in North Texas; that’s what makes the Music Hall the best venue for Broadway productions.” Hyslop, a respected arts veteran who has led and consulted myriad arts organizations including theaters, has agreed to serve as DSM’s Interim Managing Director while its Board launches a search for a permanent Managing Director. “I see DSM as a stable and beloved institution,” said Hyslop, “and it is a key anchor at Fair Park, bringing in the most visitors outside the State Fair. Nevertheless, it has huge unrealized potential to have a bigger regional presence for both the entertainment dollars from theater-goers as well as financial support from the community. There’s a lot of work to be done by all stakeholders of the DSM family.” Hyslop met with DSM staff and key personnel Monday morning. “Clearly, they want to focus on a turnaround for DSM,” said Hyslop. “We also have the presentation of Wicked right now. I saw a group of people dedicated to the principle that, ‘the show must go on,’ and I am confident this will be a seamless transition for theater-goers.” Munselle said board members are not in a position to discuss the departure of Michael Jenkins. “The details are still being worked out,” said Munselle. “When we can discuss this personnel issue further, we will.”

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DSM Chair issues second statement on Jenkins

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 02 May 2016 21:49:31 +0000

DSM Chair issues second statement on Jenkins

Board Chair Munselle says forensic examination of financials led to decision

(DALLAS, May 2, 2016)--Ted Munselle, the volunteer chairman of Dallas Summer Musicals, today released a further statement regarding leadership changes at the organization. Earlier today, DSM confirmed that Michael Jenkins is no longer the president and managing director of the organization. The executive committee also named arts management veteran David Hyslop, 73, as interim managing director. “For some,” said Munselle, “this announcement is difficult to accept, but DSM’s Executive Committee believed that it was clear that it’s time for a change.” Munselle said the Executive Committee (EC), for over a year, has been immersed in an intense assessment of the organization, with special attention on management accountability and professional examinations of DSM’s financial performance including reporting, profitability, expenditures and investments. He said DSM has suffered losses every season, except for one, since 2008. “Theater is a difficult and competitive business, and the EC was concerned about DSM’s financial losses as well as the quality of its financial reporting,” said Munselle. “We engaged a leading national law firm to lead a team of forensic investigators, including a group of auditors from a Big Four CPA firm, to conduct a forensic examination of the organization’s books and records.” Their report was delivered to DSM’s Executive Committee last Thursday. After hearing the report, The Executive Committee, in a near unanimous vote, decided that it was time for a change in leadership at DSM. Munselle said that clearly DSM has a bright future and is looking forward to working closely with David Hyslop as DSM seeks a new direction for the future. DSM has been presenting the Best of Broadway to the North Texas area for 76 years and looks forward to keeping it going for another 76 years and more. Munselle also added that the 2017 season is almost complete and will be announced soon.

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DSM Seeking "Young Coalhouse" for Dallas run of RAGTIME

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 06 May 2016 15:33:17 +0000

Dallas Summer Musicals, in conjunction with Phoenix Entertainment, Broadway World DFW and WFAA Chanel 8, is searching for (a) young male actor(s) to portray the role of “Young Coalhouse” in the National Tour of Ragtime at the Music Hall at Fair Park for its Dallas run May 24 – June 5. SEEKING: “Young Coalhouse” REQUIREMENTS: Young Coalhouse is a young African American boy, ideally around 5 or 6 years old, between 3’-6” – 4’-0” tall, and 40 to 50 pounds. Young Coalhouse should have an “innocent” and “pure” quality about him. In role, Young Coalhouse will be picked up by an adult cast member, sit on a cast member’s lap and pretend to play piano. Young Coalhouse will also skip in a circle holding hands with other young actors. Young actor must be able to attend rehearsal, wardrobe fittings and sound check on Tuesday, May 24. Young actor will need a chaperone over 18 years of age to accompany him at all times. Must be non-union actor. This is a volunteer position only, young actor will not be compensated. Finalist(s) will not only have the opportunity to be a part of the cast of a touring Broadway production as they step on the Music Hall stage known to many stars, but they will also receive complimentary tickets for family members to attend opening night and the performances in which the finalist is scheduled to appear. WHAT TO SUBMIT: Young actor must submit a full length front and full length side photo, in addition to a headshot, as well as an audition registration form. Headshot does not have to be professional- cell phone photos are acceptable. All will be submitted via the online registration form (link below). WHAT TO PREPARE: Please submit your photos, headshot, and registration through the link below. Deadline for submissions will be Friday, May 13. Finalist(s) will be notified on Monday, May 16.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

WICKED - Broadway's Biggest Blockbuster Returns To North Texas and Dallas Loves It!!!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 09 May 2016 17:26:58 +0000

Back by “popular” demand, Dallas Summer Musicals is thrilled to present its 5th and longest engagement of the cultural phenomenon, WICKED at the Music Hall at Fair Park April 20 – May 22, 2016. Winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED continues to break box office records across North America. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for the most complete - and completely satisfying - musical in a long time. Check out what the DFW Metroplex has to say about it. – DSM Cisco

Front Page Story in The Dallas Morning News: ‘Wicked’ expected to work its usual magic on enchanted fans in fifth Dallas run

Wendy Worthington (Madame Morrible) and Stuart Zagnit (The Wizard of Oz) chat with Marcus Moore on Midday about WICKED’s 5th engagement in Dallas

REVIEWS “‘Wicked’ celebrates friendship that crosses barriers, punctures political spin” – The Dallas Morning News “The witches of Oz are back for one of the strongest tours of Wicked, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals” – TheaterJones "Believe me when I say, you have not seen nothing like this before thanks to this sensational cast!" – The Column “‘Wicked’ is popular with sold-out Dallas audience” – White Rock Lake Weekly/Katy Trail Weekly “Musical, La Bruja Mala Del Oeste…Tienes que verla” – Uptown Latino (In Spanish/En Español) “The untold story of OZ returns to Dallas Summer Musicals” – Focus Daily News “The blockbuster Broadway musical that is the most popular musical in Dallas” – CBS DFW “’Wicked’ always seems to deliver a thrill to everyone in the houses it packs” – The EDGE “The fun characters come to life on stage with the upbeat music, bright colors and flashy lights” – Clink! “Amanda Jane Cooper and Emily Koch provide strong comedic fervor to the already-funny classic script to make the show even more 'thrillifying'” – The Flash List “‘Wicked’ Is Just Brilliant” – Red Carpet Crash “The cast, all in all were perfect, and I don't say that lightly. The leads were spectacular both individually and as a whole. The ensemble of this particular production is the single best ensemble I have ever seen in any show, period.” – Irish Film Critic The Clubhouse Podcast Special Edition Review (Audio) “The performances here are nothing short of amazing…also a technical marvel, with visuals that are simply stunning” – Rob from The Clubhouse Podcast “This production was breathtaking in every sense of the word” – Chad from The Clubhouse Podcast “I will definitely recommend this production and as the high honor I can give of no matter the ticket price” – Don from The Clubhouse Podcast FEATURES “Surrender Dallas: Wicked’s on its way and in this week’s top 5 picks” – The Dallas Morning News “Making Wicked Tick: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Touring Production of the Smash-Hit Musical” – The Flash List “Bringing Wicked to Life Takes The Magic of Many” – This Week In Texas “The Witches Have Arrived” – Southlake Style Magazine “’WICKED’, Broadway’s Biggest Blockbuster, Returns To Dallas!” – Brandon Does Dallas “WICKED – Broadway’s Biggest Blockbuster Returns To North Texas!!!” – Flicks & Food Best Weekend Events – CultureMap Best Bets – Dallas Voice Things To Do In Dallas – D Magazine WICKED is on stage NOW through Sunday, May 22nd at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Click here for details and ticket information. Join us and don’t miss this WICKED production!

NorthTexasGivingDay_DoSomethingMoreTuesdays

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:12:47 +0000

NorthTexasGivingDay_DoSomethingMoreTuesdays

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:13:34 +0000

kids group

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:18:39 +0000

vet photo

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:18:41 +0000

RAGTIME - National Tour To Make Its Dallas Premiere!

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 13 May 2016 16:34:23 +0000

NATIONAL TOUR TO MAKE ITS DALLAS PREMIERE AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK MAY 24 – JUNE 5

Dallas, TX (May 5, 2016) – At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing…and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to the road in an all-new touring production that Bloomberg News hails as “explosive, thrilling and nothing short of a masterpiece.” The Music Hall at Fair Park will be swept away by this ravishing and relevant production on May 24 – June 5 presented by Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM). Winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score, this 13-time Tony Award nominated musical is a timeless celebration of life – what it could and should be! The Hollywood Reporter declares that RAGTIME is “one of the best musicals of recent decades.” Its celebrated score includes “Wheels of a Dream,” “Back to Before” and the title song, “Ragtime.” RAGTIME features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and is based on E.L. Doctorow’s best-selling 1975 novel. Tony-nominated Director & Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge will helm the production. Scenic Design by Kevin Depinet, Lighting Design by Mike Baldassari and Sound Design by Craig Cassidy. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold - set in turn-of-the-century New York - all three united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Their compelling stories are set to theatre’s richest and most glorious Tony Award®-winning score. RAGTIME, E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel, won the National Book Critics Circle award and sold 4.5 million copies. It became a film in 1981 and a Broadway musical in 1998. The original 1998 production ran on Broadway for 834 performances. A 2009 Broadway revival received rapturous reviews and is now on tour throughout North America. The RAGTIME tour for North America is produced by Phoenix Entertainment www.phoenix-ent.com. For more information, visit www.ragtimeontour.com.

Single tickets for RAGTIME, from $20-$99 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2016 Season will continue with BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. DSM’s highly awaited 2016 – 17 Season Announcement ‘Broadways Most Wanted’ is set to be revealed soon. A season teaser campaign is now online and throughout DSM’s social media platforms! Choose Your Own packages for the last three DSM 2016 season shows, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org and by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849). They can also be purchased at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane Suite 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show.

Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

# # #

LOCAL 5 & 7 YEAR OLD DALLASITES CAST IN UPCOMING TOURING BROADWAY PRODUCTION

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 19 May 2016 19:03:00 +0000

Dallas TX (May 18, 2006) – Dallas Summer Musicals is pleased to announce that James Hayes (age 7) and Anthony Taylor (age 5) from St. Phillip’s School & Community Center have been cast as Young Coalhouse in the upcoming Dallas engagement of the 2015/2016 National Tour RAGTIME at the Music Hall at Fair Park May 24 – June 5. In an initiative to elevate the arts, Dallas Summer Musicals in conjunction with Broadway World DFW and WFAA Channel 8 have partnered up and developed a fun summer series of walk-on roles to give audiences an inside look at the life of an actor. Young Coalhouse is the sweet and innocent boy of Sarah and Coalhouse Walker, Jr. His walk-on role occurs in the final, uplifting moments of the show. James Hayes, a Dallas native, is currently in first grade and attends St. Phillip’s School & Community Center. James loves to play the drums which he has played since he was three years old. He plays for St. Luke Children’s choir, Salem Institutional Baptist Church children’s choir, and his school’s Chapel Service every morning. James interests include basketball, drawing, collecting airplanes and he enjoys listening to music.

Anthony Taylor, a Dallas native, is currently in PK4 at St. Phillip’s School & Community Center and will be entering kindergarten in the fall. Anthony loves participating in his school theater program which he has been involved in since he was four years old. Anthony has played as part of the ensemble in St. Phillip’s School’s Destiny Musical 2016 and Christmas Musical 2015 & 2016. Anthony's interest include dancing, singing, painting, drawing, watching plays, visiting museums, running and soccer. “The performing arts scene in Dallas is evolving and its future has never looked brighter,” says Paulette Hopkins, DSM Director of Marketing and Patron Services, “Live theater is a magical experience and with opportunities such as this DSM seeks to continue a long tradition of investing in our youth by sparking their interest in the arts as we showcase the incredible talent Dallas has to offer while encouraging them to build their craft.”

At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing…and anything is possible. RAGTIME returns to the road in an all-new touring production that Bloomberg News hails as “explosive, thrilling and nothing short of a masterpiece.” Dallas will be swept away by this ravishing and relevant production on May 24 – June 5 at the Music Hall at Fair Park presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Winning Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Musical Score, this 13-time Tony Award nominated musical is a timeless celebration of life – what it could and should be! The Hollywood Reporter declares that RAGTIME is “one of the best musicals of recent decades.” Its celebrated score includes “Wheels of a Dream,” “Back to Before” and the title song, “Ragtime.” RAGTIME features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and is based on E.L. Doctorow’s best-selling 1975 novel. Tony-nominated Director & Choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge will helm the production. Scenic Design by Kevin Depinet, Lighting Design by Mike Baldassari and Sound Design by Craig Cassidy. The stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold - set in turn-of-the-century New York - all three united by their desire and belief in a brighter tomorrow. Their compelling stories are set to theatre’s richest and most glorious Tony Award®-winning score. RAGTIME, E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel, won the National Book Critics Circle award and sold 4.5 million copies. It became a film in 1981 and a Broadway musical in 1998. The original 1998 production ran on Broadway for 834 performances. A 2009 Broadway revival received rapturous reviews and is now on tour throughout North America. The RAGTIME tour for North America is produced by Phoenix Entertainment www.phoenix-ent.com. For more information, visit www.ragtimeontour.com.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show.

Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

# # #

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY TO MAKE ITS DALLAS PREMIERE

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 27 May 2016 15:31:57 +0000

NATIONAL TOUR TO MAKE ITS DALLAS PREMIERE AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK JUNE 14-26

Dallas, TX (May 25, 2016) – The national tour of the new musical comedy BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, written by Woody Allen and based on the screenplay by Allen and Douglas McGrath for the 1994 film, will make its Dallas premiere June 14-26 at the Music Hall at Fair Park presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Following his work on the Broadway production of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, originally directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award^® winner Susan Stroman, the tour is helmed by director Jeff Whiting. The creative team also includes Jason Ardizzone-West (scenic design), six-time Tony Award® winner William Ivey Long’s original Broadway costumes coordinated by James Halliday, Carolyn Wong (tour lighting design and adaption, based on the original Broadway lighting design by Donald Holder), Shannon Slaton (sound design) and Bernie Ardia (wig and hair design) with Glen Kelly (music arranger, adaption and additional lyrics), Andy Einhorn (vocal arranger), Doug Besterman (orchestrations) and Robbie Cowan (music director and conductor). BULLETS OVER BROADWAY features existing music of the period, including “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do,” “Let’s Misbehave,” I’m Sitting On Top Of The World” and “Runnin’ Wild.” A playwright who needs someone to back his next show. A mobster who needs some way to please his showgirl girlfriend. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship - or a brand new musical comedy! Loaded with big laughs, colorful characters and the songs that made the 20s roar, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY brings musical comedy back with a bang. Hailed by Time Magazine as, “Musical Theatre Gold!” and described as “A Fun Machine from Start to Finish!” by The New Yorker, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY tells the story of an aspiring young playwright newly arrived on Broadway in 1920’s New York who is forced to cast a mobster's talentless girlfriend in his latest drama in order to get it produced. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY features Michael Williams as “David Shayne,” Emma Stratton as “Helen Sinclair,” Jeff Brooks as “Cheech,” Bradley Allan Zarr as “Warner Purcell,” Michael Corvino as “Nick Valenti,” Hannah Rose DeFlumeri as “Ellen,” Rick Grossman as “Julian Marx,” Jemma Jane as “Olive Neal” and Rachel Bahler as “Eden Brent.” BULLETS OVER BROADWAY will also feature Blaire Baker, Mary Callahan, Jake Corcoran, Elizabeth Dugas, Carissa Fiorillo, Patrick Graver, Andrew Hendrick, Lainee Hunter, Justin Jutras, Ryan Kanfer, Brian Martin, Conor McGiffin, Corinne Munsch, Kaylee Olson, Joey Ortolani, Kelly Peterson, Lexie Plath, and Ian Saunders. The original production of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY premiered on Broadway last season at the St. James Theatre with performances beginning on March 11, 2014 and an official opening on April 10, 2014. The production received six Tony-Award® nominations, including Best Book of a Musical and Best Choreography. In an initiative to elevate the arts, Dallas Summer Musicals in conjunction with Broadway World DFW and WFAA Channel 8 have partnered up and developed a fun summer series of walk-on roles to give audiences an inside look at the life of an actor. Ron Corning, WFAA Anchor, will transform himself and give viewers a behind the scenes look as he becomes part of cast in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. Single tickets for BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, from $20-$99 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Closing Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2016 Season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. DSM’s highly awaited 2016 – 17 Season Announcement ‘Broadways Most Wanted’ is set to be revealed soon. A season teaser campaign is now online and throughout DSM’s social media platforms! Have you ever wondered about your Mobster alter ego? Visit www.bulletsoverbroadway.com/mobsterme and upload your photo to get your Mobster name and look.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

###

42ND STREET MAKES NORTH TEXAS DEBUT!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:00:00 +0000

BROADWAY’S SONG AND DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA

MAKES NORTH TEXAS DEBUT JUNE 28 - JULY 10 AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK & JULY 12-17 AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL

Dallas, TX (June 3, 2016) – The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42^nd STREET will celebrate a 2 week engagement at the Music Hall at Fair Park with a sparkling new production, June 28 – July 10 presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This high-octane tour will then head to Fort Worth, where it will play at Bass Performance Hall July 12-17, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth. 42^nd STREET will be directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award^® winning Best Revival. 42^nd STREET is the song and dance fable of Broadway, with an American Dream story and some of the greatest songs ever written, including “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and of course “42^nd Street.” With book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, 42^nd STREET is based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie and tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her Allentown home and comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star. The original production of 42^nd STREET was produced in 1980 on Broadway by David Merrick and featured direction and dances by Gower Champion. It played on Broadway for 3,486 performances, winning 1981 Tony Awards^® for Best Musical and Best Choreography. The Broadway revival, which opened in 2001, played for 1,524 performances and earned two Tony Awards^® including Best Revival of a Musical. Mark Bramble (Director/Co-Author) began his theatrical career working for legendary producer David Merrick on many Broadway productions. He directed the 2001 Tony Award^® winning Best Revival of 42^nd STREET on Broadway for which he received a Tony Award^® nomination, and has staged productions of the show in London, Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin, Amsterdam, Shanghai, and Vienna. Randy Skinner (Choreographer) choreographed the 2001 Tony Award^® winning Best Revival of 42^nd STREET on Broadway for which he received a Tony Award^® nomination. He also received Tony Award^® nominations for his choreography of Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Ain't Broadway Grand. The design team includes scenic design by Tony Award^® winner Beowulf Boritt (Act One, The Scottsboro Boys, Annie), costume design by Tony Award^® winner Roger Kirk (The King and I, 42^nd Street, Jesus Christ Superstar), lighting design by Tony Award^® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, Annie, White Christmas) and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald (Movin’ Out, Will Rogers Follies, 42^nd Street). Musical supervision is by Todd Ellison (American in Paris, La Cage Aux Folles, 42^nd Street). Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA, Joy Dewing Casting (Annie, Wonderland, 42^nd Street). The tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC. The national tour will star Matthew J. Taylor as notorious director Julian Marsh, Kaitlin Lawrence as Broadway leading lady Dorothy Brock and introduces Caitlin Ehlinger as newcomer Peggy Sawyer. Also featured in the production are Britte Steele (Maggie Jones), Steven Bidwell (Bert Barry), Mark Fishback (Abner Dillon), DJ Canaday (Pat Denning), Blake Stadnik (Billy Lawlor), Natalia Lepore Hagan (Annie), Carlos Morales (Mac/Doc/Thug), Lamont Brown (Andy Lee), Rob Ouellette (Oscar), Vanessa Mitchell (Lorraine), Dallas/Ft. Worth native Sarah Fagan (Diane) and Mallory Nolting (Phyllis). The ensemble will feature Matthew Alexander, Emily Blake Anderson, Brittany Bigelow, Allison Blanchard, Molly Jean Blodgett, Stephanie Brooks, Taylore Burke, Mitchell Canfield, Joel Chambers, Kahlia Davis, Tricia DeSario, Lucia Foster, Kelly Gleason, Patrick Heffernan, Tommy Joscelyn, Brady Miller, Mandy Modic, Georgina Moore, Courtney Moran, Jocelyn Moss, Alicia Newcom, Tanner Outly and Andrew Winans. In an initiative to elevate the arts, Dallas Summer Musicals in conjunction with Broadway World DFW and WFAA Channel 8 have partnered up and developed a fun summer series of walk-on roles to give audiences an inside look at the life of an actor. Auditions will be announced soon and a lucky winner will be transformed into one of the kids in the chorus and give viewers a behind the scenes look as they becomes part of cast in 42^nd STREET. Single tickets for 42^nd STREET, from $25-$106 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.4768 or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Single tickets for 42^ndSTREET’s Fort Worth engagement, from $44-$115, are now on sale. To charge tickets by phone, call 817.212.4280 in Fort Worth; 1.877.212.4280 (toll free) outside Fort Worth; or order online at www.basshall.com. Tickets are also available at the Bass Performance Hall ticket office at 525 Commerce Street. For group sales, call 817-212-4248. DSM’s highly awaited 2016–17 Season Announcement ‘Broadways Most Wanted’ is set to be revealed soon. A season teaser campaign is now online and throughout DSM’s social media platforms! The 2015-2016 Broadway at the Bass season continues with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, August 17-21; and the phenomenal new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, October 20-30.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show.

Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

About Performing Arts Fort Worth:

The mission of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall is to serve as a permanent home to major performing arts organizations of Fort Worth and as a premiere venue for other attractions so as to enhance the range, quality, and accessibility of cultural fare available to the public; to promulgate arts education; and to contribute to the cultural life of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the region.

Built entirely with private funds, Bass Performance Hall is permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn. Each resident company operates independently from Performing Arts Fort Worth and manages its own programming schedule at Bass Hall.

Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of the Hall, also presents national Touring Broadway product under the Broadway at the Bass banner, as well as programming that includes Family Series at the Bass, and the BNSF Popular Entertainment Series.

The 2,042-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world.

###

AUDITION NOTICE: TELL US WHY YOU SHOULD BE IN 42nd STREET FOR A NIGHT!

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 21:00:00 +0000

In an initiative to elevate the arts, Dallas Summer Musicals in conjunction with Broadway World DFW and WFAA Channel 8 have partnered up and developed a fun summer series of walk-on roles to give audiences an inside look at the life of an actor. For the last show of DSM’s 2015-2016 Season, a lucky winner will be transformed into one of the kids in the chorus and give viewers a behind the scenes look as they become part of cast in 42nd STREET. SEEKING: Chorus Member REQUIREMENTS: The walk-on role calls for a young male in his late teens – 20’s, of any ethnicity, that is trim and in good physical shape. The actor will appear at the top of the show in the number titled “Audition.” He will form part of the chorus kids and follow their lead. In role, the actor must stretch along with the other cast members, walk over to a piano and tap his fingers, walk around with the rest of the cast members and act as required. The winner must be able to attend rehearsal, wardrobe fittings and sound check on the day of the walk-on role. Winner must be a non-union actor. This is a volunteer position only; actor will not be compensated. The winner will not only have the opportunity to be a part of the cast of a touring Broadway production as they step on the Music Hall stage known to many stars, but they will also receive complimentary tickets for family members to attend their debut on the DSM stage. WHAT TO SUBMIT: Please submit a full length photo (front), headshot, and audition card details through the link below. As well as a statement as to why you would like to form part of the cast of a national Broadway touring production and what it would mean to you. Deadline for submissions will be Sunday, June 19. Finalist will be notified on Wednesday, June 22.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

# # #

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS ANNOUNCES 2016/2017 BROADWAY SEASON!

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS WILL PRESENT SIX NORTH TEXAS PREMIERES IN ITS TEN SHOW SEASON

Season tickets are on sale now!

Dallas, TX (June 19, 2016) – Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) and Performing Arts Fort Worth (PAFW) are thrilled to announce their 2016-2017 Broadway seasons! Once again, the two performing arts groups will come together to co-present four titles, allowing patrons across North Texas ample opportunities to experience the Best of Broadway. Dallas Summer Musicals will kick off its 2016-2017 Season with the dazzling holiday favorite, BROADWAY CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND. The season will continue with the Tony Award^®-winning lavish and stunning Broadway hit AN AMERICAN IN PARIS; followed by the spectacular theatrical concert, LET IT BE, a tribute to The Beatles; back by popular demand, the high-heeled kicking sensation, KINKY BOOTS; the captivating circus extravaganza, CIRCUS 1903 – THE GOLDEN AGE OF CIRCUS; and closing the season, the romantic thriller based on the smash hit film, THE BODYGUARD, starring Grammy^® nominee Deborah Cox! In addition, the beloved family-friendly stage adaptation, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSE REINDEER: THE MUSICAL; the Emmy^® Award-winning classic hit TV series, CHEERS LIVE ON STAGE; the explosive and vigorously choreographed, STOMP; and the magical and thrilling return of, THE ILLUSIONISTS will be presented as season add-ons. “The future of the performing arts has never looked brighter and our new season lineup brings the types of shows that remind us why we love live theater,” states David Hyslop, DSM Interim Managing Director. “From classical lavish debuts like An American In Paris, to high energy returning engagements like Kinky Boots as well as fun family productions such as Broadway Christmas Wonderland, this season has something for everyone. We invite you to join us as we witness the beauty of the performing arts when the curtain goes up and the magical world of theater unfolds before your eyes.” Performing Arts Fort Worth’s season is made up of eight shows, six of which are making their Bass Hall debuts. Kicking off the season in January, 2017, will be the family favorite ANNIE, returning to the Hall in an all-new production. The Chicago Tribune called the show “one of the best family musicals ever penned.” The series will close in November, 2017, with another show back by popular demand, IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS. In between will be the direct-from-Broadway AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning musical about love and mystery in the City of Lights; the ultimate tribute to The Beatles, LET IT BE; MATILDA, based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl and winner of 50 international awards, including four Tonys; THE BODYGUARD, a musical retelling of the hit 1992 film featuring singer Deborah Cox; BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, which tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom; and the 20th anniversary tour of the Broadway sensation RENT. Continuing a partnership that blossomed two seasons ago, Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present four of these titles: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL; AN AMERICAN IN PARIS; LET IT BE; and THE BODYGUARD. “For the first time ever, we’re offering eight shows, many of which have never played in Fort Worth before,” says Dione Kennedy, President & CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth. “And as we always strive to do, we’ve put together a season that offers something for everyone, from families to serious Broadway buffs to everyone in between. It’s really a dynamite season.” Dallas Summer Musicals’ season tickets start at $116 and will go on sale Sunday, June 19 at 10 a.m. online only at DallasSummerMusicals.org. On Monday, June 20 season tickets will be available online, by phone at 214-346-3300 and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Payment plan options are available. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to include four season add-ons to their season subscription. Season add-on tickets are discounted for subscribers and range from $14-$82 per show. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount throughout the season. Orders of 10 or more placed before September 16, 2016 will receive a 20% discount. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org. Broadway at the Bass season tickets go on sale online at www.basshall.com at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office at 10 a.m. Monday, June 8. Eight-show season ticket packages start at $287. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com. Payment plan options are available.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow’s musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM’s High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway’s Tony® Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show.

Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!™; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM’s newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible.

Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery.

For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

About Performing Arts Fort Worth:

The mission of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall is to serve as a permanent home to major performing arts organizations of Fort Worth and as a premiere venue for other attractions so as to enhance the range, quality, and accessibility of cultural fare available to the public; to promulgate arts education; and to contribute to the cultural life of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the region.

Built entirely with private funds, Bass Performance Hall is permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn. Each resident company operates independently from Performing Arts Fort Worth and manages its own programming schedule at Bass Hall.

Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of the Hall, also presents national Touring Broadway product under the Broadway at the Bass banner, as well as programming that includes Family Series at the Bass, and the BNSF Popular Entertainment Series.

The 2,042-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world.

###

All In A Day's Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 1│

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 20:00:00 +0000

DAY 1

It's that time of year again! DSM's High School Musical Theatre Award-winning Best Actor and Actress, John Fredrickson and Kaiden Maines, are off to New York City to compete in the 2016 National Highs School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA)! John and Kaiden will participate in a week-long training intensive with Broadway industry professionals and faculty members of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, in preparation for their Broadway debut on Monday, June 27^th at the Minskoff Theatre. Now let's turn it over to John and Kaiden, to hear about DAY 1 and their arrival in NYC!

Hey DSM fans! Today was my first day in New York and it really is the city that never sleeps! We woke up and got on an airplane this morning at DFW and we arrived in New York at about noon. [gallery ids="3365,3358,3355" type="columns" link="none"] When we arrived in the city, John, Tina, and I ate lunch at The Brazen Fox and I had the greatest hamburger of my life. [gallery ids="3368,3369,3357" type="circle"] Then we went to the rehearsal hall at NYU and started working on the opening number right away! We will begin auditioning and working throughout the week and I can't wait to work with this AMAZING staff here at NYU! -Kaiden

* * * * *

The first day was incredible!! This is my first time ever in New York and the city is stunning!! The people we have met are all so incredibly talented, fun, and kind! Right now we are in the middle of our medley auditions where we're singing and dancing! it's tough but it is a joyride! Thank you DSM! -John

All In A Day's Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 2│

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 21:30:00 +0000

DAY 2

John and Kaiden recap their second day at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhIjLpNdeuU]

Here are a few behind-the-scenes images provided by NHSMTA:

[caption id="attachment_3402" align="alignnone" width="884"] Via @JimmyAwards Instagram: "Like a blank canvas #jimmyawards #blackbox"[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3404" align="alignnone" width="891"] Via @JimmyAwards Instagram: "First day of yoga. What a way to start the day. #jimmyawards"[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3403" align="alignnone" width="888"] Via @JimmyAwards Instagram: "And now: rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal. A lovely close to the day here at the #jimmyawards"[/caption]

All In A Day’s Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 3│

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 22:05:00 +0000

DAY 3

[gallery ids="3449,3448" type="square" columns="2"]

Today was full of hard work and excitement! We started off by choreographing the entire opening number and running it about 100 times! (No joke). We also learned what group we would be in. I was placed in the Production Group- which means that I will be in a group that gets to perform a number from the Broadway musical, "On Your Feet!" during the award ceremony on Monday night! We got out early today and got to head out to Times Square with Tina and John! Tomorrow is going to be a big day! We get our coaches and we get to go see the musical ON YOUR FEET! See you guys tomorrow! -Kaiden [caption id="attachment_3447" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Kaiden and John on the subway![/caption] [caption id="attachment_3446" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Nominees hear from Bianca Marroquín, the first Mexican actress to have a starring role on Broadway and one of the youngest actresses to play Roxie Hart in a Broadway production of Chicago. Her other credits include Beauty and the Beast, Rent, The Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3445" align="alignnone" width="3264"] The Room Where It Happens- the Richard Rodgers Theatre, home of HAMILTON![/caption]

John recaps DAY 3 in the video below - Hooha! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLPpEMUwvIs]

All In A Day’s Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 4│

dallassummermusicals — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 22:10:00 +0000

DAY 4

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kubomYdiIgw] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSCn8e4TFhc]

[gallery ids="3535,3536,3537,3539" type="square" columns="2"]

All In A Day’s Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 5│

dallassummermusicals — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 23:00:00 +0000

DAY 5

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0z67b6-vs4] [gallery ids="3546,3545" type="square" columns="2"]

Today was so exiting! It was my first day in production group! Today we learned the choreography for the production number and we had the dance captain from ON YOUR FEET come and teach it to us! While I'm here, I"m getting to spend time making new friends (that I love). Here are a few of them! Tomorrow we will continue the production number and get it ready for Monday night at the Minskoff! See you later, DSM! -Kaiden [gallery ids="3567,3568,3569,3570,3571,3572,3573" type="slideshow"]

All In A Day’s Work: 2016 NHSMTA │DAY 6 & 7│

dallassummermusicals — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 02:00:00 +0000

DAY 6

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kYKymmWSoA]

DAY 7

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea2QdGeRkww]

All In A Day’s Work: 2016 NHSMTA │THE AWARDS│

dallassummermusicals — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 20:00:00 +0000

As John Fredrickson says, HOOHA! Congratulations are in order for our DSM High School Musical Theatre Award-winning Best Actor and Actress, John and Kaiden! Out of 62 students from across the nation, both were recognized at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on Monday night!

Kaiden Maines received the NHSMTA $2,500 Special Recognition Scholarship, presented by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.
John Fredrickson was a NHSMTA finalist (top four!) in the Best Actor category, and received a $2,500 scholarship from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation.

WE ARE SO PROUD!

---Scroll down to hear more from John and Kaiden!---

John Clutts(chair of the 2016 DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards), DSM HSMTA winners Kaiden Maines and John Fredrickson, and Tracy Jordan (DSM HSMTA Director) in New York.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVu4eTdIPtI][gallery ids="3608,3610,3609" type="rectangular"] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abZu-kYLJZ0][gallery ids="3616,3617,3618" type="rectangular"]

[gallery ids="3623,3622,3621" type="rectangular"]

DSM's Best Actor and Best Actress Make DSM History in New York City!

dallassummermusicals — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Best Actor John Fredrickson from Guyer High School placed as a finalist and won a scholarship and Best Actress Kaiden Mains from Waxahachie High School won a scholarship

(July 1, 2016- Dallas, TX) The 5^th Annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards (DSM HSMTA) Best Actor John Fredrickson from Guyer High School placed as a finalist and both he and Best Actress Kaiden Maines from Waxahachie High School won scholarships at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) on June 27^th in New York City. This is the first time since DSM began the High School Musical Theatre Awards five years ago that the Best Actor has placed as a finalist and both Best Actor and Best Actress have won scholarships. John received a $2,500 scholarship towards his future education from the Barry and Fran Weissler Foundation and Kaiden received a $2,500 Special Recognition Scholarship presented by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. John said, "The experience at the Jimmy Awards was unbelievable. It was such an honor and a privilege to represent the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards and finish as one of the top four finalists in the nation. The whole experience was surreal as well as life changing. I cannot be more thankful to DSM for their sponsorship and all of those who supported me through this entire process. The past ten days have been the best time of my life and I will miss it all because it was truly wonderful. Hooha!" Kaiden agreed, saying, "I had such an amazing time at the Jimmy Awards. I met so many talented people and was honored to be one of the six selected for a special recognition scholarship. I had so much fun making my Broadway debut on the Minskoff stage, and I can't thank DSM enough for making this wonderful journey happen for me. I will miss it, but I'm looking forward to whatever is next!" Supporting Kaiden and John in NYC were John R. Clutts, chair of The 5^th Annual DSM HSMTA, Tina Walsh, the recipient of the inaugural Leah and Jerome Fullinwider Award, DSM HSMTA manager Tracy Jordan, and DSM Board Vice President Community Relations Nancy Natinsky and Vice President Education, Downie Mathis. The annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Jimmy™ Awards) is a Broadway-focused talent showcase which featured performances by all 62 nominees and solos by select finalists. Their debut on a Broadway stage followed nine days of rehearsals and private coaching with faculty at the New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama and other professionals. Students also enjoyed a performance of ON YOUR FEET! including a talkback with the cast. The 2016 National High School Musical Theatre Awards introduced a new format for the program in order to accommodate more regional awards programs and provide opportunities for more students to experience Broadway and New York City. This year there were 62 students representing 31 programs, compared to last year’s 52 students representing 26 programs. The students auditioned before a panel of judges earlier in the week, singing two prepared songs and participating in a dance call. Based on the audition results, the students were split into two groups: The Medley Group and The Production Group, leading up to when all students performed together in the opening and closing numbers on the Minskoff stage. The groups worked together throughout the week and received the same amount of coaching. All nominees were eligible for the scholarships and awards. DSM’s HSMTA remains the largest program of its kind in the state and the second largest program of its kind in the country and has been recognized by the National High School Musical Theater Awards as their official affiliate program for North Texas. Just this past April, Kaiden won the Best Actress award for her performance as Lady of the Lake in Waxahachie High School’s production of SPAMALOT and John won Best Actor for his performance as Bert in Guyer High School’s production of MARY POPPINS at The 5^th Annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards show at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Based on Broadway’s Tony Awards^®, DSM’s HSMTA brings together show business veterans, community leaders and celebrities to spotlight the achievements of high school students and their school’s musical theatre programs. HSMTA founding sponsors are Leah and Jerry Fullinwider. Honorary Chairs were Holly and Brad Reeves. DSM Chairman of the Board is Ted Munselle. The DSM HSMTA Angels Host Committee raised over $128,000 to benefit HSMTA and scholarships. Seven cash scholarships of $5,000 each were presented to outstanding participating students. To date, DSM has awarded $135,000 in cash scholarships to outstanding students. This year has broken all records for participating schools in HSMTA. There were 67 schools participating showcasing 70 shows, representing 33 school districts across North Texas. Among the 67 are also 7 private schools. In addition, 6 schools have entered two musicals this year for the total of 70 productions which were evaluated. This represents a new all-time high of schools, teachers and students taking part in the program. This is more than double the first year’s total of 30 schools participating. Since DSM’s First Annual HSMTA in 2012, this has truly developed into a regional program, accepting schools as far away as Denton and Allen to the north, Waco to the south, Abilene to the west and Paris, Texas to the east. You can see their experience in New York City through DSM’s blog at https://dallassummermusicals.wordpress.com/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DSMHSMTA and the website at http://www.DSMHSMTA.org The 5^th Annual DSM HSMTA media sponsor is People Newspapers. For questions, contact Tracy Jordan, the program manager at 214-413-3951 or tjordan@dallassummermusicals.org

About the National High School Musical Theatre Awards: Founded in 2009 by Nederlander Alliances LLC, Pittsburgh CLO, and Broadway Education Alliance (BEA), NHSMTA's mission is to raise the profile of musical theatre in schools, recognize dedicated teachers and inspire the next generation of performers and enthusiasts. Also known as The Jimmy™ Awards, in honor of legendary Broadway producer/theatre owner James M. Nederlander, the NHSMTA is partnered with NYU Tisch School of the Arts and supported by many leading theatre industry organizations. More information about the National High School Musical Theatre Awards can be found at http://www.nhsmta.com

About Dallas Summer Musicals: Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit 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 education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM's Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow's musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM's High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway's Tony(r) Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!(tm); a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM's newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. Dallas Summer Musicals is presented by Texas Instruments and gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors and partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, American Airlines, and The Original Cupcakery. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.