Monday, May 5, 2014

Bruce Vilanch in Du Barry Was a Lady, I Married An Angel, and Little Me starring Jason Graae!

DU BARRY WAS A LADY by Cole Porter, starring Bruce Vilanch, 
Directed and Choreographed by Zack Thomas Wilde
I have directed and choreographed Du Barry Was a Lady at the 42nd St Moon (currently running through May 18th at the Eureka Theater) starring the inimitable Bruce Vilanch* and amazingly talented locals Ashley Rae Little*, Jack Mosbacher, Nicole Renee Chapman, Nathaniel Rothrock, Rudy Guerrero*, Ryan Drummond*, Abby Haug Sammons, Jordan Sidfield, Kathryn Han, Kate Leyva, Adrienne Hero, Anthony Rollins-Mullens, and Roy Eikleberry! It is a huge production for our intimate theater, and the first full production of the show since the Broadway production closed in 1941.

Richard Connema of TalkinBroadway and ForAllEvents writes, "...42nd Street Moon has pulled out all stops to present this zany musical and they have secured the wonderful comedian, writer and actor Bruce Vilanch to play the King Louis XV. He brings his own special comic brilliance to the role of a nightclub washroom attendant who has won the Irish Sweepstakes and then inadvertently imbibes in knock-out drops meant for his rival only to “awaken” to find himself entrenched on the French throne as King Louis XV in 18th Century France. Du Berry was a Lady which was  one the last, snickering wheeze of burlesque-style high-living on Broadway adheres to the formula of those 30’s musicals that had vaudeville shticks, cheesecake chorines, songs tailored to the stars and innuendoes to burn. So if you go remember this is what the 30’s and yes some early 40’s audience really went for during those times from World War 2. Backed by Ben Prince on piano and Nick DiScala on woodwinds this production features the enchanting bonus of Zack Thomas Wilde chorography which goes from gavottes to hot tap dance numbers reminiscent of the Rockettes. Zack also beautifully directed the musical..."
And Lee Hartgrave writes, "...Cole Porter's show 'Du Barry Was A Lady' was dynamite. And -- it seems to be another "Laugh your head off"...5 out of 5 glasses of champagne rating!!!"

I MARRIED AN ANGEL (1938)
Rogers and Hart


I choreographed this sweet show for 42nd St Moon. It was charming and well-received - the tap dancing, waltzes, and production numbers included! It played at the Eureka Theater (as all our shows currently do) in Autumn, 2013.

LITTLE ME
Neil Simon, Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh


Starring the hysterical Jason Graae*, Sharon Reitkirk*, myself and other local luminaries! It was a very funny show, and we all were exhausted by playing multiple characters. This played in Spring 2013.

*denotes members of the Actor's Equity Association