Tuesday, November 9, 2010

That Theatre Show to Benefit Food Bank

Come see amazing Broadway performers give back to the Food Bank!

Broadway lovers are invited to join Oscar Andrew Hammerstein III (“The Hammersteins: A Musical Theatre Family”) and Bill Dawes (“Lombardi”) to be among the first guests to appear on a new Broadway-themed talk show launching November 15, 2010 at Manhattan’s Iguana New York at 8:00 p.m. Also there will be special performances from Broadway’s Russell Fisher (Jersey Boys), Kelly Grant (Company) and Correy West (South Pacific). Musicians will include Brad Gardner on piano, John Gundrumon guitar, Michael Pagnotta on alto saxophone, and RJ Rabin on drums.

The new talk show, entitled That Theatre Show, seeks to chronicle the thoughts and stories of various actors, directors, composers and others that make New York’s theater community world-renowned. The show will contain both be interviews and performances. The show is produced by Neal Bennington (owner of NealB.tv) and Sahar Helmy.

In an effort to give back to the community, the event will also contribute partial proceeds from the maiden episode to the Food Bank For New York City. The Food Bank For NYC addresses the growing needs of people seeking emergency food assistance in New York City. Over the years, the Food Bank has experienced dramatic growth in the areas of food distribution, operations, programs and research to better serve the network of community food programs — and ultimately the people in New York City who rely on the food they provide. There will also be Broadway-themed raffle items to benefit the Food Bank, including a one-hour vocal coaching session with Broadway vocal coach Michael Lavine, Broadway posters and playbills. Bennington states: "The purpose of this new endeavor is to bring awareness, through different charitable organizations, and show that theater is unlike any other experience."

Oscar Andrew Hammerstein, the grandson of the late lyricist-librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, will discuss his new book “The Hammersteins: A Musical Theatre Family”. This is the only biography of the musical theatre legends written by a family member. Oscar “Andy” Hammerstein (Oscar Hammerstein II’s grandson), gives readers unprecedented access to family archives of art, photographs, theatre blueprints, letters, programs, patents, and more, and makes this a profoundly rich celebration of musical theatre in America. He presents a multi-layered portrait of the Hammerstein legacy. He is a painter, writer, lecturer, and family historian. He has devoted much of his life to studying and preserving his family’s heritage and their contribution to American culture. He lectures frequently at universities, institutes, and theatrical and civic organizations on the Hammerstein family’s pivotal role in shaping the development of musical theatre and popular entertainment in this country from the 1860s to the present. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, teaching graduate level New York City theatre history.

Bill Dawes can currently be seen on Broadway playing “Paul Hornung" in Lombardi. As a stage actor, Bill’s first role was on Broadway with Sigourney Weaver and Christopher Durang in the play Sex and Longing, which was followed by Gross Indecency in which he originated the role of "Lord Alfred Douglas". He is an actor/comic/writer. As an actor, he has appeared in several award-winning independent films, including Adam, Evenhand and Fiona and an acting/writing role in the DVD cult hit I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. On TV, Bill has been on several hit shows, including Sex and the City, OZ, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Damages, All My Children and One Life to Live. As a comic, Bill has performed all over the U.S.A. and world including crowds of over 8,000 international troops at bases in Baghdad. Bill has been published in several magazines and an hour comedy special he wrote with Jamie Kennedy, Uncomfortable, will be seen on Showtime this fall. Bill performs every Friday & Saturday 10pm shows at Times Square Comedy Club.

Russell Fischer is currently making his Broadway debut as “Joey” and an understudy for the role of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. Other credits include the ’98-’99 National Tour of Big – The Musical (Billy Kopecki), Chautauqua Opera’s The Music Man (Tommy Djilas), Paper Mill Playhouse’s Children of Eden (Young Abel u/s) and The Sound of Music (Kurt) starring Debby Boone.

Kelly Grant recently finished playing lead role of Christine Daaé at select performances in the Broadway National Touring Company of Hal Prince’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. Broadway audiences will remember Kelly in the 2007 Tony-award winning revival of Company, starring Raúl Esparza and directed by John Doyle, where she played the role of “Kathy”. Kelly has also been seen in numerous musicals nationally including Show Boat, directed by Harold Prince; The Secret Garden, South Pacific, and My Fair Lady.

Correy West has been seen Broadway in the Tony-winning musical South Pacific (Lincoln Center Revival) as well as Off-Broadway in Shades of Harlem. Correy’s credits also include 42nd Street (Tour), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular; NY: Lunch (NYMF), An Evening with Jason Robert Brown (Cooper Union); Regional: The Producers (Westchester Broadway Theatre), Paint Your Wagon (Pioneer Theatre Company), Dreamgirls (Prince Music Theater/North Carolina Theatre), Miss Saigon (Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center), The Wizard of Oz (North Carolina Theatre).

Tickets are $12.00 for advanced reservations, and $15.00 at the door (plus a one drink minimum -CASH ONLY). That Theatre Show’s November 15th performance can be purchased by calling (212) 765 5454. The Iguana New York is located at 240 West 54th Street, New York, New York.


Visit www.thattheatreshow.com for details.

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