Andre De Shields, Georgia Engel, Donna McKechnie, Liilias White, and others just gotta dance!
FEATURING:
Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn, André De Shields, Madeleine Doherty, Tracy Jai Edwards, Georgia Engel, Mary Claire King, Donna McKechnie, Lenora Nemetz, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Nancy Ticotin, Kay Walbye, and Lillias White.
Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, announced today the full cast and creative team for the East Coast premiere of Half Time, a new musical, with book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and additional music by Marvin Hamlisch and Ester Dean. Half Time begins performances Thursday, May 31, for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 1. Opening night is set for Tuesday, June 12, at 7:30 PM. Half Time is produced in association with Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke. Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Half Time. Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2017–2018 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.
Half Time will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and co-choreographed by Nick Kenkel with music direction by Charlie Alterman. The cast will feature previously announced five-time Emmy nominee Georgia Engel (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony and Emmy Award winner Lillias White (The Life, “Sesame Street”) along with André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty, Ain’t Misbehavin’). The newest addition to this stellar cast is Tony award winner and Broadway legend Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) who with this all-star cast will tell the uplifting true story of ten New Jersey seniors with extraordinary dreams. Half Time is based on the motion picture “Gotta Dance,” directed, written and produced by Dori Berinstein.
From the director/choreographer of Kinky Boots comes the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who audition to dance at half time for a major basketball team. They have three things in common: they love to dance, they have something to prove, and they are all over 60. Only after making the cut do they learn they won’t be dancing tap, salsa or swing—instead, they will bring down the house with a style that is entirely new to them: hip-hop. Take the uplifting journey with these dreamers—and the young coaches who inspire them along the way—as they battle self-doubt, stereotypes and even each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans. Together they remind us that in life, when the odds are stacked against you and the challenges seem too great to overcome, it’s not the end of the game—it’s Half Time.
The principal cast will feature André De Shields as Ron, Georgia Engel as Dorothy/Dottie, Donna McKechnie as Joanne, Lillias White as Bea, who will be joined by Haven Burton as Tara, Lori Tan Chinn as Mae, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Kendra, Nancy Ticotin as Camilla, Madeleine Doherty as Estelle, Tracy Jai Edwards as Alison Prager, Mary Claire King as Jenny, Lenora Nemetz as Fran, and Kay Walbye as Muriel.
Rounding out the cast are Alexander Aguilar, Ken Ard, Sydni Beaudoin, Tami Dahbura, Paula DeLuise, Gabriela Garcia, Talya Groves, Kathryn Kendall, Valton Jackson, Summerisa Bell Stevens, Garrett Turner and Gayle Turner.
“We are excited to welcome legends André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Donna McKechnie and Lillias White to Paper Mill Playhouse,”
commented Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse’s Producing Artistic Director.
“This new musical, inspired by the documentary Gotta Dance, is a true New Jersey story that will be thrilling for audiences of any age.”
The creative team of Half Time reunites Mitchell with his Kinky Boots collaborators, including Tony Award winner David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony Award winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design) and Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), along with Nick Kenkel (Co-Choreography), Randy Hansen (Sound Design), Jason Lee Courson (Projection Design), Drama Desk nominee Josh Marquette (Hair and Wig Design), Tony Award winner Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), and Telsey + Company (Casting). The Production Stage Manager is Jason Brouillard.
Half Time will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wed—Sun. Performance schedule: Wed at 7:30PM, Thur at 1:30PM and 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Sat at 1:30PM and 8:00PM, and Sunat 1:30PM and 7:00PM.
Tickets are on sale now starting at $34. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. Students may order $23 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse box office on the day of the performance. Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2017–2018 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.
André De Shields (Ron). In a career spanning 49 years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, and educator. A multiple Tony Award nominee, Mr. De Shields is the recipient of the 2012 Fox Foundation Fellowship/Distinguished Achievement, the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival’s Living Legend Award, the 2007 Village Voice Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance, and the 2018 Bob Harrington Bistro Award for Lifetime Achievement. He is best known for his showstopping performances in six legendary Broadway productions: The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Emmy Award), Play On!, The Full Monty, Mark Medoff’s Prymate, and Impressionism (with Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons).
Georgia Engel (Dorothy/Dottie) is excited to be making her debut here at Paper Mill Playhouse with this production of Half Time. Georgia last appeared on Broadway creating the role of Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone. Other Broadway credits include My One and Only and Hello, Dolly! with Ethel Merman. Off Broadway, Georgia received an Obie Award for Annie Baker’s John (Signature Theatre), directed by Sam Gold. She also appeared in Annie Baker’s translation of Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep), also directed by Sam Gold, and Will Eno’s Middletown (Vineyard Theatre). Television: “Hot in Cleveland,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” (three Emmy nominations), “Coach,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (two Emmy nominations).
Donna McKechnie (Joanne) was last seen at Paper Mill Playhouse as Sally in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. She received a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her performance in A Chorus Line. Other Broadway shows include How to Succeed…; The Education of Hyman Kaplan; Sondheim: A Musical Tribute (also choreographed); On the Town; Promises, Promises; Company; State Fair (Astaire Award); and The Visit. Besides regional theaters across the country, Donna has starred in numerous productions in London’s West End, Paris, and Tokyo. She has guest starred extensively with symphony orchestras throughout this country, on television, and in film. Her memoir, Time Steps: My Musical Comedy Life, was published by Simon and Schuster.
Lillias White (Bea). Select Broadway credits include Fela! (Tony nomination), The Life (Tony Award), Chicago, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cats, Once on This Island, and Dreamgirls. Film/TV: The Get Down, Gotham, Person of Interest, Nasty Baby, Smash, Pieces of April, Gloria, Disney’s Hercules, Sesame Street (Emmy Award), Law & Order. Off Broadway/Regional: Texas in Paris (Lortel nomination); While I Yet Live; Love, Loss, and What I Wore; The Best Is Yet to Come; Purlie; Dinah Was; Crowns; Joe Turner’s Come and Gone; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (NAACP Theatre Award); Vagina Monologues; Romance in Hard Times (Obie Award); among numerous others.
Haven Burton (Tara) is overjoyed to make her Paper Mill debut. Broadway credits include Kinky Boots (Lauren), Violet (standby for Sutton Foster), Shrek (Gingy, Fiona u/s), Legally Blonde (Margot, Elle u/s), Rent (Maureen). Off Broadway, regional, and tours include Gotta Dance (Tara), Disaster! (Marianne), Nobody Loves You, Shrek (first national tour and PCLO, Fiona), Rent (national tour, Mrs. C), Santa Rosa Symphony Pops. She can be seen with her son on season one of High maintenance (HBO).
Lori Tan Chinn (Mae) was born and raised in Seattle, WA. Broadway: Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen (Broadway and theatrical debut), G. R. Point, M. Butterfly. Off Broadway: The Primary English Class, G. R. Point, The Ballad of Soapy Smith. Regional: Arena Stage (South Pacific, Bloody Mary—Helen Hayes Award); Goodman Theatre (Peter Sellars’s The Merchant of Venice); Walnut Street Theatre (South Pacific); O’Neill National Playwrights Conference (seven seasons as an actor, five seasons as a reader to artistic director Lloyd Richards). Film: Mickey Blue Eyes, What About Bob?, Glengarry Glen Ross, She-Devil. Television: “Orange Is the New Black,” “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific” (Bloody Mary), “Roseanne.”
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (Kendra) is thrilled to make her Paper Mill debut in Half Time! Fresh out of the University of Michigan, her university credits include One Hit Wonder (Fiona), The Drowsy Chaperone (Chaperone), and American Idiot. Other credits include All Shook Up (Muny) and Mamma Mia!, Aida, Shrek, and South Pacific (Pittsburgh CLO).
Nancy Ticotin (Camilla), a native New Yorker, made her Broadway debut at age 10. Film: Ransom, The Wiz, Hackers, The History of Future Folk. TV: “Taken,” “Law & Order,” “SVU,” “Orange Is the New Black.” Ticotin is an original member of Ballet Hispánico of NY. She was the sole mezzo-soprano in the nine-member operetta Great Day in the Morning at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris with Jessye Norman, directed by Robert Wilson. Broadway: The King and I, West Side Story, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Damn Yankees, In the Heights. First National Tour: On Your Feet (Gloria Fajardo). Highlight: guest star with New York City Ballet as Anita in West Side Story Suite.
Madeleine Doherty (Estelle) appeared in six Broadway shows including the original casts of The Producers, A Christmas Carol, Sister Act, Gigi, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She recently appeared in The Producers at Paper Mill Playhouse reprising the role she originated on Broadway. Over 50 regional productions and five national tours.
Tracy Jai Edwards (Alison Prager). Broadway: Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, Serena in Legally Blonde (also MTV). Off Broadway, regional, and international credits: Ruthless, She Loves Me, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (with Ann-Margret), Guys and Dolls, Grease: Das Musical, and many more. TV: “Odd Mom Out,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “White Collar,” to name a few.
Mary Claire King (Jenny) is back at Paper Mill after appearing in Oliver! in 2013. Broadway: War Paint. Tour: Catch Me If You Can. Regional: Goodman, Theatre Under the Stars, North Shore Music Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Flat Rock Playhouse. Proud member of Range A Capella, which has been featured performing on E!, Nickelodeon, and with Kelly Clarkson in her Piece by Piece tour at Radio City Music Hall.
Lenora Nemetz (Fran) left her native Pittsburgh as a teenager to work on Broadway. She began her career with her Broadway debut in Cabaret. A protégé of Bob Fosse, Nemetz first came to the attention of New York critics when she replaced Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly in Fosse’s production of Chicago. She went on to create the role of Delores Dante in the Broadway production of Working, garnering a Drama Desk Award nomination. She co-starred with Peter Allen in his one man show Up in One both on Broadway and in Los Angeles. Nemetz co-starred with Chita Rivera as Angel in The Rink filling in for Liza Minnelli. National tours include Sweet Charity, Bye Bye Birdie and Some Like it Hot. She appeared in Paper Mill Playhouse’s Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2013.
Kay Walbye (Muriel) Paper Mill Playhouse: Run for Your Wife, It Runs in the Family, Out of Order. Broadway: Titanic, Urinetown, The Secret Garden, Run for Your Wife (original companies); Grease, The Rose Tattoo (Circle in the Square). Lincoln Center: Show Boat (NY Philharmonic). Encores!: Juno, Bye Bye Birdie. Regional: Gotta Dance (Chicago), Damn Yankees (Arena Stage—Helen Hayes nomination), Damn Yankees (North Shore Music Theatre—IRNE nomination), Pygmalion (Alley Theatre), Oklahoma! (Sacramento Music Circus), The Front Page (Williamstown Theatre Festival). TV: “The Blacklist,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”
Bob Martin (Book) has been working as an actor and writer for over three decades. He has received many awards in both Canada and the US, including a Tony for The Drowsy Chaperone. Recent TV projects include “Slings & Arrows,” seasons 1, 2, and 3 (TMN, Sundance); Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays (CBC); Michael: Every Day (CBC); Sensitive Skin, seasons 1 and 2 (HBO); and Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (NBC). Recent theater projects include, Encores! (NYC), The Prom (Atlanta), Gotta Dance (Chicago), Elf (Broadway, Dublin, London), The Drowsy Chaperone (Toronto, Broadway, London), Second City Toronto (performer, director, artistic director). In development: The Sting (Paper Mill Playhouse), Millions, The Prince Bride.
Chad Beguelin (Book) is a four-time Tony nominee whose works include Disney’s Aladdin (Tony Award nominations for best book and best original score, Drama Desk Award nominations for outstanding lyrics and book), and The Wedding Singer (Tony Award nominations for best book and best original score, Drama Desk Award nomination for outstanding lyrics). He also wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf. He is the recipient of the Edward Kleban Award for lyric writing, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award, and the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award.
Matthew Sklar (Music, Arrangements) a Tony, Emmy, and Drama Desk Award–nominated composer, proudly began his professional career as a rehearsal pianist at Paper Mill Playhouse. As composer on Broadway: Elf, The Wedding Singer (Tony Award nomination for best original score). TV/film credits include Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (2015 Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding music direction), Sesame Street, Wonder Pets!, and PBS American Masters. Awards: ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award, Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award. Upcoming: The Prom, premiering this fall on Broadway at the Cort Theatre.
Nell Benjamin (Lyrics) Broadway: Legally Blonde, with Laurence O’Keefe (Olivier Award, Tony nomination); Mean Girls, with Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond. Off Broadway and Regional: The Explorer’s Club (Outer Critics Circle Award); Cam Jansen; Sarah, Plain and Tall; Because of Winn Dixie; Pirates!; 3hree. New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve and Young People’s Concerts. TV: Unhappily Ever After; Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca; The Electric Company; Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris; Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway; Julie’s Greenroom. Upcoming musicals: Huzzah!, Life of the Party, Dave. Grateful recipient of the Kleban Award and a Jonathan Larson Grant.
Marvin Hamlisch (Additional Music) winner of three Academy Awards, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, three Golden Globes, and the Pulitzer Prize, wrote the music for the Broadway musicals A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song, Smile, The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Smell of Success, and more. His prolific output of film scores includes The Way We Were, The Sting, Sophie’s Choice, Ordinary People, and Ice Castles, among many others. He also composed for and conducted symphony orchestras and served as arranger and music director for Barbra Streisand.
Ester Dean (Finale), a singer, actress, and Grammy Award–nominated songwriter, started her musical journey at a young age. She broke into the big leagues when she collaborated with Rihanna to write and record her first number-one hit, “Rude Boy,” followed by “What’s My Name,” “Where Have You Been,” and several other Rihanna hits, as well Katie Perry’s “Firework” and Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass,” among many more. She lent her voiceover talent to the animated films Ice Age: Continental Drift and Rio, and she has contributed to movie soundtracks, including “Let It Grow” for The Lorax. Ester starred as Cynthia Rose in Pitch Perfect and its two sequels.
Jerry Mitchell (Director/Choregrapher) received Broadway’s Tony Award for Best Choreography twice, for the revival of La Cage aux Folles and Kinky Boots, for which he was also nominated as director. Most recently on Broadway, Jerry directed the Gloria Estefan musical On Your Feet!. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his choreography in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which he also directed and coproduced in the West End. In the 35 preceding years, Jerry has been involved with over 50 Broadway, West End, and touring productions, including as choreographer of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Full Monty (Tony nomination); The Rocky Horror Show; Hairspray (Tony nomination, also NBC’s live telecast); Gypsy; Never Gonna Dance (Tony nomination); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nomination); La Cage aux Folles; Legally Blonde (Tony nomination), which he also directed; Catch Me If You Can; and Kinky Boots. He also directed and choreographed the new musical based on the iconic film Pretty Woman, which will open on Broadway later this summer.
Nick Kenkel (Co-Choreographer & Associate Director) is directing/choreographing NBC’s The Voice in residency at the Hard Rock Casino opening in Vegas in September. Nick has directed/choreographed acclaimed productions of Evita, Chicago, Dreamgirls, and Legally Blonde for North Shore Music Theatre. He also conceived and directed Wonderland for Celebrity Cruises. Nick has served as director/choreographer for Broadway Bares since 2013, raising over $1.5 million each year for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He served as associate director/co-choreographer for Peepshow in Vegas. Nick choreographs regularly for Saturday Night Live and is a recurring choreographer for the NBA’s Brooklynettes at Barclays Center.
Charlie Alterman (Music Director, Vocal Arrangements). Broadway: Music director for the Tony Award–winning revival of Pippin and the Pulitzer Prize–winning Next to Normal, as well as Godspell and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde (associate conductor). National Tour: Grease. Off Broadway favorites: Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver and Silence!: The Musical. Regional work includes the Old Globe, Muny, A.R.T., TUTS, Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Trinity Rep, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Concert appearances include shows with Brooke Shields, Frankie Avalon, Dana Reeve, Emily Skinner, Billy Porter, Carol Woods, and Ken Page.
David Rockwell (Scenic Design). Paper Mill Playhouse: Hairspray. Broadway: Lobby Hero, She Loves Me (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards), On the Twentieth Century (Tony nomination), You Can’t Take It With You (Tony nomination), Kinky Boots (Tony nomination), Lucky Guy (Tony nomination), Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), and upcoming productions of Pretty Woman and Tootsie. Off Broadway: Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park. Founder and president of Rockwell Group, the architecture firm that recently renovated the Helen Hayes Theater for Second Stage. Honors: AIANY President’s Award, Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Presidential Design Award.
Gregg Barnes (Costume Design). Broadway: Mean Girls, Pretty Woman (upcoming), Tuck Everlasting (Tony nomination), Something Rotten! (Tony nomination), Aladdin, Kinky Boots (Tony nomination, Olivier Award), Follies (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), Elf, Legally Blonde (Tony nomination), The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Award, Olivier nom.), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Flower Drum Song (Tony nomination), Side Show. Other: Dreamgirls (Olivier nomination), Sinatra (Radio City), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Pageant (Olivier nomination), The Kathy & Mo Show. TDF Young Master Award. Gregg was the resident costume designer at Paper Mill Playhouse from 1989 to 1999 and designed close to 40 shows within that decade.
Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design) has more than 60 Broadway play and musical credits. He designs extensively Off Broadway and for resident theaters and touring productions throughout the United States as well as internationally. Selected Broadway credits: Mean Girls, War Paint, Tuck Everlasting, Disgraced, On Your Feet!, If/Then, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella, Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde, Catch Me If You Can, The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck, Other Desert Cities, The Merchant of Venice, The Little Foxes, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Finding Neverland, Wicked. Paper Mill: Once on This Island. He is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and OBIE Awards.
Randy Hansen (Sound Design). Randy has designed sound for more than 150 musicals and 50 plays. Many memorable moments include working with the opera star Jessye Norman, the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Having recently opened a national tour of The Little Mermaid, Randy is thrilled to be back at Paper Mill for Half Time. In New York City he was the president of Audible Difference, Inc., a sound design company that over the past 30 years has served the fashion industry in New York and Paris.
Jason Lee Courson (Projection Design) was the projection designer for the Broadway in Chicago production of Gotta Dance. Off Broadway: Amerike: The Golden Land and the recurring Newsical: The Musical. Recent projection designer for Peach State Summer Theatre. Jason’s production design credits include the films What Happens Next, The Big Gay Musical, and Grind, and industrial/fashion events including Red Dress Collection and Broadway Bares; he was assistant designer for opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2015 European Games. Jason pursued undergraduate studies at VSU (GA) and holds an MFA in Scenic Design from the Design/Technology Program at Purchase College (NY).
Josh Marquette (Hair and Wig Design) NY/London: Pretty Woman, Mean Girls, Present Laughter, Dreamgirls, Paramour, Tuck Everlasting, School of Rock, Something Rotten, Aladdin, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, Trip of Love, First Date, Elf, Dogfight, The Best Man, Look Back in Anger, The Drowsy Chaperone, Pig Farm, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Altar Boyz, Show Boat (Carnegie Hall), Mamma Mia!; Encores!: Most Happy Fella and Follies. West Coast: Robin and the 7 Hoods, Peep Show, Minsky’s, Vanities. Television: The Slap, 30 Rock, SNL.
Larry Hochman (Orchestrations) Larry’s career spans 40 years as arranger/composer for theater, film, recordings, and television. Broadway: 16 shows including Hello, Dolly! (Outer Critics Circle Award); The Book of Mormon (Tony, Drama Desk); She Loves Me (Drama Desk); Something Rotten!; The Addams Family; Pippin; Spamalot; seven Tony nominations and seven Drama Desk nominations. Television: Nickelodeon’s Wonder Pets! (five Daytime Emmys as composer). 25 regional and Off Broadway shows. 18 films including various Disney and Marvin Hamlisch’s score to The Informant!. Recordings/Concerts: Paul McCartney, Eric Idle, Barbra Streisand, Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, Barry Manilow, New York Philharmonic. Original musical: Perfect Life (produced by Austin Theatre Project).
Kenny Seymour (Dance Arrangements). Broadway: Tony Award–winning musical Memphis (music director/conductor), Amazing Grace (orchestrator). Regional: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (music director, arranger), Marley (music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator), Tallest Tree in the Forest (music director, arranger, incidental music), Scary Musical (orchestrator), Big Maybelle: Soul of the Blues (music supervisor, orchestrator), The Wiz (La Jolla Playhouse, dance music arranger). Film/TV: Talking with the Taxman About Poetry (composer—Global Music Award for Best Original Score). Arranger and orchestrator for shows on Fox, BET, and NBC, as well as the inaugural ball for President Barack Obama. Education: Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music.
Jason Brouillard (Production Stage Manager). Broadway: Big Fish, Spider-Man, The Best Man, Bonnie and Clyde, Baby It’s You!, West Side Story, Jersey Boys, Lovemusik, Hairspray, A Year with Frog and Toad, Dance of the Vampires, The Civil War. Tours: An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin, John Lithgow: Stories by Heart, Ragtime, Chess, Company. Off Broadway: Trip of Love, Satchmo at the Waldorf, The Cocoanuts, If I Forget. Tennessee Performing Arts Center: Part of the Plan, featuring the music of Dan Fogelberg. Kennedy Center: Little Dancer. A.R.T.: The Last Two People on Earth. Most recently at the Alley Theatre with Satchmo at the Waldorf.
TELSEY + COMPANY (Casting). Broadway/Tours: My Fair Lady; Carousel; Children of a Lesser God; Mean Girls; Lobby Hero; Frozen; Escape to Margaritaville; SpongeBob SquarePants; Once on This Island; Anastasia; Hello, Dolly!; Come from Away; Waitress; Hamilton; Kinky Boots; Wicked; The Color Purple; On Your Feet!; Something Rotten!; The King and I; An American in Paris. Off Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Atlantic, Classic Stage, MCC, New Group, Park Avenue Armory, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Second Stage. Film: The Greatest Showman, Miss Sloane, Into the Woods, Margin Call, Rachel Getting Married. TV: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, This Is Us, House of Cards, Divorce, Rise, One Day at a Time, commercials.
Accessibility Performances for Half Time:
Paper Mill Playhouse, a leader in accessibility, will offer audio-described performances for Half Time on Sun, June 24, at 1:30PM and Sat, June 30, at 1:30PM. Prior to these performances at noon, the theater will offer free sensory seminars. Sensory seminars offer an opportunity for patrons with vision loss to hear a live, in-depth description of the production elements of the show and hands-on interaction with key sets, props, and costumes. There will be a sign-interpreted and open-captioned performance on Sun, July 1, at 7:00PM.
Free Audience Enrichment Activities for Half Time
Conversation Club: Join us Thur evenings, May 31, June 7, 14, or 21, one hour before curtain for an informal, informative gathering. You’ll learn more about the performance you’re about to see.
The Director’s Viewpoint: One hour before curtain at 6:00PM on Wed, June 6, we host a pre-show discussion in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery.
Q&A with the Cast: After the matinee on Sat, June 30, stick around for a lively Q&A with cast members directly following the performance.
Half Time
Book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Nell Benjamin
Additional music by Marvin Hamlisch and Ester Dean
Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
in association with Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke
