Vineyard Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Gala

The Vineyard Theatre proudly announces its annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution’s 30th Anniversary.  This milestone event will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, dinner @ 7:30 pm., and performances beginning at 8:30 pm). Single tickets […]

The Vineyard Theatre proudly announces its annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution’s 30th Anniversary.  This milestone event will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, dinner @ 7:30 pm., and performances beginning at 8:30 pm). Single tickets (starting at $750.00) and tables of 10 are available by contacting The Vineyard’s Development Office at 212-353-3366  ext. 242 or development@vineyardtheatre.org. Balcony-level, performance-only tickets will go on sale March 1st.

This year’s gala show, directed by Carl Andress (THE DIVINE SISTER), who helmed the non-profit theatre company’s gala tribute to Linda Lavin last year, will celebrate the institution’s 30th year of developing and producing bold new work at its home in New York’s Union Square. The theatre’s musical theatre legacy will be celebrated with all-star performances from award-winning Vineyard musicals. There will be a special tribute to AVENUE Q in honor of the 10th anniversary of the show’s premiere at The Vineyard, featuring original cast members, as well as performances from other Vineyard musicals including ELI’S COMIN’, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS,  [title of show],  WIG OUT! and more.

This evening will feature performances and appearances by renowned Vineyard artists and friends, including Victoria Clark, Patricia Clarkson, Billy Crudup, Peter Dinklage, Brandon Victor Dixon, Colman Domingo, Kathryn Erbe,  Judy Kuhn, Anthony LaPaglia, Linda Lavin, Nicky Silver, David Strathairn, [title of show]’s Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff, original AVENUE Q cast members Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Jordan Gelber, Ann Harada, Rick Lyon, and John Tartaglia, and WIG OUT!’s McKenzie Frye, Angela Grovey, and Rebecca Naomi Jones, among others to be announced.

The 2013 Vineyard Gala Leadership Committee includes Kathleen and Henry Chalfant, City National Bank/Richard V. McCune, Jill & Jim Gabbe, Ken & Rande Greiner, John Kander, Linda Lavin & Steve Bakunas, Julianne Moore & Bart Freundlich, Annette Stover & Richard Feiner, and David Schwartz & Trudy Zohn.

The Vineyard Theatre’s leadership and staff includes Douglas Aibel (Artistic Director), Sarah Stern (Co-Artistic Director), Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell (Executive Producer), Michael Page (General Manager), Veronica Bainbridge (Development Director), and Eric Pargac (Marketing Director).

The Vineyard Theatre is one of the nation’s leading non-profit theatre companies.  Dedicated to the creation and production of daring new plays and musicals,  The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works, including Nicky Silver’s THE LYONS; Marx, Lopez and Whitty’s Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q; Kander and Ebb’s THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS; Bell and Bowen’s [title of show]; Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive (1998 Pulitzer Prize), Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women (1994 Pulitzer Prize); Gina Gionfriddo’s AFTER ASHLEY, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Wig Out!; Jenny Schwartz’s GOD’S EAR, Will Eno’s Middletown; and many more. The Vineyard’s productions have been honored with two Pulitzer Prizes, three Tony Awards, and numerous Drama Desk, OBIES, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards.

Artists

Larry Pressgrove

Music Direction/Orchestrations/ Vocal Arrangements- NOW. HERE. THIS. Music director/arranger for the Tony-nominated [title of show] for its premiere at the Vineyard and on Broadway. He was music director/arranger for EMMET OTTER’S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS at Goodspeed Opera House with Christopher Gatelli as director and music directed CATS (Broadway), LES MISERABLES (national tour) and conducted Colm Wilkinson’s last staged performance of LES MIZ in Shanghai. With playwright/ lyricist Rachel Lampert, he composed the scores for THE ANGLE Of THE SUN (NYMF 2007) and ESTELLE’S KITCHEN, which premieres at the Kitchen Theater in Ithaca this spring. He is currently Music Director for La Guardia High School of Music and Performing Arts.

Neil Patel

Scenic Design- Broadway: NOW. HERE. THIS., [title of show], OLEANNA, SIDEMAN, ‘NIGHT MOTHER, RING OF FIRE and WONDERLAND. Off-Broadway: Second Stage, Manhattan Theater Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, BAM, New York Theater Workshop, Vineyard Theater and Playwrights Horizon, having designed productions of BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, LIVING OUT, HERE LIES JENNY, DINNER WITH FRIENDS, THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, QUILLS and THE GREY ZONE. Television: HBO’s “In Treatment”. Dance: Shadowland for Pilobolus which is currently on tour in Europe. Awards include the Helen Hayes Award, the 2000 EDDY Award, numerous Drama Desk and Hewes nominations and the 1996 and 2001 Obie Awards for sustained excellence in set design.

Michael Berresse

Director/Choreographer-is very proud to return to this collaboration and to the Vineyard with NOW. HERE. THIS., having previously been honored with an OBIE award for his direction of the Vineyard’s production of [title of show] in 2006. Though he made his Broadway directing debut with [title of show] in 2008, Michael has been a Broadway presence as an actor for many years, receiving Tony, Olivier, Outer Critics’ Circle and Astaire Award nominations. Broadway productions include: [title of show], A CHORUS LINE, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, KISS ME, KATE, CHICAGO, DAMN YANKEES, FASCINATING RHYTHM, GUYS & DOLLS, CAROUSEL, FIDDLER ON THE ROOf. Off-Broadway: [title of show], NO, NO, NANETTE, THE COCOANUTS, FOREVER PLAID, A WONDERFUL LIFE. Film: A.I., State of Play, and the forthcoming The Bourne Legacy. TV: “Person of  Interest”, “Law and Order”, “Law and Order: SVU”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Great Performances, Live from Lincoln Center”. As co-author of a development project for ABC, Michael recently joined his 5th union, count ‘em five.

Jeff Bowen

Actor/Music and Lyrics/Vocal Arrangements- Broadway: [title of show] (2009 Best Plays yearbook, Broadway.com Audience Award). Off-Broadway: NOW. HERRE. THIS, [title of show] (Vineyard Theatre, Obie Award, Drama League Nomination), SPARKLEFEST 2000 (Dixon Place). Music & Lyrics: VILLAINS TONIGHT! (Walt Disney Company), 53rd Drama Desk Awards, Actors fund 125, numerous Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS events. TV writing: “Glass Houses” (ABC Studios). Composition recordings: [title of show] (Original Cast), “Wonderland” for Broadway Bares Openings, and “Poppy” for Over the Moon: Broadway Lullaby Project. Internet: the [title of show] show. Member: ASCAP, AEA, WGAE, Dramatist Guild and the National    Audubon Society.

Heidi Blickenstaff

Most recently on Broadway, Heidi played Alice Beineke in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Other Broadway credits include Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE FULL MONTY, and her favorite Broadway role, playing herself in [title of show] with her friends and creative collaborators. Some Off-Broadway and regional credits include NOW.HERE.THIS. and [title of show] at The Vineyard Theatre, the solo piece, MOSAIC (Ruth) with Primary Stages, MEET JOHN DOE (Ann Mitchell) at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. (Helen Hayes Award), and FIRST YOU DREAM: THE MUSIC Of KANDER AND EBB at The Signature Theatre. I love you, Dad, Mom and Matt.

Susan Blackwell

Actor/Writer- played ‘Susan’ in the Broadway musical [title of show]. She has written and performed original material for many projects, including [title of show], Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street, and Broadway.com’s Side by Side by Susan Blackwell. As an actor, she has also appeared in [title of show] at the Vineyard, NyMf, The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and Ars Nova, SPEECH AND DEBATE at The Roundabout, THE kID at The New Group, ANON at The Atlantic, and Peter Patrone in THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. TV: “Onion News Network”, “The Good wife”, “The Sopranos”, “Law & Order”. film: Margin Call, P.S.: I Love You, Margot at the Wedding. Susan is a proud MacDowell fellow, and an avid teacher of creative writing,
performance and vampire slaying. www.susanblackwell.com.

Hunter Bell

Actor/Writer- Earned an OBIE Award, a Drama League nomination, and a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical all for the original Broadway musical [title of show]. Other credits include the books for SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, BELLOBRATION! (Ringling Bros. Circus), VILLAINS TONIGHT!(Disney Cruise Lines), NOW. HERE. THIS.(Vineyard Theatre) and the upcoming THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL (Goodspeed). He is a co-creator of the web series the [title of show] show and recently co-created and co-wrote the pilot “Glass Houses” for ABC Studios/Television and Cherry-wind     Productions. Hunter has developed new works at the O’Neill Center, Ars Nova, PS 122, weston Playhouse and the Manhattan Theatre Source. As an actor, he has appeared on and off Broadway and around the country in numerous regional theatres, as well as in the films The Men Who Stare at Goats and Goodbye Baby. He is a distinguished alumnus of webster University, a proud member of WGA, the Dramatists Guild, and a MacDowell fellow.

Reviews

[TITLE OF SHOW] Review Quotes

“BRACINGLY CLEVER WRITING.

A clever meta-musical!”

– Brian Scott Lipton, TheaterMania

“COMPELLING!

Mr. Bowen’s lyrics are wise and warm…Crystalline direction.”

– Eric Grode, The New York Sun

“DELECTABLE ENTERTAINMENT.

Directed and choreographed with smarts and pizazz. A postmodern homage to the grand tradition of backstage musicals.”

– Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

“WONDERFULLY ENJOYABLE! SMART, FUNNY AND TUNEFUL.

Vibrantly directed by veteran Broadway actor and dancer Michael Berresse.”

– Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News

“PERFECTLY ADORABLE! A GENUINE TREAT!

A witty modern-day spin on Mickey-and-Judy epics of way back when. Artfully simple.

– Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger