The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Westchester Broadway Theater

Through January 26: Enjoy ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ and all the Laughs at Westchester Broadway Theater

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J.D. Daw (as Max) and Molly McCaskill (as Maggie).

By Kenneth Mighty

Lend me a Tenor at the Westchester Broadway Theater is a comedic play by Ken Ludwig. The play first premiered at the West End Theater in 1986 and later came to the Broadway Theater in 1989.  Lend me a Tenor has had nine Tony Award nominations and has won Best Actor (Phillip Bosco) and Best Director (Jerry Zaks). Directed by Harry Bouvy, The Westchester Broadway Theater offers theatergoers  plenty of laughs and an overall fantastic dinner theater experience.

This comedy takes place in a two- room Cleveland hotel suite in 1934 where Henry Saunders (Philip Hoffman), stage manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, and his assistant Max (J.D. Daw) awaits the arrival of renowned Italian opera tenor, Tito Merelli (Joey Sorge). Merelli is supposed to play the lead role in Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello.  Merelli is fashionable late nearly giving Saunders one of several heart attacks. When Merelli arrives with his wife, Mira (Kathy Voytko) he has a server stomach ache from over eating and request he takes a nap before going to the theater, skipping rehearsal. Saunders puts Max in charge of seeing to Merelli and all of his needs while he gets everyone else ready for the show. Max helps Merrelli get comfortable and so he can sleep giving him a tranquilizer laced glass of wine. During their brief conversation Merelli learns that Max is an aspiring singer and proceeds to give him pointers and boost his confidence by singing a duet with him.

 When Merelli goes into the bedroom, he discovers a letter written by his wife telling him that she is leaving him. Devastated, Merelli throws a fit and attempts to kill himself with various objects like a wine bottle and fork. Max was able to calm Merelli down and get him into bed. Moments later Max is unable to awaken Merelli from his nap and notices an empty bottle of medicine and Maria’s letter to Merelli. Max believes Merelli wrote the letter and is convinced Merelli has taken his own life. Heartbroken, Max has to tell Saunders what has happened since he left nearly giving Saunders his second heart attack of the evening. Through all the commotion Saunders and Max come up with a plan to have Max play the lead role so the show can go on without Merelli. All seemed well until Merelli awakens from his slumber causing a whole lot of confusion amongst everybody.

The Westchester Broadway Theater is the longest- running year- round Equity Theater in the state of New York. The theater has been open for 45 years and has had over 200 main stage productions. The experience The Westchester Broadway Theaters gives its audience is one like no other. One does not simply go and watch a show. Dinner is also provided with drinks, appetizers, and dessert. The seating arrangement of the theater is fabulous. Each table can seat four people comfortably and there is virtually no “bad Seat” in the house. The stage is nearly in the center of the room with seats and tables on all three sides of it giving everyone a clear view of the show. The waiters, waitresses and staff were very attentive and accommodating.

                The cast of Lend Me a Tenor did a fantastic job and I really enjoyed myself. The show was hilarious, in fact, and on its last stretch with performances until the 26th of January. Coming soon to WBT too: Five Guys Named Moe in honor of Black History Month.

Kenneth Mighty, a 26-year-old freelance writer residing in Peekskill, NY, studied Communications and Media Studies and minored in Journalism. He has attended Morgan State University, Westchester Community College and SUNY Purchase. With a combined passion for the arts, sports, and the auto industry, Ken runs his own blog titled Mighty Entertainment.

Yeston & Kopit’s ‘PHANTOM’ IS BACK! Dinner/Show & Matinee Options At WBT Through November 25th

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Matthew Billman (as Erik; The Phantom)
and Kayleen Seidl (Christine Daaé)

Phantom’s first New York Premiere at the Westchester Broadway Theater (WBT) was in 1992 and enjoyed a record breaking nine-month run: over 120,000 people attended. Night after night, audiences rose to their feet for the stunning musical thriller PHANTOM, which returned in 1996 and in 2007, directed and choreographed by Tom Polum, who had been in the original production. This extraordinary piece has already been brought back to WBT, and once again with Tom Polum at the helm.

PHANTOM was written by Arthur Kopit, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston who were the Tony Award winning collaborators for the Broadway Musi­cal “Nine.” PHANTOM is not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, although both shows are based on the same Gaston LeRoux novel, with the Webber extravaganza being more like an opera, compl­etely sung. The Yeston/Kop­it PHANTOM is more of a traditional Broadway Musical with dia­logue and songs throug­hout.

The story revolves around the central character of a man named Erik (also known as the Phantom), who was born and raised in the cata­combs under the Paris Opera House. Through a series of circum­stances, he takes on as a pupil a young woman named Christ­ine, who has been a street singer. She has a natural talent and a beauti­ful voice, but she lacks the special training to perform in an Opera company. He agrees to take her on as a student with certain condit­ions, the main one being that she will never see his face. After a lot of hard work she eventually auditions for the company and is not only accepted but is given the oppor­tunity to play a principal part in an Opera. Without realizing it, they fall in love with each other. The rela­tionship becomes obsessive and impossi­ble, leading to a stunning conclusion which can only be experi­enced by attending a perfor­mance.

The music and the drama of this piece are extraordinary and should not be missed!

For further details and for individual and group reservations: Call (914) 592-2222.

Or visit www.BroadwayTheatre.com.

‘Kiss Today Goodbye” at the Westchester Broadway Theater

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A CHORUS LINE
Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by
Michael Bennett
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Book by James Kirkwood Jr. & Nicholas Dante

Directed and Choreographed by Mark Martino
Musical Direction by Bob Bray
January 11– April 1, 2018

 

The Chorus Line Cast
Photos by John Vecchiolla

Elmsford, NY– WBT opened it’s 2018 theatre season with the hit Broadway musical A Chorus Line.  This mega-hit captures the very soul of musical theater, and is one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. This beloved and iconic musical by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante with a brilliant and show-stopping score by Marvin Hamlisch & Lyrics by Edward Kleban, is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the Musical Theatre, the chorus dancers, valiant, over- dedicated, underpaid and highly trained troopers who back up the star and often make them look more talented.  The characters portrayed in A Chorus Line are based upon the real life experiences of Broadway dancers.

Everything is on the line for 17 dancers as they audition for a highly sought-after place in the chorus of a Broadway musical.  Through this exhausting process, their stories and vulnerabilities are laid on the line as they ultimately come together and become one singular sensation! In a brilliant fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, the musical features one powerhouse number after another including “What I Did for Love,” “One,” and “I Can Do That.”

Considered groundbreaking when it opened on Broadway in 1975, the musical went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Today, it remains as touching and powerful as when it debuted and is one of the longest running musicals on Broadway.

 

Reservations:  Call (914) 592-2222. Please visit: www.BroadwayTheatre.com for more information about the cast and show too. 

This information was made possible via a release from the Westchester Broadway Theater.

Erica Mansfield (as Cassie) In A Chorus Line

Standout Productions at the Westchester Broadway Theater

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Two Family Favorites! Mamma Mia is at WBT through June 25; then it’s on to Annie, June 29-Sept. 10 

If you are looking for a fun-filled evening with a delicious dinner and a musical with catchy infectious disco tunes, be sure to check out the latest production of Mamma Mia! at the Westchester Broadway Theater (WBT) in Elmsford. The show marks WBT’s 200th mainstage production and the cast features nine incredibly talented Actors Equity performers in the lead roles belting out 18 hits such as “Dancing Queen” and “Take a Chance on Me” from the 1970s Swedish pop band ABBA.

Mamma Mia! tells the story of Donna Sheridan, a single mother of a struggling small hotel on an idyllic Greek island who is about to give her daughter Sophie away for her wedding. But trouble looms when Sophie reads Donna’s diary from years ago and discovers that her mother had three boyfriends around the time of Sophie’s conception. In her quest to find out who her real father is, Sophie invites the three ex-boyfriends to her upcoming nuptials and figures she’ll be able to figure out who her real father is so that he can walk her down the aisle. With irresistible songs, show-stopping dance numbers and disco-themed costumes, it’s no wonder why Mamma Mia! was the eighth longest-running show in Broadway history.

WBT is the longest running year-round Equity theatre in the state of New York and was founded in 1974 by Bob Funking and Bill Stutler. It was their vision to create a theater with each show produced exclusively for WBT. Casting and auditions for both performers and theater staff takes place in New York City and many of WBT’s performers have gone on to grace the Great White Way. Originally dubbed “An Evening Dinner Theater” with Kiss Me Kate as their first production, Funking and Stutler eventually changed the name to WBT and founded today’s current venue in 1991 in Elmsford offering a larger performance space and state-of-the art technology.

From a past production of Mary Poppins PHOTO COURTESY of WBT

In addition to Mamma Mia! which runs through June 25th, WBT also puts on special events, concerts and children’s theater productions. Tribute concerts to hit bands such as the Eagles, Motown musicians and comedy nights are also offered. All shows (excluding children’s theater productions) always include a lunch or dinner beforehand.The theater can accommodate almost 400 people and each seat is uniquely situated so that they all offer a good view of the production. WBT also offers luxury box seating which is a very popular option for those celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and bridal showers, according to Pia Haas, WBT’s Director of Press and Public Relations. The luxury box seating includes enhanced menu options and dining in private for groups of 6-20 people. Upcoming mainstage productions are Annie, Annie Get Your Gun and during the holiday season, The Christmas Voyager.

WBT is a great way for Westchester families to experience top-notch theater close to home. The upcoming production of Annie which runs this summer from June 29- September 10 is a wonderful opportunity for young theatergoers to see the magic of live theater. With on-site free parking and an easy commute to WBT, your family will thank you for introducing them to this local gem. For more info and reservations, please visit www.BroadwayTheater.com or call 914 592-2222.