“KILLER” BROADWAY VETS KICK OFF CARNEGIE’S SIZZLING 2013-14 SEASON WITH CHICAGO
Leslie Goddard as Roxie Hart & Kimber Sprawl as Velma Kelly. Photo by Matt Steffen.
COVINGTON, KY- Jaw-dropping production numbers, red hot dance and showtunes that linger long after the curtain has fallen. It’s one of the all-time favorites of Broadway, staged by performers who have been there and thrilling young talent who will be soon.
The Carnegie proudly opens its 2013-14 Theatre Series with the musical CHICAGO, playing weekends August 10 – 25, 2013 at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. Directed by Dee Anne Bryll & Ed Cohen, CHICAGO features choreography by Broadway veteran and Cincinnati native David Baum in his local professional debut. Baum’s wife and fellow Broadway veteran Leslie Goddard stars as Roxie Hart. Tickets are $19 – $26 and are available online at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5pm).
CHICAGO: A Musical Vaudeville
The sexy, salacious jazz age sizzles in 1920s Chicago, where small-time show girl Roxie Hart becomes the toast of the town after murdering her lover in cold blood. But fame is fleeting for the hot jazz slayer of the moment, and Roxie and smooth-stepping lawyer Billy Flynn manipulate everyone around them in a high-stakes tap dance into the headlines and away from the hangman’s noose.
One of the all-time favorites of Broadway and re-popularized with the 2002 film, CHICAGO spellbinds with hot Fosse production numbers including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Razzle Dazzle.”
Theatrical Power Couples Provide Sparks
Comprised of some of the region’s premier theatrical talent, the cast and production team of CHICAGO are anchored by three duos who share their lives together both on-stage and off.
Married Broadway veterans David Baum and Leslie Goddard* make their Carnegie debuts with CHICAGO as choreographer and star performer, respectively. Baum is a Cincinnati native, recently returned home after a more than decade-long career which included the Broadway productions of MARY POPPINS and A CHORUS LINE. Goddard leads the cast of CHICAGO as murderess Roxie Hart, on the heels of an acclaimed local debut at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and as part of a career which has included the Broadway production of HAIRSPRAY.
Lauded wife and husband directing team Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen have become fixtures at The Carnegie, where their most recent production, PARADE, was awarded “Outstanding Musical of 2012-13” by the League of Cincinnati Theatres. Together they directed The Carnegie production of BIG RIVER in 2010, and Cohen has since staged IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY and the world premiere staged reading of THE SANDMAN.
Costumer Dean Walz and actor Brian Wylie are no strangers to The Carnegie, where Walz costumed The Carnegie’s award-winning production of CAROUSEL in 2011. Wylie performed in the ensemble of that production, and has since performed in Carnegie productions of PIPPIN and XANADU.
No spouse in the show? No problem. CCM Musical Theatre student Kimber Sprawl shares the spotlight with Goddard in the role of killer Vaudevillian Velma Kelly, leading an exceptional group of standout collegiate performers from CCM, Northern Kentucky University and Wright State University. Randy Lee Bailey and Dan Doerger return to The Carnegie in the roles of schlubby hubby, Amos, and smooth song-and-dance lawyer, Billy Flynn. Celebrated dancer and choreographer Jay Goodlett makes his Carnegie performing debut as the MC, leading the supporting cast alongside Broadway tour veteran Brian Anderson. Making their Theatre Series debuts with CHICAGO are Angela Nalley (Matron Mama Morton), Sean P. Mette (Mary Sunshine) and Jules Shumate (ensemble).
Damon Stevens, heralded new faculty member at Northern Kentucky University, makes his local professional debut leading CHICAGO’s singers and eleven-piece band.
A complete cast and production team list follows this release.
*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Origins of CHICAGO
Winner of six Tony Awards and still playing on Broadway after 6,885 performances (3rd longest run in Broadway history), the seeds of CHICAGO were sown far from the footlights, in the courtrooms of the Windy City, where reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins was covering trials for the Chicago Tribune. The success of her sensational articles inspired her to write a play called CHICAGO, which would itself run on Broadway for 172 performances in 1926-27.
At the urging of his wife, Gwen Verdon, director/choreographer Bob Fosse secured the rights to develop a musical version of the play with legendary writing team John Kander & Fred Ebb, which in its 1975 debut would star Verdon as Roxie Hart, along with Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly and Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn. While this initial production was overshadowed by A CHORUS LINE, its 1996 revival and 2002 Academy Award winning film adaptation have re-energized the title, making it one of the most successful and beloved shows in Broadway history.
Despite its popularity, CHICAGO is rarely produced, due largely to its heavily restricted licensing. The Carnegie’s production is the first local professional staging in recent memory.
Ticketing
Tickets to The Carnegie’s production of CHICAGO are $19 – $26 and may be purchased online at http://www.thecarnegie.com or by calling The Carnegie Box Office at (859) 957-1940 (open Tu – Fr, noon – 5 pm).
CHICAGO will include eight performances over three weekends:
- Saturday, August 10, 7:30pm
- Sunday, August 11, 3pm†
- Friday, August 16, 7:30pm
- Saturday, August 17, 7:30pm
- Sunday, August 18, 3pm†
- Friday, August 23, 7:30pm
- Saturday, August 24, 7:30pm
- Sunday, August 25, 7:30pm
† Performance includes open captioning
Subscriptions
The 2013-14 Theatre Series has two subscription packages available:
Full Subscription: Patrons attend all four 2013-14 Theatre Series offerings, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Full Subscriptions are $86 ($16 savings vs. single ticket prices); $82 for Carnegie Members.
Pick Three Subscription: Patrons attend three 2012-13 Theatre Series offerings of their choice, selecting one performance of their choice for each. Pick Three Subscriptions range from $63 to $68, depending on the show selection ($3 savings per show vs. single ticket prices)
Single Ticket Pricing
- $26 Adults
- $23 Carnegie and Enjoy The Arts Members
- $21 Groups of 8 or More
- $19 Students
About The Carnegie
THE CARNEGIE THEATRE SERIES produces professional, innovative stagings of an eclectic range of popular and rarely-performed works. Striving to unite the greater Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati theatre community through partnerships and collaborations, the series engages and nurtures both emerging and established talent, including working professionals, committed part-time theatre artists, university performing arts students and younger students. The Carnegie Theatre Series productions bring together these forces to provide quality theatre for Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.
THE CARNEGIE is a multidisciplinary arts venue serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community. Over the course of the past ten years The Carnegie has “morphed” from a grassroots gallery with an education component into an all-inclusive arts organization offering professional theatre, art exhibitions showcasing the best of local and regional artists, and a comprehensive arts education program.
The Carnegie is home to The Carnegie Galleries, comprised of more than 6,000 square feet of gallery space where emerging and established artists exhibit in multiple shows throughout the year; the Eva G. Farris Education Center, which provides arts education to thousands of children, many of whom are at or below the poverty level; and the newly renovated 465-seat Otto M. Budig Theatre, which offers an affordable theatre space for local, up-and-coming and established production companies and is home to The Carnegie’s Theatre and Concert Series. The Carnegie is the largest arts venue in Northern Kentucky.
The Carnegie receives ongoing operating support from ArtsWave, Kenton County Fiscal Courts, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. / US Bank Foundation.
CHICAGO Cast and Production Team List
Cast
| MC, Judge, Ensemble |
Jay Goodlett |
| Velma Kelly |
Kimber Sprawl CCM |
| Roxie Hart |
Leslie Goddard* |
| Fred Casely, Ensemble |
Charlie Meredith CCM |
| Sergeant Fogarty, Jury, Ensemble |
Brian Anderson |
| Amos Hart |
Randy Bailey |
| Mona, Kitty, Ensemble |
Jules Shumate |
| Annie, Ensemble |
Katy Miller NKU |
| June, Ensemble |
Kate Mueller Wright State |
| Hunyak, Ensemble |
Abby Wagner NKU |
| Liz, Ensemble |
Kelsey Andrae Wright State |
| Matron Mama Morton |
Angela Nalley |
| Billy Flynn |
Dan Doerger |
| Mary Sunshine |
Sean P. Mette |
| Martin Harrison, Ensemble |
Brian Wylie |
| Aaron, Harry, Ensemble |
Joey Squeri NKU |
*Actor appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Production Team
| Directors |
Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen |
| Music Director |
Damon Stevens |
| Choreographer |
David Baum |
| Scenic Designer |
Kristen Robinson |
| Lighting Designer |
David LaRose |
| Costumer |
Dean Walz |
| Sound Designer |
Kevin Semancik |
| Stage Manager |
Ellen Beltramo |
| Asst. Stage Manager |
Stephen Fields |
| Production Manager |
Bleu Pellman |
| Technical Director |
Richard Sillen |
| Producer |
Joshua Steele |
Selected Biographies
Leslie Goddard (Roxy Hart) has been seen on Broadway in HAIRSPRAY as Brenda/Penny Pingleton (u/s), in Las Vegas as Francine et al in JERSEY BOYS and at The Kennedy Center in “Broadway: Three Generations.” Most recently, she performed as Missy Miller in THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: CAPS AND GOWNS at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Some favorite roles include: Deb in ORDINARY DAYS, Darlene in HONKY TONK ANGELS, Delee in SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ and Maggie in A CHORUS LINE. Leslie earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama from New York University. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
David Baum (Choreographer) most recently finished a long run on Broadway in Disney’s MARY POPPINS. Originally from Cincinnati, he has been seen in MTV’s The American Mall (Stavros) and in the original Broadway revival company of A CHORUS LINE as Roy (u/s Mike, Al, Greg, Bobby). Additional New York credits include Encores! productions OF THEE I SING, NO NO NANETTE and DAMN YANKEES. Other regional credits include The Kennedy Center, MUNY, Music Theatre of Wichita, North Shore Music Theatre and others. David received a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan, an MA from Xavier University and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. CHICAGO marks David’s Cincinnati choreography debut.
Dee Anne Bryll and Ed Cohen (Directors) are thrilled to be returning to The Carnegie to direct CHICAGO. They have previously collaborated on over a dozen productions, including FALSETTOS for CCM Musical Theatre, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, I LOVE A PIANO and I DO, I DO for The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts; THE MUSIC MAN on The Showboat Majestic; PARADE and BIG RIVER at The Carnegie; RAGTIME at Xavier University; and a rare staging of WINDY CITY; as well as ANYTHING GOES, EVITA and ASSASSINS. Dee Anne and Ed received the 2003 Art Rouse Award from ACT Cincinnati and the 2010 Trailblazer Award from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Acclaim Panel for ongoing contributions to area theatre. In addition to CHICAGO, the 2013-14 season will find Dee Anne and Ed directing GYPSY at the Covedale.
Dee Anne holds a Masters Degree in Theatre and Dance from Kent State University and was for many years the Theatre Arts Coordinator for CCM’s Preparatory Department, where she directed and choreographed over 30 productions, including the area premiere of THE LAST DRAGON OF CAMELOT by Steve Goers and Alyn Cardarelli. Dee Anne’s professional credits include Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, Thomas More College and Jenny Wiley Summer Theatre. She is currently on the teaching faculties of NKU and St. Ursula Academy and was the 2009 winner of the Roger Grooms Award, presented for artistic achievement in the field of theatre education.
Ed’s individual directing credits include RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS and IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY for CCM Drama (co-produced with The Carnegie) and BREAKING THE CODE and last summer’s THE FOREIGNER at NKU, as well as productions of DOWN THE ROAD, JAKE’S WOMEN, OF MICE OF MEN, A MURDER OF CROWS, NEVER THE SINNER, SHINING CITY, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, BAD SEED, THE SUNSHINE BOYS, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, PRIDE’S CROSSING, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and RUMORS. This past fall, Ed directed an Equity staged reading at The Carnegie of THE SANDMAN by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor. He directed Israel Horovitz’ LEBENSRAUM and Lanford Wilson’s SYMPATHETIC MAGIC as a season for The IF Theatre Collective in 2002-03, as well as the U.S. premiere of Horovitz’ THE HOTEL PLAYS for the 2008 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Earlier this year, Ed directed the world premiere of Catie O’Keefe’s SLOW DESCENT FROM HEAVEN for New Edgecliff Theatre, and this summer will be directing a new work from Ed Graczyk, THE BLUE MOON DANCING, for Mariemont Players.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 