HOUSTON BROADWAY SERIES

Presents

CINDERELLA


Deborah Gibson (center) stars as CINDERELLA with Paolo Montalban as her Prince and Eartha Kitt as her fairy godmother in CINDERELLA, which is presented by The Houston Broadway Series from July 24th - 29th, 2001 at The Wortham Center. Photo by Aubrey Reuben.


and

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

BROADWAY SERIES PRODUCTIONS OF “CINDERELLA,” “SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER” MOVED TO WORTHAM CENTER’S BROWN THEATER DUE TO WATER DAMAGE AT JONES HALL.

“CINDERELLA”
July 24 - 29, 2001

“SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER”
(Re-scheduled)
July 31 - August 5, 2001

Houston, TX - Due to water damage at Jones Hall, the two remaining productions of the 2000 - 2001 Houston Broadway Series - Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella starring Eartha Kitt and Saturday Night Fever - have been moved to the Brown Theater of Wortham Center. And while CINDERELLA retains its announced dates of July 24 - 29, 2001 the planned two - week run of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER has been rescheduled for one week only, July 31 - August 5, 2001.

Ticketholders will be mailed replacement tickets for both shows over the next few weeks, says Kyle Young, marketing director of the Houston Broadway Series.

Patrons unable to attend SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER because of the date change may exchange their tickets into another performance of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER or receive a refund. Exchanges or refunds should be requested via the same ticketing agency used for the original purchase, i.e. season ticketholders should call the Houston Broadway Series (713-622-7469) for assistance, while single ticket buyers are directed to Ticketmaster by phone (713-629-3700), online (Ticketmaster.com) or the outlet of purchase.


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CINDERELLA

STARS

EARTHA KITT
DEBORAH GIBSON

Sponsored by Marshall’s, the magic of the enchanting fairytale musical CINDERELLA comes to life starring Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother, Deborah Gibson as Cinderella and Paolo Montalban as The Prince. The spectacular stage fantasy also boasts irresistible romance and the unforgettable songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Originally presented on television in 1957, starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true. A second TV remake in 1997 starring Brandy and Whitney Houston renewed the show’s timeless magic once again. The new stage adaptation, now touring with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, ensures the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits.


Eartha Kitt stars as the Fairy Godmother in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA. Photo by Carol Rosegg.


Ms. Kitt, known throughout the world for her versatility and style, has been nominated for three Tony Awards, an Emmy Award and two Grammy Awards. Nominated last season for a Tony in The Wild Party, she also received critical acclaim nationwide starring as the Wicked Witch in last year’s national tour of The Wizard of Oz. Other stage credits include Dr. Faust, New Faces of 1952, Mrs. Patterson (Tony nomination), Shinbone Alley, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Owl and The Pussycat, Timbuktu (Tony nomination), Bunny, The High Bid and Follies. Her concert and cabaret career has taken her to over 100 countries where she has sung in ten different languages. Her distinctive voice is prominent in Disney’s current blockbuster animated film, The Emperor’s New Groove, and her TV portrayal of Catwoman in Batman is still seen worldwide.

Deborah Gibson stars as Cinderella in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA.



A chart-topping singer and songwriter, star of Broadway and stellar concert performer, Deborah Gibson (Cinderella) comes to this role during one of her busiest times in her career. Deborah’s new single, “What You Want,” has just been released and she is finishing work on her seventh CD MYOB to be released in February by Espiritu Records. Deborah made her singing and acting debut at the age of five in community theater and at age eight performing at the Metropolitan Opera with such stars as Placido Domingo.

Then, at 16, Deborah exploded on the scene as a world song writing and singing sensation with the #1 album Out of the Blue. At age 17 she became the youngest artist to write, produce and perform a #1 hit “Foolish Beat” which earned her the title of ASCAP Writer of the Year. Many hits followed, including the #1 “Lost In Your Eyes.” Deborah has sold over 16 million records. On Broadway, Deborah has starred as Eponine in Les Miserables and as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. She broke box office records in London’s West End production of Grease and toured in the U.S. National Companies of Grease as Rizzo and in Funny Girl as Fanny Brice. She also starred as Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy and recently completed a nine-month tour as The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.


Paolo Montalban stars as The Prince in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA.


Paolo Montalban has appeared in a variety of television and stage productions. His most notable television credits include the role of The Prince in the highly acclaimed ABC movie of the week, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (with Brandy and Whitney Houston). He was the star of the WB action series Mortal Kombat Conquest as Kung Lao. On stage, Paola has appeared in the Broadway productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I (with Lou Diamond Phillips) as well as Man of La Mancha, Ballad of Little Jo, Nine, Kiss Me Kate and the Premier Cast Recordings of Heading East and King Island Christmas. In 1998, People Magazine named Paolo one of the “50 Most Beautiful People.”


Paolo Montalban (Prince) and Deborah Gibson (Cinderella) star in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA. Photo by Carol Rosegg.


Director Gabriel Barre recently directed Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club (winner of the Outer Critics Circle Awards for “Best Off Broadway Musical” and nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards). He has directed numerous original works including John & Jen, Houdini, Zorro, The Curse of Capistrano, Honky-Tonk Highway, Fanny Hill, Dorian, and this summer will direct the musical version of Summer of ‘42 at the Norma Terris Theatre in Chester. His revivals of Sweeney Todd (winner of four Connecticut Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical) and Finian’s Rainbow (nominated for five CT Critics Circle Awards) were also produced at Goodspeed Opera.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA is choreographed by Ken Roberson. The design team includes sets by Jim Youmans; costumes, Pamela Scofield; lighting, Tim Hunter.

(L-R) NaTasha Yvette Williams (Grace), Everett Quinton (Stepmother), Alexandra Kolb (Joy) star in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA. Photo by Carol Rosegg.



The Houston Broadway Series engagement of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, sponsored by Marshalls, will be at Wortham Center’s Brown Theater from Tuesday, July 24 through Sunday, July 29, 2001. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster ticket locations. To charge-by-phone, call 713-629-3700, for groups of 20 or more, call 713-693-2692
or toll free at 1-800-889-8457. Ticket prices range from $33.25 to $56.25. Performance times are 8:00PM Tuesday–Saturday, 7:30PM Sunday, with 2:00PM matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00PM. The 2:00PM matinee on Saturday, July 28 will be captioned for the hearing impaired. The TDD# for tickets is 1-800-755-6244.



Described by Time Magazine as "A Musical that Lights up the Stage, this Show is a Blast!" SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, The Musical will play the Brown Theater of Wortham Center from July 31st - August 5th, 2001 as part of the Houston Broadway Series.


‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER’

BRINGS BACK DISCO

DIRECT FROM NEW YORK AND LONDON

JULY 31st through AUGUST 5th, 2001

THE WORTHAM CENTER

Direct from New York and London, the celebrated musical Saturday Night Fever, adapted for the stage by NAN KNIGHTON (Tony Award nomination for The Scarlet Pimpernel), tells the streetwise New York City story of an ambitious, talented Brooklyn kid with a burning desire to make it big in Manhattan. Featuring songs from the legendary film soundtrack by The Bee Gees, the show is filled with an unprecedented 12 “top ten” hits that helped launch the 1970’s disco-dancing craze, including “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love?,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “If I Can’t Have You” and “Jive Talkin’.”

Richard H. Blake takes the leading role of Tony Manero, the streetwise, disco - dancing heart - throb hoping to dance his way out of Brooklyn. Jeanine Meyers is Tony's love interest, Stephanie Mangano, and playing Annette will be a grown - up Aileen Quinn, who first captured hearts in the title role of the movie musical Annie. Also featured are Jim Ambler, Joseph Ricci, Danial Jerod Brown, Joey Calveri and Andy Karl. Along with the leading players, many of the singers, dancers and actors in the 33 - member touring cast are from the original Broadway company.

Produced by Robert Stigwood and Jon B. Platt, the Saturday Night Fever tour has been mounted by the Broadway production’s entire award-winning creative team. Director and choreographer is ARLENE PHILLIPS, whose choreography has been seen on Broadway in Starlight Express and who directed and choreographed EFX at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the World Tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show features spectacular settings by Tony Award-winning ROBIN WAGNER (A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls), costumes by SUZI BENZIGER (Miss Saigon) and lighting design by ANDREW BRIDGE (The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard). Musical supervision and dance and vocal arrangements are by PHIL EDWARDS, sound by MICK POTTER and orchestrations are by NIGEL WRIGHT.

Performances of this summer fun blockbuster are Tuesday-Saturday at 8:00PM and Sunday at 7:30PM with matinees at 2:00PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets for Saturday Night Fever, priced from $30 to $55, may be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, online at

http://www.ticketmaster.com/

or charged by phone at (713) 629-3700. Groups of 20 or more may call (713) 693-2692 or toll free 1-800-889-8457. The 2:00PM matinee on Saturday, August 4, will be captioned for the hearing impaired. The TDD# for tickets to that performance is 1-800-755-6244

The Houston Broadway Series is presented by Society for the Performing Arts. For more information about the current or coming seasons, go online to:

"http://www.Broadwayseries.com/"


SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

 

1 WEEK

Tuesday.............July 31, 2001..........8pm

Wednesday........August 01, 2001.....8pm

Thursday...........August 02, 2001......8pm

Friday...............August 03, 2001......8pm

Saturday...........August 04, 2001......2pm (Captioned for the hearing impaired) and 8pm

Sunday..............August 05, 2001......2pm and 7:30pm

 

CALENDAR LISTING

July 31, August 1-5, 2001. Saturday Night Fever, The Musical, a Houston Broadway Series musical presented by the Society for the Performing Arts, at Brown Theater, Wortham Center, 8pm Tue - Fri 2pm and 8pm Sat.; 2pm and 7:30pm Sun. Captioned for the hearing impaired at 2pm Aug. 04, 2001 ($30 - $55) on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets (713) 629-3700, online at www.ticketmaster.com.