Press Release: Grand Hotel
MEDIA ALERT FOR THEATRE EDITORS AND REVIEWERS
AND CALENDAR LISTINGS
THE COLONY THEATRE COMPANY WINNER OF BACK-TO-BACK OVATION AWARDS
FOR BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR PRESENTS
THE THIRD PRODUCTION OF THEIR 2004 -
2005
SEASON...
Grand Hotel
The Musical
Book by Luther Davis
Music & Lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest
Additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston
Musical Direction by Michael Reno
Choreography by Cate Caplin
Directed by Peter Schneider
Check-in begins Saturday October 16th at
8pm at the Colony Theatre in Burbank
"People come, people go, wave of life
overflowing,
Come, begin in old Berlin, you're in the Grand Hotel."
September 14, 2004…Burbank, CA…The Colony
Theatre Company, winner of back-to-back Ovation Awards for Best Play -
presents the third production of their 2004 - 2005 season, the musical GRAND HOTEL, book by Luther Davis,
music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Additional music
and lyrics by Maury Yeston. GRAND HOTEL will be choreographed by Cate
Caplin, with musical direction by Michael Reno and will be directed by
Peter Schneider. GRAND HOTEL will preview October 13th, October 14th
and October 15th and will open on Saturday, October 16th and continue
through Sunday, November 14th at the Colony Theatre, 555 North Third
Street (at Cypress) in the Burbank Media
Center.
Check-In and live…
It is 1928 in Berlin, Germany. What schemes and dreams lie behind each
of the doors of Europe's most opulent and extravagant hotels -- at one
of history's most dangerous and thrilling times? Come, spend a night or
two. Perhaps you will find your fortune there, perhaps you will find
true love, perhaps all of your dreams will come true…perhaps. . .
Passing through the golden light and dark shadows of the GRAND HOTEL are the fading,
still-beautiful Prima Ballerina; the charming young Baron, out of
money, riding on his looks; the ambitious Hollywood hopeful; the
mortally ill bookkeeper, meeting society before his grave; the honest,
hardworking father-to-be; and the doctor, whose cynical tone
foreshadows the looming Depression. Behold these vibrant dramas as they
spring to life in a whirlwind of music and dance. As the wealthy, poor,
innocent, bitter, kind and cruel, all reveal their lifelong desires and
passions, you'll bask in the shimmering elegance that is…GRAND HOTEL!
Inspired by Vicki Baum's period novel, book writer/playwright Luther
Davis (Kismet, Timbuktu!) collaborated once again with the prolific,
distinguished composer-lyricist team Robert Wright and George Forrest
(Kismet, Timbuktu!, Magdelena, The Anastasia Affaire). Together, they
created a seamless musical that boasts an engaging, non-stop book and a
powerful score that is sure to sweep you away with all of the
lavishness of the 1920s.
Barbara Beckley, Artistic Director of the Colony Theatre, comments,
"Isn't this grand? An extraordinary, rarely revived musical with one of
theatre's most moving books and gorgeous scores. Peter Schneider,
Michael Reno, Cate Caplin, a Broadway-caliber cast and one of the
largest undertakings the Colony has attempted in its 29-year history. I
feel so fortunate to be a part of this marvelous team and to bring
Southern California a musical theatre experience they won't soon
forget."
The director of GRAND HOTEL
is Peter Schneider. Mr. Schneider has had a diverse theatrical career,
playing an integral part in the off-off Broadway movement in the
seventies, directing productions at the WPA, Playwrights Horizon and
Circle Rep, being the managing director of The St. Nicholas Theater,
one of Chicago's leading off loop theatres. After joining the Walt
Disney Company, he and Thomas Schumacher produced The Lion King and
Aida on Broadway. As President of Animation and Chairman of the Studio
for the Walt Disney Company he was responsible for creating and
distributing over 50 movies, including Beauty and the Beast, Little
Mermaid, Toy Story, The Lion King, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Remember
the Titans and The Princess Diaries. He was the Associate Director of
the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival and now runs his own theatrical
production company and just finished directing Julie Andrews in a Live
action/Animation short celebrating the 40th anniversary of Mary
Poppins. GRAND HOTEL marks his
Los Angeles theatrical directorial debut.
The cast of GRAND HOTEL features
(in alphabetical order): Cynthia Beckert, Cate Caplin, Chris Dupre,
Gary Franco, Jason Graae, Mike Irizarry, Samuel B. Kivi, Larry
Lederman, Natalia Lind, Beth Malone, Dore Marott, Michael McCarty, Alex
Miller, Dink O'Neal, Michael Parillo, Dana Reynolds, Rachel Strutt,
Robert J.Townsend, Virginia Weber and Bob Wood.
GRAND HOTEL has assembled an
award-winning design team. The set design is by David Potts. The
costume design is by Garry D. Lennon. The sound design is by Drew
Dalzell. The lighting design is by Don Guy. The casting is by Michael
Donovan, C.S.A.
Performances for GRAND HOTEL will be
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.
Additionally there will be performances on Saturday, October 23rd and
Saturday, October 30th at 3:00pm; and also Thursday, November 4th and
Thursday, November 11th at 8:00pm. There will be no 7:00pm performance
on October 17th. Ticket prices range from $30.00 - $40.00 (student and
senior discounts are available). Preview performances will be
Wednesday, October 13th, Thursday, October 14th and Friday, October
15th at 8:00pm - all tickets $20.00. Opening night performance with
reception - all tickets $60.00. There will be two Talk-Back
performances with the cast on Friday, October 22nd and Thursday,
November 4th immediately following the performance. For tickets, call
the Colony Theatre Box Office at 818/558-7000.
In partnership with the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service, The
Colony now offers Audio Description for one performance during each
production. The service provides a rich description of the show, giving
our visually impaired patrons the full Colony experience. Audio
Description will be available on Saturday, October 30th at 3:00pm. To
make a reservation for this performance, call the box office and ask
for Audio Description Saturday.
For
more information or for press comps, please contact David
Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or at ELZERD@aol.com.
The Colony Theatre Company is a 29
year old organization dedicated to bringing the finest quality
theatrical productions to Los Angeles. The theatre is located at 555
North Third Street, at the corner of Cypress, in the heart of the
Burbank Media Center. For further information, call (818) 558-7000. Fax
number: (818) 558-7110. E-mail: colonytheatre@colonytheatre.org. Or
visit our website at www.colonytheatre.ORG.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: David Elzer
818/508-1754
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