Kean Theatre Original Production, 'Viva Broadway,' to Make a One-Night Splash
Revue highlights talents of seven singers and dancers
Gibsonia, Pa. - March 11, 2008 - For one night only, some of the Pittsburgh region's most talented performers will gather on the Kean Theatre stage to present a spectacular Las Vegas revue. "Viva Broadway," featuring 19 song and dance numbers from Broadway musicals that have become Vegas standards, will be staged at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at the theatre, which is located inside The Washington Place at St. Barnabas, 5847 Meridian Road. Tickets are $29 for general admission or $35 for Director's Circle seating, available by calling 724-444-5326 or visiting www.keantheatre.com. An optional dinner at any of the Atria's Restaurant and Tavern locations is available at 6 p.m. for an additional $18: $47 for general admission; $53 for Director's Circle.
"Viva Broadway" spotlights the talents of seven singers and dancers and pays homage to Broadway musicals with songs from "West Side Story," "Chicago," "A Chorus Line," "Pajama Game," "A Little Night Music" and many more. The dancers give tribute to legendary film director/choreographer Bob Fosse in several dance sets. The Kean's show is an original production created by Tom Madden, managing director of the Kean Theatre, and a 25-year veteran of the stage.
"This is the first time I have attempted anything like this," Madden said. "Putting together a full-scale Vegas-style revue that centers on great Broadway songs was, in a word, daunting. I am blessed with great talent and staff and I really believe the audience is going to love it."
"Viva Broadway" stars Ricardo Vila-Roger of Avalon performing 14 songs. Vila-Roger, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has more than 40 stage roles to his credit in Colorado and Pittsburgh. He has appeared in six television commercials. A regular at the Kean Theatre, he has appeared in "Same Time, Next Year," "Noises Off," "Don't Dress for Dinner," "Catch Me If You Can" and "Laughter on the 23rd Floor." He also served as Musical Director for the Kean Theatre's popular Kean Idol Christmas variety show in December 2007. Vila-Roger holds a bachelor of arts degree in theatre from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and completed six years of voice training, three years of dance training and has also been trained in piano, broadcast, and scene study/cold reads.
For two of the singers - Sarah Marince, 17, of Moon Township and Natalie Schaefer, 18, of Richland Township - appearing in "Viva Broadway" symbolizes the strides they have made with their singing careers. Two years ago, the teens
competed against each other in the 2006 Kean Idol Amateur Talent Contest. Marince has since made a huge splash locally and is poised to go national. She has opened for national country acts such as Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood, Phil Vassar and Gretchen Wilson. In March 2007, she was an invited performer at the legendary "South by Southwest Music Festival" in Austin, Texas, where she opened for Rachel Fuller and Pete Townsend. She performs the National Anthem regularly for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins and has even sung the National Anthem for President Bush. Two of her songs, "Just Look at Me" and "Big Time" are in rotation on Pittsburgh country radio stations. Schaefer was a finalist at Kean Idol two years in a row and sang the National Anthem before an audience of 400 at St. Barnabas' Founder's Day event in 2007. Schaefer also won a Gene Kelly Award for her lead performance in "Cats" at Pine-Richland High School and recently sang at Heinz Hall under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch as part of the All-Star College Choir. She is currently a freshman at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The four dancers in "Viva Broadway" are being led by choreographer Shawna Sunday of McCandless. Sunday, 19, has been dancing since age 7 and has competed regionally and nationally. A professional dancer and model, Shawna is the dance captain and choreographer for the touring show "Showgirls" and resident choreographer at the Kean Theatre. She is currently studying elementary education at Slippery Rock University. The additional dancers are Cecily Sunday (Shawna's sister), Kelly Scanlon and Morgan Voltz.
Proceeds from "Viva Broadway" - and all productions at the Kean Theatre - benefit the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund. In 2007 alone, the Free Care Fund provided $5.6 million to poor and low-income residents of St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas and The Arbors at St. Barnabas. Sponsors of "Viva Broadway" are UPMC Health Plan, an Oscar sponsor of the Kean Theatre; and NexTier Bank and Consolidated Communications, both Grammy sponsors of the Kean Theatre.
The Kean Theatre is open to the public and has built a reputation for its convenient location, free parking, quality entertainment and elegant setting. The theatre is operated by St. Barnabas Charities, the fund-raising arm of St. Barnabas Health System. St. Barnabas Health System includes St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas, The Arbors at St. Barnabas, The Village at St. Barnabas, The Woodlands at St. Barnabas, The Washington Place at St. Barnabas, and St. Barnabas Medical Center.
Contact:
Kathleen Brenneman
(724) 444-5530
kbrenneman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com
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