And I will also be in it...yes I will... I am making a appearance on the musical theatre stage!
Here is the article......
One of the greatest heroes of Scottish history is the subject of a new Canadian musical opening this winter in a major production scheduled to play Chicago and Toronto.
Rob Roy, with book, music and lyrics by David Warrack, will open at the Elgin Theatre on March 23, following a six-week run at Chicago's Arie Crown Theatre, beginning Feb. 3.
The show will be directed by Tony Award-winning actor Len Cariou. The Canadian actor was last seen locally as the embattled ex-president in Frost/Nixon for the Canadian Stage Company.
Robert Roy MacGregor was a famous outlaw who fought against English tyrrany and became an almost mythical figure to the people of Scotland before his death in 1734.
He was immortalized by Sir Walter Scott in his 1817 novel and has been the subject of numerous plays, operas and films, the most recent being the 1995 movie starring Liam Neeson.
Warrack's epic musical will feature a cast of 24 and an orchestra of 10, with George Masswohl in the title role.
Other prominent cast members include Torontonians David Dunbar, Sharron Matthews, Mark Harapiak, Elizabeth Beeler, Cory O'Brien, Ian Deakin and Stephanie Roth.
The project has been in gestation for some time; Warrack took an earlier, smaller one-act version to the Edinburgh Festival in 2006 where it received favourable reviews.
"The world is always ready to hear the story of a heroic individual," Warrack told the Star, "and the troubled times we're in right now call for it more than ever."
A CD of the score as well as a songbook were released in 2007.
Eight of the original cast members featured on the recording are continuing in this production.
Rob Roy is being produced by Prydwyn Productions with Bernie Abrams and Hugh Cameron serving as executive producers, and Mitchell Schmieding as the Chicago associateWell, there you have it!!
It is very exciting... George played the role two years ago at the famed Edinburgh Festival to great acclaim... it has taken two years of steady, back breaking work ... with a CD and a music book produced...... to get this musical on its feet but David Warrack did it.
I applaud him.
I sat in on a couple of backers auditions and I was so enthralled by David's pitch and his heartfelt belief in his project... I think it is very exciting that such a big Canadian written musical is going to be produced in Chicago.
George was at the big press conference down in Chicago at the Arie Crown and he was surprised by the amount of reporters and newspapers who showed up.
He said it was packed.....imagine.. a press conference for a musical...Packed.... ahhh....
I will be playing Annabelle, the narrator and I will step in and out of a few different characters as I help to tell the story.
And Len Cariou... I mean really!!!
George worked with him on 'Showboat' many years ago.. and learned some choice new ....expressions... shall we say .. from him on the golf course.....
Len is a fabulous actor.. the original Sweeney Todd... and Fredrich in Night Music to name just a few things... has a long and fabulous movie and stage career and I am very excited....... and just a bit scared.... always good to be a bit scared... to work with him...
He and David have been working very hard to get this all online.
So, That means....yes my friends... with the schedule that is Rob Roy ... This Sharron's Christmas Party will be my last for a while... sigh....
So, get your tickets now for the Friday December 12th (Teresa Pavlined and Ian Simpson) or Saturday December 13th (Jean Stilwel with Patti Loach, and Sarah Strange) .....
@ Tallulah's Cabaret...Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.... because...
A: Christmas is ALWAYS my fave show!
B: Who knows when I will do it again?
So....call 416 975 8555 for tickets...the last show was packed!!!
And here is another little number from Sharron's Birthday Party...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9QO8zpa0Y
Let us all celebrate Christmas and get into the season in style!!!
I love Christmas!!!
