New Solo Show Says "Willkommen" to the Career of Joel Grey | Playbill

News New Solo Show Says "Willkommen" to the Career of Joel Grey Joel Grey, whose long career included the ghostly Emcee in the original Cabaret, the cocky George M. Cohan in George M!, the indomitable Jacobowsky in The Grand Tour and the scheming Wizard of Oz in Wicked, will be saluted with a new solo show created by actor Robert Spiotto, and premiering Sept. 27 at Five Towns College Performing Arts Center on Long Island.

Titled Shades of Grey: A Musical Tribute to Joel Grey, the show includes material from all periods of his six-decade career, including "I Lost the Rhythm" from the 1956 The Littleset Revue, "What Kind of Fool Am I?" from Stop The World – I Want to Get Off , a Cohan medley, plus numbers from his aforementioned hits, plus Chicago, Half a Sixpence, Goodtime Charley, Anything Goes and even the film of The Fantasticks, in which Grey played Bellomy, the Girl's Father.

Spiotto, who has created solo shows based on the careers of Danny Kaye, Eddie Cantor and Primo Levi, wrote and performs his own script, accompanied by Stephen C. Pagano, who arranged the music. Jenna Ghidaleson and Liz Jeffery also appear.

Spiotto said he was inspired to create the show after appearing as the Emcee in several productions of Cabaret going back to his high school years.

" I was all but predestined to perform a tribute to Joel Grey," Spiotto told Playbill.com. "A witty, versatile song and dance man who has endeared himself to audiences with his unique physicality, defined gestures and whimsical charm. A performer who knows how to connect with his audience and bring them along on his journey; the precise legacy that I too hope to leave behind."

A revised version of an earlier Grey tribute, the show includes songs, stories, quotes and trivia, as well as references and information relating to Grey's actress daughter Jennifer, his former wife Jo Wilder, and his love of photography. The show opens 2 PM Sept. 27. Five Towns College Performing Arts Center is at 305 North Service Rd., Dix Hills, NY. To order tickets, call (631) 656-2148 or visit dhpac.org.

 
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!