The project is created by Bill Castellino and Christopher McGovern, who collaborated on the local hit musical Cagney! earlier this season at Florida Stage in Manalapan, FL.
The cast — some of them playing musical instruments — includes three-time Carbonell Award winner Irene Adjan, Eric Collins, Dana Dawson (Broadway's Rent and Little Shop of Horrors), Michelle Pereira (U.S. premiere of The Ten Commandments starring Val Kilmer) and Barry J. Tarallo (original cast of Broadway's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).
Performances will play Florida Stage to Aug. 30.
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According to Florida Stage, "Some Kind of Wonderful! celebrates a particular time in our musical history, 1960-1965, the years of Camelot, when four distinct styles and sounds crossed generational and cultural divides and made way for the future of modern song. Sinatra, Streisand, The Beatles and Motown were all at the very top of the charts. ...Five singers bring to life the songs of these extraordinary influences." The show includes the music of Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Streisand, The Beatles, The Temptations, The Supremes, Connie Francis, Wilson Pickett, The Drifters, The Four Seasons and more. Three of the cast members will play musical instruments along with a band.
Castellino (director/creator) most recently served as both creator/developer and director of the Florida Stage hit world premiere production of Cagney! He has directed numerous world-premiere productions including Dorian Gray, Lizzie Borden, Heartbeats (co-creator), Fishwrap (co-author), Holiday for Hope (author), House Divided, Singing Weatherman, Happy Holidays (co-creator), Presidents, Crash Club (co-author), Beautiful Dreamer (author), Another Summer, Miklat, Breathe. Castellino is the recipient of numerous awards including 11 Drama Logue Awards, four LA Weekly Awards and the Jefferson Award
McGovern (musical director/creator/arrangements) most recently served as composer/creator/arranger/musical director of Florida Stage's Cagney! His new musical A Visit To Roswell premiered at last season's Florida Stage 1st Stage Festival. He also co-conceived (with Lynnette Barkley) and wrote the book/original songs/arrangements for the popular Backwards in High Heels. Other Florida Stage credits include Spitfire Grill, Last Five Years, I Love A Piano, Sisters of Swing, A Marvelous Party and Dream a Little Dream. He wrote the libretto and score for Lizzie Borden.
The production team includes musicians Chris McGovern, Jason Curry, Neel Shukla, Rupert Ziawinski, scenic designer Richard Crowell, costume designer Erin Amico, lighting designer Jim Hunter and sound designer Matt Kelly.
Tickets for Some Kind of Wonderful! can be purchased by calling the Florida Stage box office at (561) 585-3433 or (800) 514-3837 (outside of Palm Beach County). Order online at www.floridastage.org.
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Florida Stage is devoted to new American plays and musicals, usually offering world premieres or second productions of works.
