The centenary of the birth of composer Kurt Weill is now being celebrated at the Triad Theatre, where the first commercial revival of the 1972 musical review, Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill has been running since Aug. 19. Beginning Nov. 28, and continuing every Tuesday through Dec. 19, former colleagues and associates of the late composer and his wife, Lotte Lenya will be participating in unique post-performance discussions there.
Guests scheduled for the series include actress Paula Laurence on Nov. 28, pianist and Weill musical advisor Lys Symonette on Dec. 5, producer/director Carmen Capalbo (Threepenny Opera) on Dec. 12 and Broadway star Michael Wager (co-starred with Lotte Lenya on Brecht on Brecht), on Dec. 19.
As reported earlier, Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill was first produced in 1972 at the Theatre de Lys on Christopher St. Berlin to Broadway has been done frequently at the regional level, but not in New York City. Theatre 1010 presented an award-winning Off-Off Broadway showcase earlier this year, but the Triad run will be the first commercial revival of the show, according to production sources.
Former Stomp company manager Laura Heller makes her production bow with Berlin to Broadway. Her associate producers will be Carol Ostrow (Beau Jest, After Play) and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's National Music Theatre Conference associate director, Michael Nassar.
Ten Ten director Hal Simons helms the Triad run and created new staging for the show. Three of the Theatre 1010 cast members for Berlin to Broadway, Lorinda Lisitza, Bjorn Olsson and Michael Winther are doing the Triad run as well. The four-member cast is rounded out with the addition of Veronica Mittenzwei. Coincidentally, cast member Lisitza's cousin, Jerry Lanning, was in the original 1972 cast, production sources tell Playbill On-Line. The creative team comprises noted musical director Eric Stern (Parade, Carousel, Show Boat, Gypsy), costume designer Suzy Benzinger (Saturday Night Fever, Miss Saigon), lighting designer Phil Monat (Visiting Mr. Green) and set designer Bill Barclay (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, and the film, "She's the One."
Tickets are $45. The Triad Theatre is located at 158 W. 72 St. For tickets call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200.
-- By Murdoch McBride
