Jacques Brel Revival Welcomes Maroulis and Paterson Jan. 9

By Andrew Gans
09 Jan 2007

Jayne Paterson and Constantine Maroulis in Jacques Brel.
Jayne Paterson and Constantine Maroulis in Jacques Brel.
Photo by Carol Rosegg

The Off-Broadway revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Zipper Theatre welcomes two new actors Jan. 9: former "American Idol" contestant — and recent Wedding Singer star — Constantine Maroulis and Les Misérables' Jayne Paterson.

Maroulis and Paterson join Gay Marshall and Robert Cuccioli, who opened the production.

The revue's new performance schedule follows: Tuesdays at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM with matinees Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM.

A Brooklyn native, Constantine Maroulis is a graduate of both the Boston Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music. He trained as an apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and appeared as Roger in a tour of Rent. In addition to his performances on "American Idol," he has also been seen on "Law & Order: SVU" and in several independent films. Maroulis also played a recent engagement at the Public Theater's Joe's Pub as well as a stint in The Wedding Singer.

Jayne Paterson has appeared on Broadway in Les Misérables and Jane Eyre. Her regional credits include Romeo and Juliet, The Wizard of Oz, The Tempest, Swing, A Little Night Music, Godspell, Anne of Green Gables, Orisons and A Clockwork Orange. She also provided additional recordings as the voice of Judy Garland for the Emmy-winning ABC miniseries "Me and My Shadows."

The revival of Jacques Brel — directed by Gordon Greenberg — plays Off-Broadway's Zipper Theatre. Greenberg's production features the cast of four on the intimate Zipper stage with just a few set pieces and the occasional prop: a chair, a couch, a few suitcases and several glasses of alcohol. Staircases are located on both sides of the stage, one for entrances and another that leads to the small band, whose pianist often joins the singers. Song titles include "Le Diable (Ca Va)," "If We Only Have Love," "Alone," "I Loved," "Jackie," "My Childhood," "Madeleine," "Bachelor's Dance," "Fanette," "Le Moribund," "The Desperate Ones," "Timid Frieda," "The Statue," "Sons of," "Amsterdam," "The Bulls," "Brussels," "Ne Me Quitte Pas," "The Middle Class," "Old Folks," "Funeral Tango," "My Death," "Marieke," "Songs for Old Lovers," "Next," "You're Not Alone," "Carousel" and "If We Only Have Love."

Jacques Brel Is Alive & Well & Living in Paris features music and lyrics by the late Jacques Brel; conception, English lyrics and additional material by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman. The original staging of the revue opened in 1968 at The Village Gate in New York City and ran for 1,847 performances.

The Zipper Theater is located in Manhattan at 336 West 37th Street. For more information visit www.jacquesbrelreturns.com.