Suzanne Childers teams with Michael Brennan (musical director of the Las Vegas Mamma Mia!) to present the concert version of the work that originally debuted in London.
The show plays MGM Grand's 740-seat Hollywood Theatre March 17 and 18 at 1 PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit Las Vegas-based HIV/AIDS charity Golden Rainbow; visit GoldenRainbow.org for more information.
Artie Anderson ("8 Simple Rules," "The Bold and the Beautiful") leads the cast as Jerry Springer. Also featured are Marcus Weiss (as Steve), Dan O'Brien (Warm Up/ Satan), Bod DuSold (Dwight/ God), Tina Walsh (Peaches), Emily Herrera (Baby Jane), Robin Baxter (Zandra), Rebecca Spencer (Irene/ Mary), Ryan Applebee (Tremont/ Angel Gabriel), Ted Keegan (Montel/ Jesus), Judy Lombino (Andrea/ Angel Michael/ Valkyrie), Elizabeth Share (Shawntel/ Eve) and Steven Hood (Chucky/ Adam).
Featuring music by Richard Thomas with book and lyrics by Stewart Lee and Thomas, Jerry Springer—The Opera began as a "scratch night" event in 2001 then underwent a number of workshops before making a splash — in concert version — at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2002. National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner, who had followed the show's evolution, decided to present it as his first production and the National's first new opera.
The opera extended twice at the National's Lyttleton Theatre, where it was recorded live for the double CD release. The work then transferred to the West End's Cambridge Theatre — where it won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Musical — and will play its first full American production in May at Chicago's Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. The concert version features minimal staging "to emphasize the music," according to an announcement, though two musical numbers will feature choreography and "the addition of a line of tap dancers"; an eight-piece orchestra led by Jack Gaughan will back the performers.
Tickets to Jerry Springer — The Opera at the MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South in Las Vegas, NV are available through the Golden Rainbow office at (702) 384-2899.
