Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents the world premiere musical Real Men Sing Show Tunes... And Play With Puppets

Nick Santa Maria, Stephen G. Anthony and Paul Louis in Real Men Sing Show Tunes... And Play With Puppets 

Actors' Playhouse will cap off the 2011-2012 Mainstage Season with the world premiere of Real Men Sing Show Tunes... And Play With Puppets, with book, music and lyrics by Paul Louis and Nick Santa Maria. A song-filled comedy for mature audiences, about real men behaving like real men, this manly musical revue will hit the Miracle Theatre from July 11-August 12. 

A hilarious romp through manhood, Real Men Sing Show Tunes... And Play With Puppets offers an inside glimpse of what it takes to be a man in a modern world shared with women, children, and yes, even puppets. The story of Real Men, who make a habit of juggling their balls every day; fatherhood, mid-life crisis, dating, marriage, potency, sexuality, and the lack of it. Men will finally have a musical comedy that speaks to them, while their ladies can gather some comedic material to use against them.

Although puppetry is featured in this production, this risqué and witty musical is not suitable for children...only the childish and immature.

"After years of working on new shows featuring 'today's women,' it's been a blast turning the tables and having fun with life, love, marriage, etc., from the guy's point of view," said Actors' Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco. "Nick and Paul are tremendously talented comedic writers, and this brand new show will have both men and women laughing at the results."

Paul Louis, Nick Santa Maria and Stephen G. Anthony.(All photos courtesy of Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre.)

Arisco has worked closely with the playwrights throughout the past year developing this new work through a series of public and private readings. The playwrights will also be working closely on the production, with Paul Louis and Nick Santa Maria starring in the show.

Preview performances of Real Men Sing Show Tunes... And Play With Puppets will be held Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. The show will open on Friday, July 13 at 8 p.m. and play through August 12. Evening performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Sunday at 2 p.m. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, July 18 at 2 p.m.

Preview night tickets on the first Wednesday and Thursday are $35. Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $40, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $48. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday.

Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

See International Musical Sensation "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Miami

Following a successful revival and tour in the United Kingdom, Actors' Playhouse will present it's own revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the award-winning hit that brought home eight Carbonell Awards for the company in 2000, from March 7-April 8, 2012.

Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the team that dreamed up Broadway hits such as Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a fun, hip, colorful and tuneful adaptation of the well-known Biblical tale of Joseph. The melodious, contemporary score features familiar songs like Close Every Door To Me, Any Dream Will Do, and Go Go Go Joseph. A favorite among Actors Playhouse's many award-winning musicals, the return of this colorful show validates that everyone's a dreamer, and through Joseph, audiences will experience a legacy of pure entertainment for the entire family.

"The return of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is something we have considered for a number of years," said Artistic Director David Arisco. "Now 12 years later with an entirely new cast featuring some of South Florida's top professional actors and a fresh approach to our staging and storytelling, we are proud to revive Joseph, one of Actors' Playhouse's biggest hits in our 25 year history."

Having had the opportunity to work alongside Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, Josh Canfield, whose favorite credits include Claude in Hair (Germany), Baranaby in Sail Away (London), Luke in Next Fall (Caldwell Theatre), stars in the title role with Amy Miller Brennan as the Narrator and Nick Duckart as Pharaoh. With a professional cast of 21 adults, Joseph also features two rotating choruses of 30 local students from Miami-Dade and Broward County. Directed by David Arisco, with musical staging and choreography by Barbara Flatten and musical direction by Eric Alsford, the creative team for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat also includes set design by Michael Amico, original costume design by Mary Lynne Izzo, costumes adapted for this production by Ellis Tillman, lighting design by Patrick Tennent and sound design by Alexander Herrin.

Preview performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 7 and 8 at 8 p.m.  The show will open on Friday, March 9 at 8 p.m. and play through April 8, 2012. Evening performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, March 14 at 2 p.m.

Preview night tickets on the first Wednesday and Thursday are $37. Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $42, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $50. The theatre offers a 10% senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday.

Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Actors’ Playhouse subscribers receive guaranteed best seating and pricing, lost ticket insurance, generous membership benefits to Coral Gables’ finest restaurants and discounts on single tickets, among other benefits. To become a part of the Miracle as an Actors’ Playhouse subscriber, call 305-444-9293 or order online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Actors’ Playhouse is the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Actors’ Playhouse, which has brought home 70 regional Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence, is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 22 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County.

In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors’ Playhouse offers a year-round season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children’s Theatre Festival, a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program, as well as educational arts outreach programs for underserved youth, and has initiated a Young Talent Big Dreams contest for children in partnership with The Children’s Trust.

Award-Winning Broadway Musical Next to Normal Now Showing at Actors' Playhouse

Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three 2009 Tony Awards, Next to Normal explores how one suburban family copes with crisis. With powerful lyrics and an electrifying pop-rock score of more than 30 songs, this intense, emotional and ultimately hopeful musical aims right for the heart with its story of a family coming to terms with its past and bravely facing its future. 


Actors' Playhouse is proud to be the first regional theatre in South Florida to produce the show following its long Broadway run and National Tour. Next to Normal will be presented at the Miracle Theatre through February 12.


The most talked about new show on Broadway, Next to Normal is the acclaimed and compelling hit-musical "that pushes Broadway in new directions," according to Rolling Stone magazine. Next to Normal's surging score, with emotional book and lyrics, tells the story of one woman’s struggle with manic depression and the toll it takes on her family.


"Next to Normal is the most powerful and riveting piece of musical theatre written in the last decade," said Artistic Director David Arisco. "I'm extremely excited to follow in the footsteps of last year's August: Osage County with a production of another Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Our cast, band, design and creative team are more than up to the task of taking our South Florida audience on this electrifying musical journey." 


Next to Normal features an impressive cast with strong ties to both the New York and South Florida theatre communities. Jodie Langel, playing Diana, premiered on Broadway as the role of Cosette in Les Miserables and later went on to play the role of Eponine. Now living back in South Florida, Langel's Broadway tour credits include the role of Bertrande in the Pre-Broadway tour of Martin Guerre, the Narrator in the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Grizabella in the National Tour of CATS. Mark Sanders, who was last seen as Perchik on the Broadway National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, will play the role of Dan. Eddy Rioseco, a native Miami boy, will play the role of Gabe. Rioseco's New York shows include Fame (Nick), Mamma Mia (Pepper) and Wicked (Boq). 


Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and direction by David Arisco. 


The show opened on Friday, January 20 and will run through February 12, 2012. Evening performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with afternoon matinees on Sunday at 2 p.m. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, January 25 at 2 p.m.


Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $40, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $48. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday. 


Four-show flexible subscription packages are now available to the remainder of the 2011-2012 season for only $186; which includes: the international musical sensation that won Actors' Playhouse eight Carbonell Awards in 2001, including Best Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (March 7 - April 8, 2012) with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice; the hilarious, new comedy Becky's New Car (May 9 - June 3, 2012) by Steven Dietz, as well as the World Premiere of a manly musical revue called Real Men Sing Show Tunes and Play With Puppets (July 11 - August 12, 2012) by Paul Louis and Nick Santa Maria.


Actors’ Playhouse is the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Actors’ Playhouse, which has brought home 70 regional Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence, is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 22 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors’ Playhouse offers a year-round season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children’s Theatre Festival, a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program, as well as educational arts outreach programs for under-served youth, and has initiated a Young Talent Big Dreams contest for children in partnership with The Children’s Trust.


For more information please call 305-444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org. Actors' Playhouse is located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables in the historic Miracle Theatre.


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Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents the South Florida Regional Premiere of 'August: Osage County' - Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play

August: Osage County, the five-time Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is making it's South Florida regional debut at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre (280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables) on March 9.
  
Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm. 

Nominated for seven Tony Awards and winning five, including Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Director, along with Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play, Best Director and Best Scenic Design, August: Osage County opened at the Imperial Theatre Broadway on December 4, 2007, to wide critical acclaim. The New York Times called August: Osage County “The most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years,” and it was voted The #1 Play of the Year by Time, The Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, and TimeOut New York. 
  
The play is directed by David Arisco and stars Annette Miller in the role of the family matriarch, Violet. Joining her is Laura Turnbull as Barbara Fordham, Dennis Creaghan as Beverly Weston, Barbara Bradshaw as Mattie Fae Aiken, Erik Fabregat as Little Charles, Jackie Rivera as Jean Fordham, Stephen G. Anthony as Steve Heidebrecht, Gregg Weiner as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau, Peter Haig as Charlie Aiken, David Kwiat as Bill Fordham, Cecilia Isis Torres as Johnna Monevata, Kathryn Lee Johnston as Ivy Weston, and Amy McKenna as Karen Weston. 


"Audiences from South Florida have not experienced a play of this magnitude in the regional arena," said Artistic Director David Arisco. We've assembled an outstanding cast, a gifted design team and I'm excited to accept the challenge of this hysterically funny and tragically powerful Pulitzer Prize-winning play."
  
Preview performances of August: Osage County will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 9 and 10 at 8 pm. The show will open on Friday, March 11 at 8 pm and play through April 3. Evening performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm, with afternoon matinees on Sunday at 2 pm. A special weekday matinee is scheduled on Wednesday, March 16 at 2 pm.
  
Preview night tickets on the first Wednesday and Thursday are $37. Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $42, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $50. 


Actors’ Playhouse is the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Actors’ Playhouse, which has brought home 63 regional Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence, is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 22 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. 


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Actors' Playhouse Presents the Timeless Classic 'Oliver!' This Holiday Season at the Miracle Theatre

This holiday season as Actors' Playhouse presents the Tony-award winning musical Oliver! One of the most beloved productions of all time, Oliver! vividly brings to life Charles Dickens' timeless characters from the novel Oliver Twist, with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more.

This musical masterpiece features a sensational score full of Lionel Bart's irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more. As the young orphan Oliver escapes from the confines of the workhouse, he finds himself in the dark corners of London's underground, where he must contend with the streetwise Artful Dodger, the slippery Fagin, the cutthroat Bill Sykes, and the passionate barmaid Nancy in a tale of social injustice, human kindness, deceit, and a love that knows no bounds.

Directed by Carbonell Award-winning Artistic Director David Arisco, this production will feature a cast and orchestra of more than 50, which will include Broadway and regional stars as well as several Actors' Playhouse veterans.

"The scope of this production is enormous, says Arisco. "We're working with two Olivers, two Artful Dodgers, two groups of 16 kids, a cast of 22 adults, a crew of 10 and an orchestra of nine. This is truly one of our largest productions to date."

Gary Marachek, who just won the Carbonell for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as Thénardier in Actors' Playhouse's production of Les Misérables, returns to the Miracle Theatre as Fagin, the slimy underworld pickpocket boss. Gary has also won Carbonells for his performances in AP's Violet, La Cage Aux Folles and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and can be remembered from more than twenty productions with the company.

Ken Clement (Mr. Bumble), also a multiple-time Carbonell nominee and winner, and cast member of the national touring company of Oliver!, has appeared on Actors' stage in Another Night Before Christmas, 1776, Sherlock's Last Case, and alongside Gary Marachek in the audience favorite The Big Bang.

Shane Tanner (Bill Sykes) joined Clement on the national touring company of Oliver!; regional credits include Beast in Beauty & the Beast, Rutledge in 1776, Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music, Lt. Cable in South Pacific, Dancin' Kid in Johnny Guitar, and Whizzer in Falsettoland.

Amy Miller Brennan (Nancy) was last seen at Actors' Playhouse as Ellen in Miss Saigon, Cindy Lou in The Marvelous Wonderettes, and Ariel in Footloose (Carbonell nomination).

Actress Elizabeth Dimon (Widow Corney), can be remembered from AP productions of She Loves Me, Big River and Yours, Anne; other credits include six seasons of Summer Shorts for City Theatre; Copenhagen, Berlin to Broadway, and Souvenir (Carbonell Award) for Palm Beach Dramaworks.

The creative team for Oliver! includes Set Designer Sean McClelland, Lighting Designer Patrick Tennent, Sound Designer Alexander Herrin, Musical Director David Nagy, and Choreographer Chrissi Ardito. Resident Costume Designer Ellis Tillman has redesigned costumes originally created by Colleen Grady for Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, P.A.

Preview performances of Oliver! will be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18 at 8 pm. The show will open Friday, November 19 at 8 pm and play through December 26. Evening performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm, with afternoon matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Pre-arranged 10 am weekday matinees are available through the education department. A special Christmas Day performance is scheduled at 8 pm on December 25.

Preview night tickets on the first Wednesday and Thursday are $37. Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $42, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $50. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday. Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org. Holiday gift certificates are also available for purchase through the box office.