Park Playhouse Opens 23rd Season On Tuesday With “The Producers”
Posted by Ledger Newsroom on July 14, 2011 · 1 Comment
Park Playhouse, Albany’s free musical theatre series in Washington Park, opens this Tuesday, July 19 with “The Producers,” the Mel Brooks-penned musical made famous on Broadway with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Now in its twenty-third season, Park Playhouse – under the management of Producing Artistic Director Owen M. Smith (who was appointed in January 2010 to replace Ven Borromeo) – will feature for a more adult show than in years past. Under Borromeo, Park Playhouse had staged productions of High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast to declining crowds. Last year’s “Annie Get Your Gun” returned Park Playhouse to it’s “roots” (previous productions in the 1990s included Damn Yankees, Camelot, Hello Dolly!, and Gypsy).
“Outrageous, hilarious, a teeny bit offensive, off the wall, and the winner of a record twelve Tony Awards are just a few things that The Producers is. But it is never boring and you will find yourself holding your sides with laughter as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom sing and dance their way through the greatest show biz scam that there ever was,” according to a release by Park Playhouse.
Unlike shows in the past, this season will run four weeks – shorter than the typical six week runs. Additionally, Park Playhouse II will feature “Through Modern Millie” from August 2 through August 14. Park Playhouse Kids joins the summer season after five years of development as an after school program with “Annie” from July 26 through July 31.
“The Producers” is being directed by Michael LoPorto, who also directed “Annie Get Your Gun.” “The Producers” stars Jason Marks as Max Bialystock, Jason Jacoby as Leo Bloom (returning to Park Playhouse from Beauty and the Beast), Maura Hogan as Ulla, Vincent DiPeri as Roger DeBris, Shawn R. Morgan as Frank Liebkind, and Jeffrey Perry as Carmen Ghia.
“The Producers” runs through August 14th. Both “Through Modern Millie” and “Annie” start at 5:30 p.m, with “The Producers” at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available for reserved seating at Park Playhouse’s website. Shows run Tuesdays through Sundays.
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[...] Park Playhouse, which began in 1989 as part of a municipal arts program and has evolved into its own non-profit organization, is still in a revival phase since Smith took over in 2010. Under Smith’s tenure, Park Playhouse has produced critically-acclaimed productions of “Annie Get Your Gun” and “The Producers.” [...]