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“A Chorus Line” entertains from start to finish

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-08-16 by laura2018-08-27

August 16 2018, Bucks County Herald
By Jean Brenner

A Chorus Line“A Chorus Line” is a deliciously entertaining show. It is an ice cream sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

The experience begins with a theater full of people … some chatting, some reading their programs, some showing eager anticipation about the musical they are about to see. The stage curtain is open. Mirrors hang on the upstage wall.

The lights begin to dim … a hush falls over the audience. In ambient light, we can see outlines of two dozen figures moving onto the stage.

Then, from the six-piece orchestra, the familiar beat: dum de de dum, de de dum, de de dum. It’s the opening number on opening night of A Chorus Line by the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts.

The lights go up, revealing about two dozen young people in dance attire. I know what’s about to happen; I’ve seen this before – multiple times – I get goose bumps, nonetheless.

As the dance captain shouts, “5, 6, 7, 8,” the cast dances the routine they have been taught. Some of the dancers are excellent and have learned the steps easily. Others make mistakes. Some will be eliminated.

These young people are hoping to be cast in a new Broadway show. Each wants fervently to be selected for this chorus line, singing the opening number, “I Hope I Get It!”

As director Zach narrows the group, sending home some very disappointed young people, the better dancers remain. Some of the performers – at the encouragement of director Zack – tell their deep personal stories about how they became dancers, often with great difficulty and resistance from their families.

Zach interviews them one by one, and we are entranced by their stories – how they became dancers – what their dreams are. Sadly, they know Zach needs to eliminate more of them.

It’s a dance company, but the individuals represent all of us – our aspirations, successes and disappointments. Each person auditioning for the new company is desperate, but only four men and four women will be chosen. We see ourselves in them; we want them to do well. We care about all of them because their stories touch us.

A Chorus Line, which opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in 1975 and played 6,137 performances through April, 1990, is dedicated to anyone who has ever danced in a chorus or marched in step … anywhere.”

I will return to see this production again because I don’t know when I will see another so exceptional. A Chorus Line is too demanding for most college and community theaters, and seldom is performed by other professional theaters because of the cast size and skilled dancing requirements.

The score by Marvin Hamlisch feels urgent. Original choreography by Michael Bennett is exciting. Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante offers inspirational stories, and lyrics by Edward Kleban are captivating.

A Chorus Line has come to life in Doylestown under the artistic direction of Howard Perloff, with solid directing by Jim Raposa who also co-choreographed with Claudia Shell-Raposa. Music direction is by Christopher Ertelt.

The production exceeded my expectations. I hope this review persuades you to see one of the few remaining performances of A Chorus Line” today through Aug. 19.

Equity Members of this talented cast are Meredith Beck (Sheila), Bret-Marco Glauser (Don), Achilles Inverso (Zach), Emily Larger (Cassie) Michelle Lemon (Judy), Kathryn Miller (Maggie) Taylor Elise Rector
(Val), Jordan Weagraff (Mike) and Anthony Wright (Richie/Dance Captain).

Other professional dancers in A Chorus Line are Tyler Brennan (Roy) of Lambertville, N.J., Sofia Choinski (Lois) of Bucks County, Dani Cohen (Bebe), Ricky Dieter III (Greg) of Berks County, Matt Gurniak (Tom) of Fogelsville, J. Nickolas Gonzalez (Paul), Mackenzie Jones (Tricia, understudy Sheila, Judy, and Cassie) Ryan Lauer (Frank), Michelle Lemon (Judy), Diane Meck (Connie), Ciara Richards (Christine), Christian Ryan (Mark), Angel J. Sigala (Al DeLuca) of Philadelphia, Riley Vogel (Larry), Jacob Waldron (Bobby), Ken Wasvary (Roy), Lauren Weiss (Vicki) and Olivia Whitehouse (Diana).

There are all the familiar songs: “At the Ballet,” “I Can Do that,” “Dance Ten; Looks Three,” “Music and the Mirror,” and the most recognizable one of all, “What I Did for Love.” Every one of the numbers drew enthusiastic applause at Delaware Valley University Life Sciences Auditorium in Doylestown, where A Chorus Line is being presented by BCCPA.

Order tickets at 215-297-8540 or BucksCountyCPA.org.

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Exceptional, Spot-On Production Of ‘A Chorus Line’ At Bucks County Center For Performing Arts

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-08-14 by laura2018-08-14

Sun, Aug 12th, 2018, New Hope Free Press
By John Dwyer

A Chorus Line“Spotting” in dance is a method of maintaining orientation when doing turns. It’s accomplished by maintaining focus on one spot in front of you, and then snapping your head around to that spot to complete the turn. Metaphorically, a dancer’s life focuses on goals as they make many career turns and head snaps, and “A Chorus Line” reviews that life with its many turns and head snaps. But A Chorus Line does way more than talk about the aspirations and limitations of a dancer’s life. It is not only dancers that have dreams of success and being something special.

In this particular instance, the show focuses on the life of a Broadway dancer and the dedicated laser-like focus and devotion that they possess in attaining their dream. Dreams are dreams, whether they are an artistic dream or the American Dream. Dancers, performers, actually all people, hope to be something special, and often we are as unidentifiable as the next person — just background for a star and a part of the chorus line.

The universal truths that this play addresses were the reason that it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1976.

Now, the “spot” to go to see an exceptional production of “A Chorus Line” is at the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts at the theater on the campus of Delaware Valley University in Doylestown. Howard Perloff is the founder and the artistic director of the group whose mission statement is “to develop a permanent, professional theater in Doylestown, Bucks County and provide quality productions and entertainment for public enjoyment.” With this show, more than ever, he is living up to that promise.

A Chorus Line“A Chorus Line” was the most successful work shopped show in musical theater history. Usually, the source material is adapted from a book or movie or it is an original script that has been brought to a producer. This show came from a concept. It evolved from a workshop that began in January 1974 at the Nickolaus Exercise Center where the intent was not to do a Broadway show but to start a dance troupe. It was a taped session and, at subsequent meeting/tapings, Michael Bennett, the Broadway choreographer, was invited. He took over the group. The focus changed to putting on a show. The interviews and stories evolved into the book that was authored by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante.

What is exceptional about this particular production is the honesty of the leads Cassie and Zach. It is true that, more than any other show, this is an ensemble. Each of the 17 finalists at the audition has a moment to shine, but the pivotal moment of the play is when the director, Zach, confronts his ex-girlfriend Cassie who, after doing featured roles in shows, wants to go back to the chorus. This story element mirrors the relationship between Michael Bennett and Donna McKechnie. Though it seems obvious that Cassie was McKechnie, McKechnie states that the character Maggie was more of who she was. It is true that the characters are composites of the different stories given from the interviews, but the similarities in the relationship between Zach and Cassie, and Bennett & McKechnie, are obvious.

In the late 1970s, I lived in the building on 55th Street in New York where Michael Bennett and Donna McKechnie had lived. Though they had left the building, their names were still on the door ringer and mailbox in the lobby. They married Dec. 4, 1976, and separated a few months later. Their relationship was fascinating then and now. She was a girl from Michigan who came to New York, and Bennett was her Svengali. He gave McKechnie her best roles and made her famous. He wanted her to break out and go to the next level, but it never quite happened, and that is the story of Zach and Cassie. In real life, there also was the issue that besides being work obsessed, which was an issue for them, Bennett was bisexual.

A Chorus LineIn most productions, the story gets told well enough, but the lead characters of Zach and Cassie seem flat, in comparison to the rest of the cast. In this production, Emily Larger seems to really get the role. I have not seen a performance of this role that is truer to Cassie’s reality. The determination that McKechnie, Cassie and Larger all have to do the work at hand, regardless of any other issue, is what the show is about. The written page, the role and actress seem to be meeting onstage and, in my opinion, Larger is giving a uniquely great performance. I believe Larger, like McKechnie, is from the Midwest. At least that is what I pick up from her dialect. Somehow, not just because it parallels McKecnnie, that seems right for the role and helps to see Cassie and Zach from two different worlds, not just in outlook, but in background.

Achilles Iverson as Zach is equally strong. I have seen productions where the acting of these roles are not emotionally invested and the story still gets told only well enough. But these actors’ honest work in these roles make them resonate and this takes the production to the next level. Iverson reminds me of how I would think Bennett was and we usually never think about that. Often, this seems a show about a director who is some “any guy.” Iverson’s choices are exactly right, and make Zach the complex character that he is and Bennett was. A Chorus Line has never been better served in regards to these two exceptionally honest performances.

As noted before, this is an ensemble show and this ensemble is incredible and truly a singular sensation.

Meredith Beck as Sheila is impressive. She previously played Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” for this company. To say she is a good actress is an understatement. She plays the acerbic Sheila just right. She is the one who has seen it all and is living in her thirties in a dancer’s world where age is your enemy.

Jacob Waldron plays Bobby with appropriate upper middle class dry cool. Taylor Elise Rector is hilarious as Val, whose dance card gets filled after a boob job. Ricky Dieter is cuttingly hilarious as Gregg Gardner – a Jewish gay man who discovered his apathy toward having sex with women. Ciara Roman is adorably sweet and funny as Kristine, the girl who cant sing, and Angel J. Sigala shines as her cute, adoring husband, Al DeLuca. Jordan Weagraff taps his way into your head and heart as the guy who outshined his sister at dance class when he was a child. Olivia Whitehouse plays Diana Morales, a Puerto Rican dancer who was underestimated at the High School of the Performing Arts. She delivers on two of the best songs in the show, “Nothing” and “What I Did for Love.”

The most moving moment of the show has always been the monologue by Paul, a Puerto Rican gay man. He reveals his life as a dancer in a seamy club, and how his mother and father dealt with who he was and is. J. Nicolas Gonzalez’s emotional nakedness as Paul doesn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

A Chorus LineA special mention for the lovely song “At the Ballet.” The voice and harmonies were pitch perfect. It is a precise song with choreographed movement and three emotional stories told by acting, song and dance. That all came together due to the talented triple-threat actresses, Meredith Beck (Sheila), Dani Cohen (Bebe) and Kathryn Miller (Maggie).

All the dancers in this particular A Chorus Line are exceptional and come through with flying colors in telling their character’s stories. As an interesting aside, when the show was being workshopped in its early days, every night the eight hired for the show would be different. The actors themselves were surprised at who got the job. It was based on who had done the best that night, as if it were a real audition. That was changed for a couple of reasons, but with the amazing cast at the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts, it would be tremendously difficult choice if that was still occurring. It would constantly change, as the depth of talent is so great on that stage. It would be anybody’s guess as to who would get the job.

A tribute to this play is that it is so good that it is almost impossible to see it too much. I saw it in the fall of 1975 after the musician’s strike was over. People scrambled for newly released tickets of this sold-out show. I, like many, saw it multiple times after that. But this particular production calls you to revisit it. With the stellar performances of Emily Larger as Cassie and Achilees Inverso as Zach, along with a top drawer cast, it reminds us all what great theater is about. And how actors and people everywhere need to live their dreams –“What we did for love.”

Tickets for A Chorus Line are available online or by calling (215) 297-8540. The show runs through Aug. 19.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Chorus Line

Bucks County choreographer battles breast cancer while working on ‘A Chorus Line’

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-08-07 by laura2018-08-07

AUGUST 6, 2018
by John Timpane, Staff Writer, Philly Inquirer

Bucks County choreographer battles breast cancer while working on 'A Chorus Line'This is a story about (a) the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts in Doylestown, in just its second year; (b) Jim Raposa and Claudia Shell-Raposa, a couple with deep Broadway cred, now working on the center’s next show, A Chorus Line; and (c) Shell-Raposa herself, choreographer, doing daily rehearsals while in the midst of her second round of weekly chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Jim, directing A Chorus Line, credits local producer Howard Perloff with “really insisting that this part of Bucks should have an arts center of the highest quality.” The cast for Chorus Line is from all over: Doylestown, New York, and Philadelphia.

Claudia says, “We are working at 150 percent Broadway skill level here. It’s an amazing, very talented cast. I was over at the theater just now. It’s a dry tech day. The mirrors are going up; we’ll be ready to go on Wednesday.”

So…how are you, Claudia? Her words show she is drawing strength from all around her, particularly from A Chorus Line itself. “When I got the job,” she says, “I didn’t know I was sick. This is my all-time favorite show, though, so I knew I was going to do it if at all possible. Besides not having the stamina I usually have, and just being tired, I just try to push through, because the show really does speak to me, and it has such great heart. Of course, when I get home, I throw myself down on the bed.

“A Chorus Line is really about my life,” she says, “being a musical theater performer, having that great passion for what you do. And the collaborative aspect is comforting, everybody working on a common goal with great love.” Responding with intense work, the cast “has really jelled into this loving family,” she says, “and that’s why this will be a hit, because you can feel that. It’s palpable.”

A Chorus Line. Aug. 8-19, Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts. Delaware Valley University Life Sciences Building, Delaware Valley University, 700 E. Butler Ave., Doylestown. Information: 215-297-8540, buckscountycpa.org.

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Meet A Chorus Line Director and Choreographer

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-08-06 by laura2018-08-07

Director and Choreographer Jim Raposa and Claudia Shell-Raposa thank Howard Perloff, The Bucks County Center for The Performing Arts, its board and, Delaware Valley University for their collaborative vision of bringing theater to Doylestown and the surrounding areas. Jim and Claudia feel very fortunate to be a part of a theatrical community committed to bringing quality theatrical experiences to the area, arts education to local youth, and to provide a space where all artists interested in the areas of performing and creativity can be nurtured.

Jim and Claudia met on Cats over 26 years ago, fell in love and got married. Together they’ve performed in well over 100 shows ranging from experimental to regional to Broadway in ballet, opera, film, and TV. As director and choreographer, they’ve mounted over 50 shows regionally in Weston, VT, Manchester, VT and Salem, NY. They’ve been on staff for eleven years as directors and educators of the highly successful, Theater and Dance curricular, preprofessional/collegiate training programs for aspiring actors, singers and dancers at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT. Their goal to foster new generations of performing artists is no more important than using theater and dance classes as a medium to help any young person gain confidence and self-esteem, while learning important life lessons that can be used in any career.

Jim Raposa Jim’s just finished appearing in Our Town with Christopher Lloyd at the Weston Playhouse as Howie Newsome. His favorite directing and choreography credits include: Rent, Avenue Q, Chicago, Grease, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Cabaret, Good News, Pippin, Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line, Antigone, Play On!, Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, The Odd Couple: The Female Version, M*A*S*H, 12 Angry Jurors, Almost, Maine, and Harvey.

His long career as a performer includes Broadway/LA: Cats (Mistoffelees, Skimbleshanks, Mungojerrie), The Lion King (Ed, Timon, Zazu), Ragtime(Stanford White). Regional: On The Town (Chip), George M. Cohan Tonight! (George M. Cohan), I Do, I Do (Michael), Singin’ in the Rain (Cosmo Brown), A Chorus Line (Mike, Zach), Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet), Music Man (Charlie Cowell), Man of La Mancha (Pedro). Film: For The Boys, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (Donatello) and Newsies. Jim is a proud member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, AGVA, and NEA.

 
 
 
 
Claudia Shell-RaposaClaudia’s career, that has spanned over 40 years started with her training in ballet and appearing in multiple Nutcrackers. She’s staged and choreographed for musical theater and dance companies and some of those favorites include: Cabaret, Chicago, Pippin and A Chorus Line. Performance credits include Broadway: Cats (Victoria the White Cat), Merlin. National: On Your Toes. Regional: American Dance Machine, Kiss Me Kate. Opera: The Met, Death in Venice. Film: All That Jazz. Claudia’s on staff at Burr and Burton Academy and as the Director of Dance and the Artistic Director of the BBA Dance company she supplies to young, aspiring dance artists a safe space to learn different forms of dance technique while empowering them to explore the language of movement and choreography in a supportive atmosphere. She is a proud member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, and the NEA.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Chorus Line

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Presents the Phenomenal Broadway Hit: A Chorus Line

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-07-27 by laura2018-07-27

A Chorus LineBucks County Center for the Performing Arts (BCCPA) under the Artistic Direction of Doylestown local Howard Perloff, is proud to present Michael Bennett’s groundbreaking musical A Chorus Line presented at Delaware Valley University in the Life Sciences Building from August 8-19, 2018. Tickets can be purchased by calling: 215-297-8540 or going online: buckscountycpa.org

Directed and Choreographed by Broadway Performers and Husband and Wife team , Jim Raposa and Claudia Shell-Raposa features professional actors from surrounding towns, Philadelphia and New York including Meredith Beck, Dani Cohen, Ricky Dieter III, Brett Marco Glauser, Nickolas Gonzales, Achilles Inverso, Mackenzie Jones, Emily Larger, Michelle Lemon, Diane Meck, Kathryn Miller, Taylor Elise Rector, Ciara Richards, Christian Ryan, Angel J. Sigala, Riley Vogel, Jacob Waldron, Jordan Weagraff, Lauren Weiss, Olivia Whitehouse, and Anthony Wright with Set Design by Dustin Pettegrew, Lighting Design by Stefan Didizian, Costume Design by Janelle Berte, Sound Design by Travis Johnson and Music Direction by Christopher Ertelt.

ABOUT A CHORUS LINE: A Chorus Line, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban and a book by James Kirkwood Jr.,Nicholas Dante and winner of 9 Tony Awards, 6 Drama Desk Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama is a story that focuses upon 17 dancers auditioning for spots in a new Broadway Musical. Individually and collectively they step off the line to share their stories, some hilarious, some poignant and some vulnerable, but all relatable. With vibrant and heart rendering numbers “What I Did for Love”, “One” and more, A Chorus Line is as relevant today as it was over 40 years ago. This brilliant musical relates to anyone who “puts themselves on the line” chasing their dreams through hard work, sweat and hours of training with no guarantee of success.

BCCPA in its second year is fast approaching its mission to develop a permanent, professional Theater in Doylestown by providing quality productions and entertainment for public enjoyment and hiring local talent as well as performers from the surrounding area to perform in plays that we produce. BCCPA works to find new composers, cultivate new playwrights all while educating young performers. Ultimately their goal is to introduce educational programs in acting, dancing, singing, set design, lighting design, costume design and various musical instruments.

A CHORUS LINE
Directed by Jim Raposa
Choreographed by Claudia Shell-Raposa
Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Book by James Kirkwood Jr.,Nicholas Dante
MAINSTAGE: Delaware Valley University • The Life Sciences Building
PERFORMANCE DATES: August 8-19, 2018
LOCATION: Delaware Valley University-Life Sciences Building • 700 East Butler Ave • Doylestown, PA
BOX OFFICE: 215-297-8540 • for more information visit: buckscountycpa.org

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Local production of “The Fantasticks” is spellbinding

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-07-23 by laura2018-07-23

Bucks County Herald, July 12, 2018

Local production of Mysteriously fascinating and fanciful. Beautifully performed. Creatively directed.

“The Fantasticks” is magical, entrancing, beautiful, and compelling. It wowed me. I’m going back to see it again.

The actors – all of them – are spellbinding in their performances with The Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts. Irene Molloy,originally from Bucks County, has done a beautiful job directing this sweet musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Producer Howard Perloff’s vision for this musical has come true.

“The Fantasticks” is the longest continuously running musical in the world, playing for more than 42 years off-Broadway in New York, and entrancing generations. You’ve seen it once? See it again.

“The Fantasticks” is about two young people – Matt and Luisa – who meet surreptitiously – they think – so that their fathers do not know they are wildly in love.

The fathers are not stupid. They know what’s going on and want their children to love one another when they are old enough, but they know better than to allow the children to know of their plans, so the fathers pretend to try to keep Matt and Luisa apart, singing “They Did It ‘Cause we said ‘No!’”

Luisa reads too many books, has a vivid imagination and thinks there is more to life than what she has, so the fathers plan a grand abduction to help both their children face reality. They hire people who once were real actors but have aged out from the professional stage.

The abduction is conceived and enabled by El Gallo, a mesmerizing, swashbuckling man who sings several fine songs, including “Try to Remember,” one of the songs that audiences leave the theater humming. El Gallo succeeds in persuading the children that the world can be a dark and ugly place.

The voices of the leads in this musical are simply remarkable. For instance, Mick Bleyer as El Gallo, has a marvelously rich, mesmerizing voice with dimension. And, he is a fine actor and swordsman, too.

As Matt, the young man, Louis Jannuzzi is simply outstanding. His acting is flawless, his singing so perfectly sung. He appeared to be totally lovesick over Luisa but handled well the sword fight and torture as he learned of the “real world.”

Becca Jackson was delightful as Luisa. She sang and moved beautifully, looking totally lovesick about Matt.

The fathers are so much fun when they show their friendship while conspiring. Scott Langdon plays Bellomy and Roy North plays Hucklebee with fun and enthusiasm, singing songs such as “Never Say No” and “Plant a Radish.”

Meg Stefanowicz gives a fine performance without singing or speaking. She plays the character known as “The Mute,” a device devised by the playwright to keep the play moving. She is The Wall; she provides props when needed. She is silent, but ever-present, and she is beautiful to watch.

Henry, played by Peter Schmitz, is an old actor who likes to recite lines he once delivered on stage, but he no longer can remember them. El Gallo invites him and his sidekick, Mortimer, a man whose job it is to “die” grandly on stage, to join him.

Victor Rodriguez, Jr., of Philadelphia, portrays Mortimer as a Spanish bandit. Together, he and Henry provide comic relief and then assist El Gallo in the abduction scene.

Sounds confusing? It all makes sense when you see this marvelous musical.

“The Fantasticks” opened last Wednesday and played 5 performances through July 1. The cast is taking a two-week hiatus while Delaware Valley University uses its theater space. “The Fantasticks” returns Wednesday, July 25, playing six more performances through Sunday, July 29. If you missed
the first week, you have six more chances to see this delightful show.

Dustin Pettegrew designed “The Fantasticks” set, keeping it similar to the original, but putting his own spin on it. Bob Binkley built the structure to handle all the action. Director Molloy cleverly added small trampolines to charge up the action.

Piano accompaniment is by music director Christopher Ertelt with harp by Alison and Rebecca Simpson. Meredith Beck is choreographer.

The Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts presents two more musicals this summer: Aug. 1 to 5, “Defending the Caveman,” the hilarious insightful one-man show about the ways men and women relate, followed by the always wonderful musical, “A Chorus Line,” with 10 performances Aug. 8 to 19.

Tickets are $99 for all three shows, $37 for a single show. Del Val performing Arts Center has ample parking. The space is air conditioned. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 215-297-8540.

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Broadway star directs “The Fantasticks”

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-07-02 by laura2018-07-02

Bucks County Herald, June 21, 2018

Irene Molloy, The FantasticksBucks County Herald, June 21, 2018Irene Molloy, a former piano student of Howard Perloff, artistic director for the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts, would say, “Why do you keep asking me to sing? I am here to learn how to play the piano.” “Her voice just knocked me out,” said Perloff.

Molloy was 15 years old at the time and was performing in Howard’s production of “Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding.” Fast forward to today and she is now directing “The Fantasticks,” playing at Delaware Valley University, for the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts.

A Bucks County native, Molloy attended St. Jude Elementary School in New Britain and Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster. She had the leading role in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Whistle Down the Wind” and Frank Wildhorn’s “Civil War,” both on Broadway.

Molloy is a performer, musician, writer and director who has appeared on Broadway, television and film. She is most known from her regular roles on “Grosse Pointe” (WB) and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” (FOS), as well as from her solo album, “County Line.”

She has been nominated for the Outer Critics Circle and Helen Hayes awards for her work in theater, and her music has been featured on radio stations across the U.S., including 90.7 WFUVNY. She co-founded Radiant Bloom Productions to develop new works by women in the performing arts.

The show opens June 27 and will run for two weeks, the first week through July 1, and the second week July 25 to July 29. Tickets start at $37 at buckscountycpa.org or 215-297-8540.

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Galway Girls of the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts to Perform at the Pierre Hotel in New York

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-03-01 by laura2018-03-02

Galway Girls Bucks County Center for the Performing ArtsThe Galway Girls, who developed as a spinoff of Frank McCourt’s The Irish…, will appear at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan on St. Patty’s Day Saturday, March 17.

The three girls are part of the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts – Meredith Beck, Irene Molloy, both born and raised in Bucks County, and Janice Landry of Boston.

The Galway Girls will sing and perform Irish folk songs, some of which are “Paddy Reilly,” “Finnegan’s Wake,” “Mrs. Mcgrath,” “Wild Mountain Thyme,” “Fields of Athenry,” “Moonshine,” “Black is the Color,” “The Dutchman,” “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” “Carrickfergus,” “Dreams by the Cranberries,” “Rare Old Times,” “No Nay Never/Wild Rover,” and of course, “Danny Boy.”

There is a $70 cover charge and $25 food and beverage, minimum. Advance reservations are required. For bookings, call 212-940-8113 or email twoe@tajhotels.com.

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Michael Bennett and A Chorus Line

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2018-01-07 by kdfrawg2018-01-07

When I was a bit younger I was the Stage Manager for a show on Broadway called A Joyful Noise, starring John Raitt, a major leading man of stage productions during the mid-20th century. If you are of a younger generation, you would more likely know John as Bonnie Raitt’s father. But he was much, much more than that. Among many other accomplishments, John Raitt was the original Billy Bigelo in Carousel on Broadway.

I was fortunate enough to be the Stage Manager of A Joyful Noise when John was the star. The show was on the road for over a year. Somehow, though, it was never a huge success on Broadway. The critics did not seem to care for the show but they had rave reviews for the Choreographer, Michael Bennett. It was the beginning of a phenomenal career for Bennett.

After A Joyful Noise, Michael Bennett created one of the the most popular shows of the twentieth century, A Chorus Line. I was very lucky to have worked with him for a year, to get to know him, and to recognize him for the genius he was. This year, I feel privileged to produce Michael Bennett’s most famous creation, A Chorus Line, which you will be able to see at the Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts in August.

— Howard Perloff

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Successful Black Friday Sale!

Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts Posted on 2017-11-29 by laura2017-11-29

Pictured here is a clearly happy Howard Perloff, Artistic Director of the Bucks County Center of the Performing Arts, during the opening days of 2018 season ticket sales in the group’s Doylestown office. Tickets went on sale for the shows in the 2018 season on November 25th, and have already been brisk. In the first three days of sales, the group sold over 200 tickets, an excellent start for the new season.

The group is staging three shows in 2018, with performances from June 27 to August 18, 2018: The Fantasticks, Defending the Caveman, and A Chorus Line. All performances are held in the Life Sciences Building Auditorium on the campus of the Delaware Valley University in Doylestown. Ticket prices begin at $37, and it is possible to buy tickets for all three shows in a package for $99.

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