Broadway Theatre League of NEPA Kicks Off 49th Season
By Stacy Brown, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Aug. 1–The Broadway Theatre League of NEPA promises a little misbehavin’ when the 2008-2009 season kicks off this fall.
The 49th season is set to open Nov. 28 when a three-night run of the Fats Waller musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” begins.
The popular musical, which stars American Idol alums Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, has won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Featured Actress, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Revival of a Broadway Show.
It also has won a Theatre World Award, three Drama Desk Awards and two Emmy Awards.
The new season’s lineup also includes presentations of “The Wizard of Oz,”"Sweeney Todd,”"The Drowsy Chaperone,”"The Pajama Game,” and “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiography of Chazz Palminteri, the actor who played mob boss “Sonny” in the 1993 Oscar nominated film which starred Robert DeNiro.
While the musicals are certain to be a hit with local theater-goers, the season’s official start is scheduled at Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple on Oct. 18, a night that should provide plenty of excitement.
Broadway, television and film star Sheryl Lee Ralph will help pay tribute to state Sen. Robert J. Mellow, D-Peckville, by bestowing upon him the League’s Sam and Jane Cali Star award.
The Star award, presented last year to Donna Doherty, wife of Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, was established to honor the organization’s President Emeritus, Sam, and his late wife, Jane, according to Tony Nicosia, the league’s executive director.
The Star award is presented annually, paying homage to distinguished community leaders who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and service to the arts in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“When they came to me, I was humbled and gratified because what I would like is to help stabilize and improve things so that we can raise money to bring in the type of shows people want to see,” Sen. Mellow said. “I think the arts are very important and with the medical school coming, you have to give people a whole menu of things and the theater is another tool to offer those who live here and those who want to come here.”
The event will include a cocktail hour, gourmet dinner, entertainment and dancing.
“Senator Mellow is just a wonderful man and we thought it appropriate that he would be the next person we honor,” Mr. Nicosia said. “We are also thrilled that Ms. Ralph has agreed to be a part of the opening gala and we plan to have lots and lots of fun.”
Sen. Mellow has been a consistent and strong supporter of the arts and was responsible for the renovation and refurbishment of the Mellow Theatre at Lackawanna College, Mr. Nicosia said.
“That theater would have probably become a movie theater or something else without the senator,” he said.
Putting together the gala was no easy task and plans were only finalized within the past two weeks, Mr. Nicosia said.
“It was just about two weeks ago that we received confirmation from Ms. Ralph,” he said.
An original “Dreamgirl,” Ms. Ralph is an acclaimed veteran of film, television and the Broadway stage, according to a biography provided by the league this week.
She created the role of Deena Jones on Broadway in “Dreamgirls,” earning a Tony Award as well as a Drama Desk best actress nomination.
Ms. Ralph, who in 2005 married Pennsylvania Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, later scored a top-10 selling dance music hit with the 1980s song, “In The Evening,” and re-entered the top 10 music charts in the mid-1990s with a remake of “Here Comes The Rain Again.”
On television, Ms. Ralph has starred in “It’s a Living,”"New Attitude,”"George,” and the hit comedy “Designing Women.”
She broke new ground as the popular, post-operative transsexual, Claire, on the Showtime series “Barbershop,” and later appeared on NBC’s popular drama “ER.”
Ms. Ralph also had a leading role in the 1970s big screen comedy-drama, “A Piece of the Action,” which starred comedian Bill Cosby and Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier.
In addition to the six musicals this season, Mr. Nicosia said the NEPA theater audience can look forward to some exciting and special presentations such as “Sisters Christmas Catechism,” scheduled Dec. 4 to 7.
For further information on the gala and the Broadway season, call 342-7784.
“We have a big, big season,” Mr. Nicosia said. “We want to keep Broadway in Scranton.”
Contact the writer: sbrown@timesshamrock.com
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