Boynton Beach Club: From Movie to Stage!
First, "The Boynton Beach Club" was a movie in 2005.BOYNTON BEACH CLUB is a new musical spotlighting how people today are aging differently than in the past.
SUSAN SEIDELMAN (Book) is best known for her work as a film director. She began her filmmaking career as an NYU student in the mid 1970s. In 1982 she directed her first low-budget feature film, SMITHEREENS, about the early punk rock scene set in New York’s Lower East Side. This became the first American “Independent” film to be accepted into the Official Competition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Heather MacRae is perhaps best known for her role in the Woody Allen 1972 comedy film Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask).
BOYNTON BEACH CLUB is a musical romantic comedy about people’s amazing capacity to rebound and fall in love—at any age. It’s the story of aging Baby Boomers who live in a retirement community in Boynton Beach, South Florida.
Their lives intersect at a local Bereavement Club, where many have gone to find emotional support and companionship after the loss of a loved one. Soon they find themselves back in the “dating game” after decades of married life—only to discover that all the rules have changed.
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| Barbara Ann Walsh |
In the film, Dyan Cannon portrays Lois Paulson. In the musical Barbara Ann Walsh plays Lois, a sexy and outgoing 60-year old widow who finds herself romantically involved with Donald Best (portrayed in the film by Michael Nouri and here by Alan Campbell), a slightly “younger” man she meets at a coffee shop. Handsome, charming, and successful, he’s almost too good to be true. Lois also befriends Marilyn Carter, ( portrayed here by Heather McRae, in film by Brenda Vaccaro), a traditional housewife, who was deeply dependent on her husband, Marty (Jerold Goldstein here in a scene in which Marilyn is speaking to her late husband after confronting the woman who killed him while talking on a cell phone) .
After Marty’s death in a tragic accident, Marilyn tries to cope with her new-found independence. Then there’s Harry Fanelli (played by Stephen Berger here/Joseph Bologna in the film), an aging, self-professed Lothario hooked on computer dating.
Finally, there’s Jack Goodman(in the film portrayed by Len Cariou/here by Mark Zimmerman), a Jewish widower, who’s devoted to the memory of his deceased wife.
Jack is surprised to find he’s reluctantly falling for Sandy Wills (Janice Lynd here/film by Sally Kellerman), a striking woman he meets at the Bereavement Club, with a secret in her past.
Complications occur for all these characters. Hot-to-trot Harry’s ego is boosted then deflated by Florence, his Internet dreamgirl, who turns out to be an unexpected surprise.
Marilyn has to face Anita Stern, the pampered, self-indulgent woman who killed Marilyn’s husband, while backing out her car and talking on the cell-phone. Encouraged by Lois and other friends, Marilyn finally develops the spine to stand up to Anita.
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| Heather MacRae |
Meanwhile, Jack pursues the lovely, but insecure Sandy in a series of disastrous dates. These setbacks are overcome by their deep attraction to each other. That is, until Jack discovers Sandy isn’t a widow at all, but a divorcee who’s been misleading him.
Lois has her own emotional tribulations. She admits to Marilyn that her reason for joining the Bereavement Club is unlike that of other members: she grieves for the death of her son, stating how the loss of her child has surpassed all other sorrows in her life. She receives another jolt when she discovers the dashing Donald is not the real estate developer she assumed him to be. His real job is far less glamorous.
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| Scott Burkell |
I will say the casting for this musical us superb. All accomplished actors!
Rounding out the cast in dual roles is Scott Burkell as Bernie and Leonard and Nora Maye Lung as Camille and Molly.
NORA MAE LYNG (Camille/Molly) Broadway credits include featured roles in INTO THE WOODS, AMOUR, CABARET, THREE MEN ON A HORSE, DIRTY BLONDE, WIND AND THE WILLOWS, LES MISERABLES, and MY FAVORITE YEAR.
SCOTT BURKELL (Bernie/Leonard) spends most of his time now as the lyrical half of the musical theatre writing team Burkell and Loesel with musician Paul Loesel.
Their musical THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY was produced Off-Broadway in 2011 is well as the Farmer’s Alley Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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| Dyan Cannon and Michael Nouri |
They are currently developing their musical ELLA MINNOW PEA (previously produced at the University of Michigan) with the Breaking Bread Theatre Company in New York.
JEROLD GOLDSTEIN (Marty Carter/ Marv/Herman) was last seen in New York in Irving Berlin’s FACE THE MUSIC at the City Center and before that he played Mushnik in the national tour of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. He has appeared on Broadway in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, with Matthew Broderick and in the musical AIN’T BROADWAY GRAND. He was featured in the national tour A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM starring Rip Taylor (standing by for Mr. Taylor) and co-starred with Dick Van Patten in the out of town tryout of SCANDALS.
Jerold played Chico Marx in both ANIMAL CRACKERS at Arena Stage, Washington and THE COCOANUTS at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He won Philadelphia’s prestigious Barrymore Award for his performance in GUN METAL BLUES at the Wilma Theatre, was in the Kennedy Center’s long-running production of SHEAR MADNESS and toured Europe as Bert Barry in 42ND STREET. On television he has been featured on NBC’s “Law and Order” and CBS’ “Hack.”
BETHE B. AUSTIN (Florence/Anita Stern) was seen this summer as Mrs. Braddock in THE GRADUATE starring Patricia Richardson. Her Broadway debut was starring opposite Robert Preston in Larry Gelbart’s SLY FOX, followed by WHOOPEE with Charles Repole, ONWARD VICTORIA opposite Jill Eikenberry, RAGGEDY ANN directed by Pat Birch, and NOISES OFF with Dorothy Louden (Drama Desk Award, Best Ensemble).
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| Bethe B. Austin |
She also costarred with Richard Kiley in the pre-Broadway tryout of the thriller GUILTY CONSCIENCE. Off-Broadway credits include OLYMPUS ON MY MIND (from which she is delighted to own an original Hirschfeld of herself as Dolores), ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, IRON CURTAIN, Melissa Manchester’s I SENT A LETTER TO MY LOVE, PASTORALE (Second Stage), ZERO POSITIVE (Public Theater), and David Ives’ ALL IN THE TIMING. Bethe played Annie Dummermont in Kander and Ebb’s THE VISIT starring Chita Rivera and George Hearn (nominated for nine Helen Hayes Awards, including Best Musical and Best Ensemble). She also understudied Chita Rivera for that project.
Regional roles have covered a wide range: from Drood in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (directed by Rob Marshall) to Suzie in WAIT UNTIL DARK; from Mona in BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS to Anne in STAGESTRUCK; from Ruth in BLITHE SPIRIT to Amnesia in NUNSENSE JAMBOREE and Penny in YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU.
Bethe won the 1998 Barrymore Award (Philadelphia) for Best Supporting Actress in Larry Gatlin’s TEXAS FLYER at the Bristol Riverside Theater where she has since performed in numerous pieces (nominated again in 1999 for She Loves Me). National Tours include Hortense in THE BOYFRIEND directed by Dame Julie Andrews and several seasons as Mrs. Claus in THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. TV credits include guest-starring roles on “Growing Pains,” “Nurses,” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” Film work: OUR SONS with Julie Andrews, SERIOUS MONEY, STEPFORD WIVES, and Cannes Film Festival entry SURPRISE.
JOAN BARBER (Mimi) is a proud member of Equity, SAG, and AFTRA. After graduating from the University of Michigan, and performing in dinner theater, summer stock, childrens’ theater, and Off Off Broadway, Joan made her Broadway debut in MAN OF LA MANCHA opposite Richard Kiley. She has the distinction of being the only woman to play Aldonza on Broadway opposite both Mr. Kiley and the late Raul Julia. Other Broadway shows include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, BIG, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, FOLLIES, and KING DAVID.
I spoke with Joan a few moments over the phone yesterday. She told me she was originally called by Ned about five years ago for The York Theatre presentation. She plays various roles in addition to Mimi in the show and loves the entire company of "ALTER COCKERS" She says the entire company is fun and playful and she is having a blast!
Boynton Beach Club
A New Musical in Concert
Friday February 10 @ 8 PMSaturday February 11 @ 2* PM & 8 PM,
Sunday February 12 @ 3 PM
To hear a few of the songs, CLICK HERE
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| Alan Campbell |
Here's to Boynton Beach Club: The Musical being a bigger hit than "Book of Mormon"!
I have an idea! I want the Broadway community to get behind me!
I want to start an advertising campaign to celebrate Broadway! Very much like the old "I LOVE NEW YORK" campaign. I would LOVE to have the voices that make up Broadway, past and present in this campaign. It will play nationwide and the slogan is "I am the voice of Broadway...I am proud to be too Broadway!".
This should celebrate ALL that Broadway is! Broadway, are you with me?
I am proud to be TOO BROADWAY!
IF you watch SMASH or GLEE, or THE TONY AWARDS, watch with caution...it may be too Broadway!
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| Joan Barber |
NO COPY WRITE INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
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Tomorrow's's blog will be... CELEBRATING STACY SULLIVAN!
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
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| Stephen Berger |
Now, GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TOMORROW!
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| Alan Campbell |
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
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| Janice Lynde Zoch |
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
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| Nora Mae Lymg |
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| Barbara Minkus |
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