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Dance Day Performances
Since 1997
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Laguna Main Beach at the Cobblestones
Free Performances start at 4:30 PM
"When I discovered Florence Mills as the subject of Duke Ellington’s magnificent tribute, “Black Beauty,” I recognized a figure of major significance, who had somehow slipped through a crack in the historic record. The lack of any filmic or audio traces no doubt help explain her almost total eclipse. It was a cold trail in the early 1990s as I began to trace her story, but I soon discovered there was a small coterie of people for whom her memory was alive and treasured. One of these was her fellow African American performer Jonelle Allen, whose devotion to Florence Mills long pre-dated mine.
I have tried through my book and web site to restore Florence to her rightful place in the history of African American, and world, entertainment, as well as in the struggle for equal rights. However, the matter readers have most questioned me on is the inadequacy of explanation for why Florence never made records. I have since come to believe that, though technical matters were a factor, the real explanation is that her forte was interacting with a live audience. After her first negative experience I think she resisted the sterile environment of the recording studio. I therefore believe the true spirit of Florence Mills is best captured in the live performance of a devoted successor like Jonelle Allen, and perhaps in Duke Ellington’s “Black Beauty,” rather than through any words on a page."
Bill Egan
Author: "Florence Mills Harlem Jazz Queen"
http://www.florencemills.com
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Starring
Jonelle Allen
as Harlem Jazz Queen
Florence Mills
Produced by Steve Josephson
Choreography by Ellen Prince
*additional choreography by Hector Guerrero
Featuring:
Dion Mial, Hector Guerrero, Steve Josephson,
Lawrencia B. Colding, Kymberly Evans,
and Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
And:
Lisa Forrest, Piper Harris, Amy Manlapaz,
Sarah Schanz and Mary Martin
And featuring the music of
Eubie Blake
Fats Waller
Duke Ellington
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| Cobblestones at Main Beach, Laguna Beach, CA |
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Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 4:30 PM
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FREE
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"Black Beauty"
Duke Ellington, 1928
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INSTRUMENTAL
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"I'm Craving for that Kind of Love"
Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, 1922
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Jonelle Allen
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"Cotton Club Stomp"
Duke Ellington, 1927
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The Vamps: Piper Harris, Lisa Forrest,
Amy Manlapz, Mary Martin and Sarah Schanz
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"Honeysuckle Rose"
Fats Waller and Andy Razaf, 1929
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Dion Mial
with Lawrencia B. Colding, Kymberly Evans
and Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
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"You've Got to See Mama Ev'ry Night"
Billy Rose and Con Conrad, 1923
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Jonelle Allen
with Lawrencia B. Colding, Kymberly Evans
and Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
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"Creole Love Call"
Duke Ellington, 1927
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Steve Josephson
with Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
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"Lulu's Back in Town"
Al Dubin and Harry Warren, 1935
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Lawrencia B. Colding
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"The Mooch"
Duke Ellington, 1928
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The Vamps: Piper Harris, Lisa Forrest,
Amy Manlapz, Mary Martin and Sarah Schanz
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"Double Check Stomp"
Duke Ellington, 1927
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Jonelle Allen and Edward Johnson
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"Ain't Misbehavin'"
Fats Waller, Andy Razaf and Harry Brooks, 1930
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Kymberly Evans
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"I'm Just Wild About Harry"
Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake and Jimmy Dale, 1921
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INSTRUMENTAL
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"I Can't Give You Anything But Love"
Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, 1928
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Jonelle Allen, Steve Josephson and Dion Mial
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"The Man From Harlem"
Cab Calloway, 1932
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Hector Guerrero
with Lawrencia B. Colding and Kymberly Evans
Choreography by Hector Guerrero
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"Business in "F""
Archie Blyer, 1931
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INSTRUMENTAL
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"Minnie the Moocher"
Cab Calloway, Irving Mills,Clarence Gaskill, 1931
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Dion Mial
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"Jazznocracy"
Jimmie Lunceford, 1934
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Jonelle Allen
The Vamps: Piper Harris, Lisa Forrest,
Amy Manlapz, Mary Martin and Sarah Schanz
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"Sweet Georgia Brown"
Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey, 1925
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Hector Guerrero
Choreography by Hector Guerrero
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"It Don't Mean a Thing"
Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, 1932
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Lawrencia B. Colding, Kymberly Evans
and Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
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"I'm a Little Blackbird Looking for a Bluebird"
Geo. W. Meyer, Arthur Johnston,
Grant Clarke and Roy Turk, 1932
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Jonelle Allen
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Harlem Band:
Bandleader/Woodwind III - Chris Dierl
Violin - David Ickler
Woodwind I - Jim Lathers
Woodwind II - Stephan Cardenas
Trumpet I - Jostein Aarflot
Trumpet II - Brian Atkinson
Trombone - Dan Seager
Piano - Paul Kosmala
Banjo/Guitar - Robert Hardaway
Bass - Pat LaVergne
Drums - Michael Rosen
COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
Jonelle Allen
Ms. Allen, who spent six years as Grace, the entrepreneurial post-Civil War frontier café owner in CBS-TV’s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, was four years old when she was cast in the revival Wisteria Trees starring Helen Hayes, Ossie Davis, Cliff Robertson and others at the New York City Center Theatre. In the course of the play’s run, Ms. Hayes took Ms. Allen’s Aunt Bea aside and advised her, “Keep this child in the theatre, she has a natural gift.” It wasn’t until some twenty years later at Sardi’s that Jonelle again saw Helen Hayes in person. Ms. Allen was in the spotlight at the famed theatrical hangout awaiting the first reviews following her opening night of the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona, in which she starred and which Ms. Hayes had attended. Rushing up to a great actress and assuming that she would not recognize her, Ms. Allen recounted the circumstances and what Ms. Hayes had said to her Aunt Bea years earlier. Ms. Hayes smiling simply said, “See. I was right.” Ms. Allen received a Tony nomination as "Best Actress in a Musical" and won the Drama Critics, Drama Desk, Theater World, and Outer Circle Awards for her performance as "Silvia" in the New York Shakespeare Festival production. Other Broadway credits include the original casts of Hair and George M!, starring Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters. Ms. Allen has appeared in numerous feature films and television productions including Hotel New Hampshire, Cagney and Lacey, Hill Street Blues, Generations, Twice In A Lifetime for PAX-TV and Strong Medicine for Lifetime Network. Ms. Allen won a Dramalogue Award for her performance of "Aldonza" in Man of La Mancha prior to embarking on the phenomenal run on Dr. Quinn.
Dion Mial
With music as his first love, Dion is delighted to return to Laguna to work with Gallimaufry. Dion most recently was seen in Smokey Joe's Café with Cabrillo Music Theatre at the Thousdand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. His previous performances with Gallimaufry include Hot 'n' Cole, The Best Of Broadway II & III and Duets. Since releasing a new inspirational CD titled The Gifts, Dion continues to embrace and to nurture his life-long passion with the voice, with recent appearances in Showboat’s-A-Comin’ at the Norris Theatre in Palos Verdes, CA. He is also a featured vocalist at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA. and numerous spiritual centers, cultural, civic, and charitable events around the country. Dion lovingly and appreciatively dedicates his performance to his grandmother, Olga, and to Hector for their constant and unwavering love and support.
Hector Guerrero
Hector is currently performing in Disney’s Aladdin and teaching at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Choreography credits include OFF-BROADWAY; Gimme a Break! and Concert of Excellence at Lincoln Center. REGIONAL; A Chorus Line, Aida, The Lion King and West Side Story. Performing credits include BROADWAY TOURS: "Chino" in West Side Story, Evita, 42nd Street, The Goodbye Girl with Debbie Gravitte and Gary Sandy. REGIONAL: "Paul", "Mark" and "Larry" in A Chorus Line, "Carl" in Bells are Ringing, "Ito" in Mame with JoAnne Worley and No, No, Nanette with Susan Egan. CONCERTS/REVIEWS: Gypsy Awards with Donna McKechnie, Broadway Bares with Jane Krakowski, Ruby Keeler Tribute with Lee Roy Reams, Swellegant Elegance with Joanna Gleason and Michael Jeter, Love is all that Matters with Christina Applegate and Revelations with Jasmine Guy. FILM: Cool as Ice. TV: Live with Regis and Kelly (ABC) and 24/Seven (NBC). VIDEOS: Bjork, Black Uhuru and Ice-T. Teaching credits include: Broadway Dance Center, American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), 92nd Street Y and Houston’s High School for the Performing Arts. Special thanks to Dion for the constant support and inspiration. Enjoy the show.
Steve was most recently seen in Gallimaufry's Best of Broadway and as "Grimbly" the rat in the Laguna Playhouse's production of The Great Squirrel Uprising. Prior to that, he appeared as "Zach" in A Chorus Line and "Mendel" in March of the Falsettos where he recreated the role he portrayed twenty years ago in the European premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. His other European premieres include "Dodge" in Sam Shepherd’s revised version of Buried Child for the opening of the French American Cultural Center for the Arts in Paris, France, and "Joseph" in Arthur Kopit’s BecauseHeCan, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Tea & Crumpets. Other performances include: The Miracle Worker (Captain Keller), The Glass Menagerie (Tom), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Snoopy! (Snoopy), Gypsy (Tulsa), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Linus), Cabaret (Emcee), Into the Woods (Baker), but it was his critically acclaimed portrayal as both "Yoda" and the robot "C-3P0" in Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes that has brought him the most notoriety along with appearances on CNN, Good Morning New York, GM Los Angeles, and GM Miami.
Lawrencia B. Colding
Lawrencia has been a singer for over 15 years, and has been a songwriter/arranger for 11 years in the styles of Broadway, Opera, R&B, Alternative, Neo Soul and Experimental. She has performed in shows including Grapes Of Wrath, For Colored Girls..., Visions, Little Shop Of Horrors, Blood Wedding and HONK! The musical. Schools attended include Hollywood High Performing Arts Magnet, and LA City College Theatre Academy. Lawrencia is currently working on arrangement and writing for several R&B/Hip-Hop independent artists and open to various music/acting ventures.
Kymberly Evans
Spiritually soul stirring vocalist, Kymberly Evans, found her musical expression at the age of 5. She later made her vocal debut at the age of nine with the San Francisco Children’s Opera, as well as, dancing with the San Francisco Opera. Kymberly has captured the attention of audiences from Brazil to Beirut and from Europe to South Africa while establishing quite a following in the United States with their captivating stage presence and aggressive approach to music. She has shared the stage, toured, or collaborated with such musical greats as Taj Mahal, Steve Vai, Barry White, Nell Carter, and Ray Charles. In addition to being featured in such film, television, and stage projects as Kingdom Come-Searchlight Pictures, America Works America Sings-Disney Productions, The Amen Corner; and the original productions of The Last Word and Visions. Kymberly also had the privilege to spread the education of AIDS across the country while touring with the nationally acclaimed DIFFA presentation of Heart Strings while still having time to lend her musical talent to various commercial jingles and voiceovers. Most recently, Kymberly’s smoky vocals were featured on Air Force One on a collaborative CD called Jazz Baby. Kymberly has received rave reviews for her contribution to the musical society with her band, Velvet Catfish, setting the trend for the amazing new sound – eclectic soul!
Meredith Woodson-Hubbard
Meredith has been performing for over 20 years for many regional theatres throughout Southern California, as well as for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Toho-Geno in Japan, and for corporate industrial productions. As a back-up singer for the late Tony Award-Winner, Nell Carter, she performed all over the United States, including several television shows, and has done studio recording for Warner Brothers and other projects. Meredith most recently performed with Gallimaufry Performing Arts as "LaVonda" in Sordid Lives and in Best of Broadway III. She was also the director of last year's concert staging of South Pacific. She taught classes for Cerritos and Cypress Colleges, Pacific School of Music, and Musical Theater Academy, whose students performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the OC Performing Arts Center. Laguna audiences have also enjoyed Meredith’s portrayal of “Queenie” and “Lowbutt” in the Laguna Playhouse’s production of Honk!. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre, which includes emphases in education, acting, dance, and Musical Theatre; and a minor in English.
Piper Harris (Dancer)
A California-native, Piper Harris has studied at the summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miami City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She has just completed her education at University of Utah where she graduated with a BS in Ballet. She has performed such roles as "Spanish", "Snow" and "Waltz" in Nutcracker; "Spring" in Vivaldi’s Seasons; "Cupid" in Don Quixote; "Peasant Pas Variation" in Giselle; and "Petipa’s" Sylvia variation. She has performed with Inland Pacific Ballet Company; Ballet Pacifica; Westside Ballet; Burklyn Ballet Theatre; at The Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland; Utah Regional Ballet; Utah Ballet; and Ballet West, and is currently a company dancer with Columbia City Ballet. She has performed numerous times on PBS with the renowned Jazz Tap Ensemble along with ballet scenes on Touched By An Angel.
Lisa Forrest (Dancer)
Lisa Forrest is thrilled to be involved in this production of Harlem Renaissance. Lisa has been performing since the age of five, and recently graduated from the California Conservatory of the Arts. Some of her favorite performances include Into the Woods (Little Red Ridinghood), A Broadway Review (Sally – Me and My Girl, June – Gypsy), and Snoopy (Lucy). She has also appeared on Good Morning America and various news programs with The Kids Next Door. Lisa would like to thank everyone involved in this performance, especially Jonelle and Ellen for this wonderful opportunity, and her family and friends for their support.
Amy Manlapaz (Dancer)
Amy Manlapaz began her dance training at the early age of five where she quickly realized it would become her passion. She danced on scholarship with Ballet Aspen, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet summer intensive programs. She auditioned for and was accepted to dance on stage with New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Aspen. Her dance styles are versatile and range from ballet and jazz to music videos and musicals where some of her credits include dancing with the Crystal Cathedral to performing at Universal Studios Hollywood. She graduated from Chapman University and has been teaching dance for the last ten years enjoying and inspiring young children to learn the art and technique of dance through her passion.
Mary Martin (Dancer)
Mary has been dancing her entire life. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. She went on to dance in several companies in Chicago, including the Chicago Honey Bears, in which she was able to travel around the U.S. and Asia. This is Mary's first show since moving from Chicago to California, and she is excited to be a part of Harlem Renaissance!
Sarah Schanz (Dancer)
Sarah was born with a deep passion for performing. She has devoted many of her years to studying the crafts of acting, dance, and singing. She has enjoyed several leading roles in various productions at the California Conservatory of the Arts and the Broadway School of Performing Arts, but her main focus is on growing as an artist. She is thrilled to continue that growth at the UCLA School of Theater in the coming fall. Sarah feels blessed to have worked with such talent in this production, and for the incredible opportunities that have come her way. She would also like to thank her family for their love and belief in her.
Ellen Prince (Choreographer)
Ellen is thrilled to be choreographing for Gallimaufry and working with Steve on this wonderful project. This is her third project involving the music and spirit of Florence Mills. Ellen earned her degree with a major in dance and a minor in theatre and French from the University of California at Irvine. She has choreographed both in academia and professionally for over twenty years. Ellen has been choreographing for the Laguna Playhouse for thirteen seasons where she has had the privilege of choreographing The Secret Garden, The Wizard of Oz, among others. Other credits include original shows at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and at the Tiffany Theater in Los Angeles. She also choreographed both the pilot and all four seasons of The Great Pretenders for Fox Network. Ellen has choreographed for many Civic Light Opera Companies, such as Saddleback Civic Light Opera, and also for Dance Companies. She has served as the resident choreographer for South Coast Musical Theater and for Irvine Civic Light Opera where she choreographed numerous shows including A Chorus Line, Company, Evita, The Music Man, Cabaret, and the Dramalogue winning production of Pacific Overtures. Ellen danced with the Norman Walker Dance Company in New York, and the Ben Howard Company in Los Angeles. Many thanks to Jonelle for introducing me to Florence Mills, and sharing your passion for her soul.
Steve Josephson (Producer)
Gallimaufry Performing Arts' Executive Artistic Director is a graduate of Laguna Beach High School, and attended USC with scholarships from the Festival of Arts. His association with USC extended for 20 years as he became Resident Director/Choreographer and a Playwright in Residence with Festival Theatre USC/USA, a repertory company that attends the Edinburgh International Festival. For Festival Theatre he directed the European premieres of A. R. Gurney’s The Perfect Party, Christopher Durang’s Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, Alan Menken’s Weird Romance, Harold Arlen and Truman Capote’s House of Flowers, William Finn’s March of the Falsettos, Kenneth Lonnergan’s This is Our Youth, as well as productions of his own works Tea & Crumpets and The Aspern Papers. Also for Festival Theatre he directed and choreographed productions of West Side Story, Chicago, Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, Snoopy!, Little Shop of Horrors, A Little Night Music, Working and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. In New York he wrote, directed and produced the Off-Broadway Musical Farce Some Summer Night which was a winner of the New American Musical Writers Festival. In San Francisco he wrote, directed and choreographed Tea & Crumpets which won the S.F. Bay Area Theatre Critics Award for Best New Musical. In Los Angeles he produced the wildly successful Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes and produced, directed and choreographed the West Coast premiere of Weird Romance. For Scottsdale’s Ensemble Theatre Company he directed productions of Loot, The Lonesome West and 2 1/2 Jews which later performed in Baltimore’s Gordon Center for the Arts. For Fox Sports and Primeticket he wrote and directed the USC “Inaugural Sports Hall of Fame Induction” hosted by Frank Gifford which included his writing one of the last public addresses for former president Ronald Reagan. In Laguna Beach he choreographed Manet! and A Wonderful Life at the Laguna Playhouse and produced and directed Love Letters starring Tom Skerritt and Kathy Baker for the Laguna Art Museum. Laguna audiences may have also seen his productions of Gypsy, Bugsy Malone, Follies, Annie Warbucks, The Philadelphia Story, Into the Woods, 42nd Street, Duets, Seussical, A Chorus Line, South Pacific, Sordid Lives, Meet Me in St. Louis and Hot 'n' Cole.
Colleen Coombs (Stage Manager)
This is CC’s first time behind the scenes ‘playing’ stage manager. She appeared in last year's Gallimaufry production of South Pacific as one of the nurses. In addition, she has appeared as both the "Widow Douglas" and "Judith Loftus" in Huckleberry Finn, "Mama Maddelena" in Nine, "Amanda McKenney" in Working and "Sister Mary Amnesia" in a revue of Nunsense. CC has performed vocally throughout Orange County.
Geno Grammatico (Audio Engineer)
Geno was born and raised in Rochester, NY, where he first grew to love both music and musical theatre. He is a 'Full Sail' Recording Arts Graduate (Associate of Science Degree & in Audio Engineering) with an emphasis in Entertainment Business and Law. He is a professionally trained percussionist in both jazz and classical music, and though he loves the recording studio environment, he much prefers a live performance atmosphere. He is currently writing a Children’s Theatre and Rock Opera. Gino comes from a musical family; his father directed The Sound of Music at the Kodak Theatre, and his 1st cousin is Lou Gramm (lead singer with the band Foreigner)!
Tom Keyes (Assistant Audio Engineer)
This marks the beginning of Tom's 4th year with Gallimaufry and his 7th show. Most of his appearances have been "onstage", however, he doesn't mind working wherever needed. He has appeared as “Mac” in 42nd Street, “Capt. Brackett” in South Pacific, “The Motorman” in last summer's Meet Me In St. Louis, “Mr. Enoch Snow” in the concert staging of Carousel and most recently in Hot 'n' Cole. His previous credits include “Roy Selridge” in Biloxi Blues with ACR and “The Padre” in Man of La Mancha at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, as well as some smaller independent shows with Molly Hardy Productions. Music has been a lifelong passion for Tom and he credits a viewing of Howard Keel in Kismet as the reason he's pursued singing ever since.
Special thanks to:
Jim Jones at Yestertunes.com and
Mike Henebry, Crazy Rhythm Hot Society Orchestra, for their generosity in sharing orchestrations.
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