Tony winner Jerry Zaks will direct the revue that was created for the acclaimed City Center series. With choreography by Warren Carlyle and musical direction by Rob Berman, Stairway will play six performances, from May 10-14.
The cast for Stairway to Paradise features Kristin Chenoweth (Female Star), Kevin Chamberlin (Comic #1), Christopher Fitzgerald (Comic #2), Jenn Gambatese (The Girl), Michael Gruber (Joe), Shonn Wiley (The Boy), J. Mark McVey (The Tenor), Holly Cruikshank (Pas de Deux Specialty), Kendrick Jones (Dance Soloist Tapper), Capathia Jenkins (The African American Woman) and Ruthie Henshall (The Sophisicated Woman).
The ensemble comprises Timothy J. Alex, Robin Campbell, Erin Crouch, Susan Derry, Lianne Marie Dobbs, Emily Fletcher, Bob Gaynor, Laura Griffith, Dale Hensley, Renee Klapmeyer, Barrett Martin, Sean McKnight, James Patterson, Eric Santagata, Kiira Schmidt, Dennis Stowe, Sarrah Strimel, Kevin Vortmann, J.D. Webster and Teal Wicks.
Stairway to Paradise features songs and sketches from such classic Broadway revues as The Band Wagon, As Thousands Cheer, Pins and Needles, Call Me Mister, The Garrick Gaieties and New Faces of 1952. Theatregoers can expect to hear such tunes as "Manhattan," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?," "This is the Army Mr. Jones," "Suppertime" and "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan."
The design team includes John Lee Beatty (scenic consultant), William Ivey Long (costume coordinator), Paul Gallo (lighting design) and Tom Morse (sound). Show times are May 10 at 8 PM, May 11 at 8 PM, May 12 at 2 and 8 PM, May 13 at 6:30 PM and May 14 at 7 PM (benefit performance).
Tickets, priced $25-$90, are available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org. City Center is located in Manhattan at West 55th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
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The 2007 City Center Encores! season is devoted to the Broadway revue. The season kicked off Feb. 8-12 with Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies, co-starring Victoria Clark and Donna Murphy. A full-scale restoration of Face the Music, the 1932 Irving Berlin Moss Hart musical, followed, playing March 29-April 1.
