Ellen Greene, Maya Days, Kathy Brier, Christine Pedi and Marla Schaffel head the cast of Diva Christmas, which began previews Nov. 23 and will run through Dec. 31. The cast also features Tedi Marsh, Kate Pazakis, Sally Schwab and N'Kenge Simpson-Hoffman. Brian Nash is musical director.
Ellen Greene began her career as a nightclub singer, performing in the now closed New York cabaret Reno Sweeney. At age 21, Joseph Papp took her under his wing and cast her in productions of Boom Boom Room and The Threepenny Opera. Greene earned a Tony nomination for her work in the latter, but it was her role as Audrey in both the original stage and film productions of Little Shop of Horrors that brought her national attention. Among her recent theatrical credits are the West Coast staging of Side Man and an all-star reading of Women Behind Bars. Her many screen credits include "The Cooler," "One Fine Day," "Léon," "Fathers & Sons," "Stepping Out," "Pump Up the Volume," "Talk Radio" and "Next Stop, Greenwich Village." Greene's acclaimed solo debut recording is titled "In His Eyes."
A New England native, Maya Days bowed on Broadway in Jonathan Larson's Rent, after appearing in the show's national and London companies. Her other musical theatre credits include Grease!, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar and, most recently, Off-Broadway's Once Around the Sun. Also a pop star in the U.K., Days has released several top-ten hits.
Emmy nominated Kathy Brier currently plays Marci Walsh on TV's "One Life to Live." Her New York stage credits include Hairspray, Bat Boy and The Prince and the Pauper.
Marla Schaffel received a Tony nomination for her work in the title role of Jane Eyre. She has also been seen on Broadway in Titanic and Les Misérables, Off-Broadway in Enter the Guardsman and Christina Alberta's Father and in the national tour of Evita. Her numerous regional credits include Lucky in the Rain, West Side Story, A Little Night Music, Paint Your Wagon, Glimmerglass, Fool for Love and Top Girls. On Broadway Christine Pedi appeared in the Martin Short revival of Little Me. She has performed in more than a dozen companies of Forbidden Broadway and earned Drama Desk and Ovation Award nominations for her work in Forbidden Hollywood.
A Broadway Diva Christmas is being presented by Parker Russell Productions, Tom D'Angora and Michael Duling.
The Julia Miles Theatre is located in Manhattan at 424 West 55th Street. Tickets, priced at $70, are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. For more information go to www.abroadwaydivachristmas.com.
