The long-awaited New York debut of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's Harmony officially opens Off-Broadway April 13.
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents the musical, which began previews March 23 in the newly renovated Edmond J. Safra Hall at the Museum of Jewish Heritage–A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Tony winner Warren Carlyle directs and choreographs the production, currently scheduled to run through May 8.
One notable personality will not be present for opening night festivities, with the show's composer Manilow sidelined by a positive COVID test.
“I am heartbroken to say that I have just tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be able to attend tonight’s opening night performance of my new musical, Harmony," shares Manilow in a statement. "This just might be the cruelest thing that has ever happened to me: 25 years waiting for this show to premiere in New York and I can’t attend. Even in the face of this pandemic, we New Yorkers remain the toughest, staunchest people on the planet—so, put on a mask and go see a show!”
The cast features Sierra Boggess (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, The Little Mermaid) as Mary with Chip Zien (Falsettos, Into the Woods) as the elder Rabbi.
Playing the six Comedian Harmonists are Sean Bell (A Bronx Tale: The Musical), Danny Kornfeld (Rent), Zal Owen (The Band’s Visit), Eric Peters (Motown: The Musical), Blake Roman (Newsies), and Steven Telsey (The Book of Mormon). Jessie Davidson is Ruth, with Ana Hoffman (Dreamgirls) as Josephine Baker. Kenny Morris (Hairspray) is the standby for Zien’s Rabbi.
The ensemble includes Elise Frances Daniells, Zak Edwards, Abby Goldfarb, Eddie Grey, Shayne Kennon, Kolby Kindle, Benjamin H. Moore, Matthew Mucha, Tori Palin, Barrett Riggins, Kayleen Seidl, Andrew O’Shanick, Dan Teixeira, Nancy Ticotin, and Kate Wesler.
The musical tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in 1920s Germany who took the world by storm with their blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics, until their inclusion of Jewish singers put them on a collision course with history.
The production has scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Linda Cho and Ricky Lurie, lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, video design by batwin + robin productions, inc., casting by Jamibeth Margolis, associate direction and choreography by Sara Edwards, general management by Roy Gabay/Jumpstart Entertainment, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, and music direction and additional vocal and music arrangement by John O’Neill.
Harmony is co-produced by Ken Davenport and Sandi Moran with Garry Kief, Amuse, Inc., Susan DuBow, Mapleseed Productions, Michelle Kaplan, and Neil Gooding Productions in association with Wilfried Rimensberger and STILETTO Entertainment. Miranda Gohh is associate producer.
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Sierra Boggess
Sierra Boggess and Danny Kornfeld
Zal Owen, Zak Edwards, Steven Telsey, Eric Peters, and Blake Roman
Steven Telsey, Blake Roman, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, Sean Bell, and Zal Owen
Jessie Davidson and Blake Roman
Zak Edwards and Chip Zien
Chip Zien
Zak Edwards, Steven Telsey, Eddie Grey, Elise Frances Daniells, Kate Wesler, Ana Hoffman, Sean Bell, and Eric Peters
Sean Bell, Barrett Riggins, Eric Peters, Danny Kornfeld, Ana Hoffman, Matthew Mucha, Steven Telsey, Shayne Kennon, Blake Roman, and Zal Owen
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Sean Bell, Eric Peters, Ana Hoffman, Nancy Ticotin, and Matthew Mucha
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, and Sean Bell
Steven Telsey, Sean Bell, Blake Roman, Danny Kornfeld, and Zal Owen
Steven Telsey, Sean Bell, Blake Roman, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, and Eric Peters
Danny Kornfeld, Sierra Boggess, Blake Roman, and Jessie Davidson
Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Zal Owen, Steven Telsey, Sean Bell, and Danny Kornfeld
Danny Kornfeld and Sierra Boggess
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Eric Peters, Zal Owen, and Sean Bell
Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Sean Bell, Steven Telsey, and Danny Kornfeld
Jessie Davidson
Chip Zien, Ana Hoffman, Sierra Boggess, and Danny Kornfeld
Blake Roman, Eric Peters, Zal Owen, Sean Bell, Steven Telsey, and Danny Kornfeld
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, Sean Bell, and Chip Zien
Steven Telsey, Sean Bell, Blake Roman, Danny Kornfeld, and Zal Owen in the Off-Broadway production of Harmony
Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Steven Telsey, and Eric Peters
Chip Zien
Andrew O’Shanick
Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, and Sean Bell
