NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "There She Is..." Rehearsal Portraits at Westchester Broadway Theatre's TitanicTom Hewitt, Philip Hoffman, Drew McVety, William Parry, Donna English and Adam Heller appear in the Westchester Broadway Theatre staging of the Tony Award-winning Maury Yeston musical Titanic. Hoffman shares exclusive rehearsals shots from the intimate staging.
By
Matthew Blank
January 23, 2014
"Actor/Director Don Stephenson (the original Charles Clark on Broadway in 1997) had the inspiration to bring the beautiful Maury Yeston score and book by Peter Stone to smaller venues," says Hoffman. "Mr. Yeston gave his blessing, and with original Musical Director Kevin Stites as “sounding board” (pun intended) Stephenson reduced the cast by half and presented a terrific, more intimate version. Stites brought Ian Weinberger aboard to re-arrange the score and conduct our crackerjack orchestra."
"That production led to the last year’s well-received London production. Now we are back in the states, at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, with Stephenson back at the helm, assisted by choreographer Liza Gennaro. Much of the Hangar theatre cast is here, plus cast members of other Titanic productions and a few sea-worthy recruits. It’s great to be back on the boat!"
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "There She Is..." Rehearsal Portraits at Westchester Broadway Theatre's Titanic
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "There She Is..." Rehearsal Portraits at Westchester Broadway Theatre's Titanic
Tom Hewitt, Philip Hoffman, Drew McVety, William Parry, Donna English and Adam Heller appear in the Westchester Broadway Theatre staging of the Tony Award-winning Maury Yeston musical Titanic. Hoffman shares exclusive rehearsals shots from the intimate staging.
32 PHOTOS
First day: On the WBT set for White Christmas, the director addresses the cast.
Philip Hoffman
Adam Heller and William Parry play "Battleship."
Philip Hoffman
On the bridge: Jonathan Brody, Drew McVety, Adam Heller, William Parry and Will Boyajian (who appears to be asleep at the wheel).
Philip Hoffman
Our three Kates: Sarah Charles (McGowan), Elizabeth Hake (Murphey) and Celeste Rose (Mullins).
Philip Hoffman
Donna English as Alice Beane longs to dance with the First Class.
Philip Hoffman
Tom Hewitt, William Parry, Jeremy Ellison-Gladstone and Adam Heller sharing the stage with White Christmas…
Philip Hoffman
And later, on our set by Patrick Rizzotti, with lighting by Andrew Gmoser.
Philip Hoffman
Projections designed by Howard Werner. (Table settings by the wait staff …)
Philip Hoffman
Liza Gennaro (in scarf) with Christian Palmer and Elizabeth Hake.
Philip Hoffman
Hey, everyone checks their email … even orchestrators.
Philip Hoffman
Ian Weinberger (right) conducts our titanic orchestra.
Philip Hoffman
After several days onstage, we had to squeeze into Nola Studios for a run-through. Seated from left are "Keeper of the Keys" Kevin Stites, Director Don Stephenson, and Choreographer Liza Gennaro.
Running Jan. 16-Feb. 23, 2014, Titanic is staged by original cast member Don Stephenson, who played Charles Clarke in the 1997 Broadway premiere of the musical. Liza Gennaro choreographs with musical direction by Ian Weinberger. The cast features Tony nominee Hewitt as Thomas Andrews, with Hoffman as Edgar Beane, McVety as Henry Etches, Parry as Captain Smith, English as Alice Beane, Heller as J. Bruce Ismay and Kay Walbye as Ida Strauss.
The cast is completed by Will Boyajian, Jonathan Brody, Sarah Charles, Xander Chauncey, Ben Estus, Jeremy Ellison Gladstone, Elizabeth Hake, John Langley, Benjamin McHugh, Patricia Noonan, Christian Palmer, Noah Plomgren, Celeste Rose and David Studwell.
The intimate production has set design by Patrick Rizzotti, projections by Howard Werner, sound design by Jon Hatton and Mark Zuckerman, lighting design by Andrew Gmoser, costume design by Derek Lockwood and wig design by Gerard Kelly.
The musical has a Tony-winning score by Yeston (Grand Hotel, Nine) and a Tony-winning book by the late Peter Stone (The Will Rogers Follies, 1776). Titanic won 1997 Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical (Stone), Best Musical, Best Orchestrations (Jonathan Tunick), Best Score (Yeston) and Best Scenic Design (Stewart Laing).
