Broadway Palm Strikes Again!! Anything Goes!

1. Anything Goes 1: The cast of Anything Goes.

2. Anything Goes 2: Back row: Sailors; Front row: Theresa Walker as Erma

BROADWAY PALM IS SETTING SAIL WITH

COLE PORTER’S “ANYTHING GOES”!

            FORT MYERS, Fla – February 14, 2017 – Broadway Palm is setting sail with Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, playing February 16 through April 1, 2017. This Tony Award-winning revival takes audiences on a fun filled trip aboard the SS American that is packed with Cole Porter classics, lively tap dancing and a boatload of laughs!

When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and principle get tossed out the portholes! Two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love…proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from an exotic disguise, a whole ship full of tap dancing sailors and chorus girls, and some good old-fashioned blackmail. The magical score by Cole Porter includes It’s De-Lovely, You’re the Top, I Get a Kick Out of You, Easy to Love and the title song, Anything Goes.    

Every Friday evening during Anything Goes, Marc Collins will be performing in the theatre’s gallery from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Light appetizers will be available and the bar will be open. The theatre’s gallery and lobby bar are open to the public and a ticket to Anything Goes is not required to enjoy the entertainment.

Jump aboard with Broadway Palm and Anything Goes playing February 16 through April 1, 2017. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $40 to $65 with discounts for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

AND THE FOOOOODDDD!!!

• CHEF CARVED PORK LOIN (*, GF, LF, DF)
• BRONZED HADDOCK WITH ROASTED CORN AND TOMATILLO SALSA (GF, LF, DF)
• YANKEE POT ROAST WITH VEGETABLES (GF, LF, DF)
• HERB ROASTED CHICKEN (GF, LF, DF)
• RIGATONI WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES IN A POMODORO SAUCE
• BUTTERMILK MASHED POTATOES (GF, LF)
• WHITE RICE AND BLACK BEANS (GF, LF, DF)
• ROASTED CORN AND PEPPER MEDLEY (GF, LF)
• SAUTEED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, BACON AND SHOESTRING CARROTS (GF, LF)
• All menus include a complete salad bar with specialty salads, rolls and butter. Assorted desserts include pies, cakes, ice cream sundaes and more. Sugar-free options are available.
  All meals include coffee, tea, and hot tea. Sodas and all other drinks are an additional charge.
  GF  = Gluten Free
  LF = Low Fat
  DF = Dairy Free
  *    = Evening Only
  All Salad Dressings and Ice Cream are Gluten Free.

Sanibel Theater does it again!!! Find me a Tenor!!!!

 

Presented buy special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC

Lend me a Tenor is set in September 1934 on a very important night for the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. Henry Saunders, the general manager of the Opera Company, is primed to welcome world famous "Tito Merelli, Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello. 

The star arrives later after a huge fight with his fiery wife, Maria, and through a series of hilarious mishaps receives a double dose of tranquilizers. His pulse is so low that Saunders and is assistant Max believe he's dead. 

In a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saunders persuades Max to get into Merelli's Otello costume and fool the audience into thinking he's Il Stupendo. Max succeeds admirably, but Merelli comes to and gets into his other costume ready to perform. 

Now two Otellos are running around in costume and Max must navigate through one comedic disaster after the next.

Together with Saunders, they must find a way to save the Opera Company's big night in grand, farcical fashion.

 My Review:

As soon as I saw the stage with about 5-6 doors, I KNEW there would be a lot of door slamming! I was right! THEN I saw the cast and realized that The Broadway Palm actors had come to groove at the Sanibel Herb Strauss Theater!! and I also KNEW that the night would be incredibly special!

I had seen this production years ago and had forgotten so much of the fun! I never knew how well Chris Russel ~ Max and Joel Stigliano ~ Tito Merelli,  (sure, with a name like that, I sorta went 'DUH..') sang. Their incredible operatic renditions were spot-on and breath-taking. Great work, guys!

Rob Summers, a actor that seems to thrive on extremely angst-ridden and constantly highly emotional characters. His maintenance of said emotions keeps him at the forefront of being wanted for productions like these. How he's managed not to have strokes when portraying these characters, is a mystery to me.. but he's amazing!

Here is lots more info on the show, the venue, the cast:

Keep your eyes on and your Bridge Pass paid up to get out to Sanibel's Herb Strauss Theater

here's how to keep up with the goings on~

https://www.bigarts.org/performing-arts/ 

Kopit/Yeston's Amazing "Phantom" now at The Broadway Palm!!

THE EXQUISITE MASTERPIECE “PHANTOM”

COMES TO BROADWAY PALM!

            FORT MYERS, Fla – December 15, 2016 – Broadway Palm is proud to present the exquisite masterpiece, Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom, playing December 29, 2016 through February 11, 2017. From the Tony Award-winning team of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit who wrote Titanic, Grand Hotel and Nine comes Phantom in an epic and passionate tale of murder, intrigue and romance!

Based on Gaston Leroux’s timeless love story The Phantom of the Opera, the Yeston and Kopit version of Phantom is told with more passion and emotion than the Lloyd Webber version. The musical tells the heartbreaking story of the disfigured musical genius, known as the Phantom, and his muse, Christine Daae, the beautiful ingénue of the Paris Opera. Their musical affair unfolds deep in the catacombs of the opera house, where the Phantom finds salvation in Christine’s breathtaking voice. Critics claim “Tops any version you have seen..” - The Reporter, “Spectacular. A spellbinding production!” - Sun Times, “This PHANTOM tops Webbers!” - Daily Herald, and “A Must- See! -NBC- TV.

Directing Phantom is Brian Enzman and choreographing is Amy Marie McCleary.  The cast includes Troy Bruchwalski as the Phantom and newcomer Maxwell Porterfield as Christine. Mr. Bruchwalski holds a Bachelor of Music in Opera from the Cleveland Institute of Music and is currently pursuing his NASM Personal Training certification. His credits include Ragtime National Tour as Father, Camelot National Tour as King Arthur/Sir Lionel, My Fair Lady as Freddy-Eynsford Hill, Les Miserables as Javert, Shrek: the Musical as Shrek, Beauty and the Beast as Gaston and most recently Bob Wallace in White Christmas. Ms. Porterfield is a classically trained soprano whose dynamism and energy have enlivened stages throughout the United States. Highlights from over twenty roles in her repertoire include Blonde in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Frasquita in Carmen, and Julie Jordan inCarousel. 

Get your tickets today for Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom playing December 29, 2016 through February 11, 2017 at Broadway Palm. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $40 to $65 with discounts for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Troy Bruchwalski as the Phantom and Maxwell Porterfield as Christine Daae

My Review:

Not to be confused with The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)

Although it has never appeared on Broadway and has been overshadowed by the success of the 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Yeston and Kopit's Phantom has received over 1,000 productions.n.

Phantom is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit.^[2]Based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, the musical was first presented in Houston, Texas in 1991.

Not to be confused with The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)

A totally different rendition, musically from ALW (Andrew Lloyd Weber) 

From Wikipedia: 

Yeston and Kopit had just finished the musical Nine, winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1982, when in 1983 they were approached by actor/director Geoffrey Holder to write a musical based on Leroux's novel. Holder had obtained the rights to musicalize the novel in America from the Leroux estate, making Phantom the only Phantom of the Opera musical to do so.^[2] Holder planned to direct. Initially, Yeston was skeptical of the project. "I laughed and laughed.... That's the worst idea in the world! Why would you want to write a musical based on a horror story?.... And then it occurred to me that the story could be somewhat changed.... [The Phantom] would be a Quasimodo character, an Elephant Man. Don't all of us feel, despite outward imperfections, that deep inside we're good? And that is a character you cry for."^[3]

In this Production, we are brought more aware of The Phantom as a real man and given a 

bit of history about his life: He was born with a deformed face and as a small boy named Eric. pro.

Eric's father created for his son a unique and beautiful life for him beneath the opera house 

where he could live in comfort and free of distress and still allow him the joy of the opera.

As Eric grew up and surrounded his life more and more in the opera, he was able to get to 

know and decide who he liked and who he disliked in the opera world. Suddenly, he hears

an Angel: Christine Daae. 

I MUST say that in just one word, the costuming, sets, voices, .. everything is MAJESTIC.

 I can't think of any other word to cover the joy of this masterpiece. Every time I think The 

Broadway Palm has pulled off an amazing feat, the next production outshines the previous

one,. 

The cast below is breath-taking. You will remember, perhaps the voice of Troy Bruchwalski

who was in White Christmas as well. 

And I MUST add that Sami Dohtery was the lead in White Chrismas proves to be the most

wonderful ballerina in Phantom.. You're amazing, Girl!

Now Till Christmas!!! Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at The Broadway Palm! KUDOS EDITION

Broadway Palm is ushering in the holiday season with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. This merry and bright theatrical experience is full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written such as Happy Holidays, Blue Skies and White Christmas.

November 24 through December 25, 2016 

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE IRVING BERLIN CLASSIC “WHITE CHRISTMAS” AT BROADWAY PALM!

Broadway Palm is welcoming the holiday season with the heart-warming classic, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, playing November 24 through December 25, 2016. The 1954 film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.

The story takes place in 1954 and two ex-GI’s turned showbiz partners follow a couple of singing sisters to a Vermont inn. When they discover their beloved former commanding officer owns the inn and is in jeopardy of losing the property, the foursome decide to put on a show to raise money…and they find love in the bargain.  White Christmas is full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written such as Happy Holidays, Sisters, Count Your Blessings, Blue Skies and the Academy Award-winning White Christmas. 

Directing and choreographing White Christmas is Amy Marie McCleary. McCleary’s credits include the 2015 national tour of Memphis the Musical along with the recent Broadway Palm hits CATS, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Footloose and The Wizard of Oz, among many others. She received her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and now makes her home in Southwest Florida where along with directing and choreographing, she works with many young performers as a vocal coach. The cast includes Troy Bruchwalski as Bob Wallace, newcomer Nic Casaula as Phil Davis, Katherine Walker Hill as Betty Haynes and Sami Doherty as Judy Haynes. 

 Join Broadway Palm as they welcome in the holidays with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas playing November 24 through December 25, 2016 at Broadway Palm. Performances are Tuesdaythrough Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $40 to $65 with discounts for children and groups of 20 or more. Broadway Palm is the perfect setting for holiday parties and family gatherings. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

The Cast

From left to right: Benjamin Neumayer as Ralph Sheldrake, Nic Casaula as Phil Davis, Troy Bruchwalski as Bob Wallace

Sami Doherty as Judy Haynes, Katherine Walker Hill as Betty Haynes

Nic Casaula as Phil Davis, Sami Doherty as Judy Haynes

Nic Casaula as Phil Davis, Sami Doherty as Judy Haynes, Troy Bruchwalski as Bob Wallace, Katherine Walker Hill as Betty Haynes

 My Review: Man, do I LOVE this show.. I make my daughter watch it every year.. lots of eye rolling and secret texting that when she feels the heat of my MOM LOOK on her, she stops, smiles big and nods toward the tv like, "I LOVE this show, Mama" yeah, you can fool me once.. ok you can fool me just about every time.. ..pfft.. 

And TAPPING! My favorite thing.. NO, not EFT.. tapping with their FEET!!! LOL.. Lots of tap-dancing! Everyone knows that I love the art of the tap dance. And these peeps know I'm out in the audience loving their work.. 

Now let me give my kudos to some of  the cast:

Pauline Cobrda: I first met Pauline when she was the EVIL Miss Hannigan on the production of "ANNIE". She was so cool! And so Bette Midler-like! Same voice and snark. She was AMAZING. Time Traveling to the RIGHT NOW: She is MarthaWatson, the inn keeper reception and as General Henry Waverly, The General, "my superior". I told her I love her dancing, she, in a surprised voice said, "I DON"T DANCE/", to which I replied, "Well, that was some fine tippy-toeing across the stage." So that comment and what we now and will forever call ourselves :Vintage Vixens, will remain in our conversations at every opportune moment! 

Sami Doherty: I've watch Sami perform in almost all of the Broadway Palm productions, but usually as part of the dazzling ensemble. In this production, Sami is one of the Lead Actors! Gorgeous, sylph-like (I look JUST like her, and am as talented, on the inside.. I just don't CHOSE to look and be talented like her on the outside. Hmm.. maybe I should change that? LOL

Jayar Garcia: Plays Mike, the producer on the Vermont stage, but in real life is actually a most-talented Stage Manager for The Broadway Palm. He is so versatile that he's played guitar and sung on several productions and is high-profile in White Christmas. Heck of a dancer, singer, stage manager guy. Keep rockin it, Jayar!

Victor Leggareta (Vic Legs to me) plays the up-north Ezekiel Foster, the slow moving (heck sloths could out run this character) and still adorable in plaids and denim. He was standing in for Jim Heffernan ~ another wonderful main stay in the BWP family, who I got to see today when I was able to catch the show on a spur of the moment occasion.

Keith McCoy: the deepest voice on the whole stage. He's been in several productions and when he sings songs like "Old Man River" .. no matter how deep that river is, his voice stirs up the silt 11 feet down!! and "16 Tons". I'd have to take off my shoes and find a basement to sing that low.. and since florida is not a basement kinda state, my low notes can't come from there. The man TAPS!!! gotta love a tapper! and Ballroom Dances (We should have our own Dancing with the Stars featuring the BWP dancers! Ok, I'm not volunteering to be the 'not-the-star commoner' to their pro-stardom, trust me.)

Little Megan Salerno (Switches out with Avery King). Heck of a little kid talent. I know the Salernos and their Actor Family. Little Nick is in many a production as well. I so enjoy watching these kids grow up through the years.. good job, family!

ML Graham: Another wonderful Main Stay part of the Prather Stage Family. I've been knowing her for years as well. Another one of the nicest person you can meet. Another Triple Threat on the stage: sings, dances, heck of an actor.. a Gorgeous person. 

I apologize for not knowing all of the rest of you ~ Yet, but I'll keep showing up and hopefully get to know all of the rest of you wonderful, amazing, fabulous people.

But I digress.. you've got to hear the incredible voices on these peeps! Benjamin Neumayer and Troy Bruchwalksi.. what a fine pairing of voices you both have.. Rockin the notes.. every one of them!

AND HOW BOUT THE FOOOOOOD!!

• CHEF CARVED HONEY HAM WITH CARAMELIZED APPLE AND RAISIN SAUCE(*, GF, LF)
• ROASTED SLICED TURKEY WITH TRADITIONAL GRAVY (GF, LF)
• YANKEE POT ROAST WITH VEGETABLES (GF, LF)
• TUSCAN FISH WITH CANNELINI BEANS, TOMATOES AND SPINACH (GF, LF)
• CHEESE STUFFED PASTA SHELLS IN A MARINARA SAUCE
• TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY STUFFING
• SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH MARSHMALLOWS (GF, LF)
• WHIPPED BUTTERMILK POTATOES (GF, LF)
• ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (GF, LF)
• GREEN BEAN, WAX BEAN AND CARROT MEDLEY (GF, LF)

Check this out!!

Below are the served entrée selections cooked to order that are available on full price tickets only. If you decide to enjoy the buffet option instead, you can find those selections on the reverse side. 

Prime Rib Slow Roasted Prime Rib with Au Jus and Horseradish Sauce Served with Roasted Baby Potatoes and Garlic Buttered Asparagus 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Boneless Chicken Breast stuffed with Ham, Swiss Cheese and Crusted with Seasoned Japanese Breadcrumbs topped with a Mornay Sauce Served with Roasted Baby Potatoes and Garlic Buttered Asparagus 

Shrimp Carbonara Sautéed Gulf Shrimp with Shallots, Bacon and Garlic Served over Linguine with a Peppered Parmesan Cream Sauce Accompanied with a Warm Garlic Bread Stick Enjoy the show! 

THE TONY® AWARD-WINNING “EVITA” COMES TO BROADWAY PALM!

THE TONY® AWARD-WINNING “EVITA”

COMES TO BROADWAY PALM!

  October 14 - November 19, 2016

            FORT MYERS, Fla – October 13, 2016 – Broadway Palm is thrilled to present the dynamic musical EVITA playing now through November 19, 2016. This Tony® Award-Winning production is based on the unforgettable life story of Eva Peron, an activist, suffragist and adored celebrity. 

            Said to be one of the most popular collaborations between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice,EVITA tells the story of Argentina's controversial First Lady. Rising from nothing, driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, Eva Peron “saint to the working-class, reviled by the aristocracy and mistrusted by the military” was destined to leave a fascinating political legacy unique in the 20th century. She was a starlet at twenty-two, the president’s mistress at twenty-four, First Lady at twenty-seven and dead at thirty-three. The mesmerizing score features the memorable song Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.

            Directing EVITA is Brian Enzman and choreographing is Amy Marie McCleary. Starring as Eva Peron is April Monte. Audiences may remember April from numerous Broadway Palm productions including Cabaret, All Shook Up, Miss Saigon, The Wedding Singer, CATS and most recently as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The cast also includes local children Jamie Dorris, Liam Hutt, Chase King, Maddie Negip, Hannah Roos, Annika Veldhuyzen van Zanten, Eli Veldhuyzen van Zanten and Marianna Young.

            The musical masterpiece EVITA is playing now through November 19, 2016 at Broadway Palm. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Beginning October 25, performances are Tuesday through Sunday with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $40 to $65 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

~ April Monte as Eva Peron ~

~ Sarah Cammarata as the Mistress ~

~ Scene from Don’t Cry For Me Argentina ~

~ April Monte as Eva Peron being cheered on by 

ensemble members ~

My Review:Eva Duarte Peron was an amazing woman, who passed away from cervical cancer at age 33, with many mysteries surrounding her.

The story of Evita, in her short life of 33 years, was a former actress turned First Lady, adored by many Argentineians for helping women get the vote, securing labor benefits for the working classes and founding hospitals and orphanages, was turned into a West End musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 1996 film version stared Madonna in the lead role and Antonio Banderas as Chi.

Now back to the Broadway Palm adaptation: if you were able to come to see Les Miserables, or Phantom of the Opera, at The Broadway Palm Dinner theatre, you were close to the majesty of Evita in this production. 

Again, SOMEHOW they keep coming up with the finest singers, the most incredible and sheer numbers of clothing designs. I am so in awe of the costuming, (I hope to be able to interview the Amazing John White very soon. He MIGHT even let me see some of the costumes that were worn by Evita and maybe even TOUCH one or two.. my heart is truly palpitating just thinking of that), but I digress.

I love songs that have an intro, middle, chorus and end.. Evita's music is so random it takes several times listening to it to find out that there ARE all of those parts in the songs..what TO ME would be so hard is to change tempos, maybe even modulations and SO MANY WORDS! I can't believe Che (gifted performance by....) and Evita (another gifted performance by April Monte) not only remembering all the song wanderings but THE WORDS! Billions of them. All slamming into each other from one song to the next.

I love Che, who basically tells the story of Evita when she started at 15 working her way to being the wife of the President of Argentina in another 15 years. No time for frittering around and resting up. Che fell in love with Evita's story at the first and then as the times changed, so did his adoration of this wonderful woman. Just like many things, the honey moon didn't last all that long, but then again, she left when she was supposed to after doing so many wonderful things.

I'm trying to figure out what I have done in that short of time.. sadly, not much. (Ok, I"ll keep working on that..)

More fabulous voices (not a weak one in the cast at all.) and the DANCING!!! Choreographer extraordinaire: Amy Marie McCleary does it again. A tango worthy of Dancing with the Stars featuring Sami Doherty and Drew Stark ... totally erotic and breath-taking. A song or two sung in Spanish, many Latin-inspired dances. Wowsers! I want to go back again!

Check out the who.. you MUST go see this production!

The FOOD!! More Yum than you can shake your spoon at!

• CHEF CARVED FLANK STEAK WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE (*)
• ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH A MUSHROOM BORDELAISE SAUCE
• CHICKEN ROULADE WITH CRANBERRY AND SAGE STUFFING
• MILD FISH VERACRUZ (GF, LF)
• PASTA PRIMAVERA
• SCALLOPED POTATOES
• SAFFRON RICE (GF, LF)
• PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE
• PEAS AND ONIONS (GF, LF)
• BUTTERED BABY CARROTS (GF, LF)

All menus include a complete salad bar with specialty salads, rolls and butter. Assorted desserts include pies, cakes, ice cream sundaes and more. Sugar-free options are available.

All meals include coffee, tea, and hot tea. Sodas and all other drinks are an additional charge.

GF  = Gluten Free

LF = Low Fat

*    = Evening Only

All Salad Dressings and Ice Cream are Gluten Free.