FIORELLO!
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by George Abbott & Jerome Weidman
The
Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning musical "Fiorello!" - by
"Fiddler on the Roof" team Jerry Bock and Sheldon
Harnick - is a love story set to the beat of a changing
New York City, run by legendary Manhattan Mayor,
Fiorello LaGuardia.
8 PM Saturday
October 1, 2005
2 PM Sunday
October 2, 2005
Directed
by David Bennett
Julian
Patrick
and the original Broadway Hacks.
(click
to enlarge image) |
Cast:
 David
Silverman* (Fiorello LaGuardia)
Throughout his thirty one year career David Silverman has
entertained people as an actor, stand-up comedian, singer, dancer,
choreographer , director and emcee. A familiar face to northwest
audiences on stage or on T.V. , he has a long list of credits
including winning the first Seattle Laugh-off in 1980. David
appeared in 'A Chorus Line', 'Angry Housewives" and 'Rumors' for
Tacoma Actor's Guild., and 'Stellaluna' and 'The Velveteen Rabbit'
and many others at the Seattle Children's Theatre. He was a
frequent performer at the Cabaret De Paris, where he was seen in
'Forbidden Xmas' and 'Boogie Oogie Fever' to name but a few.
'South Pacific', Phantom of the Opera', 'Kismet', 1776, and Groucho Marx in
"A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine" at the Fifth Ave Musical
Theatre. David was in the Seattle Rep's Inspecting Carol and
Intimans' production of Scapin, which was taken to Chicago. He has
been to the top of Kilamanjaro, driven across the Sahara Desert ,
hunted with Pygmies in the rain forest of the Congo, hiked the Inca
trail to Machu Picchu and visited the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
David was also lucky enough to be in Berlin in 1989 to witness the
falling of the Wall. David was the creator/director of the
"Walkabout" team for New Balance shoes at the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney.He has directed 'Art' and 'Sylvia' for Centerstage in Federal
Way, and most recently 'Oklahoma', for the Leavenworth Summer
Festival. He is most proud of his longest running show. Twelve years
with his stunning wife Stacya.
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 Julian
Patrick* (Ben Marino)
One of the most distinguished and versatile American artists,
Mr. Patrick has performed world-wide with major opera companies His
operatic repertoire consists of over 90 major roles ranging from
Alberich in Wagner’s RING cycle to Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
. He is equally at home on the concert stage, having appeared with
nearly all the major Symphony Orchestras in the United States and a
number in Europe. He began his performing career in the early 50’s
in nightclubs and on Broadway in the original productions of “The
Golden Apple”, “Once Upon a Mattress”, “Bells Are Ringing”, “Juno”
and “Fiorello”. He was overjoyed to return to his roots in “The Most
Happy Fella” for 5th Avenue Theatre in March of 2002, and “1776” the
previous Spring. He is honored and excited to be appearing as Ben
Marino in “Fiorello”, having been part of the original Broadway show
for its entire run. |
 Vickielee
Wohlbach*
(Marie)
Vickielee is delighted to
return to Showtunes after having such a motto bello of a good
time playing Giovanna in Do I Hear A Waltz. Favorite
roles include Katarina in The Taming of the Shrew, Rhetta
in Pump Boys and Dinettes, Annie Sullivan in The
Miracle Worker, Lilly in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,
Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Brunnhilde in
Das Barbecu (Footlight Award), Stellaluna, and
Susan in Papa Wa Kazoku no Yojimbo. Her work has been
seen locally at Seattle Childrens Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild,
Cabaret de Paris, Village Theatre, ACT, and in new works at The
Seattle Rep and Intiman. Vickielee has toured throughout the US,
Japan, and in Europe and has recorded with the vocal ensemble
Modern Angels and on commercial radio.
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 Angie
Louise* (Dora)
Actress, writer, and musician Angie Louise has performed onstage at
The 5th Avenue Theatre (Electra, Gypsy); Seattle Rep (Maoli, Bucket
of Blood: The Beatnik Musical); and Village Theatre (Molly, Molly
Brown; Sally Bowles, Cabaret; Billie, Babes in Arms; Rosalie,
Carnival; Elsie, Bootlegger; Gloria, Damn Yankees, etc). Recently
seen onscreen at SIFF in Von Piglet Sisters’ Circus of Infinity,
Louise also starred in and wrote the screenplay and songs for Von
Piglet cult feature Gory Gory Hallelujah, currently in US theatrical
release. Her CD, Kitten In Manville, is available at
www.cdbaby.com.
She has just completed a first novel, Baby. |
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 Candice
Song Donehoo* (Thea)
Was most recently seen as Ellen in the Fifth Avenue's/Casa Manana's
production of Miss Saigon. Her Broadway/National
Tour credits include The King and I (Lady Thiang cover) and the 1st
National tour of Jekyll and Hyde. Other credits include Rizzo in
Grease! (Ogunquit Playhouse), Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde (Broadway Rose
Theater Company), and Belle in Dreams from a Summer House (Alliance
Theater/ Indiana Repertory Theater.) Though Candice originally hails
from Atlanta she is thrilled to be living on beautiful Bainbridge
Island with her husband and two children. God is good! |
Chad
Jennings (Neil)
has been seen around town at
Village Theatre (Ben the Gardener in
Secret Garden, Barber in
Man of La Mancha,
Will Parker in Oklahoma),
Storybook Theatre (Stepsister in
Cinderella, Wolf in
Three Little Pigs, Duke
in The Frog Prince),
Civic Light Opera (Cowardly Lion in
The Wizard of Oz), and
the 5th Avenue's Adventure Musical Theatre (Little Girl Keiko,
Wishka, etc. in Northwest
Bookshelf, Thomas Jefferson, Charbonneau, etc. in
Journey West), among
others. He recently returned from another run as Forever Plaid's
Smudge at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, having previously held the role at
Bellevue Civic Theatre last September. Though a bizarre ketchup
bottle accident marked closing night, Chad will throw caution to the
wind and once again don the glasses and bullwhip for a December
remount of the BCT production, this time presented at Tacoma Actor's
Guild. Other upcoming projects include
Sleeping Beauty and
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey
Business at Seattle Children's Theatre and
Wonderful Town at the
5th Avenue Theatre. |
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 Kathryn
Van Meter* (Choreographer/Mitzi)
Previously choreographed: New York: Feeling Electric (Anthony Rapp
& Amy Spanger). Seattle: The Secret Garden, Man Of La Mancha, (VT),
Bunnicula (SCT), and Falsettos (AOAA). Associate Choreographer:
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Faith Prince & Lucy Lawless) Hair, The
Wizard of Oz, …Forum (The 5th Avenue), and Music Man (VT). Other
roles include Shelby in Steel Magnolias, Vibrata in …Forum, Anita in
West Side Story, Jetta in Angry Housewives, and Sylvia in Sylvia. |
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 David-Edward
Hughes (Morris)
Lives, eats & breathes Showtunes! (the company & the art form). He
is thrilled to play Morris and to be directed by David Bennett.
Click on this link to read more!
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 Ryan
Childers (Floyd)
is making his Seattle debut with Showtunes! having moved from
Roanoke, VA where he appeared in shows such as Seussical and
Hamlet. Other credits include Anthony Absolute (The Rivals),
Kolenkov (You Can't Take it With You), Cliff (Cabaret)
and the Major General (Pirates of Penzance). His love goes
out to his wife Julie for putting up with his acting habit. |
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* denotes a member of Actors Equity Assn, the Union for stage
professionals.
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 Synopsis:
ACT I
Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, reads the comics over the radio to the
children of New York City during the newspaper strike. As he
reminisces about the city’s corrupt past, we travel back in time to
1915 to Fiorello’s Greenwich Village law office. The usual
congregation impatient citizens wait to speak to Fiorello. Neil,
Fiorello’s law clerk, and Morris, his office manager, assure their
visitors that Fiorello will help them (ON THE SIDE OF ANGELS); Fiorello will aid any person in need who comes to him, no matter his
finances or stature.
Fiorello’s secretary, Marie, comes into the office to greet her
friend, Dora, who brings news of the latest crisis: Thea, President
Wilson’s daughter, has been arrested for helping the women
shirtwaist strikers. Fiorello rushes in, ignoring everyone’s
problems for the moment. He needs Marie to introduce him to Ben
Marino, the leader of the 14th district who is looking for a
candidate for congress. Then, true to his nature, Fiorello promises
to help the women strikers and the citizens waiting in his office.
Later that that day Ben Marino and his cronies play their usual
poker game (POLITICS AND POKER). Marie arrives with Fiorello and
convinces Ben to back Fiorello in beating the corrupt political
machine of Tammany Hall which dominates city politics.
Meanwhile Dora and her fellow workers walk the picket line in front
of their factory (UNFAIR) as they suffer the jibes of hecklers.
Floyd, the policeman on duty, gets into a fight with Dora. Just as
Floyd is on the verge of arresting Dora, Marie and Fiorello arrive
on the scene. To the deep admiration of Marie, Fiorello protects the
women’s rights and chases away the hecklers. His duty done, he
timidly asks Marie to dinner. On the heels of her accepting his
invitation, Thea arrives. Just out of jail, she anxious to know how
Fiorello can help them win the strike. She asks him to take her for
dinner. For the sake of the cause, he must accept.
Back at the office, Marie receives the call from Fiorello that he
must cancel their dinner plans. She reveals to Morris her
disappointment and feelings for Fiorello. She feels like such a fool
for caring so much while Fiorello cares so little (MARIE’S LAW).
A year later Fiorello is actively campaigning for Congress with Ben
as his backer. Neil warms up the crowd who has come to hear Fiorello.
Dora re-meets Floyd the policeman who had almost arrested her.
Animosity evaporates as Floyd congratulates her on winning the
strike. Thea then introduces the crowd to Fiorello. Fiorello takes
the platform by storm, promising to break the stranglehold of
Tammany Hall (THE NAME’S LAGUARDIA!). And guess what? Fiorello wins
the election! (THE BUM WON).
One year later, Dora and Floyd are an item (I LOVE A COP). On her
way to Washington DC to see Fiorello, Marie stops by at Dora’s.
Marie reveals to Dora that Ben’s convinced her to try talking
Fiorello into halting his the Draft Act rhetoric. It’s obvious to
Dora that Marie still has feelings for Fiorello but she refuses to
express them. Once in Washington neither Marie nor any of Fiorello’s
associates can dissuade his avocation in America joining the war. In
his true fanatical fashion, Fiorello plans to make a grand statement
to Congress. He’s also enlisted in the Air Force.
Back in New York, Ben gives Fiorello a big send-off party. As
expected, each person has his or her own feelings about the war.
Floyd is upset the army won’t accept him as his feet are too flat.
Marie is upset that she might never see Fiorello again. Fiorello,
confident he will return, asks Thea to marry him. She needs time to
think about it. Marie and Fiorello share their own good-byes along
with the rest of the somber party-goers (TILL TOMORROW).
When the war is over, Fiorello along with thousand of other
servicemen arrive home (HOME AGAIN) Both Marie and Thea wait from
him at his ship’s gangplank. He rushes straight to Thea who has
accepted his marriage proposal. Morris comforts Marie as she turns
away from the happy couple.
ACT II
It’s 1929 and Fiorello is running for Mayor of New York. He and Thea
have made themselves a happy home. Since Floyd and Dora have gotten
married, Floyd has long since left the police force and his
alternate careers flourish. Thea has just made a visit to the doctor
– the outcome of which she keeps from Dora and Fiorello. Even she
can’t believe how much she loves Fiorello (WHEN DID I FALL IN LOVE).
At Dora and Floyd’s penthouse apartment there is a meeting of the
corrupt backers of Fiorello’s competitor for mayoral ship, Jimmy
Walker. Floyd’s boys have invited a group of chorus girls who will
perform for the campaign (GENTLEMAN JIMMY). A mobster has the idea
to have Fiorello killed as he gives his speech to the public. This
is information that Dora can’t keep to herself. She rushes over to
Fiorello’s headquarters to talk to Marie in confidence. Fiorello’s
office is having its own set of problems. Ben have been outspoken
over the way Fiorello’s handling his campaign and Fiorello’s fired
him. Fiorello’s concerned over his wife’s health which appears to be
deteriorating.
On the day of Fiorello’s public speech, his opposition’s plan to
kill him is foiled. But Thea dies. Maria waits until the end of the
day to tell him. Jimmy Walker wins the race for mayor. Instead of
being crushed by personal tragedy, Fiorello is inspired to renewing
his energy in his work.
It’s now 1933; Ben and his political cronies play poker in his old
office (LITTLE TIN BOX). Marie makes a visit. She has decided to
quit her job and marry the very next man who asks her (THE VERY NEXT
MAN). But before she leaves Fiorello’s office, she must persuade Ben
to return to Fiorello and help him win the upcoming mayoral
election. She then returns to Fiorello’s headquarters and convinces
Fiorello to overcome his fear of losing a second time and run again
for mayor. Not only does he concede to run with Ben backing him, but
also asks Marie to marry him. She, of course, accepts and has
history tells, Fiorello finally wins the race for mayor.
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