BEN, VIRGINIA AND ME: THE LIBERACE MUSICAL Gets Concert at National Arts Gallery

The new musical Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical will get a special concert presentation at theNational Arts Gallery (15 Gramercy Park South) on Monday, April 17 at 7:30 pm, before debuting a fully staged production at this year's New York Musical Festival (NYMF). Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical has a book by Roger O. Hirson (Tony Nominee for Pippin) and music and lyrics by Barbara Carole Sickmen and will be directed by Paul A. Stancato (National Tours: Flashdance, The Lion King, The Wedding Singer) and Music Director Jesse Warkentin (National Tours: Wicked, Cinderella). Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical is produced by Ron Sickmen. Tickets are FREE to the public but reservation are necessary, they can be made by emailingtheatre@thenationalartsclub.org.

Imagine a young pianist from a modest home in Wisconsin in the post-Depression-era on a fascinating, surprising journey that results in superstardom. Hirson, and Sickmen, lyricist/composer, have written the original musical, Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical that follows Walter Valentino Liberace as he leaves home to pursue his dream of showmanship, fearful that revelation of his sexual orientation could destroy his burgeoning career. In the early 1940s, fate places him in the path of a notorious gangster, Ben Siegel, and Ben's girlfriend Virginia, who believe Liberace's outstanding talent is just what is needed for their Las Vegas hotel "The Flamingo." Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical is a fascinating tale of love, ambition, optimism, truth, friendship, strength, and redemption.

The National Arts Club appearance will feature a cast including Oliver Thornton (West End: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, The Rocky Horror Show) as Liberace, Eddie Korbich (Broadway: A Gentleman's Guide..., A Christmas Story) as Bugsy, Felicia Finley (Broadway: The Wedding Singer, Smokey Joe's Café, The Life as Virginia) with Joel Blum(Broadway: Tony Noms for Showboat, Steel Pier), Julia Burrows (Off-Broadway: Greed), Neal Mayer (Broadway: Les Misérables), Alan M-L Wagner (Broadway/ National Tour: Beauty and the Beast ), and Kristine Zbornik (Broadway:Mamma Mia )

The band and creative team includes: Jesse Warkentin (Musical Director / Piano), Daniel Dorrance (Reeds), Jerry DeVore (Bass) and AaRon Russell (Drums), Jordon Ross Weinhold (Orchestrations), Dana Iannuzzi (Associate Director), Hai Alvarez Millard (Stage Manager), Stephanie Klapper Casting (Casting), Lisa Dozier King (General Management)

NYMF will take place July 10 - August 6, 2017 (nymf.org) cast and performances times TBA.

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