Pace University to Present AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN with Fred Barton Orchestra, Beth Leavel & More

On Saturday evening, March 1st at 7:30pm Pace University will present American Showstoppers, with the 13 piece Fred Barton Orchestra, AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN. The evening is directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson and produced, orchestrated and hosted by Fred Barton.

Klea Blackhurst, Toni DiBuono, Jeffry Denman, Tari Kelly, Damon Kirsche, Beth Leavel, Karen Murphy and the inimitable Lee Roy Reams lead the cast which features Lianne Marie Dobbs, AJ Hunsucker, Jesse Luttrell and the Scott Thompson dancers.

Most theatergoers when asked to name a Jerry Herman show immediately suggest Hello, Dolly!, Mame and maybe La Cage Aux Follies. All three musicals are represented in this evening. But to Fred Barton a show stopper isn't only in the most popular of musicals. Parade was Jerry Herman's 1960 off-Broadway revue that starred Charles Nelson Reilly and Dody Goodman. Three songs from Parade will be performed including The Antique Man which Barton believes is one of Herman's best and which hasn't been performed in New York (and never orchestrated) since 1960.

The evening will also showcase "Las Vegas", from Miss Spectacular, an unproduced musical intended to be the feature attraction at the Mirage in Las Vegas. When the hotel was sold, the project went into limbo, although a concept album was produced.

Beth Leavel and Klea Blackhurst, both who played Dolly in New England this summer, one at Goodspeed, one at the Cape Playhouse, will continue their Gallagher Levi association. Leavel will be wishing "So Long Dearie" and alerting people what happened "Before the Parade Passes By.' Blackhurst's songs will include "Just Leave Everything To Me" from the film version as well as two numbers which were cut from the show but added for Ethel Merman when she stepped into the role, "Love, Look In My Window" and "World, Take Me Back."

Another song excised from Hello, Dolly was "Penny In My Pocket". Prior to it being cut in Detroit, the song showed how Horace Vandergelder became Yonker's most renowned half-millionaire. Lee Roy Ream who has appeared in, and directed, Hello, Dolly!, will sing that forgotten tour de force.

While Broadway seemed to have a love affair with Jerry Herman musicals, there were some, though adored by insiders, which did not have extended runs. Dear World and Mack and Mabel fall into that category and this evening will showcases songs from both of those shows.

Fred Barton's orchestrations are played regularly at Carnegie Hall and by symphony orchestras around the country and Canada. He's conducted Broadway and national tour productions of City of Angels, Hal Prince's Cabaret, Zorba with Anthony Quinn, and Camelot with Robert Goulet. He was co-creator of the original Forbidden Broadway, and for television co-composed "The Magic Schoolbus", orchestrated and conducted "Wonder Pets!", and music-supervised the HBO's Cathouse: The Musical and the children's show "Olivia".

A 15 minute preview of this show will air on the Michael Riedel, Susan Haskins Theater Talk on Friday February 21st at 1 AM on Thirteen/WNET and on CUNY TV (cable and broadcast) Saturday, Feb. 22nd at 8:30pm, Sunday, February 23rd at 12:30PM and Monday, Feb. 24th at 7:30AM, 1:30PM and 7:30PM.

Pace Presents: American Showstoppers: The Music of Harold Arlen Featuring The Fred Barton Orchestra

Ticket prices for American Showstoppers: An Evening of Jerry Herman Featuring The Fred Barton Orchestra at The Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University range from $30 to $55. The performance will take place on Saturday, March 1 at 7:30PM.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://schimmel.pace.edu or call toll-free (866) 811-4111.

Pace Presents performances take place at The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts located at 3 Spruce Street between Park Row and Gold Street in downtown Manhattan.

Tickets to all events are available for purchase now:

• Online at schimmel.pace.edu
• By phone via The Ovation Tix Call Center at (866) 811-4111
• In person in advance at The Michael Schimmel Center Box Office, open Mon-Fri from 1pm-6pm
• Day of Show at The Michael Schimmel Center starting two hours before curtain.