Falcon Theatre Presents SOUVENIR, 1/27-2/28/10

The Falcon Theatre is thrilled to present the Broadway hit comedy Souvenir by Stephen Temperley, the fourth production in its 2009-2010 Subscription Season. This hilarious fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins stars acclaimed opera singer Constance Hauman as ‘Florence' and award-winning stage and screen actor Brent Schindele as her bewildered accompanist ‘Cosme McMoon'.

A heartfelt, wickedly funny true story about the limits of self-perception, Souvenir flashes back to the musical career of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York socialite and tone-deaf diva. Her bizarre partnership with pianist Cosme McMoon yielded off-key recitals that earned them standing ovations and cultish fame - culminating in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall. A musical "odd couple" for the ages, Souvenir reminds us that beautiful music is in the ear of the beholder!

Patrons can save $5 off tickets to Souvenir by purchasing a 2-Play Laugh Pack! Each Laugh Pack includes one ticket each to Souvenir by Stephen Temperley (Jan. 27-Feb.28) and The Psychic by Sam Bobrick (Mar. 17-Apr. 18), as well as a $10 gift certificate to Papoo's diner, across the street from the Falcon. More details at www.Falcontheatre.com.

PREVIEWS: Jan. 27-30 at 8pm; Jan. 31 at 4pm; Feb. 3 & 4 at 8pm

OPENING NIGHT: Friday, February 5, 2010

SHOW CLOSES: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 at 4pm

PERFORMANCES Wed.-Sat. at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm

PRICES:
Previews $27.50 - $30.00
Opening Night $50.00 - $55.00
Weekdays (Wed/Thurs) $32.50 - $35.00
Weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) $37.50 - $40.00
Seniors 65+ $5 off per ticket

For tickets call the Falcon Theatre BOX OFFICE at (818) 955-8101. Individual tickets on sale December 30, 2009. 2-Play Laugh Packs on sale now!

Stephen Temperley (Playwright) was born and grew up in London. He has acted extensively in plays and musicals in the UK and the US. His plays have been seen in theatres around the US, both on Broadway and off. His plays include Souvenir, The Pilgrim Papers, Kind Masters, That Kind of Woman (an original musical), Dance with Me, Beside the Seaside, The Weight of Tears, and Money/Mercy. Souvenir, written in 2002, was first produced at the York Theatre in 2004, followed by a production at the Berkshire Theatre Festival before opening on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in 2005. His work has been seen at the 18th Street Theater, Centenary Stage Company, the Hudson Guild, the Chelsea Theater Center, ACT, and Center Stage in Baltimore.

Gregg W. Brevoort (Director) has been directing professionally for the past 25 years. Most recently, he was a Guest Director at Purdue University, mounting a highly successful and critically acclaimed production of Dracula!. Other recent credits include Coriolanus for the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Henry IV, part 1 for the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Lettice & Lovage and The Drawer Boy for the Merc Playhouse in Washington, Laughing Wild and True West for the Lost Nation Theater in Vermont, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in San Francisco. Also: Jeffrey Hatcher's Scotland Road for NJ's Holmdel Theatre Festival, where he was Artistic Director, as well as the 50th Anniversary production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie - the only New York production sanctioned by the Williams estate. Next up: Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. He holds an MFA degree in directing from Columbia University and currently makes his home in Hollywood. Please visit his website at www.gbrevoort.com.

Constance Hauman (Florence Foster Jenkins) rose to international prominence when Leonard Bernstein chose her as a last-minute replacement for an ailing June Anderson, assuming the role of ‘Cunegonde' in Candide on twenty-four hour notice. In addition to having been one of the most sought interpreters of the fiendishly difficult role of ‘Zerbinetta' in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, Ms. Hauman is perhaps most acclaimed for the title role in Alban Berg's Lulu, which can be heard on the Chandos label. Her recording of the role of ‘Alice'/‘Renee' in Olga Neuwirth's ground breaking opera Lost Highway, based on David Lynch's film of the same title, was awarded France's Diaspon D'Or for best new recording in 2007. She has performed her original one woman multimedia recital Exiles in Paradise, a recital/documentary film of classical composers who landed in Los Angeles during the Second World War, to standing ovations for the opening of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, at the 92nd St. Y in New York, and for a limited run at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre. Ms. Hauman's versatility has taken her to important international concert halls and opera companies including the Teatre Champs Elysées (Paris), L'Opéra de Nice, L'Opéra de Marseille, L'Opéra de Rhin, L'Opéra de Tours, L'Opéra de Liege, Covent Garden (London) and many others around the world. She was born in Ohio and graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, which has honored her with the Biener School of Music Alumni Merit Award for 2008. She is a recipient of a 2009 Ohio Senate award for outstanding career and community service for Exiles in Paradise.

Brent Schindele (Cosme McMoon) began his acting career as ‘Tony' in the national touring production of West Side Story and has since played leading roles in dozens of regional theaters around the country. Most recently he appeared in Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center and Off-Broadway reprising his leading-man parodies in The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!, a show he also premiered at the Laguna Playhouse, the Colony in Burbank, the Prince Theater in Philadelphia, the Cape Playhouse on Cape Cod, and the Tony Award-winning Cincinnati Playhouse. He played ‘Romeo' in Tony Plana's East LA production of Romeo & Juliet, the ‘Soldier' in Jason Alexander's Reprise! production of Sunday in the Park with George, and ‘Steve the Quarterback' in the LA premiere of Zanna, Don't! (LA Drama Critics' Circle Award). He spoke mostly French opposite Scott Bakula in No Strings at Reprise!, sang from the piano in Noel Coward's Tonight at 8:30 at Pacific Resident Theatre (LA Drama Critics' Circle Award), and did his own stunts as an Oscar-nominated action-movie star in Mitch Albom's "And the Winner Is..." at Laguna Playhouse. Brent also played ‘Peter', ‘Simon the Zealot', 10 other roles and keyboards in the orchestra (not simultaneously!) in the recent Broadway tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. His film/TV credits include Cold Case, Medal of Honor, It Is Written, and Thirteen Days with Kevin Costner.

The Falcon Theatre is a 130-seat performing arts space located in the Burbank, California media district. Built by Director/Writer/Producer Garry Marshall and his daughter Kathleen Marshall, the Falcon offers a 5-play subscription series from August through April, in addition to family shows in the summer. The Falcon Theatre is located at 4252 Riverside Drive in Burbank, California. For more information, visit www.FalconTheatre.com.