Gretchen Cryer and Rex Smith to Star in Laguna Playhouse's 'I'M STILL GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER' This Fall

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham have announced the cast for the west coast premiere musical event, I'M STILL GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER and taking it on the road...,music by Nancy Ford, lyrics by Gretchen Cryer and performed and directed by Gretchen Cryer.

The cast will also include Rex Smith (The Pirates of Penzance, "You Take My Breath Away"), Omar D. Brancato, Daniel Filippi, Erica Hanrahan-Ball, Jesse Johnson, Erika Schindele, Jennifer Leigh Warren, and Matthew Wrather.

"What an honor to have both Gretchen Cryer and Rex Smith star in this heart-felt continuation of one of the most iconic musicals of the '70s," comments Wood. "It is simply a thrill to have Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford bring this updated landmark show to our stage. We have a dream cast, this one is not-to-be missed!" adds Wareham.

I'M STILL GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER and taking it on the road...will begin performances on Wednesday, October 7; will open on Saturday, October 10 and will run through Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

This West Coast Premiere musical is based on Gretchen Cryer's and Nancy Ford's 1978 groundbreaking Off-Broadway musical. Act One, the original musical, introduces Heather, a 39 year-old divorced song-writer attempting a comeback by ditching the romantic songs of her past for a more personal collection. Act Two visits Heather and her band 30 years later. Ms. Cryer will be reprising the role of Heather in Act Two for this west coast premiere production!

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST:

GRETCHEN CRYER (Director) is most well known for writing the book and lyrics and starring in "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road" (with music by Nancy Ford.) The show was originally produced in New York City by Joseph Papp's Public Theater followed by a 3-year run at the Circle in the Square. The show subsequently ran a year in Chicago, a year in Los Angeles, had numerous productions around the country and over 100 foreign productions. In Chicago the show won the Joseph Jefferson Award for the Best Musical and Gretchen won the Best Actress Award. The cast album won a Grammy nomination. Gretchen has written numerous other shows with Nancy Ford - "Now Is the Time for All Good Men," (off-Broadway) "The Last Sweet Days of Isaac," (Obie Award - Best Musical, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award) "Shelter" (Broadway - Golden Theater), "Hang On to the Good Times" (Manhattan Theater Club), "The Fabulous Party" (Williamstown Theater Festival), "The American Girls Revue" - (American Girl Place - Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles), and "Circle of Friends" - (American Girl Place - Chicago and New York) and "Anne of Green Gables" (Theatreworks, Lortel Theater.) Gretchen has recorded two albums with Nancy Ford for RCA and has starred on Broadway in her own cabaret act. She has performed on and off Broadway and on film. In 1999 Gretchen was the first recipient of the Ed Kleban Award, a grant awarded each year to one librettist and one lyricist considered to be the most promising in their fields. Gretchen is a member of the Dramatists Guild Council and is President of the Dramatists Guild Fund. Gretchen was a Phi Beta Kappa from DePauw University, and she holds a MAT degree from Harvard and an honorary Doctor of Arts from Eastern Michigan University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Colorado College. She is also the recipient of the Indiana Arts Award from the Governor.

REX SMITH is a multi-talented performer whose natural singing ability has led him to a successful career as a singer and actor. A veteran of stage and screen, Rex started his career as a "teen idol" heartthrob with the platinum album hit "You Take My Breath Away." Other albums included "Rex", "Where Do We Go From Here", "Sooner Or Later", "Forever", "Camouflage", and most recently, "Simply...Rex".

Turning to Broadway at the height of his popularity, Rex made his Broadway debut as Danny Zuko in the original production of "Grease." He captivated both critics and audiences, and received the Theater World Award for his memorable portrayal of Frederick in "The Pirates of Penzance" on Broadway. Other starring roles on Broadway include "Grand Hotel", "Sunset Boulevard", "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "Annie Get Your Gun", and "Kiss Me Kate". Rex is an enthusiastic entertainer who never lacks for energy. In between Broadway shows, he expanded his career to encompass TV shows and feature films. Rex hosted "Solid Gold", starred in the series "Street Hawk", and became a household name on the popular CBS daytime drama "As The World Turns". He was featured in Danielle Steele's "Once In A Lifetime", "Passion To Kill", and "Ballerina And The Blues". Rex has guest starred on numerous prime time television and movies including "Daredevil", "The Sentinel", "JAG", "Baywatch", "Caroline In The City", "Just Cause", "Pope Dreams", and John Schneider's "Collier & Co." Rex Smith has been Celebrity Host, Corporate Spokesperson and Entertainer for events ranging from Time-Life Inc., HBO, Avon Corp., Time Magazine, among many others. He continues to support artistic education and participate in community theaters and schools across the country, including the Concert Company Theater's, "An Evening with Rex Smith," the Bellflower Theater, the Hoogland Center for the Arts, and the Carpenter Theater for the Performing Arts, as the Pirate King in "Pirates of Penzance."

Recently, Rex sang to a sold-out crowd at the Araneta Coliseum and The Hard Rock Cafe in Manila, Philippines. He then hosted "Operation Homecoming" for Vietnam Veterans in Branson, Missouri, where his heartfelt performance mesmerized audiences into standing ovations. Rex has also performed for concert venues including the Big-E State Fair in Springfield, MA., and most currently, has revved up audiences with the "Original Idols" in Las Vegas.

I'M STILL GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER and taking it on the road... has assembled an award-winning design team. The Set Design is by Jim Prodger. The Lighting Design is by D Martyn Bookwalter. The Costume Design is by Kate Bergh. The Sound Design is by Juan Sanson.

I'M STILL GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER and taking it on the road...will begin previews on Wednesday, October 7; will open on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30pm and runs through Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Performances will be Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1pm. There will be additional performances on Thursday, October 8; Thursday, October 22 & Thursday, October 29 at 2:00pm and Sunday, October 11 and Sunday, October 18 at 5:30.

Tickets range from $41 - $66 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. The box office is open Mondays - Saturdays: 12p.m. to 5 p.m. (open until showtime on performance days); Sundays: 11a.m. - 4p.m. For more information on all shows and programming, go online. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 LagunaCanyon Road in Laguna Beach

Laguna Playhouse is your "go to" for a great night out - be it plays, musicals, concerts, dance, stand-up comedy, author panels, family entertainment and more. No matter what your entertainment taste, with over 300 performances a year, we're what's going on!

Founded in 1920, the Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is noted for its artistic excellence, wide-ranging performing arts programming, award-winning youth education offerings and community partnerships. A member of the League of Resident Theatres, the LagunaPlayhouse is also home to the annual Laguna Dance Festival, the Laguna Beach Music Festival and the Laguna Beach Concert Band. The Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for excellence by the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, LA Drama Critics Circle, OC Weekly and more.

Because of its longstanding commitment to the arts, The Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for excellence by the LA Drama Critics Circle, NAACP, Backstage, ArtsOC, OC Weekly, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and more. Laguna Playhouse's educational programming, which includes classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and a school tour, has been honored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education.

Serving more than 100,000 patrons each season, the Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Leslie Caron, Val Kilmer, Ed Asner, Hershey Felder, Linda Purl, Davis Gaines, Donna McKechnie, Rita Rudner, violinist Joshua Bell, Lee Rocker, ballerina Misty Copeland, Harrison Ford, and Bette Davis.

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