Jerry Dixon News

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of A Good Man, a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Rural Mississippi just after World War II is a changing place where blacks have been leaving and going north in droves. Not 'Prince' Albert - he likes it here. A poor sharecropper, but a strong man and a gifted farmer, he is proud of his leadership and standing. And when he finds out that his wife is pregnant, he decides to fulfill a dream -- to fix up and put fresh white paint on his shabby little tenant house. That simple wish turns his world upside down. Many people, not only the whites, don't want him to do it. Passions erupt, and resentment and fear gather like a dark summer storm, shattering family and community.

According to published reports, stage and screen star Mario Cantone married his longtime partner and theatre director Jerry Dixon. Cantone said on the View: 'We're older now. We've been together 20 years. After 20 years you're like, 'Thanks for the anti-climactic honeymoon government!' '

Not since "Contact: The Musical" have I seen such an ill conceived new musical roll into town. But the latest new musical to get a mainstage run at Village Theatre brought up from their "Village Originals Festival"; "Take Me America" is just that.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of A Good Man, a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of 'A Good Man', a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Rural Mississippi just after World War II is a changing place where blacks have been leaving and going north in droves. Not 'Prince' Albert - he likes it here. A poor sharecropper, but a strong man and a gifted farmer, he is proud of his leadership and standing. And when he finds out that his wife is pregnant, he decides to fulfill a dream -- to fix up and put fresh white paint on his shabby little tenant house. That simple wish turns his world upside down. Many people, not only the whites, don't want him to do it. Passions erupt, and resentment and fear gather like a dark summer storm, shattering family and community.

Not since "Contact: The Musical" have I seen such an ill conceived new musical roll into town. But the latest new musical to get a mainstage run at Village Theatre brought up from their "Village Originals Festival"; "Take Me America" is just that.

The new musical TAKE ME AMERICA follows seven desperate refugees seeking political asylum in the United States, and the three government agents who bear the responsibility of determining their fate.

Bill Nabel; a veteran actor of eight Broadway shows with 30 plus years on Broadway with over 9400 performances, a member of the original casts of '42nd Street' and 'Beauty and the Beast' - the latter of which he was the only cast member to do the entire 13 year run; has switched hats and will now see two of his many works mounted within weeks of each other. Utah Shakespeare Festival will present the World Premiere of Mr. Nabel's new play LYING TO SPIELBERG at the Auditorium Theatre (351 West Center Street) in Cedar City, Utah on August 11, 12 and 31. And the Village Theatre will present the West Coast Premiere of TAKE ME AMERICA, a new musical with book and lyrics by Mr. Nabel and music by Bob Christianson from September 14 through November 20 at the Village Theatre of Issaquah, WA and the Village Theatre of Everett, WA.

The new musical TAKE ME AMERICA follows seven desperate refugees seeking political asylum in the United States, and the three government agents who bear the responsibility of determining their fate.

Bill Nabel; a veteran actor of eight Broadway shows with 30 plus years on Broadway with over 9400 performances, a member of the original casts of '42nd Street' and 'Beauty and the Beast' - the latter of which he was the only cast member to do the entire 13 year run; has switched hats and will now see two of his many works mounted within weeks of each other. Utah Shakespeare Festival will present the World Premiere of Mr. Nabel's new play LYING TO SPIELBERG at the Auditorium Theatre (351 West Center Street) in Cedar City, Utah on August 11, 12 and 31. And the Village Theatre will present the West Coast Premiere of TAKE ME AMERICA, a new musical with book and lyrics by Mr. Nabel and music by Bob Christianson from September 14 through November 20 at the Village Theatre of Issaquah, WA and the Village Theatre of Everett, WA.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled An Afternoon with Doug Cohen featuring the words and music of the 2010 Fred Ebb Award Winner. Featured in the presentation will be Heidi Blickenstaff, Bradley Dean, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Lauren Kennedy, Jeff McCarthy, Lindsay Roberts, Lance Rubin, Howie Michael Smith and Barbara Walsh.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled An Afternoon with Doug Cohen featuring the words and music of the 2010 Fred Ebb Award Winner. Featured in the presentation will be Heidi Blickenstaff, Bradley Dean, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Lauren Kennedy, Jeff McCarthy, Lindsay Roberts, Lance Rubin, Howie Michael Smith and Barbara Walsh.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist) portrays 'Salvatore Romano' on AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN by the multi Emmy award winning writer/ producer, Matthew Wiener. The hit series has received numerous awards from the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Peabody award. Broadway leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL, SUNSET BLVD., SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and CATS. Off Broadway: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically Bryan is most proud to have created the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground braking comedy JEFFREY.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist) portrays 'Salvatore Romano' on AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN by the multi Emmy award winning writer/ producer, Matthew Wiener. The hit series has received numerous awards from the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Peabody award. Broadway leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL, SUNSET BLVD., SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and CATS. Off Broadway: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically Bryan is most proud to have created the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground braking comedy JEFFREY.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist) portrays 'Salvatore Romano' on AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN by the multi Emmy award winning writer/ producer, Matthew Wiener. The hit series has received numerous awards from the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Peabody award. Broadway leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL, SUNSET BLVD., SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and CATS. Off Broadway: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically Bryan is most proud to have created the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground braking comedy JEFFREY.

Village Theatre launches its 2010-2011 season with the beefcake musical comedy, "The Full Monty". And while the performers in the show have wonderful and rich voices, the show lacked any kind of energy, pace and heart.