Charles Shaughnessy to Lead Theatre By The Sea's MY FAIR LADY

Bill Hanney will present Charles Shaughnessy, Emmy©-winning star of "The Nanny," and "Days of Our Lives," starring in the MY FAIR LADY at the historic Theatre By The Sea (TBTS). Theatre By The Sea, opening Wednesday, June 24 and playing through Sunday, July 18. Press night is scheduled for Friday, June 26 at 8:00 p.m.

Hailed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, My Fair Lady is the timeless story of Professor Henry Higgins, the crotchety, middle-aged bachelor and phoneticist and Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl, who becomes part of his experiment in order to transform herself into a "lady." The story is based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The score features hits including: "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Get Me to the Church on Time," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."

"I have been talking to Charles about doing My Fair Lady at Theatre By The Sea ever since working together on the 2011 production at North Shore Music Theatre. I am so glad that his schedule has finally allowed for this to happen," said TBTS owner and producer Bill Hanney. "Audiences will be thrilled with this grand production and with Charles' masterful performance as Professor Henry Higgins opposite our exquisite Eliza Doolittle, Kerry Conte, who played Mary Poppins last summer at Theatre By The Sea."

Despite an extensive stage and screen career in England before moving to the US in 1983, Emmy© Award-winning actor, Charles Shaughnessy is best known for his six years as Maxwell Sheffield on CBS's "The Nanny" and eight years as Shane Donovan on "Days of Our Lives." He has enjoyed a long and varied career including an Emmy® for his voice work on the Disney series, "Stanley," and in a memorable arc as St. John Powell on AMC's "Mad Men," Other television credits include "Castle," "CSI: NY," "Revenge," "Law & Order," "Hot in Cleveland" and more. Mr. Shaughnessy has been seen on Broadway in Urinetown, and regionally in productions includingSpamalot, Camelot, My Fair Lady, La Cage aux Folles, and most recently in the world premiere of Ever After at the Paper Mill Playhouse. He appeared in the feature film Denial with Jason Alexander and Patrick Dempsey, Second Chances, The Painting, and Kids in America as well as several TV Movies. In his spare time he is passionate about giving every opportunity possible to young people who might otherwise be denied a place at the table, and volunteers with the Family Crisis Center, "1736", in the South Bay and the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation in Boston.

The cast of MY FAIR LADY will be led by Charles Shaughnessy as Henry Higgins and Kerry Conte as Eliza Doolittle. The show will also feature Zachary Berger (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Maria Day Hyde (Mrs. Higgins), Bill Deitrich (Alfred P. Doolittle), Tom Gleadow (Colonel Pickering), and Ellen Peterson (Mrs. Pearce).

The ensemble includes Lucas Blankenhorn, Sara Gallo, Meghan Glogower, AJ Hunsucker, Daniel Hurst, Aileen Lambert, Spencer S. Lawson, Jacob Paulson, Kelly Peterson, Kelly Swint, Lauren Brook Tatum, and Zach Williams. JP Ferragamo will be the rehearsal stand-in and production stand-by for Charles Shaugnessy.

MY FAIR LADY will be directed by Charles Repole and choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld. The creative team also includes Milton Granger (Musical Director), Michael P. Kramer (Scenic Design), Kathleen Edwards (Costume Design, provided by Music Theatre Wichita), Bailey Costa (Lighting Design), Eileen F. Haggerty (Production Stage Manager), Geoffrey Boronda (Stage Manager), and Michaela R. Brown (Assistant Stage Manager). MY FAIR LADY is produced for Theatre By The Sea by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Kevin P. Hill (Artistic Director), and Thom Warren (Associate Producer).

MY FAIR LADY runs June 24 - July 18, Tuesdays through Sundays. Check the website for exact dates and show times. Tickets are $42 for preview performances on July 24 & 25 and $45, $55, & $65 for all other performances. Tickets are on sale by phone at (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. The 2015 Season is sponsored by WJAR - NBC 10.

Photo by by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

To post a comment, you must register and login.