BWW Interviews: Hamlisch Brings The Stars Out Oct 4th in NYC

Lucie Arnaz, Robert Klein, Victor Garber, Donna Murphy and more...all under the same roof for one night with Marvin Hamlisch...a theatregoers dream which will come to fruition on October 4th. It's all part of Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration, to be presented on Monday, October 4 at 7:30pm at Symphony Space. Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel will direct the event, which will have musical direction by Ron Abel and serve as a benefit for The Actors Fund.

The Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe & Pulitzer Prize winner, Marvin Hamlisch's most memorable songs will be performed by many of the original artists. Your tax deductible donation will benefit The Actors Fund and honor Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with Multiple Sclerosis. Scheduled to appear with Mr. Hamlisch are Broadway Stars Lucie Arnaz, Director/Choreographer Pat Birch, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Debbie Gravitte, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Pianist/Singer Billy Stritch; Broadway Star/Comedian Robert Klein, Musical Icon Lesley Gore.

You will also be a witness to musical theater history as the original A Chorus Line stars Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop, Ron Dennis, Robert LuPone, Priscilla Lopez, Musical Director Don Pippin and Sammy Williams appear on stage in celebration of the show's 35th anniversary! ... and many more surprises! The evening is produced by Lucie Arnaz, Murphy Cross, Bonnie Kole, Paul Kreppel and Donna Murphy. The Musical Director is Ron Abel and the event's co-directors are Murphy Cross & Paul Kreppel. The concert will also serve as a tribute to longtime Broadway musical director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS.

Hi Paul! I know you are currently in Ogunquit, Maine at the Ogunquit Playhouse doing Chicago. That must really be keeping you busy?

It's been incredible. What a great cast. Angie Schworer, Rachelle Rak, George Dvorsky, Arthur Marks, Sally Freakin Struthers and the hottest ensemble imaginable and me! I'm honored to be on stage with them.. Gerry MacIntyre has out done himself and Ogunquit Playhouse does amazing work. Tony Stevens, Fosse's assistant choreographer on the original production came up last week and we were all thrilled. The late Barney Martin, the original Amos, was a friend and I bring him out there with me every night.

I have to tell you that I was in awe when I saw the announcement of your collaborative effort for the Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch event, which is taking place on Monday, October 4th at Symphony Space.? You are co-producing this event with Lucie Arnaz, Murphy Cross, Bonnie Kole and Donna Murphy. How did this dream team come together?

As you know Murphy and I have been directing and producing together for about ten years now and we were approached to put a fundraiser together for our dear friend Fran Liebergall, who is living with MS. I was working with her on Godspell, off-Broadway at the Promenade, when Marvin Hamlisch came to the show and offered her the position of rehearsal pianist for a little workshop he was doing at The Public Theater called "A Chorus Line." Fran has been associated with just about every musical done by Marvin and Michael Bennett, as music supervisor, keyboardist and assistant. Donna Murphy and Lucie had each worked with her on They're Playing Our Song and Bonnie Kole is, as she describes herself, a civilian... some civilian, she knows more about who, what, and where of Broadway than any civilian I've met! She is an old friend of Fran's. The Actors Fund has been guiding us and will be the beneficiary of the event. They have been there for Fran and as we all know, they offer assistance for all those involved in the entertainment industry. We wanted to raise money and honor Fran for all her work behind the scenes. She was involved in casting and teaching just about every performer who was in the original productions of A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, etc. That's why we are all producing together and that's why so many are participating. This one's for Fran.

Who came up with the idea for the project?

We knew that as much as we loved Fran we couldn't sell tickets to a show called "An Evening Honoring Fran Liebergall!" So we needed something fun and catchy to get an audience's attention in a town that has a dozen benefits a week. We batted around some titles using lines from shows or titles of songs and then we focused on that this was a celebration of community... six degrees of musical theater, etc. and, at one point, I think it was Murphy who blurted out "Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch." We laughed and thought is was a fun title that allowed us to include ANYone who wanted to be a part of this amazing night. We're ALL six degrees of Marvin Hamlisch. When Lucie reached out Marvin, he thought it was a fun idea and has absolutely thrown himself into the event.

Now the performers who will be appearing reads like a who's who list from the New York theatre community...was the response to assembling the folks to join in on the evening a surprise to you?

We all reached out to those we knew and who knew Fran... Donna sent out an incredible note to all her amazingly talented friends and the response was amazing. I'm telling you, those who are performing are doing it with such love in their hearts and those who couldn't make it sent the most beautiful notes of support.

You and Murphy are wearing two hats as co-producers and co-directors.? How do you handle wearing so many hats?

She looks great in hats, and I'm away! That's frustrating for me, but thanks to my Blackberry and wireless internet, I am there. One can do promotion and design and scheduling of rehearsals from anywhere these days. We have a very good team and I think we are pretty good delegators. Not easy for a control freak, like me, to say... Directing a show like this is more about creative content, running order, flow and presentation. We are blessed that we have our dear friends, Ron Abel as Musical Director, Clifton Taylor is doing our lights. Justin Scribner is our Production Stage Manager. He carries a huge load. In a benefit like this everything happens the day of the event. It's literally the first time we see and hear everything - lights, sound check, entrances and exits, last minute changes and the strike all will take place on the fly. Pre-production and experience are crucial. We have a great team and it's been a lovefest.

One of the huge highlights of the evening, to be honest, will be the appearance of original A Chorus Line stars Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop, Ron Dennis, Robert LuPone, Priscilla Lopez, Musical Director Don Pippin and Sammy Williams in celebration of the show's 35th anniversary. Was this just something that just fell into place or was it planned?

It's going to be very emotional... I was doing my usual research for the evening and discovered that ACL was celebrating it's 35th Anniversary. It was a total coincidence that we were doing this show now. By the way, it's my understanding that IBDB is wrong. Because of an industry strike, A Chorus Line opened on Broadway in October, so these ACL stars will be on stage almost 35 years to the day of their Broadway opening. There is no official 35th ACL reunion, so this is it! We will celebrate and honor that moment in musical theater history, absolutely!

For me, I was excited to see that you have Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein on the evening's slate.? Will folks be hearing them revisiting some music from They're Playing Our Song? It's hard to believe that it opened on Broadway back in 1979...

I know, and they look, sound and have the same great chemistry as they did 30 years ago. They will definitely be revisiting more than a few wonderful musical moments with some surprises as well. Original choreographer, Pat Birch, came into rehearsal to help put it together. So, we are already having reunions going on. Debbie Gravitte and Donna Murphy got their starts in the show and producer Roy Miller as well... you never know what might happen on stage, I hinted.

And I didn't realize that Victor Garber appeared in the first national tour of that show with Ellen Greene...

I had forgotten that myself, I think Victor did it with Marsha Waterbury, and on Broadway, too. Victor told me he considered this show very important to him and his admiration for Fran's kindness while learning the show is why he will be here. Victor and I go back to Godspell days and we are thrilled that he will be singing.

So what are some other things that audiences can expect to see that evening?

It's shaping up to be quite an exciting event. How often do we get to see this many amazing performers singing the songs they originated, that touched so many and gave inspiration to the next generations of performers. We are all so proud to be involved. I believe this will be a very fun, thrilling and heartwarming evening. That's what we always want from an evening like this, right?

Can you share any surprises with me? I won't tell anyone...except for my readers? :)
 
Let's just say there will be one unannounced iconic performance that inspired us all, to welcome the audience... and leave it at that!

Paul, thank you so much for talking with me about this incredible evening and I know it will be a great success!

Thank you, Tim.

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For tickets to this amazing evening, you can call the box office at (212) 864-5400. If you can't make the event but would like to make a donation, call the box office and buy a $100 ticket asking them to keep it under the name Bonnie Kole and it is a donation for Fran. They will then give it to a "friend" who is unable to purchase a seat at this time. Or go thru the Actors Fund and make a donations "honoring" Fran Liebergall. Fran gets credit and you get a full charitable donation.

Kudos to Paul and the cast and crew for all their work and giving spirit. For now, I say Ciao and remember, theatre is my life!

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