BWW TV: Eden Espinosa, Karen Olivo, Ramona Keller Will Star in BKLYN 15th Anniversary Concert

By: Sep. 17, 2019
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Today, producers Eden Espinosa, Bridget Elise Yingling, Scott Prisand, Doug Feurring and Jana Shea announced a one-night-only 15th Anniversary reunion concert of BKLYN: The Musical featuring Original Broadway stars Drama League nominee Eden Espinosa (RENT, Wicked) as Brooklyn, Tony Award winner Karen Olivo (Moulin Rouge, In the Heights) as Faith, and stage star Ramona Keller (The Public Theatre's Hercules, City Center's Little Shop of Horrors) as Paradice.

The concert, which benefits Covenant House Foundation (www.covenanthouse.org), will be presented on the 15th anniversary of the show's Broadway opening night, Monday, October 21 at 7:30 PM, at Brooklyn Steel (319 Frost Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222). Tickets can be purchased HERE.

The musical tells the story of the "City Weeds," five homeless musicians who band together to transform their neighborhood beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Utilizing the play within a play structure, the City Weeds share the story of Brooklyn - a Parisian singer - in addition to their own stories. Orphaned after her mother's death, Brooklyn travels to the United States in search of her father and the life she always dreamed of. The discovery of a newfound passion leads to opportunities she'd always hoped for, as two stories weave together to create an inspiring and refreshing performance.

With original direction by Tony Award winner Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Big River) the musical is written by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson. BKLYN made its World Premiere in Denver in 2003 and opened on Broadway on October 21, 2004 at The Plymouth Theatre (later renamed the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater), playing 311 performances. The original Broadway cast of ten featured stars-in-the-making Kevin Anderson as "Taylor", Eden Espinosa as "Brooklyn", Ramona Keller as "Paradice", Cleavant Derricks as "Streetsinger" and Karen Olivo as "Faith".

Ben Brantley of New York Times wrote, "Brooklyn is in many ways a throwback to the quaint, simple and whimsy-laden musicals that first blossomed Off-Broadway and then the mainstream in the late 1960's and the early 70's." Following the Broadway engagement, a National Tour launched starring Diana DiGarmo ("American Idol") and an Original Broadway Cast Album was released. A West End production starring Emily-Mae, Hiba Elchikhe, and Sabrina Aloueche is currently running at the Greenwich Theatre in London through October 19, 2019.

Founded in 1972, Covenant House helps to transform and save the lives of more than a million homeless, runaway, and trafficked young people. The not for profit organization offers housing and support services to children and teens in need, impacting the lives of over 80,000 people each year. More information about the mission and work of Covenant House can be found at covenanthouse.org.

Tickets to the 15th Anniversary concert of BKLYN range from $55 to $150 and can be purchased on AXS.



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