'Busker Alley' CD Launch & Luncheon with Jim Dale 11/30

Busker Alley, the Broadway bound musical starring Tony winner, Jim Dale, (Carry On films, Barnum, 'Harry Potter' audio books, "Pushing Daisies") will be celebrated at a glorious luncheon and theatrical presentation aboard the Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2, on Friday, November 30 from 12 noon – 3PM (presentation from12 noon – 1:30PM, luncheon & tour following).

The event will also serve to launch the CD release of the JAY Records cast album of the one night benefit performance of Busker Alley for the York Theater. The album features performances by Jim Dale, Glenn Close, Noah Racey, John Bolton, George S. Irving, Anne Rodgers and more.

Busker Alley has a score by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, two Academy Awards, 23 gold and platinum records, a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame, and more movie scores than any other songwriting team in history, and penned "It's A Small World After All.") the book is by noted film, television and theater writer, AJ Carothers (The Happiest Millionaire, The Secret of My Success) with lighting design by Richard Pilbrow. Direction and design is by the Tony, Academy and Emmy Award winner, Tony Walton.

"Busker Alley is the tale of Happy-Go-Lucky Charlie, a street performer (Busker) who entertains in public on London's famous West End streets.  Charlie, who is upwards of middle age, falls in love with Libby, a feisty and much younger woman who longs to be a big star in the theatre.  Alas, Charlie doesn't fit into her plans for a life 'inside' the 'real' theatre and she leaves him to follow her dreams, eventually bringing him to the realization that he and Libby truly belong in different worlds," explain press notes. The show is based on the 1938 British motion picture, St. Martin's Lane, starring Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh, which itself was based on the 1928 Marlene Dietrich/Emil Jannings film The Blue Angel.

There will be a staged presentation of the musical with a special performance by Richard M. Sherman.  The presentation will take place on the stage of the QM2's glorious "Illuminations Theater."

In attendance: Jim Dale, Richard M. Sherman, Tony Walton, John Yapp, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Karen Ziemba, James Morgan, Joe Sirola, QM2 Captain Christopher Rynd, Busker Alley Producers and cast.

Photo of Jim Dale by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd