Final Cast Announced for THE CHRISTMAS ROSE at Carnegie Hall

By: Nov. 21, 2012
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The new family musical special, The Christmas Rose, features a cast of over 400 and stars the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Jane Seymour and legendary Broadway actor and Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams. The Christmas Rose, with music and story by PBS composer Tim Janis, follows a young orphan named Annabelle, played by thirteen year old Bailey Grey, into the desert where she crosses paths with everyone from the three wise men and singing angels to Mary and Joseph, while being pursued by a team of desert bandits. The Christmas Rose is created in association with the Ogunquit Playhouse and is on stage at Carnegie Hall one night only Thursday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (212) 247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org. In honor of Thanksgiving, a special holiday offer of 30% off all tickets is available starting Friday, November 23 at 11a.m. and ending Monday November 27 at 11:59p.m. by using code GIV15704.

The musical spectacular is under the Direction of Bradford Kenney, Executive Artistic Director of the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. Mr. Kenney is collaborating with legendary producer, actor and director James Keach on this new holiday special. This whimsical and heartwarming tale will be conducted by Benjamin Vickers, Conductor of Boston Philharmonic. Included in the cast are many Broadway and National Touring performers, along with the American Boychoir, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre dancers, Broadway Dance Center's Children and Teen Program, the Nutmeg Ballet and the Princeton Ballet School. “It’s kind of a different genre,” Kenney said, “A mix of symphony, large choir, traditional dancing and choreography within a comedic musical fairytale.”

Jane Seymour stars as the Storyteller in this heartwarming and whimsical musical. She was last seen on Broadway in Amadeus. Ms. Seymour won Golden Globe Awards for her work on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and "East of Eden," and received an Emmy Award for "Onassis: The Richest Man in the World." Jane Seymour has proven her talents in virtually all media, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. Seymour’s past films include the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, the cult classic Somewhere in Time and the comedy smash Wedding Crashers.

Lee Roy Reams, called “Broadway’s darling” by columnist Liz Smith, will take the stage as Kahmir, the villainous leader of desert bandits. Mr. Reams won critical acclaim as Roger DeBris on Broadway and the First National Company of Mel Brooks’ musical hit, The Producers. His many leading Broadway roles include: Billy Lawlor in David Merrick’s legendary 42nd Street (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly! and Henry Spofford in Lorelei (both starring Carol Channing), Duane Fox in Applause starring Lauren Bacall, Will Parker in Richard Rodgers’ Lincoln Center revival of Oklahoma! And Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity starring Gwen Verdon.

Bailey Grey returns to Carnegie Hall to play Annebelle for The Christmas Rose. Bailey recently sang in the Stern Auditorium with the Manhattan Girls Chorus in the New York Premier of Noam Sheriff’s Mechaye Hametim under the baton of Zubin Mehta. She played Adriana Clayton in Stephen Schwartz's Seance on a Wet Afternoon with New York City Opera at Lincoln Center and was in the First Broadway National Tour of Mary Poppins as Jane Banks. Her film credits include Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and the narrative short, Everything is Ordinary.

The Christmas Rose music is written by Tim Janis with story by Tim Janis and Elizabeth Demmer. Mr. Janis has ten Billboard charting CDs, with more than one million albums sold and four national public television specials. He’s worked with some of the top artists in the music and entertainment business including Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, George Clooney and James Earl Jones. He has also conducted the Czech National Symphony, the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

The evening’s proceeds benefit Jane Seymour’s Open Hearts Foundation, which encourages people to live with an open heart in the face of adversity. The Foundation provides funds to charitable organizations in the areas of Health, Arts, Education, Sports and honors individuals that exemplify the Open Heart Philosophy in their service to others. Tickets are on sale now at the Carnegie Hall box office. Call 212-247-7800 or visit carnegiehall.org. Carnegie Hall is located at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. A special offer for Thanksgiving of 30% off tickets is available starting Friday, November 23 at 11AM and ending Monday November 27 at 11:59PM by using code GIV15704.


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