Panaro, Vidnovic, Etc. Join 'Bway Musicals of 1938'

More names have been added to the cast of Broadway by the Year: The Broadway Musicals of 1938 at The Town Hall.  There are now eleven performers who will perform under the direction of The Tony-nominated star of Side Show, Emily Skinner (who will also perform).

The lineup of talent that now includes – Andy Blankenbuehler (choreographer of In the Heights), Sarah Uriarte Berry (A Light in the Piazza), Aaron Lazar (Les Miserables), Shannon Lewis (Sweet Charity), Ray McLeod (Wonderful Town), Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde), Connie Pachl (When the Lights Go on Again ), Hugh Panaro (Lestat), Martin Vidnovic (The Fantasticks), and Barbara Walsh (Company).

The cast will be singing some of American theater's most famous songs when they tackle the Broadway Musicals of 1938.   Among the numbers the audience can expect to hear include "September Song," "It Never Was You," "Falling in Love with Love," "This Can't Be Love," "Spring Is Here," and many more.

"This is one of the most dynamic casts that I've ever assembled," said Scott Siegel, the creator/writer/host of the Town Hall series. "It's a wonderful mix of Broadway by the Year veterans like Emily Skinner, Christiane Noll and Martin Vidnovic and new stars who have never done it before like Sarah Uriarte Berry, Aaron Lazar and Hugh Panaro. It's especially rich," Siegel continued, "getting Hugh Panaro and Emily Skinner who were both in Side Show together again. I'm also thrilled to have Andy Blankenbuehler dancing on our stage. He has choreographed a number of show-stopping dance numbers for Broadway by the Year but this will be the first time he has danced for us, himself – and this on the heels of his triumph as a choreographer for the hit show In the Heights."

Limited tickets are still available at $45 and $40 through TicketMaster 212-307-4100, or by visiting the Town Hall Box Office, 123 West 43 rd Street, 212-840-2824, or visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.

Later shows in the Broadway by the Year series include April 30: The Broadway Musicals of 1959 with Marc Kudisch directing and June 18: The Broadway Musicals of 1964, Part II with Dan Foster directing. Casts to be announced.

Since 2002, the Broadway by the Year series has yielded 14 cast albums on Bayview Records, every single one of them have been #1 best sellers on the Footlight.com best seller list.

Built in 1921 by a group of suffragettes The Town Hall began as a lecture hall and public forum for debates. Landmarked in 1979, it has become widely known for its outstanding acoustics and eclectic music programs.   The Hall has recently made a name for itself as a home for quality Broadway and cabaret programs. 

Scott Siegel created the Broadway by the Year series and the Broadway Cabaret Festival for The Town Hall.   He also conceived and produces both Broadway Unplugged and The Nightlife Awards at The Town Hall.  Scott and his wife Barbara are authors (47 books, including The Encyclopedia of Hollywood) and critics ("The Siegel Column" and "The Two of Clubs" at TalkinBroadway.com).  They also contribute reviews and features for TheaterMania.com.  They have written for a number of entertainment industry publications including BackStage, InTheater, Show Business Weekly, and Drama-Logue.   A fixture at Town Hall, Siegel recently began his tenth year as the host of The Town Hall Feature Film Seminar Series. 

Photo of Hugh Panaro by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.