Photo Coverage: 'Enter Laughing': Curtain Call and After Party
By: Walter McBride Sep. 11, 2008
The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) opened ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL on Wednesday, September 10th. This limited engagement runs through October 12; all performances will be at the company’s home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street).ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof’s Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by “Taxi” creator Stan Daniels. Based on the early life of comedian Carl Reiner and the hit play by Broadway master Joseph Stein, ENTER LAUGHING tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via show biz.Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that includes Josh Grisetti (“The Knights of Prosperity,” Spamalot Las Vegas) as David Kolowitz, “L.A. Law’s” married couple Jill Eikenberry (Moonchildren, Watch on the Rhine) and Michael Tucker (The Goodbye People, Moonchildren) as Mother and Father, Paul Binotto (Dreamgirls) as Don, Ray DeMattis (Little Shop of Horrors) as Forman, Erick Devine (Seussical) as Pike, Betsy DiLellio (The Baker’s Wife), Janine LaManna (Seussical) as Angela, Gerry McIntyre (Once on This Island, Anything Goes) as Don, Robb Sapp (Johnny Guitar, Zanna, Don’t) as Marvin, Emily Shoolin (Nerds://A Musical Software Satire) as Wanda, Allison Spratt (Curtains, Cry-Baby) as Miss B. and George S. Irving (countless Broadway shows since the original production of Oklahoma!, including Me and My Girl, On Your Toes, Irene, among many others), here recreating his original role of Marlowe. Matt Castle (Company) is the Music Director and will perform the role of Roger.
ENTER LAUGHING will have scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser and lighting design by Chris Robinson.Joseph Stein won the Tony Award and the Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba (Tony nomination, Drama Critics Circle Award), The Bakers Wife (Olivier Award), Rags (Tony nomination), Irene, Juno, Take Me Along, The King of Hearts, and So Long, 174th Street. He also co-authored, with Alan Jay Lerner, the musical Carmelina and, with Will Glickman, the shows Plain and Fancy and Mr. Wonderful. His plays are Enter Laughing, Before the Dawn and (with Will Glickman) Mrs. Gibbons’ Boys.
Stan Daniels won eight Emmys during his long television career, including three as co-creator and executive producer of “Taxi” and three as a writer on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He also wrote for The Dean Martin Show, The Bill Cosby Show and Phyllis.
Stuart Ross wrote and directed the long-running musical Forever Plaid. He also created and directed its two sequels, The Sound Of Plaid, and Plaid Tidings. Mr. Ross wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics for The Public Theatre’s Radiant Baby directed by George C. Wolfe (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Musical). On Broadway Stuart co-wrote the book (with Barry Keating) to the Tony nominated musical Starmites as well as The Radio City Music Hall Easter Show. Off-Broadway he wrote A Leap Of Faith (a one-woman show for Faith Prince), The Heebie Jeebies, Not-So-New Faces, Tea With Bea and Fun With Dick And Jane: The Musical.Following Enter Laughing will be the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical, My Vaudeville Man!, the story of a son born to tap dance and a mother hell-bent on stopping him. Karen Murphy (soon to be seen on Broadway in 9 to 5) and Shonn Wiley (seen in No No Nanette at Encores!) star in a musical based on the life of legendary eccentric tap dancer Jack Donahue, directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Performances begin November 7.
For more information please visit www.yorktheatre.org
Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
Enter Laughing
Paul Binotto, Betsy DiLellio and Gerry McIntyre
Paul Binotto, Betsy DiLellio and Gerry McIntyre
Allison Spratt, Robb Sapp, Erick Devine and Matt Castle
Allison Spratt, Robb Sapp, and Erick Devine
Janine LaManna, Emily Shoolin, Ray DeMattis
Janine LaManna and Emily Shoolin
Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker
Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker
Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker
Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker
Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker and Ray Mattis
Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker and Ray Mattis
Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker
Enter Laughing
Joseph Stein and Wife
Jerry Bock, Joseph Stein and Sheldon Harnick
Elaine Cancilla-Orbach
Jill Eikenberry and Anita Gillette
Jill Eikenberry and Anita Gillette
Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry
Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry
Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry and Stuart Ross
Josh Grisetti and his girlfriend
Josh Grisetti and his girlfriend
Josh Grisetti and Emily Shoolin
Josh Grisetti and Emily Shoolin
Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson and Joseph Stein and wife
Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson and Joseph Stein and wif
Eli Wallach, Josh Grisetti and Anne Jackson
George S. Irving and Josh Grisetti
George S. Irving and Josh Grisetti
Allison Spratt and her father
Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt
Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt
Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt
Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt
Stuart Ross, Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt
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