"Angel of Arkansas," a new show by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, creators of Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical "Bandstand," will receive a premiere concert-style presentation at Notoriety Live in the 175-seat Renkus-Heinz Theatre on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Featuring an all-star cast of Broadway and Vegas talent and a live six-piece band of Sin City's leading country rock musicians, ticket sales will benefit local popular nonprofit, The Composers Showcase, which provides a platform for original musical works, scholarship, and financial assistance to the Las Vegas entertainment community. The concert will be followed by a gala reception with the performers and creatives. Tickets are $25-$100, plus fees, buy at notorietylive.com. Convenient parking underneath Neonopolis at 4th Street and Fremont is free with validation.
Inspired by the remarkable real-life experiences of Ruth Coker Burks, "Angel of Arkansas" is the story of a young single mother in 1986 rural Arkansas who was suddenly transformed into a one-woman hospice, health advocate, political activist, pharmaceutical distributor, and undertaker to thousands of young men at the height of the AIDS crisis. "It's sort of become a thing", says Oberacker, "to be able to offer Las Vegas the exclusive first look at our new work, an insider sneak peek before anyone else in the country."
The stellar cast lineup includes the leading role of Ruth performed by
Ruby Lewis of Cirque's "Paramour," "Baz" and "Marilyn." With Lewis in the only female role, the extraordinary ensemble of men will play multiple characters each to create the vast community of lives touched by Ruth. This ensemble includes Broadway powerhouse
Brent Barrett of "Chicago," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Grand Hotel," "Candide," "West Side Story," "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" and he received an Olivier nomination for his performance in the London company of "Kiss Me, Kate." Additional cast will be
Noah Rivera ("Wicked,"
Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" and the original White Rabbit in "Shrek the Musical.")
Todd Dubail ("Jersey Boys," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Grease" and "Jesus Christ Superstar.") Australian Daz Weller (artistic director of the Vegas Theatre Company, "Stainless Steel Rat," "Beauty Queen of Leenane" and "The Sandman.").
Devin L. Roberts (Disney's "The Lion King," "Cabin in the Sky," "Venice" and appeared on "America's Got Talent.")
Phillip Officer ("Side Show" and an award-winning, renowned cabaret artist who has performed in legendary venues including
Carnegie Hall and the Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel.)
Luke Striffler ("Hairspray"and "Avenue Q," film and television credits "East-Enders," "The Morning After," and as a semifinalist on "Britain's Got Talent.")
Christopher Lash ("Million Dollar Quartet" as
Jerry Lee Lewis, and premiere musical director in Las Vegas at "Jersey Boys" and "Baz.")
Paul Johnson ("The Atomic Saloon Show," "Raiding the Rock Vault," "Rock of Ages," "Peepshow" and "Baz.").
Steffan Scrogan ("The Sandman," "American Idiot" and Toby in "Sweeney Todd.").
Paul Bradley ("Ragtime," "Children of Eden," "Big River," and lead singer of the band "for Balter".) JeShaun Jackson (national tour of "Church Girls," "Ritchie and Blanche," "Working" and "Smokey Joe's Café.") Additionally, the crucial role of The Doctor, which is voiced from offstage, will be performed by Annette Houlihan Verdolino (originated the role of Fraulein Kaeseschweiss in the American premiere of "The Sandman" at the Majestic Repertory Theatre, Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" and on the Las Vegas Strip and national tour in "Menopause the Musical." She is an alum of some of the most legendary avant garde stages of New York's fringe, cabaret and experimental scene as well as performing in London and internationally as a renown burlesque emcee.
Six high profile musicians will be come together to form the band that will accompany the cast for the event. Oberacker will conduct his own score from the piano. Jake Langley will play acoustic and electric guitar. He's a Grammy-nominated musician who has toured and recorded with such artists as The Dixie Chicks,
Sheena Easton,
Willie Nelson and the Righteous Brothers, as well as in the orchestras of the Broadway musicals "The Color Purple," "Hair," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Mamma Mia." Paul Molloy will play acoustic and electric guitar as well as mandolin and banjo. He has played in orchestras for countless Broadway shows including "Fiddler on the Roof," "Assassins," "Big River," "Man of La Mancha." Co-lyricist and co-librettist Taylor (Disney's "The Lion King," "Finding Neverland," and "Sponge Bob The Musical," and with the Eagles,
Marc Anthony and
Lady Gaga) will play violin and viola. Tyler Williams ("Le Reve," "Avenue Q," and "Spamalot") will play bass. Jakubu Griffin (Cirque's "Zarkana," performed and recorded with
Chaka Khan,
Peabo Bryson and
Melissa Manchester, and current drummer for
Clint Holmes) will play drums.
"Bandstand" received its premiere concert presentation in Las Vegas before going on to its Tony Award-winning run on Broadway, being filmed for Fathom Events and launching a national tour. As did Oberacker and Taylor's musical "Bruce," which, with commercial producers attached, will open at
Seattle Rep this spring with an aim for Broadway next season.
