Purnhagen Plays Homage To Arnaz In 'Babalu-cy' at Actors Temple

Award-winning producers, MICHAEL & Barbara Ross, will present the 2008 Back Stage Bistro Award Winning Greg Purnhagen in BABALU-CY – the art of Desi Arnaz, Off-Broadway, at the Actors Temple Theatre, beginning August 23rd, with the opening set for Wednesday, September 17th. Conceived & written by Greg Purnhagen, BABALU-CY takes a look at Arnaz' career from his tremendous success as a bandleader/singer to his relationship with America's favorite red-head. Complete with a seven-piece Latin band led by Musical Director/Arranger David Cook, BABALU-CY is directed by Gene Castle.

REG PURNHAGEN was born in Manhattan & raised on Long Island in Massapequa Park, where he did not know Jerry Seinfeld, the Baldwin Brothers or Joey Buttafuoco. A classically-trained singer (NYU, Mannes College of Music), Greg,  along with his long-time musical director, David Cook, has created several well-received shows at clubs in New York, As a cast member of Rendezvous - An Evening With Piaf, Brel, Aznavour& Friends (2008 MAC Nominee), he appeared at Feinstein's at Loews Regency & the  Metropolitan Room. BABALU-CY – the Art of Desi Arnaz, debuted at the Metropolitan Room in July 2007, winning a 2008 Back Stage Bistro Award for "Best Theme Show." Purnhagen has toured extensively in the US, Europe, the Far East, Australia & Russia, working with such avant-garde luminaries as Philip Glass, Mary Zimmerman, Robert Wilson, Meredith Monk & John Kelly. He has appeared in several Off-Off Broadway shows & during the 90's, he was a BMG recording artist as a member of the á cappella quartet Toby Twining Music. His recordings include the Glass works he has premiered; Avant-Garde Opera, Early Music, New Music & several Original Cast Albums. He is especially proud to have been a guest vocalist on Bjork's CD, Medulla.

Gene Castle grew up in New York and began his theatrical career as a "newsboy" in the original Broadway production of Gypsy & was also featured in the original Broadway productions of Flower Drum Song, High Spirits, Henry, Sweet Henry & George M!, as well as Best Foot Forward Off - Broadway. He directed & choreographed On The Town for the San Jose Civic Light Opera winning him the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards For Best Direction, Best Choreography & Best Musical. He also wrote, directed & choreographed nine shows for Dr Pepper & twelve shows for Princess Cruises. Other credits include Movin' On, an original Sondheim musical for the Laguna Playhouse, Strike Up The Band at A Tree Grows In Brooklyn at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Emmy Awards, starring Jason Alexander, Oh Coward! at the Coronet Theater, Cinderella at the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, the feature film Kiss Me Goodbye, the television specials "Bonnie And The Franklins" & the "Doc Severinsen Show." After working and living in Los Angeles for many years, he recently returned to New York & is excited to be back home. New York City pianist/composer David Cook has played with a number of world-class vocalists, including Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson, Marianne Faithfull, Broadway stars Billy Porter, Darius DeHaas & Shoshana Bean. He has toured with several multi-platinum pop acts, beginning with NSYNC (2000-2002), JC Chasez (2003), American Idol (2004) & Disney's High School Musical (2007). In 2007, David was selected to represent the US in the American Music Abroad program with the band Exegesis, sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center & the US State Department, traveling to Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates & Kuwait, giving performances to audiences across the region.

 MICHAEL & Barbara Ross produced the Broadway show PIAF - A Remembrance, which won the Theater World Award for Juliet Koka. Off-Broadway, they are the award-winning producers of Jelly Roll! (starring Vernel Bagneris - Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, Outer Critic's Circle Award, Drama Desk Award Nominee), The World Of Kurt Weill,  Piaf Remembered, We'll Meet Again, Two Hearts Over Easy & Mamelah! They also produced the pre-Broadway tryouts of  Bingo Long & His Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (book by Ossie Davis, music by George Fishoff), Song & Dance, A Celebration of Gene Kelly, Princess Grace & the Fazzari's (with Dorothy Loudon & Lois Nettleton), Never Too Late (starring Eddie Bracken), Millions Of Miles (starring Rue McClanahan & Milo O'Shea, directed by Barry Nelson) & The Kid From Brooklyn, (a one-man show about Danny Kaye). They also produced Comedy Tonight! at Foxwoods, starring Dick Capri, Professor Irwin Corey & Henny Youngman, plus the National & International Tour of The Duke Ellington Orchestra, conducted by the late Mercer Ellington.

Show and Ticket Information: 

PREVIEWS BEGIN: Saturday, August 23 @ 3pm

OPENS:  Wednesday, September 17 @ 3pm

TIMES: Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday @ 3pm

THEATRE: The Actors Temple Theatre ~ 339 West 47th Street

PRICE: $55 & $35 (Group Sales Available)

TICKETS: Telecharge (212)239-6200 www.telecharge.com, Group Sales: (888)231-9088

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