Vanessa Lemonides Completes Cast for Watergate Musical MARK FELT, SUPERSTAR at Stage 72

By: Apr. 07, 2015
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The next in a series of American History-inspired musicals to hit Off Broadway, "Mark Felt, Superstar" begins its four performance run at The Triad's Stage 72 on April 16.

In addition to previously announced cast members Neal Mayer as Mark Felt (aka "Deep Throat"), Peter Benson as Bob Woodward, Michael McCoy as Richard Nixon, and Will Erat as Patrick Gray, Vanessa Lemonides ("Fiddler on the Roof" National Tour, "Wallenberg") joins the cast in multiple roles including Audrey Felt, Diane Sawyer, Nora Ephron, and Martha Mitchell.

"Mark Felt, Superstar" features book, music and lyrics by Joshua Rosenblum, creator of "Bush is Bad," the smash hit satirical musical revue that ran for a year and a half at the Triad, and was hailed by Variety as "a sensation."

Why the spate of American-history musicals? Why now?

"We all have our periods of history that we're drawn to, and when they illuminate current events, the time just feels right," says Rosenblum. "I've always been fascinated by Watergate, and if we hadn't had Mark Felt, we wouldn't have Edward Snowden. I'm sure it was similar for the other writers."

Though his name is little known today, Mark Felt was the retired FBI man who revealed in 2005 that he had been Deep Throat, the secret source for journalists Woodward and Bernstein during the Watergate era. Deep Throat's identity was the greatest political mystery of all time and Felt's story is thrilling, heartbreaking, and funny in equal parts. "Mark Felt, Superstar" is a whimsical and unexpectedly touching musical romp through Watergate and its aftermath fromDeep Throat's unique perspective.

The production is directed by Annette Jolles, with musical direction by Rosenblum.

In addition to "Bush is Bad," Rosenblum is the composer/lyricist of "Fermat's Last Tango" (York Theatre Company), "The Haunted Hotel" (Signature Theatre American Musical Voices Project) and "Einstein's Dreams," based on the novel by Alan Lightman. Rosenblum has conducted thirteen Broadway shows and and is the founding music director of the Pit Stop Players, a critically acclaimed, genre-defying chamber ensemble.

"Mark Felt, Superstar" will play four performances at Stage 72 at the Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd Street: Thursday, April 16 and Thursday, April 23 at 7 pm; Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 25 at 9 pm. Tickets are $20 - $30, plus two-drink minimum. For tickets, visit: http://markfeltsuperstar.brownpapertickets.com/.



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