San Diego Musical Theatre Presents THE STORY OF MY LIFE
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jan. 04, 2011
San Diego Musical Theatre is thrilled to present its second production of its 2010-2011 season, the San Diego Premiere of the Broadway musical, THE STORY OF MY LIFE with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, book by Brian Hill, musical direction by Don LeMaster and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio. San Diego Musical Theatre is proud to be presenting the critically-acclaimed, Ovation Award-nominated Havok Theatre Company production that recently played in Los Angeles. The show will star Robert J. Townsend (Mamma Mia, Smokey Joe's Cafe) as Thomas Weaver and Chad Borden (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Laramie Project) as Alvin Kelby. Nominated for four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, THE STORY OF MY LIFE will preview on Friday, January 21, 2011 and will open on Saturday, January 22 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza, 79 Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego.
The Story of My Life tells the story of two childhood friends and how their friendship profoundly defined their lives. Thomas Weaver is a best-selling, award-winning author. Alvin Kelby was his best friend for thirty years. But time can test the bonds of friendship, and when it does, Thomas calls on the only resource he has - his stories of Alvin - to learn where things went wrong. A richly melodic musical, The Story of My Life is a soaring tribute to the power of friendship and the people who change our lives forever. ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAMNeil Bartram (Music and Lyrics) is the recipient of a Dramatists Guild Jonathan Larson Fellowship, a Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, and was a finalist for the 2007 Fred Ebb Award. He is the composer/lyricist of The Story of My Life, which was developed at NAMT and Goodspeed before debuting on Broadway in February 2009 (Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr.). Neil also wrote the music and lyrics for Somewhere In The World (5 seasons at the Charlottetown Festival), and The Nightingale and the Rose. With book writer Brian Hill, Neil is currently developing a musical based on Timothy Findley's novel Not Wanted On The Voyage (at Northwestern University with director Amanda Dehnert) and an original musical Clara's Piano (workshopped by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival with director and conceiver Susan H. Schulman). Cast albums include Somewhere In The World and The Story Of My Life (PS Classics). Neil is a member of the Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, and is an alumnus of the BMI Lehman Engel Music Theatre Workshop. In 2009, Neil was a double Drama Desk Award nominee for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics for The Story of My Life.THE STORY OF MY LIFE features an award-winning design team. The set design is by Tom Buderwitz. The lighting design is by Steven Young. The sound design is by Larry Esau. The Stage Manager is Jill Townsend.ABOUT THE CASTRobert J. Townsend (Thomas Weaver) is excited to return to SDMT, where he previously played Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and also appeared as Michael in Smokey Joe's Café, and is very pleased to have the opportunity to reprise his role in this incredible show. He has just returned from appearing on the road as Santa in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and his recent Los Angeles performances include Edward Rutledge in MTW's critically acclaimed 1776 and as the Pharaoh in Joseph....Dreamcoat at CLO of South Bay Cities. Robert has toured the country with the national tours of Grease (Kenickie), Camelot (Sir Sagramore), and Mamma Mia! (Father Alexandrios). His regional credits include: the title role in Jekyll and Hyde with CMT (Ovation Award), Nicky in The Seafarer (San Diego Rep), Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie (MTW and Sacramento Music Circus), Baron von Gaigern in Grand Hotel (Colony Theatre), Sir Percival Blakeney in The Scarlet Pimpernel (CMT), and Chris in Miss Saigon (SD Starlight). Chad Borden (Alvin Kelby) is thrilled to be reprising the role of Alvin onstage at SDMT after appearing in Havok Theatre Company's Los Angeles Premiere and Ovation Award-nominated production of The Story of My Life. Chad played Molina in Havok's Kiss of the Spider Woman (Ovation and LADCC Award noms for Lead Actor). Chad has performed at Pasadena Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre, La Mirada Theatre, South Bay CLO, Reprise!, Hollywood Bowl, Musical Theatre West, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Santa Barbara CLO, Sacramento Music Circus, AMT of San Jose and Elephant Theatre where his favorite roles include Bobby in A Chorus Line, Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Will Parker in Oklahoma!, and Larry in Burn This. Chad was a member of the Ovation Award-winning ensemble of The Laramie Project and was also Ovation nominated as Bud Frump in How to Succeed in Business (Colony Theatre). A graduate of Northwestern University, Chad did two National Tours (Mordred in Camelot and The Duke Ellington Songbook) and performed regionally at Cincinnati Playhouse, Chicago's Marriott Lincolnshire, and Boston's Merrimack Repertory. His TV credits include "The Cape", "General Hospital", "Bold and the Beautiful", and "Girls Behaving Badly". ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICINGTHE STORY OF MY LIFE will preview on Friday, January 21 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, January 22 at 8pm and run through Sunday, February 6, 2011 at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza, 79 Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego.Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices range from $30 - $60. Children 12 and under receive a 50% discount. Discounts are also available for Seniors/Military/Students and Groups. For ticket reservations, please visit www.sdmt.org or call 1-858-560-5740.
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