Central Avenue Breakdown (2011)
Additional Story by Suellen Vance
at Signature Theatre - The Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street)
Monday, Oct 10th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Tuesday, Oct 11th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Thursday, Oct 13th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Friday, Oct 14th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Saturday, Oct 15th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Sunday, Oct 16th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
It's 1940s Los Angeles and the hottest place to be seen is Central Avenue, in the shadow of Hollywood where hot swing blows all night long at clubs like Jack's Chicken Basket and the Club Alabam. Brothers Bill and Jim Marcel are sax players struggling to carve out their own legacies, but first they must overcome a destructive rivalry, addiction, and tragedy before it's too late.
Approximate Running Time: 2:30; with intermission
Josh is very proud to be part CAB after having been part of its last reading. Recent credits include Coalhouse in Hangar Theatre’s Ragtime & Judas in Superstar at Pittsburgh CLO. Broadway: Simba in Disney’s The Lion King (2002-2007, Broadway & original Gazelle Tour), Ragtime (Broadway & Chicago), Other joints include A Christmas Carol , Langston In Harlem (AUDELCO nomination), Parade, The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea, Violet, Miss Saigon, Les Mis, Dreamgirls , Chess, The Bubbly Black Girl…, As You Like It, Once on this Island, Joseph…, Godspell, Baby, Avenue X, Three Penny Opera, Cymbeline, some of this , a bit of that, some T.V, some film. MFA, UNC Chapel Hill/ BA, Temple University. Live, Love, Laugh!!
Most recently, Albert appeared on Blue Bloods (CBS); Light's Out, pilot (FX). On the New York stage he has sung in Toni Morrison’s Margaret Garner at New York City Opera at Lincoln Center. Prior to that he starred as Rus,HERE Arts, in Thomas Bradshaw’s controversial Purity, P.S. 122, and in The Contract, Kraine Theatre. Broadway: Tony-winning musical Ragtime, Original Cast, Emmy-winning Porgy and Bess, New York City Opera. Regional: Home, North Carolina Stage; Carnival, South Pacific, Peter Pan, Paper Mill Playhouse; Tanya Barfield's Pecan Tan, Kitchen Theatre; Damn Yankees, Westchester Broadway; Mandela, Crossroads Theater; Sophisticated Ladies, Lucille Lortel. His short film Taipei, produced, written by and co-starring Albert, was screened in festivals in Atlanta, L.A. and Berlin. Director/Choreographer: …ooh, the action, Taipei, Taiwan; Oh de Sea, Internationalist's Fest NYC; Prevailence II, E-move Series, NYC. AEA member. Xiao!
Broadway/National Tours: RAGTIME (revival), HAIRSPRAY, SOUTH PACIFIC. Regional credits include: RAISIN IN THE SUN (Ruth), SWEET CHARITY (Helene), LITTLE SHOP of HORRORS (Ronnette), THE OWL & THE PUSSYCAT (Doris), DREAMGIRLS (Deena), ANYTHING GOES and HAIR. Film/TV credits include: Delocated, Are We There Yet? and Spike Lee’s Drop Squad. www.nicolepowell.com
Broadway: Baby It’s You! Regional: The Threepenny Opera (Arden Theatre Company); Big River (Stages St. Louis); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (North Shore Music Theatre); Five Guys Named Moe (Casa Mañana); Soul of Rodgers (Reprise Theatre Company); Being Alive! and tick, tick…BOOM! (Westport Country Playhouse); and Jelly’s Last Jam (Alliance Theatre). Training: MFA in Acting, Yale School of Drama, 2009. Special thanks to Gary Epstein of Phoenix Artists.
Rodrick Covington (JIM) is the youngest son of 8 brothers and 10 sisters from Polk County, FL. He is blessed to be apart of the "CAB" cast and honored to debut at the Signature Theatre. Rodrick was last seen as Joey in Pal Joey at the Boston Court (L. A.). He played Marcos (lead) in the hit show Venice at the Kirk Douglas (L.A.). Other credits include The Brother/Sister Plays at The Steppenwolf (Best Actor Nomination, Awarded Best Ensemble). Broadway: THE LION KING, Off Broadway credits: Drumstruck, Over the Top (Public Theater). National Tours: Lead, Fosse. Regional credits include: Pippin (Mark Taper), Jelly's Last Jam (Best Actor Nomination), In The Red And Brown Water (Premier, Best Ensemble Nomination, Alliance Theatre). Other NYMF credits include The Woman Upstairs and No Boundaries. TV credits include Law & Order: CI and the Dave Chappelle show. Film credits: Mask Of The Ninja, Three Verses and Memory Running. BFA, SUNY Purchase. Endless thanks to God, Jo, Marcia, Roco and friends! As we align in our true identity, greatness is our birthright! Genesis 25:23-34
Rebecca is thrilled to be a part of NYMF and Central Avenue Breakdown. Previous credits include the Broadway Rising Stars Concert, NY International Fringe Festival, and a national tour with Theatreworks USA. BFA, NYU Tisch (Playwrights Horizons Theater School, Experimental Theater Wing). Many thanks to friends, family, Michael, and of course, the cast and creative team. As always, for Mom. www.rebeccalachance.com
Lou is thrilled to join Central Avenue Breakdown on it's NYMF journey!! Past roles include Radames in Aida, Chris in Miss Saigon, Robbie in A Man Of No Importance, and Monty in Violet. Thank you to friends and family for their constant love and support. Special thanks to Laura and Ruffino. www.lousteele.net
Hailing from New York City, Jennie Harney received her training from the renowned LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and received her certificate in Musical Theater from AMDA (the American Musical and Dramatic Academy) NYC. Jennie has been recognized as a songwriter (winning 1st Prize in Bertelsmann/Sony/BMG/Random House's "World of Expressions" competition), dancer (YMCA's125th International Anniversary Celebration, held in Bombay, India) and singer (Sang The National Anthem at the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup, Madison Square Garden). She was also a featured Soloist on the Album recording of Superstar, the Musical. She has been a teaching artist with BAMSS Theatre Works since 2004 and has brought the arts to hundreds of kids throughout the NYC Public School System. Most recently Jennie was showcased in the 2010 Broadway's Rising Stars concert at the Town Hall Theatre (NYC), starred in Theaterworks USA’s national tour of “We the People” as well as both the St. Louis Repertory Theater and the Cincinnati Playhouse’s productions of Beehive, The 60’s Musical. She also played the role of Tunica Harris in "Children of God" in this years Midtown Theater Festival. Jennie is very happy to be a part of the “Central Avenue Breakdown” production and is excited to see the fruit it bears!
Thaddeus is thrilled to be a part of the creation of great new work. Favorite roles include: Chip Tolentino in Spelling Bee at the Weathervane Theatre, Bernardo in West Side Story at the Wisconsin Union Theatre, and Robert Earl Hayes in the Exonerated at his Alma Mater Ithaca College. All my love to my friends and family for keeping feet on the ground while my head is in the clouds. Word to Mom dukes! Proud Equity Member.
Eileen is very grateful to appear in Central Avenue Breakdown as it will be her professional debut on a New York stage! After receiving her English degree at the University of Scranton, she studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Thanks to the cast and creative team for the opportunity to take this first important step in my career! And of course, thank you to all my family and friends for the unwavering support. Love you Mom and Dad!
Anne is tickled to be a part of this production and the 2011 NYMF! Favourite credits include: A Chorus Line (Bebe), White Christmas (Rhoda), Anything Goes (Virtue), Buddy Holly (Shirley), High School Musical, All Shook Up, No No Nanette…Millie. She is a proud graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, CAP21. Thanks to Christopher and everyone on this amazing team, family, and the VIPs.
Kevin Ray is a songwriter-singer living in New York City. He has recorded seven solo albums, the musical The Last Word, and, in 2006, composed the MAC nominated Seasoned Greetings CD. His songs have been performed on television, in theaters, and Federal courtrooms. He has spent the last year performing around the world and working on his new CD Radio Silence. His unique style of piano-based pop-rock mixes elements of theater, jazz, and soul music. His songs are personal and literate, and range from intensely emotional, to humorous, to political. For more on Kevin and his music, go to www.kevinray.net.
Josh Sohn’s work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Brooklyn Writer’s Space Reader, Saltmag.net, and Gelf Magazine. His plays have been performed by Flux Theatre Ensemble, Packawallop Productions, Tip My Cup, Young Playwrights’ Group, and in the Short Play Lab Festival at the Where Eagles Dare Studios. In 2008, his play Jump! was a finalist in the New York Strawberry Festival, and in 2010 his play Laid Plans was a semi-finalist in the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival. Currently, he is working on two new musicals, a short story collection, and a screenplay. He lives in Brooklyn.
Suellen Vance is an actress-producer-writer as well as a managing partner of YankeeBelle Productions, LLC. Some of her recent projects include Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig and The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway; Bathory: The Musical (NYMF Next Link Finalist); and The Last Word. As an actress, Suellen appeared in John Gould Rubin’s 2010 production of Hedda Gabler and has done numerous commercials and voiceovers. In 1999, she won the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America’s first-ever Woman of the Year Award for producing Rx: Comedy, a benefit fundraiser (NYC Chapter). She has also been a television news producer in Orlando, Florida. For more on Suellen, check out www.suellenvance.com.
CHRISTOPHER WINDOM (Director/Choreographer) received the Dean Goodman Choice Award for best choreography for the production of Ragtime at TheatreWorks in California’s Bay Area. He has directed Church Basement Ladies, Clue: the Musical, Big River, Chicago, Our Country’s Good, Mo’ Reece and the Girls by Jackie Sibblies, TOT! by Ian McDonald, Blood Knot, The Tempest, and Woyzeck. He choreographed Dessa Rose, Crowns, Oklahoma!, Chicago, My Fair Lady, Swing!, Gypsy, Bye, Bye, Birdie, Peter Pan, City of Freaks, Parade, Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery, and A Christmas Carol directed by Liesl Tommy. Christopher has performed on Broadway, National Tours and London’s West End in the Tony Award winning shows Fosse and Damn Yankees, starring Jerry Lewis. Regionally he has performed at St. Louis Repertory Theater, The Cincinnati Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, St. Louis MUNY, Stages St. Louis and the Sacramento Music Circus to name a few. BFA, Musical Theater from Webster University. MFA, Directing, Brown/Trinity Rep.
Justin Hornback, a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music, has worked as a music director, conductor, pianist, arranger and orchestrator for over ten years. He most recently worked on the new Broadway musical, Baby It's You. Justin is an accompanist for Telsey & Company, Tara Rubin Casting, Theatreworks, New York Film Academy, Broadway Artists Alliance, and also teaches a Broadway Back to Basics class. Other NYMF credits include: Street Lights (Asst. to Composer/Copyist), The 10th Floor (Keyboard 2/Percussion), and Frog Kiss (Associate Music Director). Justin would like to thank his family and the love of his life, Jenn, for always supporting him through the years. For more info, visit www.justinhornback.com
Janell Berté is thrilled to be costuming her third NYMF show, Central Avenue Breakdown. Recent NY credits are Trav’lin,(NYMF ’10 )director by Paul Stancato, Civil War Voices (Midtown International Theater Festival ‘10) directed by Dennis Courtney, winner of 6 awards including best of show and outstanding costume design, Off-Broadway: Family Dinner (Beckett Theater)directed by Jamibeth Margolis, Plagued-a Love Story (NYMF ’09), Regional Theater : Sound of Music (John Engeman Theater) . Other favorites: Warsaw, Pirates of Penzance, Funny Girl, My Fair Lady, The Producers, Irma Vep. Movie credit- Something New, (Focus Features-Hope Hanifin, costume designer).
Ms Berté is nationally known for her bridal gown designs that have been featured in every major national bridal magazine. www.Berte.com.
Broadway: Associate LD for The Story of My Life, Irena’s Vow, NYC: This Side of Paradise, (Off-Bway), The Maiden’s Prayer (In Proximity Theatre), Dreyfus in Rehearsal (Beckett Theatre), With Glee, The Blue Flower (Prospect Theatre), Mercy Thieves, Ride (Outhouse Theatre), Do Not Disturb (59E59), Macb**h (CSC), The Bubble, The 10thFloor, (NYMF) Regional: Shipwrecked! (Penguin Rep), 42nd Street (Resorts Casino), Rent, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray (Engeman Theatre), High School Musical (Surflight), Woodloch Pines Resort, Les Miserables, ...Spelling Bee (Northern Stage), Cats, Annie, (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre), Fully Committed (Syracuse Stage), Rounding Third, Our Lady of 121st Street (The Redhouse). ALD: Newsies (Papermill), Band Geeks, H2S (Goodspeed), Daddy Long Legs (Various Regional), Chicago, Wizard of Oz (US Tours), 42nd Street (TOTS Tour), Side Effects (MCC), Lost in the Stars, Where’s Charley (Encores!) Peter...Starcatcher (NYTW) Shamu’s Xmas Miracle (Seaworld), Gem of the Ocean, I Am My Own Wife (Pittsburgh Public), Essential Self-Defense (Playwrights Horizons), The Internationalist (Vineyard), Altar Boyz, (Adirondack Theatre Fest), The Yellow Brick Road (Theatreworks) BFA: Syracuse University.
01 - California
02 - 33 is My Year
03 - Go To Sleep, Wake Up Play Saxophone
04 - New York
05 - Way Out West
06 - Black Monday
07 - You Make it So Hard
08 - Hot Bop Fastball
10 - Unnatural Attraction
11 - Hollywood Slumming, Reprise
12 - Listen
13 - On My Way
15 - Amsterdam
