The Tred Avon Players 30th Anniversary 2012 season opens February 16 with new dates and added shows with nine performances over two weekends. TAP presents the music of the dynamic writing duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb. “Life is a Cabaret: the Songs of Kander & Ebb”, will acknowledge their unmatched ability to tell a poignant story or simply entertain.
TAP’s 30th season coincides with the 50 anniversary of the collaboration of Kander and Ebb. Director Joe Tyler celebrates his 25th year with TAP in presenting a singing and dancing production of the music & lyrics of Kander and Ebb, the first production in the newly renovated Oxford Community Center.
Tyler shares his enthusiasm for the talent and genius of this writing team, “Of all the music found on Broadway in the past 50 years, Kander and Ebb produced some of the most memorable and timeless. Not since George M. Cohan at the turn of the last century, has there been a composer whose music could be pulled from a musical and thrown directly into a Vaudeville Show. Most of their songs stand on their own and can be used in whatever setting you choose and it will still have the same impact on an audience.”
John Kander and Fred Ebb have written songs for twenty Broadway musicals, fourteen of them Broadway hits, including “Chicago”, “Cabaret”, “Woman of the Year”, “Curtains”, “The Act”, and “Kiss of the Spider Woman”. They also worked together on the films “New York, New York” and “Funny Lady”.
“Kander and Ebb had a love for the music of the 20’s and 30’s as evidenced by Cabaret and Chicago, but they also jumped at the chance to contribute truly meaningful songs that explained the inner thoughts of the characters that sang them,” continues Tyler.
This accolade to these two composers will be performed by twenty-six talented local entertainers. Gail Aveson, Jane Copple, Katie Cox, Nathalie Derakshani, Paulette Florio, Joey Frankos, Marcia Gilliam, Sharon Gilroy, Bill Gross, Dana Haddaway, Debbie Harmon, Portia Hughes, Jenny Madino, Ira Nelson, Bridget Page, Wendy Pagenstecher, Lara Prettyman, Lisa Roth, Zack Schlag, John Swann, Laura Todd, Joe Tyler, Kim Wilson, & Herb Ziegler. Accompanist is Ellen Barry Grunden, with Shelby Clendaniel on percussion.
Tyler states, “I have to be the luckiest director alive. Not only do I have a passion for the genius of Kander and Ebb, but to have a cast of 25 other people who share this same passion is beyond my greatest expectations.” Tyler adds an experienced production crew with Katie Cox as assistant director, Lisa Roth as producer, and Beth Driggs as stage manager. Skipper Marquess and Rob Sanchez on lights, and Tom Gross as sound operator. Choreography by Debbie Beasley, Katie Cox, Joe Tyler, Sharon Gilroy, and Nathalie Derakshani.
New audience enhancements at the Oxford Community Center create the ultimate theater experience beginning with the handicap ramp to the welcoming front entranceway. Enter into beautiful theatre ambiance and enjoy new comfortable seating surrounded by state of the art lights and sound, and loops for hearing assistance.
Performance Schedule
Thrifty Thursday Preview Thursday February 16, doors open at 6 for a 7pm performance.
Tickets are two-for-one or $10 singles.
Opening night champagne celebration Friday, Feb. 17th.
Friday, February 24 -8pm
Saturday, February 18 & 25 – 8pm
Sunday, February 19, & 26 – 2pm and 7pm
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students.
Oxford Community Center
200 Oxford Road
Oxford, MD
Call 410-226-0061 or visit www.tredavonplayers.org for information.
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Mike Rentko says
I may be on the reserve list for the 19th , how do I make certain?