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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 The former Broadway cast who brought so much passion and joy to the Richard Rodgers Theater during the 14 month run of Tarzan are reprising their roles as the astounding actors and actresses they are. After the sudden close of Tarzan on July 8th, though the sadness was deep that Tarzan had ended as I found out from an agent of one of the actors I sat by the world does need to continue. They seemed extremely proud of their performances and what they brought to this astounding production, my favourite show I've ever seen, truly. Six of the major roles from Tarzan are now pursuing new roles and activities on Broadway and beyond. Tarzan is my favourite show or play I've ever seen!  Josh Strickland, of American Idol fame and from the national tour of RENT and everyone will remember as the older Tarzan with his stunning voice, amazing acrobatics and more is working on an upcoming CD titled Dreaming Wide Awake along with other Broadway stars including Shoshana Bean previously from Wicked, Jonathan Groff currently in Spring Awakening amongst others. Check out this exclusive sneak preview clip of renwoned Broadway actress Stephanie J. Block (Wicked, Pirate Queen) singing "Never Never Land" (Fly Away) from Peter Pan, check out this write up from Playbill.com (the official company that does Broadway programs - "playbills" and much more) at the bottom of the article. He has no current roles in shows, though it won't be long I'm sure before we see this skilled up and coming actor spring from the launch that Tarzan was for him. This was Strickland's Broadway premiere in rent but he had previously garnered his stardom in American Idol, and he was then on the National Tour of RENT and in his time in Tarzan was on many renowned TV shows inclusive of The View, The Today Show and All my Children.  Kerchak (Shuler Hensley) and his wife Kala (Merle Dandridge) in Tarzan Merle Dandridge who played the deeply moving mother of Tarzan Kala has returned to her previous Broadway role. For a limited engagement Dandridge will be reprised her role as Joanne in RENT, now in it's 11th year on Broadway at the David Nederlander Theater. She left RENT on September 1st. She expressed on her blog that it will be a limited engagement before she takes so more time off after Tarzan. She is now working on a play at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California titled Most Wanted . Most Wanted. takes a look at the American obsession of celebrity, rich, fame and wealth in a unique and creative expression. The play is part of their EDGE festival supporting young and up and coming directors, this is quoted from the website of the La Jolla Playhouse as they describe the festival of plays: "THE EDGE is the newest of the Playhouse's signature programs, designed to bring the freshest, most adventurous work to our stages. Supported through a generous grant from the Irvine Foundation, projects in THE EDGE are produced outside of the subscription season. THE EDGE encompasses bold new works being created in the theatre today by established artists, up-and-coming directors and playwrights, or theatre ensembles who are exploring new theatrical territory. Groundbreaking, innovative and completely different – welcome to THE EDGE." Her past performances include on Broadway Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, Disney's AIDA as well as NCIS on television amongst other credits.  Jane (Jenn Gambatese) and Tarzan (Josh Strickland) in Tarzan Jenn Gambatese who played the snobby British explorer turned lover of Tarzan is preparing for a brand new Broadway show. Gambatese took some time off towards the end of Tarzan's run for her wedding!! She was Jane for more than a year previous and then did return early from her leave to do the final weekend of shows. She is getting ready to be a part of the intriguing new musical Is He Dead based on a play that was written more than 100 years ago and undiscovered until 2002, Mark Twain's piece has been crafted into a Broadway show. The producers of the show say this: "In this newly discovered Mark Twain comedy, the original master of American humor dishes out a sly critique of the art world with acerbic wit and social commentary well ahead of his time. Is He Dead? is a fast-paced play about a struggling artist who stages his own death to drive up the price of his paintings. As the riotous scheme unfolds, Twain poses daring questions about fame, greed and the value of art, and pokes his signature, mischievous fun at everyone involved." The previews of Is He Dead start November 8th at the Lyceum Theatre, regular performances start November 29th. The performance schedule and ticketing will be announced shortly, I will post more about her show and link to the official website when there's one. Her past performances include the original Broadway cast of Hairspray and All Shook Up.  Niki Scalera who played the Jane understudy and an ensemble performer (an ape!) and then played Jane for the last stretch except the final weekend of shows while Jenn Gambatese took time off for her wedding! She is actually the Jane I saw at my performance and she was spectacular. She is in the smash hit Hairspray now in its 6th year on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theater as Penny Pingleton, the main character Tracy Turnblad's best friend. Her past performances include the Las Vegas production of the Queen musical We Will Rock You, Jake's Women on Broadway, All My Children on television amongst many other credits. She was also recently involved in the workshop for the up and coming Broadway musical of Catch me If You Can.  Kerchak (Shuler Hensley) taking a bow on opening night of Tarzan Shuler Hensley who played Kerchak, Tarzan's father for 10 months from Tarzan's opening until March 2007 is now in previews for a shining new show bound for Broadway. Now doing its pre-Broadway run in Seattle Hensley plays The Monster in Young Frankenstein. The tale of the famed classic tale has now made its way to stage. Created by famed producer Mel Brooks, who also created the The Producers. Here's what the producers have to say on the official Young Frankenstein website. Hensley's past includes Oklahoma & the original Broadway Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera in Germany, Off Broadway: The Great American Trailer Park Musical and in movies Legend of Zoro in 2005 and Opa! at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival.  The Monster (Shuler Hensley) in Young Frankenstein " IT’S ALIVE! From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation The Producers comes this monster new musical comedy. A wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks’ classic comedy masterpiece, the story follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life. Together with his oddly shaped and endearing helper Igor (that's Eye-gor), his curvaceous lab assistant Inga, and in spite of his incredibly self-involved madcap fiancé Elizabeth, Frankenstein succeeds in creating a monster -- but not without scary and quite often hilarious complications. With such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' On The Ritz," The New MEL BROOKS Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is scientifically-proven, monstrously good entertainment…and the only place you'll witness a singing and dancing laboratory experiment in the largest tuxedo ever made." The previews of Young Frankenstein begin October 11th at the Hilton Theater, regular performances start November 8th.  Tim Jerome Tim Jerome who played Jane's father, Professor Porter, the visiting British explorer to the stunning African jungle that was the Tarzan set. He is going on tour with the latest revival of My Fair Lady. The show that has played both on Broadway and in the West End. The original Broadway show was in 1954 and has since had several revivals. Jerome, who has played in many Broadway shows in the past prior to Tarzan inclusive of The Beauty and the Beast as Maurice, CATS and many others. He will be a member of the North American tour cast. Check out the press release about his role on Broadway World.  A scene from My Fair Lady They will go across North America to 24 American and Canadian cities from September 2007-June 2008 , they started with a series of shows in Tampa, Florida on September 12th. For my Canadian readers, one of the shows I'd love to catch My Fair Lady will be in Toronto from May 8-31st at the Toronto Centre for the Arts for one of the longer runs! I will be sure to catch him in my hometown then, can't wait! Tickets are on sale now for certain legs of the tour, others will be on sale soon. I met him at the stage door after my performance of Tarzan on July 4th, congratulated him and told him it was my first Broadway show. He was very sweet and signed my playbill. I hope to catch some of my favourite cast in the new shows and undertakings! Best of luck to all of them! Labels: Broadway Teague Neal blogged on 11:05 AM
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Teague Neal |