Full cast announced for Theatrical Gems' WILDCAT!

[Theatrical Gems]

Posted: 12/1/10 at 4:13pm

Junior Mendez, a recent Florida State graduate, has been hand-picked to star in Wildcat alongside Luba Mason and Robert Cuccioli in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund.

Mendez joins the previously announced Mason (Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde), Cuccioli (Jekyll and Hyde), Beth Fowler (The Boy From Oz, Beauty and the Beast), Lenny Wolpe (Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone), and Jenn Gambatese (All Shook Up, Tarzan).

Mendez, who was a finalist on the 2006 CBS special My Broadway Debut, humbly states, "I am thrilled to interact, work and learn alongside such a talented cast. I am grateful to be given this opportunity."

Director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox states, "We are overjoyed to be able provide a wonderful young actor with a role like this is in a benefit for the incredible Actors Fund. Theatrical Gems is dedicated to the future oftheater and actors such as Junior are the future."

Wildcat, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and book by N. Richard Nash, tells the story of a frontier woman named Wildcat Jackson (Mason) who arrives in a border town in the American southwest with dreams of striking oil and tricks foreman Joe Dynamite (Cuccioli) into helping her. Not-for-profit Theatrical Gems produces the first New York revival of the show since 1961.

The event will be held at The Julia Miles Theatre at the Women's Project, 424 West 55th Street on Sunday, December 19 at 7:00 PM.

Theatrical Gems Artistic Director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox directs, with musical direction by Steven H. Taylor. The 29-person cast also features Vincent D'Elia (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Grease), Lawrence E. Street (Urinetown), Pierce Cravens (Ragtime, A Christmas Carol), Kenneth Kasch, Tony Castellanos, Gregory Couba, Michal Salonia, Spencer Andrew Taylor, and Michael Puglia.

The ensemble is made up of Lital Abrahams, Andrea Andert, Kiarri D. Andrews, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Christopher DeRosa, Jonathan Juarbe, James LaRosa, Nolan Muña, Alison Rose Munn, Tara Novie, Erin O'Neil, Tony Ramos, Jillian Schochet, and Bradley Vile.

Wildcat was Cy Coleman's first musical. It opened on December 16, 1960 and is best remembered for being the sole Broadway appearance of comedienne Lucille Ball, although the cast also featured Keith Andes, Paula Stewart, Edith King, and a young Valerie Harper (Rhoda) in the dance ensemble. Wildcat closed on June 3, 1961 after two hiatuses and 171 performances.

Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by emailing [e-mail]. Tickets will be purchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the Actors Fund.

The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition.

Theatrical Gems strives to educate audiences about the past, present, and future of theater. Through the entertaining and engaging presentation of popular classics, new works, and underappreciated relics, we hope to expand horizons and tastes with the goal of preserving these works of art for future generations of theatergoers. Theatrical Gems is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit artsservice organization.

For more information, visit: www.theatricalgems.org

Full article here: https://offbroadway.broadwayworld.com/article/Newcomer_Junior_Mendez_Scores_Lead_in_Wildcat_Full_Cast_Announced_20101201#ixzz16teir4YV

[Theatrical Gems]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 11:30am

Bumping because some people were asking about the full cast and I want to make sure they see it!

[wavygraish]

Posted: 12/4/10 at 6:26am

Are tickets still available?