#1
Posted: 5/7/08 at 4:21pm
Gunn, Shafer head cast of Carnegie Hall's `Show Boat'
NEW YORK (AP) -- Nathan Gunn, Celena Shafer and Carolee Carmello
will head the cast of Carnegie Hall's June 10 concert presentation
of "Show Boat," the landmark Oscar Hammerstein II-Jerome Kern
musical.
Gunn will portray the dashing riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal
in the production, which will feature the Orchestra of St. Luke's
under the direction of Broadway conductor Paul Gemignani. Shafer
will play sweet-tempered Magnolia Hawks and Carmello the tragic
Julie LaVerne, who sings "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat
Man."
"Show Boat," first seen on Broadway in 1927, changed the face
of the American musical. Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling novel, it
ushered in a new era of theater that bridged the gap between
European operetta and the frothy, silly musical shows of the 1920s.
Probably its best known song is "Ol' Man River," sung by the
stevedore Joe. He will be played at Carnegie Hall by Alvy Powell.
The show's other hits include "Make Believe," "You Are Love"
and "Why Do I Love You?"
Also in the Carnegie cast are Jonathan Hadary as Cap'n Andy;
Becky Ann Baker as his wife, Parthy Ann Hawks; Gavin Lee as
song-and-dance man Frank Schultz; Megan Sikora as Ellie May
Chipley; Alteouise deVaughn as Queenie; and Carly Rose Sonenclar as
Kim.
The director is Francesa Zambello.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Nathan Gunn, Celena Shafer and Carolee Carmello
will head the cast of Carnegie Hall's June 10 concert presentation
of "Show Boat," the landmark Oscar Hammerstein II-Jerome Kern
musical.
Gunn will portray the dashing riverboat gambler Gaylord Ravenal
in the production, which will feature the Orchestra of St. Luke's
under the direction of Broadway conductor Paul Gemignani. Shafer
will play sweet-tempered Magnolia Hawks and Carmello the tragic
Julie LaVerne, who sings "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat
Man."
"Show Boat," first seen on Broadway in 1927, changed the face
of the American musical. Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling novel, it
ushered in a new era of theater that bridged the gap between
European operetta and the frothy, silly musical shows of the 1920s.
Probably its best known song is "Ol' Man River," sung by the
stevedore Joe. He will be played at Carnegie Hall by Alvy Powell.
The show's other hits include "Make Believe," "You Are Love"
and "Why Do I Love You?"
Also in the Carnegie cast are Jonathan Hadary as Cap'n Andy;
Becky Ann Baker as his wife, Parthy Ann Hawks; Gavin Lee as
song-and-dance man Frank Schultz; Megan Sikora as Ellie May
Chipley; Alteouise deVaughn as Queenie; and Carly Rose Sonenclar as
Kim.
The director is Francesa Zambello.
and my first time around with it was 1953 in a summer stock production and it remains my most-seen musical (in terms of different productions). 
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