THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
www.tuts.com
Presents
FUNNY GIRL
THE WORTHAM CENTER
July 10 - 22, 2001
Houston, Texas --- Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), Houston's only professional musical theatre company, presents Broadway performer Darcie Roberts as FANNY BRICE in its premiere production of the Broadway smash - hit FUNNY GIRL, playing at the Wortham Center through July 22, 2001. Roberts was most recently seen co - starring with Tommy Tune in Busker Alley, as well as in Barry Manilow's Copacabana, where she earned a National Broadway Theatre Award nomination for her role as Lola. Since her Broadway debut in Crazy For You, Roberts has also appeared on Broadway in Dream.
Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) has rescheduled the World Premiere production of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
into its 2002 Season. This musical version of the classic Henry Farrell novel, wihch also served as the basis for the famous
Bette Davis / Joan Crawford movie, was scheduled to play the Wortham Center from July 10 - 22, and will now be replaced
by the TUTS premiere of FUNNY GIRL.
To kick off its summer of musicals downtown, TUTS is mounting its first - ever production of the Broadway Smash - Hit
FUNNY GIRL, which made a star of Barbra Streisand in 1964. FUNNY GIRL ran for 1,348 performances on Broadway
before being made into a hit movie, for which Streisand won an Academy Award. Next season, FUNNY GIRL will have a
major revival on Londons West End with a new production in the planning stages for Broadway.
FUNNY GIRL ran for 1,348 performances on Broadway before being made into a hit movie, for which Barbra Streisand won an Academy Award. Next Season, FUNNY GIRL will have a major revival in London's West End with a new production in the planning stages for Broadway.
Single tickets for FUNNY GIRL ($19 - $76) are available on-line at www.tuts.com using TUTSs E-Ticket System; by
phone at 800-678-5440; in person at either TUTS box office, 2600 Southwest Freeway. (Weekdays 10am - 5:30pm,
Saturdays 11am - 4pm), or Wortham box office (510 Preston, 10am to curtain on day of performance). Performances are
8pm, Tuesday - Friday; 2pm and 8pm, Saturday; and 2pm and 7:30pm, Sunday.
Production sponsors for FUNNY GIRL include Humphreys Foundation, El Paso Energy, Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Roberts,
and Humana.
Theatre Under The Stars is Houstons only professional musical theatre production company founded in 1968 by Frank M.
Young. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public at Miller Outdoor Theatre in
Hermann Park, and has since performed there each summer. Since its founding, TUTS has produced more than 200 major
musicals including many local, national and world premieres and is currently represented on Broadway with Beauty and the
Beast. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides
instruction and stage experience for more than 1,000 students annually.
FACT SHEET
FUNNY GIRL
DATES: July 10 - 22, 2001
VENUE: Wortham Center (500 Texas Avenue)
SHOW TIMES: Tuesday - Friday, 8pm; Saturday 2pm & 8pm; Sunday 2pm & 7:30pm
PRESS NIGHT: Thursday, July 12, 2001
PRICES: Single tickets are $76 - $19
PURCHASE TICKETS:
Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-678-5440. Tickets are also available at TUTS Tix,
2600 Southwest Freeway (no service charge), at the Wortham Box Office or at any
ticketmaster outlet. Tickets can also be bought and printed on-line using TUTS E-Ticket
System at www.tuts.com.
SHOW DESCRIPTION:
HELLO GORGEOUS! One of the greatest love stories of the American Musical Theatre,
FUNNY GIRL chronicles the life and loves of stage and screens ultimate comedienne,
FANNY BRICE. From Saloons, Burlesque and Vaudeville shows to Ziegfelds Follies,
movies and radio, Fanny Brice made a name for herself through her comedy act. Her
tumultuous relationship with real - life gangster Nicky Arnstein also gained her much
notoreity. Bruce Lumpkin, who previously directed and choreographed TUTS record -
breaking production of Miss Saigon, will also serve as director - choreographer of TUTS
first - ever production of FUNNY GIRL. FUNNY GIRL features such popular songs as
PEOPLE, DONT RAIN ON MY PARADE, THE MUSIC THAT MAKES ME
DANCE, and IM THE GREATEST STAR.
CAST BIOS
DARCIE ROBERTS as FANNY BRICE
Darcie Roberts was last seen co - starring with Tommy Tune in Busker Alley. Recently she starred as Lola in Barry Manilow's Copacabana earning a National Broadway Theatre Award nomination. Broadway: Crazy For You, Dream. Regional credits: Cabaret (Sally - Indy Award, Baby (Lizzie0 Drama Logue Award, Crazy For You (Polly) - Barrymore Award Nomination, 42nd Street (Peggy), My Fair Lady (Eliza) and many more. Darcie is married to actor Troy Magino.
MICHAEL PIONTEK as NICK ARNSTEIN
Michael Piontek has appeared on Broadway as Cinderella's Prince / Wolf in Into The Woods, the Baron in Grand Hotel, and as the stand - by for Sting in The 3 - Penny Opera. A member of the Circle Rep Company in New York, he has created roles in Reckless, Florida Crackers and Dalton's Back. In Los Angeles, Michael spend 3 years as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, and was seen as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. His film and tv credits include "Longtime Companion," "Jack of Hearts," "Knots Landing" and "Cybill." Michael has toured Japan as El Gallo in The Fantasticks, and has worked extensively in regional theater around the country, including starring roles in One Touch of Venus at the Goodspeed Opera House, Kiss Me Kate at Pittsburgh CLO, Gigi and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Northshore Music Theatre, and Brigadoon at Sacramento Music Circus. He has sung as a guest artist with several symphonies including San Antonio and Charlotte, and is a featured soloist on several CD's. Currently living in Las Vegas with his wife Paige O'Hara, Michael spent 2 years in EFX with Tommy Tune at the MGM Grand. He and Paige tour their own concert act From Belle to Broadway and are hoping to find their own room in Las Vegas.
BOB DORIAN as FLORENZ ZIEGFELD
Bob Dorian is happy to return to Houston's Theatre Under The Stars, where he was last seen as Arvide Abernathy in Guys and Dolls. Recent other roles: Barrymore (John Barrymore) East Hampton, The Secret Garden (Ben Weatherstaff) Sacrament, The Wizard of Oz - National Tour (Uncle Henry, u.s. Mickey Rooney), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Gerald Lanyon) and Funny Girl (Flo Ziegfeld) at Paper Mill. On TV, Dorian is best remembered as the original host of "American Movie Classics," where he shared his love of film with the American Public for more than 16 years. Other TV Credits: Remember WENN (Mr. Medwick), "Ed" (Joe Hollenbeck). This August, Bob is featured with Dan Aykroyd, David Ogden Stiers and Helen Hunt in Woody Allen's latest comedy / mystery, "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion."
BRUCE LUMPKIN - DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
Bruce began his direction career as resident director for TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. This experience brought him to the attention of Director / Choreographer Tommy Tune. Under Tune's wing, and later as his collaborator, Bruce learned the ropes of the musical by overseeing his productions of My One and Only, Nine and Grand Hotel. Bruce advanced through the ranks and eventually found himself co - director of the acclaimed West End production of Grand Hotel. Bruce's Off - Broadway hit Summer '69 played to full houses at the Dougals Fairbanks Theatre on 42nd Street. Favorites: a revisionist look at Cabaret (for which he won the "Barrymore Award" for Best Director and Best Musical); the world premieres of Dodsworth starring Hal Linden and Grossinger starring Gavin Macleod. Bruce continues to develop new works - to name a few, a musical version of the film Time after Time, Honky Tonk Angel, The Patsy Cline Story and Tanny, a musical based on the wife of George Balanchine.