Tony nominee Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita) and Emily Padgett (Side Show, Grease) head the cast of Starring Buffalo's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park With George, beginning June 10.
Helmed by Buffalo Artistic Director Drew Fornarola with music direction by Alison d’Amato, performances are June 10-11 at Shea's 710 Theater in downtown Buffalo.
Joining husband-and-wife Young and Padgett as George and Dot, respectively, are Buffalo star Karen Saxon (Ujima Theater Company) as the Old Lady, Keith Ersing, Jake Hayes, Matthew Iwanski-Jackson, Jetaun Louie, Michele Marie Roberts, Sara States, Andrea Todaro, and Josh Wilde, as well as dozens of Western New York singers, dancers, and musicians and local students.
The production also has choreography by Jeanne Fornarola and assistant direction by Karen Harty. The production stage manager is Susan Forbes, and the assistant stage manager is David Wysocki.
Sondheim and Lapine's Sunday in the Park With George opened at Broadway's Booth Theatre May 2, 1984, where it ran for 540 performances. Starring Mandy Patinkin as George and Bernadette Peters as Dot, the premiere Broadway company also included Barbara Bryne as the Old Lady, Brent Spiner as Franz, Charles Kimbrough as Jules, and Dana Ivey as Yvonne. Sondheim's score—which was nominated for a Tony Award—features such titles as "Finishing the Hat," "Putting It Together," "Children and Art," "Move On," and "Beautiful." Sunday in the Park received 10 Tony Award nominations, winning two—Scenic Designer (Tony Straiges) and Lighting Designer (Richard Nelson). It was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Starring Buffalo is a not-for-profit arts organization that brings together Broadway performers, Buffalo theatre professionals, and students from the area.
Visit StarringBuffalo.org or Sheas.org.
