|
| ELTON JOHN (Composer) |
|
The monumental career of international singer/songwriter and performer Elton John has spanned more than three decades. He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time with over 200 million records sold worldwide. Elton has won a wide array of industry awards including Grammys, Tonys and an Oscar and continues to add innovative work to his personal repertoire of 35 gold and 25 platinum albums. In December of 2004, Elton received the Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contributions to American culture and excellence through the performing arts. Elton's most recent CD, PEACHTREE ROAD, was released on Universal Records to critical acclaim. He continues to perform his critically acclaimed RED PIANO show exclusively at Caesar's Palace. It has been heralded as "The Most Exciting Show in Las Vegas 2004" by the Las Vegas Review Journal and "A Must See" by the Los Angeles Times. Tony award-winning AIDA and long-running THE LION KING musicals have long reigned on Broadway and continue to tour the world. This May, the stage production of Billy Elliott - The Musical, in which Elton wrote the music, debuted in London's West End theatre district to rave reviews. According to Variety magazine editor Peter Bart, "Billy Elliott will clearly rank as one of the best musicals of its generation" (May 31, 2005). Most recently, Elton and long time writing partner Bernie Taupin have completed the score for Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures' Broadway musical, Vampire Lestat. His commitment to the fight against AIDS led to the inception of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (Los Angeles and London) which has dispersed a combined total of grants surpassing $80 million to date making the Elton John AIDS Foundation one of the largest public non-profit organizations in the AIDS arena. In 1998, he was knighted by the Queen of England who honored him with the title Sir Elton John, CBE. |
|
|
|
| TIM RICE (Lyricist) |
|
TIM RICE (Lyricist) was born in 1944. From 1956-1965 he wanted to be Elvis. Then he met Andrew Lloyd Webber whose musical ambitions were in theatre rather than rock. They joined forces as one could knock out a decent tune, the other had a way with words. They wrote four shows together. The first, The Likes of Us (1965-6), was never performed, but Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1968), Jesus Christ Superstar (1969-71) and Evita (1976-78) became, and indeed remain, hugely successful all around the world, on both stage and screen. Feeling certain that they could never top this lot, the pair went their separate ways in the early eighties, whereupon ALW immediately topped that lot with Cats. TR then wrote Blondel (1983), a medieval romp, with Stephen Oliver, which ran for a year in London, but not for long anywhere else. In 1986 came Chess, written with ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. Chess had a healthy UK run but it flopped on Broadway in 1988, the New York Times bloke simply not getting it. In 1989 Rice translated the famous Frency Berger-Plamondon musical Starmania into English which merely resulted in a hit album in France. In the nineties he worked primarily with the Disney empire, contributing lyrics to the movies Aladdin (music Alan Menken) and The Lion King, (music Elton John and Hans Zimmer) and to the stage shows Beauty and the Beast (Alan Menken), The Lion King and AIDA (both Sir Elton). In lunch breaks he wrote the words for Cliff Richard's theatrical extravaganza Heathcliff (music John Farrar) which toured the UK in 1995-96. He is currently reworking an operatic musical he has written with Alan Menken (King David), and on new treatments, for both stage and screen, of Chess, the New York Times bloke having been replaced. He also has a new idea which may or may not see the light of day. He has won many awards, mainly for the wrong things, or for simply turning up. He lives in England, has three children, his own cricket team and a knighthood (that's Sir Tim to you). |
|
|
|
| LINDA WOOLVERTON (Book) |
|
LINDA WOOLVERTON (Book) writing credits include the screenplay for the animated feature film Beauty and the Beast (Golden Globe winner and Academy Award Best Picture nominee); the screenplay (shared) for Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey; screenplay (shared) for the animated feature film The Lion King, the book for the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast (Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical, winner 1998 Olivier Award Best New Musical). Also, she has written two young-adult novels, STAR-WIND and RUNNING BEFORE THE WIND. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from California State University Long Beach and a Master's degree in Theatre from California State University Fullerton. Linda is currently involved in writing and producing film projects for Miramax and Revolution Studios. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Lee Flicker and daughter Keaton |
|
|
|
| ROBERT FALLS(Book) |
|
ROBERT FALLS(Book) directed Long Day's Journey Into Night (three 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Revival) as well as the 1999 Tony Award-winning Death of a Salesman for which he was honored as Best Director. His other Broadway credits include the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Young Man From Atlanta, The Speed of Darkness, The Rose Tatoo and The Night of the Iguana. Mr. Falls received an Obie Award for his direction of Eric Bogosian's Surburbia at Lindoln Center. His work has also been seen at Manhattan Theatre Club and the Joseph Papp Public Theater. As artistic director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, he has directed many productions, including Book of the Night, Riverview, and a major revival of Pal Joey, for which he wrote a new book. His opera credits include productions for Chicago's Lyric Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and the Grand Theatre de Geneve. |
|
|
|
| DAVID HENRY HWANG (Book) |
|
DAVID HENRY HWANG (Book) was awarded the 1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and John Gassner Awards for his Broadway debut, M. BUTTERFLY, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. For his play Golden Child, he received a 1998 Tony nomination and a 1997 Obie Award. His new book for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song earned him his third Tony nomination in 2003. Hwang's other plays include FOB (1981 Obie Award), The Dance and the Railroad, Family Devotions, The Sound of a Voice and Bondage. His opera libretti include three works for composer Philip Glass, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, The Voyage and The Sound of a Voice, as well at The Silver River with music by Bright Sheng and Ainadama with Osvaldo Goligov. Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate and Possession (co-writer) and co-wrote the song "Solo" with composer/performer Prince. His new play, Yellow Face, will premiere next season. Mr. Hwang serves on the Dramatists Guild Council. |
|
|
|
| DANIEL STEWART (Director) |
|
DANIEL STEWART (Director) Most recently directed & choreographed The Who's Tommy in Tokyo in March 2006 as well as the European touring production in 2005. Original association with Big League Theatricals began in 1995 when he staged the long running North & South American touring productions of The Who's Tommy. Since, he has directed and choreographed many U.S. and International touring events for Big League Theatricals including The King and I (North American Tour/ South American Tour/Taj Mahal-Atlantic City); Titanic (Conceived, directed and designed a new production for U.S. National Tour); Footloose (U.S. West Coast Premiere- Las Vegas Production/ North American Tour/Harrah's-Atlantic City); 1776 (U.S. National Tour); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (U.S. National Tour); Guys and Dolls (U.S. National Tour). He has served as guest artist and artist in residence for over a hundred productions at many of the most distinguished American theatres including Paper Mill Playhouse, The State Theatre of New Jersey, Goodspeed Opera, Tennessee Repertory, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Great Lakes Shakespeare Theatre, Ahmanson Theatre, Harold Prince Musical Theatre & The Pasadena Playhouse. |
| T.J. YOUNG (Staging) |
|
T.J. YOUNG (Staging) is happy to be on his 8th tour with the Big League family. Some of his credits include: Assoc. Director of The Music Man, Dance Captain and Asst. Director in Titanic, Chuck in Footloose, Lun Tha in The King and I. For Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (with Maureen McGovern), Gypsy (with Karen Mason), Oliver! (with Christopher Lloyd), It Happened One Night (with Sally Field and Christopher Lloyd), Spellbound (with Sally Field and Tim Daley), One More Time (directed by Carol Burnett), Joseph...Dreamcoat, and Closer Than Ever. T.J. is also former President of the BYU Young Ambassadors. Special thanks to the family, Randy, Syd, and his incredible wife Adrian. |
|
|
|
| SARITA ALLEN (Choreo grapher) |
|
In 2005, Ms. Allen, representing Complexions Contemporary Ballet, accepted an award for Artistic Achievement at the Bolshoi. As principal dancer with Alvin Ailey for 17 years, she performed at La Scala, The Paris Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, The Pyramids at Giza, The Kennedy Center and The White House. |
|
|
|
| NEIL PATEL (Set Designer) |
|
Broadway: SIDEMAN (West End and Kennedy Center),[title of show], ‘NIGHT MOTHER, RING OF FIRE. West End: UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL. Off Broadway: DINNER WITH FRIENDS (Variety Arts Theater and National Tour), PETER and JERRY, SOLDIER’S PLAY, LIVING OUT (Second Stage), STREAMERS, MCREELE (Roundabout), DIRTY TRICKS, OTHELLO, HENRY V (New York Shakespeare Festival) WAR OF THE WORLDS, HOTEL CASSIOPEIA (BAM/NEXT WAVE) Opera: New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Theater St. Louis, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theater. Helen Hayes Award, Numerous Drama Desk Nominations, 1996 and 2001 OBIE for sustained excellence. www.neilpateldesign.com. |
|
|
|
| EMILIO SOSA (Costume Designer) |
|
EMILIO SOSA (Costume Designer) Broadway: TopDog Underdog (also London and various regional theatres). Off-Broadway: The Seven (New York Theatre Workshop); Crowns (Audelco Award '03), Birdie Blue, Living Out (Second Stage Theater); Caligula (Classical Theater of Harlem); The Story, Radiant Baby (Public Theater). Regional: Once On This Island (Center Stage); Cuttin' Up (Arena Stage); Senor Discretion and Himself (Arena Stage); Ain't Misbehavin' (Pittsburgh Public Theater); Pippin, Once On This Island (Bay Street Theater); Adoration of the Old Woman (La Jolla Playhouse); The Piano Lesson (Madison Repertory Theater). Upcoming productions include All That I Will Ever Be (New York Theatre Workshop). Dance: Alvin Ailey; New York City Ballet (Artist-in-Residence); Ballet Hispanico; Complexions. Mr. Sosa is Image Consultant for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, featuring Wynton Marsalis, and was the recipient of the 2006 TDF/Irene Sharaff Young Master Award. |
|
|
|
| LUCAS J. CORRUBIA (Sound Design) |
|
Lucas, better known on Broadway as "Rico", has toured the US and internationally with such acts as Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Michael Crawford and Bernadette Peters. Some of his Broadway credits include mixing The Who's Tommy, Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk, and most recently the revival of 42nd Street. In addition to several film projects, his most recent sound designs include the International touring production of Burn the Floor, and Big League Theatrical's road tours of Footloose and Meredith Willson's The Music Man. |
|
|
|
| CHARLIE MORRISON (Lighting Design) |
|
Charlie's lighting for theatre, national and international tours, architecture, and events has been seen worldwide on four continents and in every state in the U.S. National and international tours include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Aida; Gypsy; 42nd?Street (U.S. and Japan); Miss Saigon ; Smokey Joe’s Café; The Who’s Tommy (Japan and Europe); Titanic;?The Music Man; Footloose; The?King and I (U.S., South America, Korea); many others.?Regional: Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC); Papermill Playhouse; Goodspeed; Olney Theatre Center;?Playmaker's Rep; many others. Charlie is the recipient of the 2006 and 2007 Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design, and has been nominated for six Helen Hayes awards over the past three years. For more information, please visit?www.cmlighting.com. |
|
|
|
| CHRIS WALTERS (Associate Sound Designer) |
|
Previous Big League Theatricals national tour credits include Miss Saigon (Associate Sound Designer/Head Sound Engineer), Titanic (Sound Designer/Head Sound Engineer), Footloose (Head Sound Engineer), and Peter Pan (Head Sound Engineer). Chris has also designed sound for Riverside Theatre (Vero Beach, FL), Indian River Community College (Fort Pierce, FL), West Virginia Public Theatre (Morgantown, WV), CentralPiedmontCommunity College (Charlotte, NC), University of Florida /Gainesville, FL, and FloridaStateUniversity in Tallahassee, FL. |
|
|
|
| P.D. SELTZER (Company Manager/Business Manager) |
|
P.D. SELTZER (Company Manager/Business Manager) produced over 35 shows in South Florida including The Music Man with Jane Kean; Sweeney Todd with Bill Hayes; H.M.S. Pinafore with Peggy Cass and Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. Seltzer has company managed national tours of Blast!, Miss Saigon, Meredith Willson's The Music Man, Footloose, 1776, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (with Rip Taylor), Cinderella, The St. Petersburg (Russia) State Ice Ballet, Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Florida engagement) and the national and international tours of The Sound of Music with Marie Osmond. Seltzer founded the acclaimed Fort Lauderdale Players, producing its first ten seasons and has staged productions of Bad Seed, Mame and performed in/directed numerous Gilbert & Sullivan operas. |
|
|
|
| DANIEL SHER (Executive Producer) |
|
After spending the early part of his career touring in the worlds of opera, music and dance, Mr. Sher came to Big League Theatricals in 1995 as the General Manager/Associate Producer for The Who’s Tommy, Five Guys Named Moe and A Grand Night for Singing. ?In 1997, he took over the position of Executive Producer and is proud to have produced Big League’s critically acclaimed North American tours of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The King and I, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (starring Rip Taylor), 1776, Footloose (Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and National Tour), Peter Pan, Titanic and Meredith Willson’s The Music Man as newly conceived by Susan Stroman. Most recently, he executive produced the 4 year tour of the new Miss Saigon as developed with Cameron Mackintosh, 42nd Street with the Tony award winning creative team, as well as Blast! International highlights have included the European and South American tours of The Who’s Tommy, The King and I in Brazil, 42nd Street in Japan, and The Who’s Tommy in Europe and later Japan. Development of this new exciting production of Elton John and Rice’s Aida was the highlight of the 2006 season. Forthcoming productions will include the premiere North American tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the 30th Anniversary tour of the Tony Award Winning musical Ain't Misbehavin’ starring American Idol stars Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis and directed by Tony Award winning director, Richard Maltby.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
