THE GREEN ROOM Previews begin Sept. 25; Opening Sept. 27 at American Theatre of Actors’ Sargent Theatre - AmNews Curtain Raiser

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Tuesday, July 16, 2019

THE GREEN ROOM Previews begin Sept. 25; Opening Sept. 27 at American Theatre of Actors’ Sargent Theatre


Miller-Coffman Productions LLC Proudly Presents
A New Off-Broadway Musical (Actors Equity Association) 

THE GREEN ROOM

Directed by Jessica Jennings with music direction by David Fletcher,
Book by C. Stephen Foster and Rod Damer, and music and lyrics by  Chuck Pelletier

Previews begin Sept. 25; Opening Sept. 27 at American Theatre of Actors’ Sargent Theatre 
Running Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 2pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm

Tickets now on sale at Brown Paper Tickets at:

Tickets go on sale today on Brown Paper Tickets to THE GREEN ROOM - A New Off-Broadway Musical! Not since A Chorus Line and The Phantom of the Opera has there been such a rousing musical that tells the backstage story of the actors and their career aspirations in theater. After powerhouse performances in Los Angeles with multiple standing ovations and awards, and other performances in the U.S. and across the pond in Ireland, THE GREEN ROOM arrives for the New York premiere Off-Broadway with previews beginning September 25, and opening on September 27. Running Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 2pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm at The American Theatre of Actors’ (ATA) Sargent Theatre, 314 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. ATA is one of the last remaining original Off-Broadway houses in New York City.

Harkening to Sondheim’s cult classic and oft-analyzed Merrily We Roll Along, THE GREEN ROOM takes us to a college theatre green room where a group of friends dream of being … NOT on Broadway … but Off-Broadway! We hitch a ride onto the journey of a group of four best friends in college who dream of “making it” in New York. John, Cliff, Anna and Divonne live out complicated lives in their college theatre department. At times, hilarious and heartwarming, but always enlightening and even alarming, this concept musical gives an account of the struggles in finding their place in this 21st Century world. THE GREEN ROOM is a coming-of-age story about four millennial aspiring actors. The musical touches on sexuality in a subtle, minute and comedic way. With social relevance in today’s political climate and in the alchemy of the theater world, the musical’s four liberal characters come to accept everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or gender. The rock-pop-infused score includes the stirring “It's All About Me,” which won Song of the Year in the musical theater category from the Songwriters Guild of America. THE GREEN ROOM also won the Best New Musical award from Broad Views On Broadway’s New Works Festival. The paradigm shift in musical theatre began at this year’s TONYs with Hadestown winning Best Musical. Now, the change continues off-Broadway with THE GREEN ROOM.

The cast includes high-energy emerging artists making their impact on National Tours and will—in many cases—be making their Off-Broadway debuts with THE GREEN ROOM. Fresh off the First National Tour of Beautiful is Ryan Farnsworth as John. Joining him is Eli LaCroix as Cliff; Sami Staitman playing Anna; and rounding out the cast is Ariana Valdes (The Sound of Music national tour) in the role of Divonne. Corbin Williams (Cinderella national tour) and Kate McManus will serve as understudies.

Ryan Farnsworth is a graduate of UC Irvine with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Ryan’s favorite roles include the first national tour of Beautiful. Newsies as Jack Kelley, Godspell as Jesus, Memphis as Perry Como/Huey U/S, Candide as Candide, Ragtime as the Younger Brother, and The Music Man as Playya. Ryan prides himself on being a “Jack of all trades”—strong in almost all fields of performance: acting, writing, comedy, drama, Shakespeare, stage and film, and all forms of music composition and performance. Ryan is a proud former voice student of Dr. Daniel Gary Busby and is excited to be working with the Broadway great Kurt Peterson. Visit www.Ryanfarnsworth.net.

Sami Staitman is a soon to be graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Musical Theater. Sami’s favorite roles include starring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Donna in The Brain from Planet X, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown The Musical, Zsa Zsa in Lil’Abner, Maggie Winslow in A Chorus Line, Annie in Annie and her Best Actress Nominated performance as Molly in the World Premiere production of Welcome to My World – A One Girl Musical. Visit www.samistaitman.com.

Eli LaCroix is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch Drama New Studio on Broadway with a BFA. Eli’s favorite roles include Simon/Epikhodov in The Cherry Orchard (Off-Broadway), Jerome in The Great Cat Massacre (Off-Broadway), Roy in A Chorus Line, Melchior in Abstract Portrait of a Young Girl From a Noose, Brad in Hairspray, Bobby Strong in Urinetown, Bradley in Mr. Marmalade, Carney in Tuck Everlasting and Scott in Swing! Visit www.elidouglaslacroix.com

Ariana Valdes is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music. Ariana’s favorite roles include the National Tours of The Sound of Music as Sister Berthe / Baroness Elberfeld and My Fair Lady as Mrs. Hopkins. Ariana’s other favorite roles include, Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty & The Beast, Peaches/Baby Jane in Jerry Springer: The Opera, three different roles in In The Heights as Abuela Claudia—and Daniela twice, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. Visit www.ArianaValdes.com.

Corbin Williams is a graduate from Rhodes College with a B.A. in Theater with a music Minor. Corbin’s favorite roles include the National Tours of Cinderella as Jean-Michael and How the Grinch Stole Christmas as the Palm Springs Who. Corbin’s other favorite roles include, JC in The Warriors, Logan/EnsEmble in Siren’s Den, Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can, Link Larkin in Hairspray, J. Pierpont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying. Visit www.corbinwilliams.net

Kate McManus is a graduate with an MFA in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. Kate’s favorite roles include, The Tempest as Ariel (Off-Broadway), Doubt, a Parable (Off-Broadway). Kate’s other roles include, Schwartzy in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Regional Tour), The Witch in Into The Woods and Asaka in Once on This Island. Visit www.KateMcManus.com

C. Stephen Foster (Book) C. Stephen Foster is an award-winning actor/writer originally from Ft. Worth, Texas. He won 4 best supporting actor awards for the comedy short That's Opportunity Knocking. He wrote the acting book Awakening the Actor Within. He's featured in the indie movies Off Hollywood, David Whiting Story, Hidden Hills and Expect Delays. He is featured in the webseries Studio Lot, Eternity Hills, C.P.R., Finding Olivia, What's My Intention and Ground Floor. He directed the music video "Dream Vacation." He co-produced the music videos: “That Ain't Love,” “Christmas Came Rushing” and “Arlington.” Legends and Bridge (Joan Crawford, Bette Davis & Judy Garland) won critical praise and award nominations. Stephen co-wrote the book to the hit musical The Green Room, which has been performed world-wide. He starred as Icarus in the Hollywood Fringe hit show Seven Dreams of Falling. Foster co-wrote the screenplay "Clubbed!" which was a finalist in several major contests. Visit www.cstephenfoster.com

Rod Damer (Book) Rod Damer is an actor as well as a writer, originally from Chicago. He has had small roles in “House,” “Vegas,” “Common Law,” “Zodiac” and “Alien Resurrection.” He’s also worked extensively with the Laguna Playhouse’s Theatereach program for young audiences. Years ago, he enjoyed the humble confines of a green room in the bowels of the theater building at St. Olaf College. It was a space claimed, for a brief time, by its denizens—an ever-changing cast of characters.

Charles Pelletier (Music and Lyrics) Chuck has written three produced musicals, hundreds of songs, and has various published choral arrangements. Chuck won 23 awards for his comedy short "That's Opportunity Knocking." Besides The Green Room, Chuck wrote the music and lyrics to a children’s musical called The Boy Who Stood Still, which premiered at the University of New Hampshire, and the music to the musical Sour Grapes, which premiered at the Copake Theatre. His original songs have been placed in several independent movies including “Valentine Man,” “Eyes of Innocence,” “Piling Up Vera,” “Chasing Indigo” and “Zyzzyx Road.” Chuck taught music for five years at the high school and college levels, and served as music director for the Western Illinois Summer Music Theatre Professional Repertory Company. He is currently the vocal music director for Princess Cruise Lines. Chuck has a Bachelors of Arts in music from the University of Illinois, and has done additional study with Alice Parker (choral arranging) and Roque Cordero (music composition), as well as at Oxford University in England.

Jessica Jennings (Director) holds a BFA in Dance from University of the Arts, and the 2-year Training Certificate from the Martha Graham School of Dance. Accolades include the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Shakespearean Actress 2005 for Ophelia in Hamlet, a Van Lier grant scholarship at Martha Graham, Dominique DiPaolo Choreography Award at UArts, and Faculty Recognition Award at UArts. She has performed and choreographed internationally and was an off-camera dance coach for Bryce Dallas Howard, Sigourney Weaver, Cherry Jones and William Hurt in M. Night Shyamalan’s film “The Village.”. She was directed by Tony nominee Jana Robbins as Ali in She Has A Name (The Sargent Theatre). She began directing in 2010, after retiring from dance—although she is known for her unique ability to move actors on stage. For Directing, Jessica won two audience vote awards for All About Lorrie (one-act version, Chatterton’s Midtown Festival), and for The Dance McCabe (Manhattan TheatreSource); she received the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Director with her production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and was nominated for a Princess Grace Award for her direction of Romeo & Juliet. Most recently she directed Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and The Boor as part of ATA’s Female Voices in Theatre initiative. Visit https://jessicactor.com/

David Fletcher (Music Director) David holds a Masters of Arts in African History from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. David has a vast history of music direction, including performances at the Kennedy Center with their Child Help Gala and Dream Child. Other credits include, 42nd Street, Pacific Overtures, Into The Woods, The Wiz, South Pacific, Crazy For You, Cabaret, Candide, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and Godspell, along with many more. Visit www.davidfletchercompany.com

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