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Marilyn A. Wick, managing executive producer presented Andrew Lloyd Webber ( (music) & Tim Rice (lyrics) EVITA at The Wick Theatre last night and T2C was there for the opening night.  Check out the photos below

The Cast of Evita starred  Daniella Mass as Eva Peron ( Kristina Huegel at select performances), Che, Michael Focas, Peron, Sean McDermott, and featured  Frank Francisco as Magaldi and Samantha O’Donell as the Mistress.

The production was directed by Norm Norb Joerder, musical direction, Darren R. Cohen, Choreography Stephen Casey, Costume Design, Jim Buff, Set Design, Kimberly Wick, Lighting, Jose Santiago, Sound, Justin Thompson, Projections, Josieu Jean, Len Pfluger, Wig/Hair, Doug Lucasaylor Love, Assistant, Jeffrey George.

Evita began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976.  It’s success led to productions in London’s West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical.

From Marilyn Wick (producer)

“I have very much looked forward to bringing this show to The Wick age.  We have assembled our best artistic team-including my daughter, Kimberly, who not only curates the museum exhibits, but has brought her artistic skills to the set design for this show.”

Production photos by Amy Pasquantonio

“We are thrilled to be mounting this production of Evita,” said Marilynn A. Wick, Managing Executive Producer. “Daniella Mass performed here with Nestor Torres a couple of seasons ago. We were overwhelmed by her talent and wanted to collaborate with her again. Having sung with legends like Jose Carreras and Andrea Boccelli, Daniella’s soaring Coloratura Soprano has garnered her a world-wide fan base.”

Daniella Mass

“We are thrilled to be mounting this production of Evita,” said Marilynn A. Wick, Managing Executive Producer. “Daniella Mass performed here with Nestor Torres a couple of seasons ago. We were overwhelmed by her talent and wanted to collaborate with her again. Having sung with legends like Jose Carreras and Andrea Boccelli, Daniella’s soaring Coloratura Soprano has garnered her a world-wide fan base.”

The role of Eva will also be played in select performances by New York-based singer-dancer-actor, Kristina Huegel. Kristina last graced The Wick in Beehive: The 60s Musical and has been busy touring the country in productions of Sweet Charity, Flashdance–the musical, Legally Blonde–the Musical, White Christmas and Dames at Sea.

Playing Juan Peron, Marilynn has secured Broadway star Sean McDermott who was last seen at The Wick as the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance. His dazzling Broadway career includes lead roles in Miss Saigon, Falsettos, Chicago, Grease and more. And starring as Che, Michael Focas, a captivating young talent, makes his Wick debut. Evita will be directed by Norb Joerder with musical direction by Darren Cohen and choreography by Stephen Casey. Kimberly Wick is designing the set and Marilynn Wick and her team are creating the costumes.

Evita charts the young and ambitious Eva Peron’s meteoric rise to power. Set in Argentina between 1934-1952, the musical follows Eva Duarte on her journey from poor illegitimate child to ambitious actress to, as wife of military leader-turned-president Juan Peron, the most powerful woman in Latin America, before her death from cancer at age 33.

About the Cast:

Daniella Mass (Eva Peron)

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia the amazingly talented Daniella Mass has followed her dreams on a path as bright as her glowing persona. Classically educated and trained, Daniella sings in Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, English and Japanese. Daniella is equally conversationally proficient in English, Spanish and Japanese.

In 2015 Daniella was a semi – finalist on “America’s Got Talent” (NBC Television) to an audience of 11 million viewers. Her final “Live “concert performance on “America’s Got Talent” was televised on August 25, 2015 to an audience of 16 million viewers. Her participation on “America’s Got Talent” placed Daniella’s career in fast-forward mode on her tireless quest to pursue her dream and continue performing.

Through the course of her young career Daniella has had the opportunity and privilege to perform with legendary tenor Jose Carreras, The Bond Quartet, IL Volo, Jazz flautist virtuoso Nestor Torres and Andrea Bocelli.

Tireless and always working, Daniella is currently writing, recording and in preparation for her debut album. There is no doubt that 2020 will prove to be another goal reaching year complete with many more extraordinary achievements for Daniella Mass.

Kristina Huegel (Eva Peron at certain performances) Kristina was last seen at The Wick in “Beehive” (Lesley / Dance Captain). Other past credits include: “Flashdance” (Tess), “Legally Blonde” (Vivienne), “White Christmas” (Betty), “Sweet Charity” (Charity), “Dames At Sea” (Mona), “Into The Woods” (Florinda), “Nunsensations” (Sister Amnesia), etc. Princess Cruises, NCL, and Celebrity Cruises.

Sean McDermott* (Juan Peron) On Broadway Sean starred as Chris in the original Broadway company of Miss Saigon (opposite Jonathan Price and Lea Salonga), Whizzer in Falsettos (opposite Mandy Patinkin), Rusty in Starlight Express, Danny in Grease. Also, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Sam in Mamma Mia, Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the title roles in Jekyll and Hyde, Jesus in Jesus Christ Super Star, Billy in Carousel, The Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, and Tony in West Side Story.

Sean McDermott & Daniella Mass

Sean was hand-picked by Barbra Streisand to sing alongside her on her European tour and performed at Carnegie Hall with Bernadette Peters. He has sung for the President of the United States on 3 separate occasions and has numerous recordings all available on iTunes.

Michael Focas* (Che) is thrilled to join The Wick family! Michael is a two-time Carbonell Award nominee. Previous credits include: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Legally Blonde, Havana Music Hall and Making God Laugh.

Michael Focas

Evita opens for previews on Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Gala Opening Night performance is Saturday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Wednesday through Sunday. Matinees are on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Evening performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Wick Theatre is located at 7901 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton, Florida. Tickets are on sale through the box office (open 7 days a week) at 561-995-2333 or on the web at www.TheWick.org.

Frank Francisco & Samantha O’Donnell
The People of Argentina
Marilyn Wick
Eda Sorokoff & Darren R. Cohen, music director

Stephen studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Besides being a pianist, Stephen’s business career was in the Fashion Industry. He was CEO of a textile manufacturing facility and President of an international textile machinery company. Stephen was on the Board of Directors of the “First All Children’s Theatre” which brought the Stephen Schwartz musical The Trip and Captain Louie to the Kennedy Center in Wash DC. His wife Eda, an interior space designer and classical pianist was on the Board of Barrington Stage Company and is still active at BSC. Stephen’s photographs, videos and articles appear on Broadwayworld.com, T2Conline.com and The New York Observer. He is active in the entertainment events at the Friars Club, where he is a member. Stephen is also an Honorary Board Member of The Society For The Preservation of The Great American Songbook. Stephen Sorokoff@gmail.com

Cabaret

My View: Palm Beach This Week…Paul Anka, Rita Rudner, Linda Purl & BIlly Stritch!

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If there was any doubt that Cafe Centro was a bona fide Cabaret Venue it was dispelled last night.  Billy Stritch was seated at the Cafe’s Grand Piano and Linda Purl was the songstress headlining on the cabaret stage of the South Florida restaurant.  The SRO crowd that had managed to snag dinner/show tickets got to hear one of the most skillful performances of the Great American Songbook and Broadway show tunes currently out there in Cabaret world.   Linda Purl, an extraordinary actor is also an extremely talented vocalist who makes you fall in love with the song and also with Linda Purl, and I might add she is oh so great to focus on through my camera lens.

Billy Stritch was the music director for this gig and he brought his creative, virtuosic, jazz infused piano playing to accompany her.  Billy was an engine of harmony and rhythm that coupled with Linda’s natural swing and romantic ballads perfectly.  The overflow crowd loved every note of the performance. Mr. Stritch usually adds his lush voice underneath his stable of super singers to create some fantastic musical symmetry, as he has done for some of show biz’s legendary entertainers (Liza Minnelli, Christine Ebersole, Linda Lavin, Linda Eder, and Marilyn Maye to name a few.) During this show he wowed us all with his keyboard artistry.  BTW,  BIlly, an extraordinary singer/ entertainer on the cabaret and concert stages worldwide can be seen at the new WICK Museum nightclub on April 1st for a special one night only engagement performing his Cy Coleman show.  Not to be missed by music lovers.

Sanford Fisher produced the Linda Purl evening. It brought these two super stars of the Cabaret and Concert stages together for an outstanding evening at Cafe Centro,  our local oasis of live music in Palm Beach. 

Another great Palm Beach event this week…..the “LADY IN RED” LIFE Gala at The Breakers……Congratulations to Lois Pope, the Board of LIFE and Entertainment Chair Sunny Sessa for creating a fantastic evening……

RITA RUDNER & PAUL ANKA……What a show!

LINDA PURL

BILLY STRITCH & LINDA PURL

BILLY STRITCH & LINDA PURL

PAUL ANKA

LOIS POPE, MAX V. ANHALT, SUNNY SESSA

EDA SOROKOFF & PAUL ANKA

LINDA PURL

SANFORD FISHER & LINDA PURL

STEPHEN SOROKOFF & LINDA PURL

SUNNY SESSA & LINDA PURL

FRAN WEISSLER & BILLY STRITCH

SANFORD FISHER & ISANNE FISHER

ANTHONY NUNZIATA & EDA SOROKOFF

BOB MURRAY & SHARON BUSH

MERI ZIEV & PATTY CHAMBERLAIN

GARDINER HEMPEL & LINDA PURL

LESLIE LAREDO, JEFF LEIBOWITZ, LARRY WEISSFELD, JANE SHEVELL

JULIANNA SHARELL, JANINE SHARELL, EDA SOROKOFF

CAFE CENTRO

ANTHONY NUNZIATA, MAY 11….Todd Murray April 20

VALARIE CHRISTOPHER, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, SUNNY SESSA

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Cabaret

My View: It’s Today! It’s Tonight! Marilyn Maye Rehearses For Her New York Pops Carnegie Hall Debut

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Sometimes you have to pinch yourself at the opportunities you are presented with.  TODAY would be one of those.  Or as Marilyn Maye might sing to you, “It’s Today.”

This afternoon I had the privilege of witnessing the 95 year old star, rehearsing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Maestro Steven Reineke, in front of the mighty New York Pops Orchestra.  It all happens tonight and has been a lifetime in the making.  As if The New York Times piece, bylined by Melissa Errico, wasn’t enough to whet your appetite for what is sure to be a historic evening, maybe these photos will help get you even more excited.  Thank you to all who made this happen for me, to present to you….Humbly Yours, Stephen

MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE

MARILYN MAYE

MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE

MARILYN MAYE & STEVEN REINEKE

CARNEGIE HALL

MARILYN MAYE

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Cabaret

My View: Someone Named Storm Caused Lots Of Excitement In New York City Last Night

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Storm Large has made a name for herself from tours with Pink Martini to orchestral appearances at Carnegie Hall to the television stage of “America’s Got Talent.”  But it is with her loyal and fearless band, Le Bonheur, that she grabs audiences. by the lapels and refuses to let go.  Love, Storm her new show played 54 Below last night.  It’s a playlist of songs by pop luminaries, rock goddesses, and Storm’s fiery originals.  There might be someone in the news with a variation of her name currently causing some political excitement, but few entertainers can create the musical excitement that exists in a Storm Large performance.

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

STORM LARGE

ALAN PAUL, artistic director Barrington Stage Company

EDA SOROKOFF & ALAN PAUL

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