THE FIRST WIVES CLUB — A NEW MUSICAL

Book by Rupert Holmes
Music and Lyrics by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland
Directed by Francesca Zambello
July 17 - August 23, 2009
Old Globe Theatre

A world premiere, Broadway-bound musical, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB — A NEW MUSICAL, is a funny, moving and empowering new musical based on the smash-hit movie comedy and Olivia Goldsmith's bestselling novel. Former college friends reunite at middle-age and soon discover they share the same unhappy story - their ungrateful husbands careened into midlife by dumping them for younger women. Inspired by their renewed friendship, the three women band together and take back their lives in style! This captivating new musical is destined to be the theatrical event of 2009!

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(l. to r.) Barbara Walsh as Brenda, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elyse and Karen Ziemba as Annie in the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
 
(l. to r.) Karen Ziemba as Annie, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elyse and Barbara Walsh as Brenda in the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(l. to r.) Karen Ziemba as Annie, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elyse and Barbara Walsh as Brenda in the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(l. to r.) Brad Oscar as Morty, Kevyn Morrow as Bill and John Dossett as Aaron in the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
(l. to r.) Sara Chase as Shelly, Sam Harris as Duane and Brad Oscar as Morty with Barbara Walsh as Brenda, Karen Ziemba as Annie and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elyse (behind) in the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
 
The cast of the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.


 
   
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elyse and Karen Ziemba as Annie (on pedestal) with the cast of the world premiere of The First Wives Club – A New Musical, running July 17 – Aug. 23 at The Old Globe.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.
 
 
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
(click on image to download a high-resolution headshot)
Michelle Aravena (Ensemble/understudy Brenda)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Broadway: A Chorus Line (original revival company). National Tours: Mamma Mia (Sophie), Les Misérables (Fantine u/s), Jersey Boys (Chicago company), Steel Pier (Bette). Regional: West Side Story (Anita) Walnut Street Theatre; Peter Pan (Tigerlily) Actors Theatre of Louisville; The Pajama Game (Gladys) Arizona Theatre. ELSEWHERE: West Side Story at La Scala Opera House with Joey McNeely (original company). Cast Recordings: A Chorus Line (Tricia).
Mark Campbell (Swing/understudy Morty)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Mark has just finished a mustachioed run as El Gallo in The Fantasticks at the Fireside Theatre. Prior to that, he spent a year and a half on the road covering all three dads in Mamma Mia. NEW YORK: From Gershwin to Berlin, Algonquin Theatre; Vincent, Wings Theatre; Villa Diodati, Theatre 315; Twelfth Night, Pulse; King Lear, Hudson Guild; and the Lingoland workshop, York. REGIONAL: The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Ravenal in Showboat, and Phantom in Yeston’s Phantom.
Sara Chase (Leslie/Shelley/Feebee)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Sara can currently be seen on Comedy Central's Michael and Michael Have Issues. OFF-BROADWAY: Recently created the role of Sarah in The Toxic Avenger (2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Musical) and she can be heard on the Original Cast Recording. Her sketch show Jen & Angie, which played the Upright Citizen's Brigade in NY and LA, will play The Actor's Playhouse this summer as an official selection of the 2009 International NYC Fringe Festival. REGIONAL: Godspell, Papermill Playhouse. WORKSHOPS (some): Kristina (B. Anderson/B. Ulvaues), Death Takes a Holiday. FILM: The Winning Season, Uncertainty, Little Black Book. TV: Law and Order, Guiding Light, As the World Turns. WEB: Amy Harris' Puppy Love. For sketch comedy videos and more visit www.SaraChase.com.
John Dosset (Aaron)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADWAY: Gypsy, The Constant Wife, Democracy, Dinner at Eight, Mamma Mia, Tom Sawyer, Ragtime, Prelude to a Kiss, Mastergate, Fifth of July. OFF-BROADWAY: White People, Atlantic Stages 2; Saved, Playwrights Horizons; The Clean House, Hello Again, Lincoln Center; Trudy Blue, MCC; Dinner with Friends, Variety Arts; Reckless, The Diviners, Childe Byron, Moonshot and Cosmos, Dalton’s Back, El Salvador, Sunshine, Circle Rep (member for 14 years). REGIONAL: Giant, Signature Theatre; A Little Night Music, Kennedy Center; Ragtime, Shubert Theatre; How I Learned to Drive, Philadelphia Theatre Co; Elmer Gantry, Captains Courageous, Ford’s Theatre; Kiss of the Spiderwoman, first National Tour. TV: Gossip Girl, Hack, Law & Order (all), Sex and the City, JAG, Homicide, John Adams (HBO). FILM: Little Manhattan, That Night, Longtime Companion.
Thursday Farrar (Ensemble/understudy Elyse)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADway: Aida (stand-by), Parade, Once Upon a Mattress. Off-BROADway: Shlomo, Under the Bridge, The Audience, Transport Group; As Thousands Cheer, The Drama Dept; Li'l Abner, St. Louis Woman (cast recording); Golden Boy, City Center Encores!; Hallelujah Baby!, York Theater. NaTIONAl tours: Les Misérables (Fantine), Carousel. Regional: Merrily We Roll Along, Kennedy Center; Harmony, La Jolla Playhouse (Drama-Logue recipient for the role of Josephine Baker); Slow Dance With A Hot Pickup (New Hampshire Theater Award for Best Supporting Actress), Barn Stormer's Theater; Kiss Me Kate; Urinetown; Hairspray, Weston Playhouse; Into the Woods, Theatre Works Palo Alto. TV: All My Children, Cosby Mysteries, NY Undercover. Film: Brother, Only Time Will Tell (RIPFest), Basketball Diaries, City Hall. Recordings: You Oughta Be On Broadway, a Richard Rogers Collection, SSF Records. American Musical & Dramatic Academy in NYC (Scholarship graduate).
Jenifer Foote (Dance Captain/Swing)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Broadway: A Chorus Line (Val), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Frank Wildhorn’s Dracula, Annie Get Your Gun. Tours: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Jolene Oaks), The Wizard of Oz. Other NEW YORK credits: Follies, Encores; Jo Stafford in Sinatra, Radio City Music Hall; Mack and Mabel Tribute to Jerry Herman, Lincoln Center; Hair, On the Twentieth Century, Actors’ Fund; and two years as a Radio City Rockette. Regional favorites: Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, Goodspeed Opera House; Broadway: Three Generations, The Kennedy Center; and Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing, Yale Repertory Company. She has been seen on PBS’ Live From the Capital (featured with Tony Danza) and in the animated feature film, The King and I (Warner Brothers). Jenifer is a proud graduate of the University of California at Irvine.
Bob Gaynor (Thad/Ensemble/understudy Aaron)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADWAY: Sweet Charity, Taboo, Aida. ELSEWHERE: Applause, Stairway to Paradise, Bye Bye Birdie, City Centre. REGIONAL: Smokey Joes Café, Pittsburgh CLO; A Chorus Line, Arkansas Rep; Hoagy!, Coconut Grove. FILM: Across the Universe, The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas, Inspector Gadget, The Mask, Dudley Do-Right. TV: Law and Order: Criminal Intent, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, Coach, The Tracey Ullman Show. Bob has toured extensively with Reba McEntire, Cher, and many popular recording artists.
Sam Harris (Duane)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Broadway: The Life (Drama League Award and Tony Award®, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk nomina-tions), The Producers, Grease (Drama Desk nomination), Broad-way National Tour: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Off-Broadway/ Regional: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, The Jazz Singer, Hard Copy, Different Hats, Revival, Pippin. TV/Film: The Class, Rules of Engagement, In the Weeds, Star Search. Writing: (stage) Hard Copy, Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! (with Bruce H. Newberg), Revival, Sam as well as (television), Down To Earth (TBS with Bruce H. Newberg), Love Letter to New York (PBS), Michael Jackson’s 30th Year Anniversary (CBS). Sam is also a multi-platinum recording artist and has toured worldwide at venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles’ Universal Amphitheatre, London’s West End; with The Boston Pops, at The White House, on numerous television specials and live productions, and on virtually every talk show, his favorite in an historic time, when he performed a stirring You’ll Never Walk Alone on The Oprah Winfrey Show following September 11th.
Matthew LaBanca (Auctioneer/Ensemble/understudy Duane)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Broadway: Young Frankenstein (Dr. Frankenstein cover), Children and Art. National Tours: Crazy for You (Bobby), The King and I (Kralahome), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Simeon, cast album). Regional: Theatre Under the Stars, Paper Mill Playhouse, Trinity Repertory Company, West Virginia Public Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, Emelin Theatre, and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (8 productions). Some of Matt’s favorite roles include: Sparky in Forever Plaid, Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, Met Opera chorus. www.matthewlabanca.com
Ari Lerner (Jason)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (5 years, ‘03 to‘07). ELSEWHERE: A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim ‘01 &‘02), Mendel, Inc., San Diego Repertory Theatre; The Nerd, North Coast Repertory Theatre; The Full Monty, San Diego Musical Theatre; The Pillowman, Ion Theatre; One for the Road, Lamb’s Players Theatre; The Music Man (Winthrop), Oliver!, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wizard of Oz, Starlight Musical Theatre. FILM: 29th and Gay, Ready? O.K!, Grasshoppers. TV: Veronica Mars, The Ex List.
Victoria Matlock (Cynthia/Ensemble/understudy Annie)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. OFF-BROADWAY: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Cindy Lou). NATIONAL TOURS: Wicked (Elphaba), Evita (with Hal Prince), The Full Monty. REGIONAL: Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, The Sound of Music & more. CONCERTS: Jekyll & Hyde (Emma), The Grass is Always Greener. Basically she has found enough acting work to uphold her resolution to never wait tables! Graduated University of Northern Colorado, majored in Musical Theatre, minored in Computer Science (so Dad would pay the bills). She also designs jewelry, takes headshots, makes purses, and designs web sites.
Kevyn Morrow (Bill)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical, Thunder Knocking on the Door. BROADWAY/ WEST END: Ragtime (2004 Olivier Nomination Best Actor in A Musical), 125th Street, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dream, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Dreamgirls, Leader of the Pack, A Chorus Line. OFF-BROADWAY/REGIONAL: Stormy Weather, Pasadena Playhouse; Radio Golf, Kansas City Rep; Our Town, Arden Theatre; Pajama Game, Arizona Theatre Company; Blue, Roundabout; Tambourines To Glory (2005 Helen Hayes nomination Best Actor in A Musical), Lincoln Theatre; The Bubbly Black Girl..., Playwrights Horizons. NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL TOURS: Music of the Night, Five Guys Named Moe, Sophisticated Ladies, A Chorus Line. FILM: Dark Light, The Trade, Stayin’ Alive, Fast Break. TV: Ed, Hope & Faith, One Life to Live, Coach, LA Law, Murphy Brown, Kids World.
Austyn Myers (Jason)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADWAY: Les Misérables (Broadway Revival). NATIONAL TOUR: Les Misérables. ELSEWHERE: Lost in Yonkers, McCoy Rigby Entertainment; A Christmas Carol, North Coast Rep; The Secret Garden, Lamb’s Players Theatre; Roar or the Greasepaint, Starlight; Big River, Seussical, Ragtime, Les Misérables, CYC Theater Lyceum; Celebrity Sonnets, Shakespeare Society. FILM: Meet Dave, Moon Rocks and Lighter Fluid. ANIMATED SERIES: Bommi and Friends. FAVORITE ROLE OF ALL TIME: Uncle Austyn to his niece and four nephews.
Brad Oscar (Morty)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADWAY: The Producers (2001 Tony® Nomination), Spamalot, Jekyll & Hyde, Aspects of Love. WEST END: The Producers, Theatre Royal Drury Lane. OFF-BROADWAY: Forbidden Broadway, The Body Beautiful, Encores! Do Re Mi, directed and performed in Broadway by the Year 1931 and 1968 at Town Hall. REGIONAL: The Mystery of Irma Vep, Cabaret, Damn Yankees, Arena Stage; Barnum, Asolo Rep/Maltz Jupiter; Moonlight and Magnolias, Cape Playhouse; Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, Vineyard Playhouse; Santa in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in LA and Branson, MO. FILM: Ghost Town, The Producers, Old Days. TV: Three Law & Orders, Reading Rainbow. Brad is a native of Washington, DC, a graduate of Boston University's College of Fine Arts, and has taught musical theatre technique at Marymount Manhattan College. He is on the board of Only Make Believe, a theatrical charity devoted to bringing theatre to children in hospitals throughout the New York City region.
Kat Palardy (Chris/Ensemble/understudy Leslie/Shelley/Feebee)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. REGIONAL: Pride and Prejudice, Eastman Theatre; Oklahoma!, Light Opera Works; Grease, Big, Anything Goes, Wagon Wheel. ELSEWHERE: On The Verge, Cloud Nine, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Waa-Mu, Northwestern University Theatre. FILM/TV: My Broadway Debut, The Crucible, The Love Letter, Flight. EDUCATION/ TRAINING: BA, Theatre, Northwestern University.
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Elyse)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. BROADWAY: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dreamgirls (Tony® nomination, Drama Desk nomination), Reggae. ELSEWHERE: Sometimes I Cry (winner UN Red Ribbon Award); The Soft Touch, Kennedy Center (winner ACT Award); Applause, Reprise Theatre. TV: Moesha, (NAACP Image Award Nomination), Hannah Montana, ER, Seventh Heaven, Whoopi, Designing Women, It’s a Living, Barbershop. FILM: Secrets (writer/ director, Audience Favorite, Outfest Film Festival, Showtime Black Filmmaker Award), Deterrence, To Sleep With Anger (winner of the Independent Spirit Award, Best Supporting Actress), Bogus, White Man’s Burden, The Flintstones, Sister Act II, The Distinguished Gentleman, The Mighty Quinn, A Piece of the Action. EDUCATION: Graduate of Rutgers University; Honorary PhDs, Humanities, Huston-Tillotson University, Toolgaloo College. Mother of Coco and Etienne and married to Senator Vincent Hughes (PA). www.testtogether.org
Martin Samuel (Ensemble)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. Broadway: Aida. National tourS: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Joseph and The Amazing...; Eurotour: Cats (Rum Tum Tugger), Germany: Starlight Express. ELSEWHERE: Romancin’ the One I Love, Anne Of Green Gables, Singing in the Rain. FILM: Across The Universe, Chicago, Once Upon A Mattress, Repo The Genetic Opera, Glitter, Stormy Weather, 2001 A Space Travesty. TV: Queer as Folk, Witchblades, Me and My Shadows, Prisionera, Music Hall. Thanx to the love of my life.
Richard E. Waits (Ensemble/understudy Bill)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical. New York: Ministry of Progress, Jane Street; Dreamgirls Concert (CD)(Actors Fund); Best of Both Worlds, Women's Project. Workshops: Scottsboro Boys, Vineyard; The Fisher King, NY Theatre Workshop; The Voice Within, Harlem Stages. RegionaL: Ragtime, NorthShore; La Cage aux Folles (Paris, France); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Amsterdam, Holland); The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, Mount Clair State; The Full Monty, TriArts; Sweet Charity, Gateway; Pippin, Lancaster Opera House; Swing, ArtPark. Many Thanks to: Agent Meg Pantera; Family/friends/colleagues, Francesca Zambello, Ron Melrose, Susan Stroman, Linda Twine, Paul Castree, Sande Shurin, Diedra Murray, Kathleen Deyo, Kay Tucker, Tara Rubin Casting, Bikram Yoga NYC, and to "Coco." Proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Barbara Walsh (Brenda)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical, Dinner with Friends. Broadway: Falsettos (Tony®, Drama Desk nominations, LA Ovation Award), Company (Drama Desk nomination, filmed for PBS Great Perfor-mances), Hairspray, Big, Blood Brothers, Nine, Rock ‘n Roll: the first 5,000 years, and Ragtime (Mother: Chicago company). Off-Broad-way: 1,000 Words Come to Mind, Premieres; Normal, Transport Group; Birds of Paradise, Stars in Your Eyes, and Forbidden Broadway. Regional: Master Class, Papermill; Grey Gardens, Studio Theatre; A Little Night Music, Baltimore’s Center Stage; Company, Cincinnati Playhouse;The Sisters Rosensweig, George Street Playhouse; The Most Happy Fella, Great Lakes Theatre Festival; The Rhythm Club, Signature Theatre; and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Gretna Theatre. FILM/TV: Life With Mikey, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and One Life to Live. CDs: Company, Broadway Unplugged: I and II, Big, A… My Name Will Always Be Alice, and The Best Of Forbidden Broadway. Married to director, Jack Cummings III.
Karen Ziemba (Annie)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, A New Musical, Six Degrees of Separation. Broadway: Contact, (Tony Award®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards); Curtains (Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony nom.); Never Gonna Dance (Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony nom.); Steel Pier (Tony nom.), Chicago, Crazy For You, A Chorus Line. Off-Broadway: And The World Goes ‘Round (Drama Desk Award), I Do! I Do! (Drama Desk nom.). New York City Opera: 110 In The Shade, The Most Happy Fella. ELSEWHERE: Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Theatre, DC/Hartford Stage; House And Garden, Geva Theatre; The Three Penny Opera, Williamstown Theatre Festival; The Opposite Of Sex, Magic Theatre. Tv/ Film: The Producers, Scrubs, all three Law & Order series, As The World Turns, The Kennedy Center Honors, and for PBS, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, Gershwin At 100 and Stephen Sondheim: A Celebration At Carnegie Hall.
  Brian Holland (Music and Lyrics)
After being introduced to Motown Founder Berry Gordy Jr., by older brother Eddie, Brian helped pioneer the classic sound of Motown. His combination of skills - songwriting, producer and recording engineer - bore immediate fruit. At the age of 19, Brian earned his first Gold Record for writing and producing Please Mr. Postman for the Marvelettes. Please Mr. Postman soared to number one on the Pop Charts. From this multifaceted: songwriter would emerge the memorable melodies of: Stop In The Name Of Love, I Hear A Symphony and many more. Brian didn’t confine his talents to writing hit song after hit song. He became Motown Record’s youngest Vice President in charge of the Quality Control Department. Brian established standards that contributed to the excellence of "The Motown Sound." In 1962, the joining of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland marked the rise of Motown Records as a music powerhouse. In 1988, Holland-Dozier-Holland were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Holland- Dozier-Holland recently received the Song-writers Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award. Holland-Dozier-Holland’s music has had over 100 million airplays. Brian is currently putting the finishing touches on a project for Pop Artist Felisa Mirasol, Love Is The Only Thing That Last. According to Top Pop Annual 1955-1999 pop reference book, Brian Holland was the second-most successful songwriter of the modern pop era. Brian is credited with 152 hit recordings including I Can’t Help Myself for The Four Tops.
  Lamont Dozier (Music and Lyrics)
Lamont Dozier and the Hollands reunited for the first and only time in 30 years to write the outstanding score for The First Wives Club — A New Musical. They rose to fame as the legendary trio responsible for writing and producing over 54 #1 hits for such artists as The Supremes, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and a host of others, giving them credit for being the architects of the Motown sound. As a result, he, along with the Hollands, has been recognized with such outstanding honors as induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, from which they recently received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest praise a songwriter can get. Theatre has always been a passion of Lamont’s and this is his first foray into that medium, and he has an original show in development. Lamont also had success as a recording artist, for which he was named Best New Male Pop Vocalist from Billboard and received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album. He has had continued success as a songwriter and producer and worked with such acts as Simply Red, Boy George and Eric Clapton, to name a few. He collaborated with Phil Collins on the soundtrack for Buster, which earned them a Grammy Award, Golden Globe Award, Brit Award, Britain’s distinguished Ivor Novello honor and an Oscar nomination for the song, Two Hearts. Lamont continues to work with such chart-topping acts as Kanye West, Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, members of the Black Eyed Peas, Joss Stone and, most recently, Solange Knowles and George Benson. Lamont is a Trustee of NARAS, chairs its Advocacy Committee which champions such issues as copyright protection, and received the prestigious Thornton Legacy Award from USC, where he is an Artist in Residence professor and where a scholarship has been established in his name in perpetuity. Just recently Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
  Eddie Holland (Music and Lyrics)
Before the existence of Motown, Eddie Holland was a recording artist signed to Berry Gordy, Jr. Shortly after that, Eddie introduced his younger brother Brian to Berry. Eddie’s first record was Little Miss Ruby on Mercury Records. After recording several hits on Tamla Records, the most popular of which was Jamie, Eddie turned to lyric writing. Eddie Holland along with younger brother Brian and Lamont Dozier became one of the most accomplished songwriting teams in the history of popular music. Their credits include Top Ten Hits: Stop In The Name Of Love, Baby Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Love Is Like A Heat Wave, Baby I Need Your Loving, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), and Reach Out I’ll Be There, to name a few. After exiting Motown, Eddie created his own record labels and publishing companies. He established Invictus/Hot Wax Records, and the publishing companies, Gold Forever Music, Inc. and Holland-Dozier-Holland Music, Inc. Eddie was subsequently joined by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. Success struck quickly, Freda Payne’s Band Of Gold and Chairman Of The Board’s Give Me Just A Little More Time immediately established the new sound. Grammy Award winning Patches, Want Ads and Stick Up by the Honey Cone, Freda Payne’s Vietnam Era hit, Bring The Boys Home, were all chart busting records. The Holland Brothers are currently working on projects for Jazz artist Ronnie Laws, R&B artist Paul Hill, and Pop Artist Felisa Mirasol. In the year 2000, according to Top Pop Annual 1955-1999, pop reference book, Eddie Holland was credited with being the third most successful songwriter of the modern pop era.
  Rupert Holmes (Book)
Rupert Holmes has won Tony® Awards as an author, a lyricist and a composer. His Broadway credits include: Curtains (2006 Drama Desk Award, Best Book of a Musical; Tony nominations Best Book, Best Additional Lyrics); The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Tony awards Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score; identical honors from the New York Drama Desk and an additional Drama Desk to Holmes for Best Orchestration); Say Goodnight Gracie (Touring Broadway Award, Best Play; Tony nomination Best Play); the tour de force for actor Stacy Keach Solitary Confinement; and the comedy-thriller Accomplice (Mystery Writers of America Edgar® Award). He also created and wrote the critically acclaimed AMC television series Remember WENN. His first novel Where the Truth Lies (Top Ten Debut Crime Novel, Booklist; Best American Mystery Novel 2004, Nero Wolfe nomination) was made into a film by Atom Egoyan starring Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon. His short stories have recently appeared in Best American Mystery Stories 2008 and On a Raven's Wing. Holmes' popular songs have been recorded by many of the great vocalists of our time, most frequently and notably Barbra Streisand, for whom he also contributed to the Golden Globe-winning score of A Star is Born. He feels very honored to be collaborating with the great American songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland.
  Francesca Zambello (Director)
Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognized and award-winning opera and theatre director. Her recent theatrical credits include The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theater, Rebecca for the Vienna Raimund Theater, West Side Story for the floating stage in Bergenz, Austria, and Showboat at The Royal Albert Hall. She is the Artistic Advisor of the San Francisco Opera where she is helming a new Ring Cycle and Porgy and Bess this season. She has many notable directing credits at the Metropolitan Opera, including An American Tragedy, Cyrano and Les Troyens, as well as at Teatro alla Scala, Royal Albert Hall, Bolshoi, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Washington Opera, and Chicago Lyric, among others. Her honors include three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, Helpmann Award, Palme d'Or in Germany and the Golden Mask in Russia. www.francescazambello.com
  Lisa Stevens (Choreographer)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. World Premieres of Disney's High School Musical 1 and 2 - West End, US Tour, UK Tour, Australia. Bombay Dreams US Tour, Associate Choreographer for the West End and Broadway productions. Off-Broadway: Bingo! The Musical, NYMF Common Grounds (Best Choreography Award). Other Broadway Titles: Fiddler on the Roof (Jessie Richardson Award) Hello Dolly!, The Music Man, Cabaret, Guys & Dolls, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Jesus Christ Superstar, Urinetown. TV: The Swinging Nutcracker, Macy’s Passport (with Jennifer Lopez), Fashion Cares/Bollywood Cowboy (with Pamela Anderson), the UK's Top of the Pops, The Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty the Queen, The Smash Hit Awards. Writer/Producer of Shakalaka Bombay,Tauba Tauba, and Norwegian Cruise Line's Le Belle Epoche. Lisa is also the co-founder of Canada's Gotta Sing Gotta Dance - a children's musical theatre program, and is the Artistic Director for the National Artist's Program - Canada Winter Games. www.lisastevens.biz.
  Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, Imaginary Friends. Music direction: Jersey Boys (Broadway and six additional companies), Imaginary Friends (Broadway), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sinatra (Radio City), The Wiz, Caraboo, Wonderland, Zelda. Dance/vocal arranging: Sweet Smell of Success, Jekyll & Hyde, Perfectly Frank, The Act, Marilyn: An American Fable, Woman of the Year, Cabaret. Associate producer, Jersey Boys original cast album (certified gold). Composing: Superdimensional Microbabes (upcoming anime-based musical); Fortune (Off-Broadway); The Silver Swan (National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship); theatrical CDs (The Missing Peace, Early One Morning, Songs I Won’t Be Singing); Harvard Hasty Pudding shows (Tots in Tinseltown, Bewitched Bayou); a gospel-based Requiem; songs for church, choir, cabaret and Saturday Night Live. Degrees from Harvard (philosophy) and Westminster (choral conducting). After thirty-two happy years as a New Yorker, he is now a resident of California.
  Peter J. Davison (Scenic Design)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. Broadway: Medea, Hamlet, Jesus Christ Superstar, Copenhagen, Democracy, Deuce, Is He Dead? and Blithe Spirit. For the Met: The Rake’s Progress, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cyrano de Bergerac with Placido Domingo. Porgy and Bess, Chicago Lyric. Musical theatre: Whistle Down the Wind in London, The Boy From Oz in Sydney; Aladdin, Disney’s California Adventure; Show Boat, Royal Albert Hall; Marie Antoinette, Bremen and in Vienna, Rebecca (dir. Francesca Zambello). Ballet: David Bintley’s Edward II, Arthur Parts 1 and 2. Medea was nominated for Tony® and Olivier Awards. The DVD of Jesus Christ Superstar won an Emmy.
  Paul Tazewell (Costume Design)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. BROADWAY: Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk (Tony® Nomination), On the Town, Def Poetry Jam, Elaine Strich at Liberty, Fascinating Rhythm. Off-Broadway: Flesh and Blood, Harlem Song, Dinah Was, City Center Encores! Li’l Abner, Once Around the City, Before It Hits Home, Playboy of the West Indies (Lincoln Center Theater). Joseph Papp Public TheateR: Boston Marriage, One Flea Spare, Henry V, Venus, Blade to the Heat. Regional: Arena Stage, The Guthrie Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Stage, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, Seattle Rep, Trinity Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, The Alliance Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet. Award and honors include: Lucille Lortel Award for On the Town, two Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Costume Design (The African Company Presents Richard III and Peer Gynt), a Michael Merritt Award, and the AUDELCO Award for Harlem Song. The TDF Irene Sharaff Young Master Award and a Princess Grace Fellowship. Paul is a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
  Mark McCullough (Lighting Design)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. Mark McCullough maintains a successful career as a lighting designer for opera and theatre companies in the United States and Europe. Theatre: The American Plan (Broadway); Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway; National and UK Tour); Prairie (Guthrie Theater); Whistle Down the Wind (Aldwych Theatre, London); Aladdin (Disney's California Adventure Park); productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Gate Theatre. Off-Broadway: Old Money; Mouth to Mouth; How I Learned to Drive, The Long Christmas Ride Home; This is Our Youth; Lobby Hero and Juvenilia. Regional: Shakespeare Theatre, Court Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, The Huntington Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Theatre, Steppenwolf and Center Stage. Opera: Metropolitan Opera; Teatro alla Scala; New York City Opera; Washington National Opera; Chicago Lyric Opera; Royal Opera Covent Garden; Glimmerglass Opera; San Francisco Opera; Seattle Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Training: MFA from the Yale School of Drama and alumnus of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
  Jon Weston (Sound Design)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. Broadway: Les Misérables, The Color Purple, The Glass Menagerie, Caroline, or Change (AUDELCO Award), Nine, Imaginary Friends, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Green Bird, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, On the Town, Company in Concert at Lincoln Center, Man of La Mancha. Off-Broadway and regional: A Little Night Music (LA Drama Critics Award); Himself & Nora; The Thing About Men; tick, tick...BOOM!; Bright Lights, Big City. He began his audio career at TTG studios in Los Angeles, recording the music for such TV shows as The Love Boat and Dynasty.
  Harold Wheeler (Orchestrator)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Harold holds the distinction of being the first African-American to conduct the annual Academy Awards and a Broadway musical, Promises, Promises. Other Broadway credits include: The Wiz (Original Production), A Chorus Line, Lena Horne-The Lady and Her Music, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Dreamgirls, and Never Gonna Dance. He received Tony® nominations for: Little Me, Swing!, The Life, The Full Monty, Hairspray, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and won a Drama Desk Award for his work on Hairspray. He composed the score for the film Love! Valour! Compassion! and acted as co-Musical Director for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Currently, he is the Musical Director for the ABC series, Dancing with the Stars. He is married to actress/singer Hattie Winston.
  John Gentry Tennyson (Conductor)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. John Gentry Tennyson was born in Houston, TX into a royal heritage of music. Realizing an immediate affinity for music and the piano, John developed rapidly under the tutelage of his well-known musical father, Hal Tennyson, alto saxophonist and clarinetist on Glenn Miller’s original 1939 classic hit, In The Mood. In the past few years, Tennyson has branched out to other endeavors on Broadway in musical theatre. Tennyson has worked extensively as Musical Director and Associate Conductor for Broadway Directors; Andre De Shields (Harlem Nocturne), George Faison (Monte-Carlo Starshow), George C. Wolfe (Harlem Song at the Apollo Theatre) and Otis Salid (Jazzical/Opera Noir). Other credits include, Musical Director for Grammy Award-winning vocalist from Smokey Joe's Cafe, BJ Crosby and Musical Director for the legendary Jennifer Holliday.
  Zane Mark (Dance Music Arranger)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty, Thunder Knocking on the Door. Broadway: All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Never Gonna Dance, The Full Monty, Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk (Tony® and Grammy nomination), Bubblin’ Brown Sugar and The Wiz. Off-Broadway and regional: Ray Charles Live, Imagine Tap, Radiant Baby, George C. Wolfe’s Harlem Song (Audelco Award), Insurrection and Betsy Brown. FILM: Lackawanna Blues and Frances Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club. Zane has also written arranged, recorded, or performed with: Regina Belle, Angela Bofill, Jonathan Butler, Peabo Bryson, Broadway Inspirational Voices, Judy Collins, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Will Downing, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Hugh Jackman, Eartha Kitt, Melba Moore, Queen Latifah and Phylicia Rashad to name a few.
  Steve Rankin (Fight Director)
THE OLD GLOBE: Mr. Rankin is an Associate Artist of The Old Globe as an actor and fight director. This is his 23rd season staging fights for The Old Globe, including the 2004-2009 Summer Shakespeare Festivals, Cyrano De Bergerac, Coriolanus, The First Wives Club, Cornelia, In This Corner, Pig Farm, Pentecost, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Twelfth Night, Cymbeline, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like it, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Antony and Cleopatra, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, King Lear, Hamlet, White Linen, Julius Caesar, Henry V and Richard II. BROADWAY: Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2 (directed by Jack O'Brien), Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, Twelfth Night, Getting Away with Murder, Dracula the Musical, The Who's Tommy, Anna Christie, The Real Inspector Hound, Two Shakespearean Actors. OFF-BROADWAY: The Third Story, Pig Farm, The Night Hank Williams Died and Richard Dresser's Below the Belt. REGIONAL: La Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson, Geffen Playhouse, Center Stage, Geva, Asolo, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Virginia Stage Company and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. FILM: Renaissance Man, Human Error, Tumbleweeds. INTERNATIONAL: The Stratford Shakespeare Festival. OPERA: Seattle Opera, San Diego Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.
  Tara Rubin Casting (Casting)
Broadway/tours: Guys and Dolls, Billy Elliot, Shrek, The Country Girl, Rock N’Roll (US casting), The Farnsworth Invention, Young Frankenstein, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Pirate Queen, Les Misérables, History Boys (US Casting), Spamalot, Jersey Boys, …Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom of the Opera, Good Vibrations, Bombay Dreams, Oklahoma!, Happiness, Flower Drum Song, Imaginary Friends, Metamorphoses, Frogs, Contact, Thou Shalt Not, Man of No Importance. Yale Rep.
  Kim Vernace (Stage Manager)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club. BROADWAY: A Tale Of Two Cities, The Seafarer, Coram Boy, Movin’ Out, The Music Man, Aida, Chicago and Beauty and the Beast. Off-Broadway, Regional Theatre AND National Tours: The Cherry Orchard, Chicago, Ragtime, Cats, Striking 12, Hello Dolly!, Beauty and the Beast, Annie and Rags. Most recent production was a new musical, Lucky Guy.
  Annette Yé (Assistant Stage Manager)
THE OLD GLOBE: The First Wives Club, Opus, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, 2008 Summer Shakespeare Festival, Dancing in the Dark, Hay Fever. REGIONAL: Peter and the Starcatchers, Tobacco Road, Salsalandia, La Jolla Playhouse. ELSEWHERE: Honky Tonk Angels, Baby, No Way to Treat a Lady, North Coast Repertory Theatre; Forbidden Broadway SVU, Theatre in Old Town; A Chorus Line, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Smell of the Greasepaint, the Roar of the Crowd, Me and My Girl, Company, Forever Plaid, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Sound of Music, 1776, Starlight Musical Theatre. EDUCATION: BA, San Diego State University.