British Stage and Film Legend Michael York
Stars in Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner’s Children Update Show for National Tour
Performances: March 20 – April 8, 2007
Opening/Press Night: March 22, 2007 8:00 p.m.
Camelot Production Photos
More About Michael York
SEATTLE - British stage and film legend Michael York (The Three Musketeers, Cabaret, Logan’s Run, Austin Powers) kicks off Seattle’s spring theater season starring as King Arthur in a new touring production of Lerner & Loewe’s CAMELOT. Glenn Casale directs this re-staging of the original script, adapted by Michael A.M. Lerner and co-produced by Liza Lerner, Alan Jay Lerner’s son and daughter respectively.
Michael York famously portrayed Brian Roberts in Bob Fosse’s Oscar-winning film Cabaret, D’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, and Basil Exposition in all three wildly successful Austin Powers movies. His Broadway credits include Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, The Little Prince, Bent, The Crucible, and the world premiere of Tennessee Williams’ Outcry. CAMELOT marks York’s North American touring debut.
“There is a reason CAMELOT was so connected to the Kennedy time,” Michael York says. “It seemed to me people needed to be reminded that government of your fellow man can be a positive thing. This musical captured that in such a wonderful way. I thought it was a good time to do it.”
CAMELOT is set in King Arthur’s enchanted kingdom, a place where honor and chivalry reign, where “might for right” is the new creed, and democracy flowers. When Queen Guenevere falls in love with Sir Lancelot, this idyllic land is placed in jeopardy. The splendid score includes the romantic and haunting “If Ever I Would Leave You,” the captivating “How To Handle a Woman” and the majestic “Camelot.” The show originally opened in 1960 at New York’s Majestic Theatre and was hailed by critics as the most lavish spectacle ever seen on Broadway, winning 4 Tony Awards. It caught the imagination of the country and its youthful president, John F. Kennedy, and CAMELOT became forever entwined with the American values of social equality and justice. Last seen at The 5th Avenue Theatre in 1999, CAMELOT was also presented at The 5th in 1981 with Richard Harris, who starred in the 1967 Warner Brothers film, in the title role.
Like the original production, this new tour is occurring during a major shift in national politics. Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner’s children, Liza and Michael A.M. Lerner, have revised CAMELOT for today’s audiences.
“We have told this famous story in a new, very appealing and concise way,” Liza Lerner explains. “Our new production of CAMELOT is a lot grittier and a little sexier. It’s darker in texture to make the story more grounded.” Ms. Lerner will discuss the show’s re-staging, as well as her father’s life and work, at Spotlight Night: Camelot on Tuesday, March 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at The 5th Avenue Theatre. The event, sponsored by US Bank, is free and open to the public. Visit www.5thavenue.org/spotlight.
Joining Michael York in this new production are two of Broadway’s leading actors. Rachel York (no relation), best known from Broadway’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Victor/Victoria, and last seen at The 5th Avenue in the 2002 Kiss Me Kate tour, is torn between two lovers as Guenevere. James Barbour, the leading man of Broadway’s Assassins, Jane Eyre, Urinetown, and Beauty and the Beast completes the love triangle as Lancelot. Other cast members include Stuart Ambrose, Eric Anderson, Suzanne Carlton, Venny Carranza, Tavis Danz, Sandi DeGeorge, Daniel Guzman, Sandy Hawker, Joanna Louise, Monica Louwerens, Grant Rosen, Joseph Sark, Leah Seminario, Shannon Stoeke, Megan Swanson, Jill Townsend, Robert J. Townsend, Alan M-L Wager, Shannon Warne, John B. Williford, Time Winters and Vincent Zamora.
CAMELOT is directed by Glenn Casale (Peter Pan) and choreographed by Dan Mojica (Beauty and the Beast). The musical director is Craig Barna, the scenic designer is John Iacovelli (Peter Pan, The Twilight of the Gods). The costumes are designed by Marcy Froehlich, the lighting is designed by Tom Ruzika, and the sound is designed by Julie Ferrin. The fight direction, aerial sequences, and wigs are designed by Sean Boyd, Paul Rubin and Mitchell Hale, respectively.
LERNER (Book & Lyrics) & LOEWE (Music). In 1942, Frederick Loewe approached Alan Jay Lerner at a club in New York with the idea of collaborating on a musical. The two went on to enjoy a notable partnership that lasted 18 years, resulting in Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady and Camelot. In 1942, Lerner and Loewe wrote their first musical called Life of the Party; in 1943, they wrote their first Broadway musical, What’s Up? The team went on to write The Day Before Spring in 1945, followed by their first hit, Brigadoon, in 1947. Lerner wrote the libretto for An American in Paris, the first musical film to win an Oscar. Lerner and Loewe teamed up again in the 1950s to write Paint Your Wagon, the megahit My Fair Lady, the film Gigi (winner of nine Oscars, including Best Picture) and Camelot in 1960. After Loewe retired, Lerner went on to write On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Carmelina with Burton Lane, Coco with Andre Previn, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with Leonard Bernstein and Dance a Little Closer with Charles Strouse. Lerner and Loewe reunited in 1973 to provide Broadway with a stage version of Gigi. Loewe died in 1982 at the age of 88; Lerner died in 1986 at the age of 67.
MICHAEL YORK (King Arthur). Michael York's more than 60 screen credits include memorable roles in such films as Bob Fosse's Oscar-winning Cabaret opposite Liza Minnelli, Something for Everyone with Angela Lansbury, directed by Hal Prince, the all-star Murder on the Orient Express, The Last Remake of Beau Geste with Marty Feldman, as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, as the title character in the sci-fi classic Logan's Run, and opposite Burt Lancaster in The Island of Dr. Moreau. He even played himself in Billy Wilder's Fedora. Recent work includes all three Austin Powers movies as well as guest appearances on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Additionally, he recently completed Crusader and Moscow Heat. Broadway credits include Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, the musical of The Little Prince, Bent, The Crucible and the world premiere of Tennessee Williams' Outcry. www.MichaelYork.net
RACHEL YORK (Guenevere). Best known for her Broadway performances of City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Kiss Me Kate (Helen Hayes Nomination), Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Jonathan Pryce, she also starred in Putting It Together (Drama Desk Nomination) with Dame Julie Andrews, Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center (Drama Desk Nomination), Anything Goes (Ovation Nomination), Evita, Ragtime, Crucifer of Blood with Billy Crudup and The Sound of Music at the Hollywood Bowl. Her film and television credits include One Fine Day, Billy Bathgate, Numb3rs, Reba, Frasier, Arli$$, Spin City, The Naked Truth, Diagnosis Murder, Second Honeymoon, Au Pair II, and her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie Lucy. She is also the voice of Bitty in Higglytown Heroes. Rachel’s album, Let’s Fall in Love, is available in stores nationwide. www.RachelYork.net
JAMES BARBOUR (Lancelot). On Broadway, he starred in Assassins (Czolgosz), Jane Eyre (Rochester), Beauty and the Beast (Beast, also LA), Carousel (Billy Bigelow), Urinetown (Officer Lockstock), Cyrano, and the tour of The Secret Garden. Regionally: Guardsman (Old Globe), Adrift in Macao (NYSAF), the premiere of 20th Century (Signature), The Foreigner (BTF), Merry Wives of Windsor and Twelfth Night, Camelot opposite Jeremy Irons. Television: The District, Just Shoot Me, Flashpoint, Sex and the City, Ed, That’s Life, Some Enchanted Evening (PBS Great Performances). Film: Alchemy, Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights, Twinkle Toes with Sally Kirkland, Waiting for Lefty, The Tell Tale Heart. He also co-starred/wrote/produced Back From Broadway. www.JamesBarbour.com
Tickets to CAMELOT are priced from $20 to $73. Tickets are available over the phone by calling (206) 625-1900 / toll free (888) 5TH-4TIX, online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 24,000 and an annual attendance of more than 225,000. It ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org.
Please contact Molly Fortin, Public Relations Manager, at (206) 625-1418 with questions or to schedule individual interviews. Photos available upon request.
CAMELOT SHOWTIMES
March 20 – April 8, 2007
Tuesday Evening 7:30 pm
Wednesday Evening 7:30 pm
Thursday Evening 8:00 pm
Friday Evening 8:00 pm
Saturday Matinee 2:00 pm
Saturday Evening 8:00 pm
Sunday Matinee 1:30 pm
Sunday Evening 7:00 pm
** MID-WEEK MATINEE **
Thursday, April 5 1:00 pm
2006-2007 SEASON SPONSOR: Audi Dealers of the Puget Sound Area
SHOW SPONSOR: Key Private Bank