Press release - Helen Hayes Theatre, Nyack, NY


Jackie Mason Returnes to HHTC in the All-new
Broadway-bowund Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only
Sexy, Bawdy "Comedy With Music" is Mason's First-Ever Show with a
Powerhouse Cast, an uproarious Book and catchy, hilarious Music!

Nyack, NY– Jackie Mason returns to the HHTC in the all-new, Broadway-bound Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only, a show sure to set the standard for burlesque in the 21st century. Together with a powerhouse cast of five talented singer/dancers, Jackie's show opens the Helen Hayes' Fall 2003 Season. With lots of singing and dancing, Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only is Jackie's first-ever show with a book, supporting cast and live music. Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only takes the comedian's insights into modern life, politics and group dynamics and translates them into sexy and hilarious adult sketches, witty songs and uproarious production numbers. Performances begin in Nyack at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company on September 19th and run through October 5th.

Having enjoyed tremendous success at the HHTC as a solo performer, Jackie takes that wonderful experience and gives audiences even more. "I haven't been this excited about anything since "The World According to Me," said Mason, whose six one-man shows on Broadway have earned him a Tony, an Outer Critics Circle Award, an Ace Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy nomination. "The new show is sexy, naughty and dirty, but don't worry, it's funny, clean dirt," he says.

In Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only, Mason plays himself. Inspired to produce a Broadway musical, he is daunted by the $10 million price tag of a conventional production. He sets off to do it by himself on a budget of $19.95! After a production number that has him cast and prepare the show, the audience is then treated to the show itself.

Produced by Jyll Rosenfeld and Jon Stoll (the team responsible for Mason's recent Broadway hits, Prune Danish and Much Ado About Everything) and James Scibelli in association with Sidney Kimmel and John Morgan, Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only is directed by Robert Johanson, who was artistic director of Paper Mill, the State Theatre of New Jersey for 20 years, where he directed over 50 productions. It is based on a concept by veteran film and television writer Digby Wolfe and is written by Dennis Blair a comedian, scriptwriter and award-winning songwriter, musician and comic actor best known for his caustic musical satires, collaborations with George Carlin, and writing credits for the Rodney Dangerfield films, Easy Money and Oh Brother.

The music is written by Doug Katsaros whose composing credits include the Fox television series "The Tick," the opening theme and special material for the 2001-2002 Tony Awards, and work on CDs with a Who's Who of vocalists and groups including Cher, Bon Jovi, Sinead O'Connor, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Estefan and Aerosmith. Joseph Baker is the musical director.

Joining Jackie in the show are five highly talented and versatile performers:

Darrin Baker has appeared on Broadway in Sunset Boulevard, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Footloose, in the original Canadian cast of Les Miserable, and numerous other Off-Broadway productions.

Canadian Robert Creighton comes to Broadway for the first time after numerous credits in national musical touring companies and playing four different roles in The Lion King in Toronto and Los Angeles.

Barry Finkel's Broadway credits include Side Show and High Society. He has appeared Off-Broadway in Pageant and in Lust, for which he created the musical staging. He has directed or choreographed for a number of regional theater companies.

Ruth Gottschall has appeared in nine Broadway shows including: The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Goodbye Girl, Cabaret, and the NYC Opera production of The Desert Song.

Cheryl Stern was featured in the recent Broadway revival of The Women, and has performed and/or written in a number of Off-Broadway productions including I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Game Show, and That's Life, for which she received an Outer Critics nomination for writing. She has toured with numerous national companies of major Broadway musicals.

The creative team also includes: Michael Lichtefeld as choreographer, Michael Anania as set designer, Thom Heyer as costume designer and Paul D. Miller as lighting designer.

Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only is part of the Fall 2003 Season, which also includes The Mancini Project and The Music Man. Subscriptions for all three shows range from $74.25 to $117. Single tickets to Jackie Mason Laughing Room Only go on sale on August 1st and range from $32.50 to $47.50. Tickets can be purchased by calling the HHTC Box Office at 845-358-6333 or by visiting the web site at www.hhtco.org.


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