Events Archive
AndrewGerle.com
Andrew and Donna Lynne Champlin reprised their act, "Finishing the Hat" at the world-famous Birdland jazz club in NYC. Celebrating Valentine's Day early with hilarious stories from Donna Lynne's hat that I guarantee made the audience's love lives look normal. Photos from the event are here!
On January 10th, Andrew returned from a 4-week stay at the MacDowell Artists' Colony where he worked on a new show, Gloryana, and lived in the cabin where DuBose and Dorothy Heyward worked on Porgy and Bess. See how he tried to live up to this on his "AG at the MacDowell" blog.
Andrew and collaborator Eddie Sugarman were in residence in Chester, CT, for a workshop production of Meet John Doe, with Goodspeed Musicals at the Norma Terris Theatre. Behind-the scenes details of their exciting and very productive time there can be seen on their blog.
Andrew was one of three composers addressing the Garrison Piano Competition, part of the American Liszt Society of Baltimore/Washington. Singing songs from "Meet John Doe", the "Not Crazy" song cycle, and "Lingoland" was two-time Helen Hayes nominee, Tracy Lynn Olivera.
Andrew performed at the Cape Playhouse's 80th Anniversary Gala, with Artistic Director and pianist, Evans Haile, Leroy Reams, George Dvorsky and Susan Powell.
Andrew and Leslie at the Cape Playhouse
Andrew headed back to the Cape Playhouse to musical direct Kander & Ebb's The Rink. Starring Leslie Uggams and Janet Metz, this was a new version of the beloved show, revised by John Kander and director Michael Unger, with updated orchestrations by Andrew.
The York Theatre presented its NEO Benefit, a concert celebrating emerging writers in musical theater. Andrew was represented by a haunting mother-daughter duet from his show, Brighter Things, called "Why Was I Surprised?" The recent Bernarda Alba mother-daughter pair of Phylicia Rashad and Sally Murphy performed the duet beautifully.
Andrew and Donna Lynne Champlin's cabaret debut at Ars Nova on May 8 was a sold-out smash, so they've been invited back to do the songs and stories they didn't get to. What's it called? "Finishing the Hat", of course. Ars Nova 511 W 54th St.
Andrew and Eddie received their Jonathan Larson Award at the "21" Club (see pic above). It was a wonderful ceremony, with previous winners performing some terrific numbers. Click here for the Playbill announcement.
Andrew and collaborator Eddie Sugarman at the 21 Club
to receive their Jonathan Larson award.
Andrew again served as Musical Director for the prestigious Bradley Awards at the Kennedy Center. Last year, he worked with legend Jennifer Holliday; this year, it's Irish tenor Ronan Tynan and actress Della Reese.
Andrew teamed up with cross-dressing Sweeney sensation Donna Lynne Champlin for a cabaret that was… well, something unique. DL lead the audience through a randomly-chosen series of her patented stories, punctuated by some songs they'd never heard before and some like they'd never heard them before! Ars Nova 511 W 54th St.
"Don't Eat Your Friends", the popular vegan anthem from The Tutor, is included in Prospect Theatre Company's "Propaganda Cabaret", featuring subversive and politically charged songs by such writers as Curtis Moore, Glen Slater, Stephen Weiner and Peter Mills. Tickets available for the 2PM and 5PM shows at Theatremania. Meat is whack!
The Gift, Andrew and Maryrose Wood's adaptation of two O. Henry tales, was included in the "Stripped" New Musicals Project at Oklahoma City University. Selections from the show were presented by students, along with three others. Read more on BroadwayWorld.com.
Andrew served as guest vocal coach for a weekend retreat for kids from the Young Presidents' Organization. Great talent and a lot of fun, working with Musical Director Kevin Farrell and director/choreographer/original Chorus Line cast member Baayork Lee.
Andrew returned to Yale to hold a masterclass with musical theater composition students. He also got to coach some talented singers and was invited to sit in on a rehearsal of his old singing group, the Spizzwinks(?), where they performed a few of his old arrangements. Sigh... college was fun.
Friends, colleagues and students of Andrew's father, concert violinist Robert Gerle, gathered on April 12 at The Catholic University of America for a memorial concert. It was a beautiful evening, and a great reunion of many old friends. Click here to see some pictures from the slideshow. Here's where you can order a copy of his thrilling memoirs, "Playing It By Heart".
The Hartt School of Music presented a fully-staged skeletal student production of Meet John Doe. Directed by Henry Fonte, with musical direction by Andrew Levine, it was yet another developmental opportunity for the show that arose from our involvement in last year's National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) festival. A great cast, a rockin' band, and sold-out houses--what more could writers ask for?
As part of "Copland's America", the week-long President's festival of the Catholic University of America, Andrew was one of ten composers commissioned to write a "New Old American Folk Song" arrangement for the Unversity Chorus and a small chamber orchestra. His contribution, "Sally Goodin", an old Civil War square dance tune, opened the set with stomping, clapping, and general loose behavior. A hit!
Andrew and Eddie received their Jonathan Larson Award at the "21" Club (see pic above). It was a wonderful ceremony, with previous winners performing some terrific numbers. Click here for the Playbill announcement.
Meet John Doe received a terrific one-week workshop at Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, OH. Directed by Joe Calarco and starring Erin Maguire, Tally Sessions, Patrick Ryan Sullivan and Guy Paul, it was performed before an audience of 400 (!) mostly non-industry theater-goers. Another terrific opportunity, thanks to NAMT. Read the great article in the local press.
The enormous house at Carousel Dinner Theatre.
The fabulous cast at Carousel Dinner Theatre.
For the second time, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Sundance Theatre Lab's White Oak conference in Florida, where I music directed Scott Frankel and Michael Korie's DOLL.
The Leading Lady
An artists' retreat on a luxurious wildlife reservation, White Oak is truly unlike anywhere else. Directed by Lonny Price, DOLL starred Mary Testa, Malcolm Gets and Brent Barrett. I don't know how Scott and Michael could concentrate, as their other show, GREY GARDENS, starts previews at Playwrights Horizons in weeks.
Wild Animals. Everywhere.
In a typical but crazy co-incidence, after years of work, both The Tutor and Meet John Doe have major events this month. The Tutor gets its New York premiere in the Prospect Theater Co.'s production at 59 E 59th Theaters. With an amazing cast, a seriously trippy set, and a rockin' band, I can't wait till opening; luckily it's the 10th! Check out all the details and random Tutor goodies here, or how about this nice announcement in The Gothamist. Look for our listing and ad in Time Out New York, too.
John Doe's the man about town this month, too: we're one of eight shows featured in this year's National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) fesitval. A yearly event that showcases the hottest new shows for NAMT's over 200 member theaters, it's a Big Deal, and we're thrilled to be included. Starring in our 45-minute presentation are Donna Lynne Champlin (from last year's NYMF production), Greg Stone, and the inimitable Michael Rupert. For more info, check out the Meet John Doe website.
The Tutor received a workshop production at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington and attracted record crowds. After being included in last August's "Village Originals" festival of new musicals, The Tutor was selected "Best of the Fest" and given this wonderful opportunity. Opening night was a huge success, even though the actress playing teenage goth "Sweetie" was injured in a car crash that morning and had to perform in a neck brace! See our write-up on Playbill online.
Vicki Noon, Eric Ankrim, Andrew Gerle, Anna Lauris, Maryrose Wood,
Steve Tomkins, Marc delaCruz, Anne Allgood, David Silverman.
Uniting his two worlds of classical and theater music, Andrew created ALLOY: Concert/Theater, which marked its inaugural performance on May 2. Seven of music theater's most spectacular voices brought their dramatic talents to music and texts by such masters as Samuel Barber, Walt Whitman, Leonard Bernstein, Langston Hughes, Ned Rorem, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Charles Ives. Combining song and movement in the true theatrical tradition, the concert will include a new, staged performance of Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, performed in an arrangement by Mr. Gerle. Andrew was delighted that Jack Beeson was present to hear his setting of To A Sinister Potato.
Andrew with Jennifer Holliday, Daniel Rodriguez and director Eileen Grace, backstage at the Kennedy Center after the Bradley Awards.
Meet John Doe was be featured in the ASCAP workshops, chaired by Craig Carnelia. Selected from a large pool of applicants, Andrew and Eddie presented a 20-minute excerpt on April 27th, and a 50-minute excerpt on May 12.
Love, Mom was also a selection in the Trenton Film Festival.
Love, Mom was an official selection of the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Andrew and Maryrose travelled to Florida to walk the red carpet and soak up the film festival vibe.
Andrew returned to the York Theatre to music direct Jule Styne and Yip Harburg's Darling of the Day, in their last Musicals in Mufti show of the season. Starring Rebecca Luker, Simon Jones, Beth Fowler and Stephen Mo Hanan, this lighthearted farce set in the British art scene was Harburg's last show, and deserved to be heard.
Cabaret diva K.T. Sullivan recently recorded the bawdy Christmas song Mrs. Santa from The Gift (lyrics by Maryrose Wood) - look for it in her act this winter. Ho Ho Ho Hee Haw!
Meet John Doe got a stellar write-up in Show Business Weekly, reviewing our presentation at the Bound For Broadway concert at Merkin Hall last month! Starring Julia Murney and Richard Todd Adams, it was one of the hits of the evening.
September marks the exciting premier of the New York Music Theater Festival. Andrew is thrilled to have four pieces featured.
Meet John Doe is being presented in a production starring Donna Lynne Champlin and Michael Halling, part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Directed by Matt August, it will have performances at the Theater at St. Clement's beginning Sept. 22.
Love, Mom was among the Raw Impressions Movie Musicals showing in the inaugural New York Musical Theatre Festival. Starring Tonya Pinkins, directed by Ted Sperling, and co-written with Maryrose Wood.
Andrew's ten-minute musical, Spirit Guru, written with playwright Dan O'Brien, will again be featured in Dreams This Way, also at the NYMF.
"What Does Mrs. Santa Do?" was selected for the ASCAP Songwriters' Showcase, held Sept. 22 at the Lighthouse on E. 59th St.
The Tutor received a stunning reading at The Village Theater outside Seattle, as part of their "Village Originals" series.
Andrew helped out the Kerry campaign by playing for a fundraiser at the Canal Room, hosted by comedienne Judy Gold.
The Tutor received a stunning reading at The Village Theater outside Seattle, as part of their "Village Originals" series.
Andrew helped out the Kerry campaign by playing for a fundraiser at the Canal Room, hosted by comedienne Judy Gold.
Andrew conducted a major revival of Rodgers & Hart's On Your Toes, featuring ABT stars Michele Wiles and Marcello Gomes. On Your Toes ran at the Cape Playhouse, in Dennis, MA. Featuring the redoubtable "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue", the production - directed by James Brennan and choreographed by Eileen Grace - received across-the-board raves and was hailed as one of the best productions in the Boston area in recent memory.
Andrew with Michele and Marcelo
Andrew's ten-minute musical, Be My Spirit Guru, written with Dan O'Brien as part of Raw Impressions Music Theatre event #1, will be performed as part of Dreams This Way - The Best of Raw Impressions, running at the TADA theater (15 W 28th).
Andrew celebrated Valentine's Day with a concert of Broadway in Love at the Capitol Theatre Center in Chambersburg, PA. Starring Tim Shew, Jane Brockman and Joe Kolinski.
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