HATS! The Red Hat Society Musical

Doug Besterman (Composer, Musical Supervisor) Broadway: Tarzan, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony/Drama Desk awards) The Producers (Tony/Drama Desk awards), Fosse (Tony award), Music Man (Tony/Drama Desk nominations), Seussical, Big (Drama Desk nomination), Damn Yankees (Drama Desk nomination), Dracula, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Also in New York: King David. London: Guys and Dolls (Donmar). Film/television: The Producers, Chicago, Mulan, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Lincoln, Cinderella, Annie, Geppetto, South Pacific and Superstar. As a songwriter: The Punisher, Summerland, One Life To Live.

Susan Birkenhead (Lyricist) Susan Birkenhead received Tony nominations for Working and Jelly’s Last Jam, for which she also won a Drama Desk Award. She was nominated for a Drama Desk for Triumph of Love and won an Outer Critics Circle award for What About Luv? She wrote additional lyrics for High Society, wrote a song for A…My Name Is Alice and, with Charles Strouse, wrote, The Night They Raided Minsky’s. She and Henry Krieger are currrently working on The Flamingo Kid for Broadway.

Michele Brourman (Composer) Awards: Johnny Mercer Award, Emerging American Songwriter. Broadway: composer, Working. Theater: composer, I Married Wyatt Earp, Dangerous Beauty (in progress). TV: songs for Cagney & Lacey, Santa Barbara, Designing Women, Animal Jam. Film: songs for Shiloh, Shiloh Season and 15 animated features for Universal Studios (three nominations for DVD Premiere Awards); score for A System in Shambles. Michele Brourman has music directed for many artists, created special material for singers from Aretha Franklin to Crystal Gayle and played piano in Bob Dylan’s band.

Pat Bunch (Lyricist) Pat Bunch is a 67-year-old songwriter who is, “living in a moment she would die for.” Her songs have been recorded by performers including Restless Heart I’ll Still Be Loving You (Grammy nomination), Faith Hill Wild One (number one for four weeks), Martina McBride Safe in the Arms of Love, Ty Herndon Living in a Moment and Reba McIntire Baby’s Gone Blues. This is her first song co-written for a musical, proving that it is never too late to get started.

Gretchen Cryer (Lyricist) Gretchen Cryer is part of the songwriting team Cryer and Ford. Their most notable success was I’m Getting My Act Together And Taking It On The Road, based on Cryer’s life experiences; she co-wrote and performed in the piece, which ran in Broadway’s Circle on the Square theater for three years. Gretchen’s other credits include The Last Sweet Days of Isaac (Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award), Shelter and Now Is The Time For All Good Men.

Beth Falcone (Composer, Assistant Music Director, Additional Vocal Arrangements) Beth Falcone is a composer/lyricist in the BMI Lehman-Engel Musical Theater Workshop (Advanced) and won the 2006 Harrington Award. She was selected as a Jonathan Larson Musical Theater Fellow in 2004. Beth is resident musical director for the BMI showcase for the Eugene O’Neill Summer Cabaret Conference. She is on the voice faculty at the National Theater Institute. Beth worked with Ms. Taylor-Corbett on Wanda’s World, opening November at Lincoln Center as a part of the Bound for Broadway Series. Visit wandasworld.tv. Beth is thrilled to be part of the Red Hat family!

David Friedman (Composer) Songs: We Can Be Kind, Listen to My Heart, Help is on the Way, Rich, Famous & Powerful, hundreds more. Film: conductor/vocal arranger Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hunchback. Composer: Aladdin sequel, Trick, Lizzie McGuire (platinum), Bambi sequel. Record producer: Nancy LaMott. Songwriter: Diana Ross (quadruple platinum), Barry Manilow. Upcoming: Chasing Nicolette (Broadway), Desperate Measures, King Island Christmas, Listen To My Heart Revue, opening around the country. Songbook, CDs, info available at MIDDER.com.

Kathie Lee Gifford (Lyricist) Fifteen years with Regis & Kathie Lee (11 Emmy nominations), actress (TV, films). Singer/songwriter, playwright and author (7 books), Broadway Putting it Together; book/lyrics: Under The Bridge, Off-Broadway 2005. Book/Lyrics: Saving Aimee, Spring ‘07. Kathie Lee Gifford begins a month long engagement as “Miss Hannigan” in ANNIE Dec. 9-30 at Madison Square Garden. Correspondent for Paramount TV’s The Insider. Kathie Lee apologizes to her mother for the lyrics to I Don’t Want.

David Goldsmith (Lyricist) Having It Almost (lyricist, co-bookwriter), 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival; Hot Shoe Shuffle (lyrics, American premiere), Houston Theatre Under The Stars, Seattle Fifth Avenue Theatre, Living Arts Center, Toronto, Ordway, St. Paul. Recent television: Co-producer/ writer, ABC Family’s Beautiful People. Upcoming (as lyricist): Imagine This, premiering at Theatre Royal/Plymouth (UK), summer 2007. Graduate, Opera and Music Theatre, College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Thanks to daughter Maddy.

Carol Hall (Composer, Lyricist) Carol Hall wrote the music and lyrics for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a five year Broadway hit which became a popular movie starring Dolly Parton. Parton’s recording of Carol’s Hard Candy Christmas earned an ASCAP Most Performed Country Song award. Carol contributed to Sesame Street, A...My Name is Alice, and the children’s classic Free to Be...You and Me. Songs performed by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and Big Bird, among others. Prizes: Drama Desk Awards, Emmy, Grammy and the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award for contributions to American popular song.

Henry Krieger (Composer) Harry Krieger wrote the music for Broadway’s Dreamgirls, receiving a Grammy award and Tony and Drama Desk nominations. Also for Broadway, he composed the music for The Tap Dance Kid and Side Show. Harry wrote two songs for the current Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. For many years he has happily served as musical director for the 52nd Street Project, a group which brings entertainment professionals together with kids to create and perform in their own shows. Currently collaborating with Susan Birkenhead on the score to the bound-for-Broadway The Flamingo Kid.

Stephen Lawrence (Composer) Stephen Lawrence has composed numerous award-winning songs and scores, including over 100 songs for Sesame Street, and has won three Emmy awards for the series in Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition. He composed Free to Be… You and Me and many other songs from the landmark children’s album and Emmy Award-winning television special of the same name. Stephen also composed the top ten single, You Take My Breath Away, and has been awarded three Gold Records.

Melissa Manchester (Composer) Melissa Manchester starred in national tours of Music Of The Night and Song and Dance and created the role of Maddy on the series Blossom. Awards: Grammy for best female vocalist (1982). Nominations: two Academy Award nominations (1980, Oscar record for a recording artist), Grammy (1980). Composer for The Great Mouse Detective, Lady And The Tramp II and the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love. Presented the Governor’s Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1997.

Amanda McBroom (Lyricist) Amanda’s song, The Rose, for Bette Midler hit number one in 1979 and brought her a Golden Globe Award and a Grammy nomination. Broadway: Seesaw. Off Broadway: A Woman of Will. Other theater: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well, Heartbeats. TV: songs for Cop Rock, lyrics for Land Before Time parts III through XIII, Hercules and Zena, The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, An American Tale Part II and Balto II, Wolf Quest.

Pam Tillis (Composer, Lyricist) Pam Tillis is a three-time Grammy Award winning Country Music Star and was the 1994 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. Pam has sold over 7 million records including 13 top ten hits, six of which went straight to number one. Pam also starred on Broadway in Smokey Joe’s Cafe and had recurring roles in TV’s Diagnosis Murder and Promise Land. Pam was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000 and is releasing a new album in 2007 titled Rhinestoned.

Sharon Vaughn (Lyricist) Sharon Vaughn’s first recorded composition, The Oakridge Boys’ Y’all Come Back Saloon was number one on the national charts, followed soon by Willie Nelson’s #1 Oscar nominated track My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. She has subsequently written numerous number ones and top ten recordings for Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood. Nominations: CMA Awards, Grammys, the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

Rob Bartlett (Additional Material) A writer/performer on the Imus in the Morning radio and television program, Rob returns for his fourth stint as Amos. He made his Broadway debut as author and star of More to Love; other Broadway credits include Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, Herman in Sweet Charity and Speed in the recent revival of The Odd Couple. Off- Broadway: Tabletop (Drama Desk Award) and City Center Encores! He has headlined in Las Vegas as a standup comedian and seen on television as Milton Schoenfeld in Law and Order: SVU and the Emmy-winning Rob Bartlett’s Not for Profit TV Special.

Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Director/ Choreographer) A Denver native, Lynne Taylor-Corbett has been nominated for two Tony awards and a Drama Desk award for Broadway’s Swing! Off-Broadway, she directed Theda Bara and the Frontier Rabbi, Boy’s Breath, Mona Rogers in Person, Women on the Verge and Asking For It. Last year, she directed Disney’s Lion King in Hong Kong. She has choreographed feature films including Footloose, My Blue Heaven and Bewitched and has done commissions for New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, among others. She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and proud mother of Shaun Taylor-Corbett who is presently in Altar Boyz playing Off Broadway.

Christa Capone (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be working along side Lynne Taylor-Corbett with such a remarkable cast. After performing the role of the bride in Ms. Taylor-Corbett's presentation of Deep Song, she went on to assist her on Flight of The Lawnchair Man. Last summer Christa appeared as Louise in Carousel at the Pittsburgh CLO. She also created the role of Mora in the original workshop of Stolen at the Ensemble Studio Theater. Christa recently finished filming Disney's new film ENCHANTED.

Steven M. Alper (Music Director, Dance, Vocal and Music Arranger) Steven M. Alper composed the score for The Immigrant, which was produced at Denver Center in 2002, and which was recorded on Ghostlight Records. Other musicals include Men & Angels (NAMT grant) and The Library (NEA grant). He composed incidental scores for the theatre, film and television commercials, and award-winning educational musicals (with Karen DeMauro). He is the author of Next! Auditioning for the Musical Theatre. He has worked in theatres around the country as conductor, musical director, vocal arranger and orchestrator.

Larry Blank (Orchestrations) The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Nom.), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, White Christmas, Dr. Dolittle, La Cage aux Folles, The Producers (Broadway, London), Guys and Dolls (London), Roman Holiday, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beautiful and the Damned (London), Seussical (tour) and White Tie and Tails. Films: Chicago, The Producers, eleven films for Marc Shaiman. Rec/concert: Barbra Streisand, Barbara Cook, Michael Crawford, John Barrowman, Michael Feinstein, Barry Manilow, Bernadette Peters, Martin Short, Tommy Tune, Nathan Lane, Rod Gilfry and Marilyn Horne. Larry often guest conducts many of the symphony orchestras in the U.S. and around the world.

Peter Myers (Orchestrations) Credits include: Film, The Wiz, Fist: The Seduction of Joe Tynan, The Formula, Private Benjamin, For Your Eyes Only, Unmarried Women, Rocky III, The Big Fix, A Man Woman & Bank Variety Television, Carol Burnett, Sonny & Cher, Captain and Tennile, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Emmys. Dramatic Television: Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Love Boat, Diagnosis Murder, The Colby’s, Father Dowling, Murder She Wrote, Jake & the Fatman, Fall Guy, Happy Days, Emerald Point, Voyagers, Tiny Toons.

Narelle Sissons (Scenery) Broadway: All My Sons at The Roundabout. Off Broadway: How I Learned To Drive, original production. Stop Kiss, In The Blood, Kit Marlowe and Julius Caesar, Public Theatre. Recently in NYC: Classic Stage Company, The Women’s Project, Soho Rep, Playwrights Horizons and New York Theatre Workshop. Recent international: Our Lady of 121st Street, Jesus Hopped the A Train, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman in London and NYC, MabouMines Doll House, directed by Lee Breuer, World Tour. Syringa Tree, Vienna and Germany. Awards and nominations: Drama Desk, Helen Hayes, American Theatre Wing and Back Stage West Award.

Jason Kantrowitz (Lighting Designer) Jason Kantrowitz’s eclectic career includes Broadway and NYC productions of Dame Edna-The Royal Tour, Tru, Starmites, The Syringa Tree, Ministry of Progress, The Radio City Hall Christmas Spectacular. National tours of The Phantom of the Opera (Associate Designer), Stars On Ice. International productions of The Producers, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Syringa Tree (Royal National Theatre). Also, the Las Vegas spectacular Jubilee!; Disney attractions Fantasmic!, Playhouse Disney Live, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Festival of the Lion King; and Busch Entertainment’s Emerald Beat, Kinetix and Journey to Atlantis.

Judanna Lynn (Costume Designer) Judana has designed costumes for many of the major ballet companies in the US, most recently the San Francisco, Pennsylvania, Washington and Milwaukee Ballets, as well as Alvin Ailey, David Parsons, and three of Houston Ballet’s most lavishly praised productions, Don Quixote, Dracula, and Cleopatra. Theatre credits include Tin Pan Alley Rag (Cleveland Play House) and Tintypes (Hartford Stage/Old Globe Theatre), both directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett; Once On This Island for the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre and Lyle for Charles Strouse at ESIPA.

Ben Neafus (Sound Designer/ Production Manager) Ben Neafus has been in the technical world of theatre his entire life. He has been with the New Denver Civic Theatre and Sibling Entertainment since the openings in April of 2003. His most resent productions include: Toyz, Suddenly Hope, Cookin at the Cookery, Brooklyn, Menopause the Musical, Passion Play of Denver, Abraham the Blue Grass Musical, Newsical the Musical and Defending the Caveman.

Eric Wright (Puppet Design) Young Eric Wright’s design and construction credits include: Amadeus, Hiroshima Maiden, The Snow Queen and Animal Farm: the Musical. Puppetry performances include: Hiroshima Maiden, Savage Nursery, Don’t Trust Anyone Over Thirty, What’s Inside the Egg and La Bella Dormente. He can also be seen as Shades and Harry in SeeMore’s Playhouse on PBS and in the Metropolitan Opera’s current production of Madama Butterfly. He is only just beginning...

Carol Hanzel Casting (Casting) Broadway: Swing! Sally Marr and Her Escorts. First National: Swing! Off-Broadway: Dr. Sex, Escape from Pterodactyl Island, Breathe, Theda Bara and the Frontier Rabbi, Trophies, Identical Twins from Baltimore. Regional: The Shape of Things, Flight of the Lawnchair Man, Mandela!, The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Lizzie Borden, I Love You,… Now Change. TV: Hi-5, The Wonder Pets, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, Globe Trekker. Film: A Very Serious Person… and over 2,500 television and radio commercials.

Cindi Rush Casting, LTD (Casting) NY: Jacques Brel, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks, The Thing About Men, Showtune, I Sing, Urinetown, Say Goodnight Gracie. Regional: Triad Stage, Northern Stage Company, Cape Cod Theatre Project. Maltz Jupiter, Fla. NOHO Arts Center, LA. Film: The Girl Next Door, The Chain, Headspace, Funny Valentine, Master Class. London: Jailhouse Rock. Upcoming: The Irish Curse (off Broadway Spring 2006). Casting Society of America Member, Consultant for National Alliance For Musical Theatres, Consultant for NYU Graduate Program for Musical Theatre Writing.

Brent Peek (General Manager) Brent Peek has spent more than thirty-five years in New York theatre as a producer, general manager, theatre operator, production manager and production supervisor. This season he is represented by Shout! The Mod Musical, which he produces and general manages. He has produced and co-produced Menopause the Musical, Epic Proportions, The Gorey Details, Oblivion Postponed, Abyssinia, Stand-Up Tragedy, Balm in Gilead, The Golden Age and Quartermaine’s Terms. He has been associated with such Broadway productions as Equus, Gin Game, The Elephant Man, Mornings at Seven, Nicholas Nickleby, Amadeus, The Dresser, Piaf and Mass Appeal. In addition, he has been the general manager for over fifty productions on and off-Broadway, including Once Around the Sun, Getting and Spending, Jackie: An American Life (London and NYC), After-Play, Three Tall Women, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shakespeare for My Father.

Pamela Edington (Production Stage Manager) Broadway/ Production tours: Coastal Disturbances, Spoils of War, Prelude to a Kiss, Family Secrets, The Weir, The Irish...and How They Got That Way, Three Mo’ Tenors (also taped for PBS). Recent credits include: Camille (Bard’s SummerFest); The Public Theatre’s workshop presentation of King Lear, starring Kevin Kline and directed by James Lapine; NYC revival of Sherry Glaser’s Family Secrets. This project is “Lucky 6” stage managing for Ms. Taylor-Corbett.

A. Phoebe Sacks (Stage Manager) A Colorado native, Phoebe Sacks is pleased to be serving as stage manager for the world premiere of HATS! Previous credits include Menopause The Musical (DCT), Lobby Hero, The Syringa Tree (Lizard Head Theatre Company), Lobby Hero, Visiting Mr. Green, Copenhagen, King Hedley II, The Lonesome West, Almost Heaven - world premiere, The Immigrant - world premiere, Dinner with Friends (Denver Center Theatre Co.). She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity.

Hats Denver LLC (Producer) This entity was formed to produce the world premiere of HATS! at the Denver Civic Theatre. Its sole managing member is Hats Holdings, Inc. a company formed by Sibling Theatricals, Inc. to manage and license HATS! worldwide.

The Red Hat Society is a network of women from all walks of life dedicated to showing the world that there is fun after 50. Its mission is to gain higher visibility for women and to reshape the way they are viewed by today’s culture. Formed eight years ago, the Society has upwards of 40,000 chapters in all 50 states and 30+ countries, creating a worldwide sisterhood intent on touching and enriching the lives of its members. What a thrill! The Red Hat Society has inspired an original, enchanting musical based on our premise of fun and friendship after the age of 50! Now the whole world will have the opportunity to enjoy and embrace our message that life can be vibrant, full, and rewarding, regardless of one’s age. Join the fun, there’s only one!

Sibling Theatricals, Inc. (Producer) Sibling Theatricals, Inc. is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc., a public company, formed to present live theatrical entertainment worldwide. It is proud to announce that it is in development of an original Broadway musical based on Jerry Lewis’ book Dean & Me, A Love Story. Its principals, siblings Mitchell and Victoria Maxwell, Jay Cardwell and Richard Bernstein, have produced over 35 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and five feature films. Their productions have received Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Obie Awards as well as the Pulitzer Prize. They include the Broadway revival of Damn Yankees which marked the Broadway debut of Jerry Lewis; the Off-Broadway hit Dinner With Friends (winner of the Pulitzer Prize); the motion pictures and live Off-Broadway productions of both Jeffrey and Key Exchange; Stomp, currently celebrating its 11th smash year; Once Around The Sun and the Broadway musical Brooklyn.

Mechanic Street Productions, Inc. (Associate Producer) This New Jersey-based production company has a focus on independent film and theatre. Mechanic’s executives, Tom Gallo and Brendan Rempel, bring their extensive financial backgrounds from careers on Wall Street to the entertainment business. HATS! is the duo’s first foray into theatre and they currently have multiple projects in development.

George E. Moredock III (DCT Executive Director) For the past 40 years, george has been inside a theatre as artistic director, managing director, actor, stage manager, director, lighting designer and (most importantly) a stagehand... and is thrilled to be a part of this exciting young theatre. He wishes everyone a huge success with HATS! and thanks the Maxwells for their continued friendship.

Gary L. Miller (DCT General Manager) Gary is in his fourth year as the General Manager of the New Denver Civic Theatre. He was the Production Manager for the production of Brooklyn, The Musical and also the Production Stage Manager for Suddenly Hope and Cookin’ at The Cookery at the Denver Civic Theatre. Gary was the Production Manager/ Production Stage Manager for The Garner Galleria Theatre, a Division of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. His shows there included Forever Plaid, Forbidden Broadway, The World Goes ‘Round, Forever Plaid (II), Always... Patsy Cline, Swingtime Canteen and I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change – and has been associated with the DCPA since 1978. He was the Production Manager and Production Stage Manager for Center Attractions production of I Love A Piano. Gary also served as Production Manager for the world premiere of the new musical, Dorian, which opened at The Buell Theatre.

Richard J. Bernstein (DCT President) A veteran of the entertainment industry for over 20 years, Richard has enjoyed success as an artist manager, agent, record producer and a theatrical stage producer — as well as owner of several venues and night clubs. He has worked with superstars Linda Ronstadt, Steve Martin, Englebert Humperdinck, Dolly Parton, Joan Rivers, Don Rickles, Sam Harris, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Elliot Gould, Sister Sledge, Cliff Richard, Roy Clark, Tim Weisberg, to name a few. Richard has received numerous Grammy Awards nominations for his productions of national recording artists. Currently, Richard serves as President of Bernstein Entertainment Corporations, The New Denver Civic Theatre, is a voting member of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/Grammy Awards, a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Richard has been associated with Sibling Entertainment, Mitchell and Victoria Maxwell for over the past eight years.