A deliriously delightful and genuinely funny love-letter to the old-fashioned backstage musical.
Tap dancer Dustin “Toes” MacGrath, and pianist Tristan “Fingers” St. Claire have managed to talk a major broadway producer into coming to see their show in two weeks: a boy meets girl tap dance spectacular on the theme of love.
But there’s a problem or two: first of all they haven’t written it yet ,secondly they don’t have a girl, and sadly, they have no idea whatsoever about love. The hyper romantic Fingers is still in the throes of a tragic break up which has left him creatively blocked, the smooth womanizer Toes has never allowed himself to feel any emotion lasting longer then a week or so. They enlist the brilliantly talented Molly Molloy to co-star and immediately sparks begin to fly both creatively and romantically.
Is Toes finally losing his heart? Is Fingers finally losing his mind? Molly too has her own secrets: she’s been seeing a mystery lover. Could it be their producer? As the deadline fast approaches everything becomes swept up in a series of dazzling numbers and comical scenes as their theme “Love” begins to derail the show.
A brand new work from Logan Medland, this entertaining production sizzles with exhilarating music, delightful witticisms, and high-energy tap routines that evoke the magic of the Fred Astaire – Ginger Rogers era.
Presented in association with Lawrence D. Poster / Asparagus Entertainment LLC.
Originally presented in New York City in the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival; Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Director & Producer
Check out this feature from the 05/30/14 Fox61 Morning Show:
http://video.foxct.com/Fingers–Toes-At-Ivoryton-Playhouse–26196413?playlistId=12598#.U4jQMNq9KK1
Generously sponsored by:
Aaron Berk* (Tristan “Fingers” St. Claire) Aaron is thrilled to play Fingers again! He has toured the world in five productions of HAIR as Woof, five as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and one as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show. He has performed in dozens of shows in New York, including the Off-Broadway hit Shockheaded Peter. He is also a musical director, band member, director, vocal teacher/coach, yogi, lyricist, and composer. His most passionate and ongoing project is his band Eric and Aaron, which is all original indie pop-rock music. www.ericandaaron.com
Joyce Chittick* (Molly Molloy) Broadway- Roundabout Theatre’s productions of: Anything Goes (Erma), Pajama Game (Mae), and Cabaret (Frenchie, Astaire Award). Other Broadway: Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Grease (Assoc. Choreographer), Seussical, Once Upon A Mattress, Big, Tommy and Cats. Off-Broadway: Belle Epoche (Lincoln Center), The Wild Party (Manhattan Theater Club), and A Dybbuk (adapted by Tony Kushner, Public Theater). Regional: Dames at Sea (Joan, Bay Street), Mame (Agnes Gooch, Barrington Stages), Cinderella (Joy, North Shore), The Boyfriend (Julie Andrews Dir. Bay Street), performed with Spinal Tap at the Beacon Theater and originated Mary Delgado in the Las Vegas Company of Jersey Boys. Film/Television: Across The Universe, Virgin Alexander, The Leading Ladies of Broadway (PBS), and on-screen choreographer for Lifetime’s AUDC. Proudest production, daughter Lena, with husband Rick Faugno.
Rick Faugno* (Dustin “Toes” McGrath) Started performing professionally at the age of 12, when he made his Broadway debut in The Will Rogers Follies. He performed at Carnegie Hall, with The New York Pops, at 17. Other Broadway credits include: Conversations With My Father, Fosse, Wonderful Town and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He starred in Julie Andrews’ The Boy Friend as Bobby Van Husen, at Goodspeed Opera House and on the National Tour. Rick originated the role of Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys, winning the award for Best Singer. He also created 3 One Man Shows in Las Vegas, winning the award for Best Lounge Act. He has appeared on TV in: The Newsroom, America’s Got Talent, The Tony Awards and Live! with Regis and Kelly. He can be seen in the A Chorus Line documentary movie and in the film Virgin Alexander, for which he garnered Best Performance at the Orlando Film Festival. His album Songs My idols Sang (& Danced), is available on iTunes. Rick is very excited to be a part of Fingers & Toes with his wife, Joyce. His best work is his daughter, Lena.
Directed by: Robert Moss
Choreographer: David Wanstreet
Musical Director: Logan Medland
Stage Manager: Laura Gonzalez *
Set Design: Dan Nischan
Lighting Design: Marcus Abbott
Costume Design: Kari Crowther
Hair/Wig Design: Joel Silvestro
* member of Actors Equity
ROBERT MOSS ran the Edward Albee Playwrights Unit from 1970 to 1971. Then from 1971 to 1981 he simultaneously founded and ran Playwrights Horizons, The Queens Theater in the Park, and helped develop Theater Row on West 42nd Street. In 1982, he became the Artistic Director of the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca and ran it until he took over Syracuse Stage from 1996 to 2008. He served on the board of OOBA (now ART/NY) for five years and during the same time period sat on the Equity Showcase Code Committee. He has been a Board Member of the SDC Foundation, TCG, the Drama League Directors Project, and a panelist for both the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. His extensive directing contracts include LORT, SPT and University. His teaching credits include initiating the undergraduate directing program at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School (affiliated with NYU) and The Lab Company at the Hangar. Prior to all this, he culminated an active stage manager career as PSM with the touring APA Repertory Company in residence for four years in L.A., Toronto, Ann Arbor, and at the Lyceum on Broadway. Bob Moss is a member, and currently serves on the board of trustees of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical union.
PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS is a writer’s theater dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists, and to the production of their new work. Founded in 1971 by Robert Moss, the theater was located at the Clark Center Y, before moving to 42nd Street in 1974 where it has been instrumental in the revitalization of Theater Row.
In a city rich with cultural offerings, Playwrights Horizons 43 year-old mission is unique; they are the only major theater in New York with this specific mission. They have distinguished ourselves by the caliber of their work and their steadfast commitment to the voice of the American writer. It is a mission that is always timely, and it is essential to the future of the American theater.
Playwrights Horizons encourages the new work of veteran writers while nurturing an emerging generation of theater artists. Writers are supported through every stage of their growth with a series of development programs: script and score evaluations, commissions, readings, and musical theater workshops. They present six productions annually on our two stages, each of which is a World, American or New York premiere.
Playwrights Horizons has presented over 375 writers and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including a special 2008 Drama Desk Award for “ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work”.
Notable productions include five Pulitzer Prize winners—Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park (2012 Tony Award, Best Play); Doug Wright’s I Am My Own Wife (2004 Tony Award, Best Play); Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles (1989 Tony Award, Best Play); Alfred Uhry’s Driving Miss Daisy and Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park with George; Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation (three 2010 Obie Awards including Best New American Play); Kirsten Greenidge’s Milk Like Sugar (two 2012 Obie Awards); Dan LeFranc’s The Big Meal—as well as Gina Gionfriddo’s Rapture, Blister, Burn; Bathsheba Doran’s Kin; Adam Bock’s A Small Fire; Edward Albee’s Me, Myself & I; Melissa James Gibson’s This (2010 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist); Doug Wright, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie’s Grey Gardens (three 2007 Tony Awards); Craig Lucas’s Prayer for My Enemy and Small Tragedy (2004 Obie Award, Best American Play); Adam Rapp’s Kindness; Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone; Lynn Nottage’s Fabulation (2005 Obie Award for Playwriting) amongst many, many others.
In addition to th
eir artistic programming, they train over 150 undergraduate students through the Playwrights Horizons Theater School, in association with NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and welcome ten to twelve aspiring theater professionals into a rigorous Theatrical Residency Program. They also provide low-cost, state-of-the-art ticketing services to the Off-Broadway performing arts community through a Ticket Central box office and offer low- cost rehearsal and performance space.
André Bishop served as Artistic Director from 1981 to 1991, followed by Don Scardino who served through 1995. Tim Sanford was named Artistic Director in 1996.
http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/
Our thanks to Frank Rizzo “Behind The Curtain” writer at The Hartford Courant for this fascinating article and video interview featuring Fingers & Toes director Robert Moss. Follow this link to view the story:
http://www.ctnow.com/arts-theater/hc-fingers-and-toes-0601-20140601,0,3150245.story
Our thanks to Frank Rizzo “Behind The Curtain” writer at The Hartford Courant for this fascinating article and video interview featuring Fingers & Toes director Robert Moss. Follow this link to view the story:
http://www.ctnow.com/arts-theater/hc-fingers-and-toes-0601-20140601,0,3150245.story
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Check out this feature from the 05/30/14 Fox61 Morning Show:
http://video.foxct.com/Fingers–Toes-At-Ivoryton-Playhouse–26196413?playlistId=12598#.U4jQMNq9KK1
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Press Release
May 13, 2014
Fingers & Toes A Brand New Tap Comedy Musical By Logan Medland at The Ivoryton Playhouse
Aaron Berk*, Rick Faugno* and Joyce Chittick* star in “Fingers & Toes”
Ivoryton: A 1930’s tap dance spectacular that burst on to the New York Stage in 2010 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Fingers & Toes opens the summer season at the Ivoryton Playhouse. A brand new work from Logan Medland, this mighty, mini musical combines snappy dialogue, catchy tunes and some of the fanciest dancing you’ll see this year – high-energy tap routines that evoke the magic of the Fred Astaire – Ginger Rogers era. A deliriously delightful and genuinely funny love-letter to the old-fashioned backstage musical.
Tap dancer Dustin “Toes” MacGrath, and pianist Tristan “Fingers” St. Claire have managed to talk a major Broadway producer into coming to see their show in two weeks: a boy meets girl tap dance spectacular on the theme of love.
“Fingers & Toes” is open now and runs until June 22nd
But there’s a problem or two: first of all they haven’t written it yet, secondly they don’t have a girl, and sadly, they have no idea whatsoever about love. The hyper romantic Fingers is still in the throes of a tragic break up which has left him creatively blocked, the smooth womanizer Toes has never allowed himself to feel any emotion lasting longer than a week or so. They enlist the brilliantly talented Molly Molloy to co-star and immediately sparks begin to fly both creatively and romantically.
Starring Rick Faugno*, whose career has included such memorable shows as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Fosse, Wonderful Town, and Conversations with My Father on Broadway, as well as national tours of The Boy Friend, directed by Julie Andrews and Jersey Boys, in the critically acclaimed role of Frankie Valli. In 2009, Faugno was named ‘Best Singer in Las Vegas’ by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rick will be joined by his beautiful wife, Joyce Chittick*, whose Broadway credits include Sweet Charity, The Pajama Game and, most recently, Anything Goes; and indy musician Aaron Berk* as pianist “Fingers” St. Claire.
This show will tap its way into your heart! Don’t miss it!
Fingers & Toes opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse on June 4 and runs through June 22. Directed by Robert Moss, esteemed NY director and founder of Playwrights Horizons, choreographed by David Wanstreet and musical directed by Logan Medland; the set is designed by Dan Nischan, lights by Marcus Abbott and costumes by Kari Crowther.
Fingers & Toes opens in Ivoryton on June 4th and runs through June 22nd. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $42 for adults, $37 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information. Thursday evening tickets are half price at the door after 6pm. ) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Members of the press are welcome at any performance. Please call ahead for tickets.
* member Actors Equity
Generously sponsored by Comcast, The Safety Zone and the Shops at Saybrook Country Barn
Looking for something to do? Ivoryton Playhouse was voted Best Place to See Live Theatre by the readers of the Shoreline Times! Come and visit Essex and see a show at this Connecticut historic treasure!