Carnivals

Two blog carnivals provided links to my post called "Is 'Income Inequality' a Legitimate Worry?":

The first is the Carnival of the Capitalists, hosted by Mighty Bargain Hunter, was posted very early on Monday morning. Next week, TamsPalm will host this carnival.

The second is this week's Virginia Blog Carnival also featured the piece, with a special "Super Bowl" edition hosted by Cathouse Chat. Look next at The Right-Wing Liberal to find this carnival.

It's also worth mentioning that the Carnival of the Mundane, which I hosted here on December 22, is up this week at No Pasa Nada.

Speaking of carnivals, the Kennedy Center is about to open a new production of the musical play, Carnival!, which was originally presented by impresario David Merrick when it opened on Broadway almost fifty years ago. Here's the text of the press release from the Kennedy Center:

WASHINGTON, DC - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents its new production of Carnival! in the Eisenhower Theater February 17 – March 11, 2007. With book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Bob Merrill, the musical is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom and stars Ereni Sevasti as Lili, Jim Stanek as Paul, Sebastian La Cause as Marco and Natascia Diaz as Rosalie. Opening night will take place Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 7:30pm.

Based on a 1953 MGM motion picture Lili, Carnival! tells the story of Lili - a girl from an isolated village in France who joins the traveling Grande Imperial Cirque de Paris. Falling for the troupe's manipulative magician, she also enchants a disillusioned puppeteer, who can only show his love through his whimsical creations.

Winner of two 1962 Tony Awards®, Carnival! features music and lyrics by Bob Merrill, book by Michael Stewart based on material from Helen Deutsch and was originally directed and choreographed by Gower Champion. The musical made its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre on April 13, 1961 and closed January 5, 1963 after 719 performances. Carnival! starred Broadway newcomer Anna Maria Alberghetti, who won the Tony Award® for Best Actress as Lili; Jerry Orbach, who made his Broadway debut as Paul; James Mitchell as Marco and Kaye Ballard as Rosalie. Will Steven Armstrong was also awarded the Tony® for Best Scenic Design.

Five time Tony® nominee Bob Merrill (Composer and Lyricist) wrote the music and lyrics for Take Me Along, New Girl in Town, and Henry Sweet Henry and the lyrics for Sugar and Funny Girl. Merrill died in 1998.

Michael Stewart (Author) scored on Broadway the first time out when he won a Tony® for his Bye Bye Birdie libretto. Subsequently he was the librettist for Carnival!, and for Hello, Dolly!, which won two Tony Awards®. He also wrote the books for George M!, Mack & Mabel, The Grand Tour, and 42nd Street, both book and lyrics for I Love My Wife, and lyrics for Barnum. Mr. Stewart died in 1987.

Book revisions for the Kennedy Center production have are by Stewart’s sister, Francine Pascal, who created the Sweet Valley High series of books that has sold over one hundred fifty million copies worldwide. Pascal also worked on the revision of Mack & Mabel which played at the Goodspeed Opera House in 2004 and the Criterion in London in 2006.

In the tradition of casting a new find in the musical’s pivotal role, the Kennedy Center will present Ereni Sevasti as Lili. A New Jersey native, Sevasti has performed in The Sound of Music at Paper Mill Playhouse, and The Magic Flute at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She has also appeared in various productions at McCarter Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall, George Street Playhouse and PNC Arts Center.

Jim Stanek (Paul) has been seen on Broadway in Lestat, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, The Rivals, Little Women, and Indiscretions as well as the off-Broadway and regional productions I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Captain’s Courageous, My Fair Lady (McCarter), Threepenny Opera (Williamstown), Three Musketeers (San Jose), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (La Jolla). Along with television roles in Adversaries and Guiding Light, Stanek also appeared in the movie Borough of Kings. Stanek was most recently seen Off Broadway in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

Sebastian La Cause (Marco) has been seen on Broadway as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show and in Minnelli on Minnelli, Once Upon A Mattress, and Chicago. In addition to roles in television’s All My Children, One Life to Live, and As the World Turns, he has made appearances in such movies as Chicago, Boogie Nights, Scream II, Eraser, Showgirls, and award winning short Penny Dreadful. He made his District debut in She Loves Me at Arena Stage in November.

On Broadway, Natascia Diaz (Rosalie) has performed roles in Man of La Mancha, Seussical, The Capeman, and Carousel. Along with her Off-Broadway roles in tick, tick...BOOM!, Saturday Night, and Bright Lights, Big City, Diaz’s television credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Jury, Law & Order, Oz and Leonardo da Vinci: A Dream in Flight. Diaz made her Kennedy Center debut in A Little Night Music in the Center’s Sondheim Festival in 2002 and was most recently seen Off Broadway in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

Michael Arnold (Jacquot) has been seen on Broadway in productions of Jumpers, 42nd Street, Kiss Me Kate, Little Me, Cabaret, Chicago, The Who’s Tommy, and Cats. He has toured with The Who’s Tommy and Martin Guerre and is the recipient of an Astaire Award for his work with 42nd Street.

Johnathan Lee Iverson (Schlegel) began his career singing with the Boys Choir of Harlem and later became the first African American ringmaster at the age of 22 when he joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

On Broadway, Robert Longbottom has directed and choreographed Anything Goes, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Side Show and Flower Drum Song, for which he was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award® for Best Choreography. On stage, he appeared in the original Broadway productions of 42nd Street, Me and My Girl, the revival of Little Johnny Jones, and the national and international tours of Oklahoma! and A Chorus Line. Longbottom directed the Kennedy Center production of Mister Roberts in 2005.

The new Kennedy Center production will feature an award-winning design team, including sets by Andrew Jackness, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Ken Billington, puppets by Edward Christie and magic by Joe Eddie Fairchild. David Chase is Music Director and Robert Billig is Associate Music Director and Conductor.

TICKET INFORMATION
Performances for Carnival! will run Tuesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 PM with matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 PM. Tickets from $25 to $90 are on sale now and are available for purchase at the Kennedy Center box office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324.

Theater at the Kennedy Center is presented with the generous support of Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.

For more information, please visit the Kennedy Center website at www.kennedy-center.org.

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