THE LEGACY THEATRE 2 21 SEASON May 28: BROADWAY SPOTLIGHT CONCERT DEBBIE GRAVITTE 1 130 Shore Dr. Branford, CT 06405 (203) 315-0005 rossovino.net A Proud Supporter of Legacy Theatre Broadway bEATS 2 Who’s Who DEBBIE GRAVITTE Tony Award Skitch Henderson, Atlanta Symphony, Winner Debbie Gravitte (Jerome Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Robbin’s Broadway), one of Broadway’s Symphony, Utah Symphony, St. Louis, biggest personalities, has found herself Houston, Dallas and San Diego in demand from the Broadway Stage Symphonies. Overseas, Debbie has sung to the concert stage and beyond. with the Moscow, London, Aalborg and After making her Broadway debut Birmingham Symphony Orchestras, in the original cast of They’re Playing Stockholm Philharmonic, the Our Song, she went on to appear in Gotesborg and Jerusalem Symphonies, Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Award Munich Philharmonic, the Royal Nomination), Blues in the Night, Ain’t Scottish National Orchestra, Orchestra Broadway Grand, Zorba, Chicago and Massimo del Palermo and Symphonica Les Miserables. Debbie has been seen of Brazil, Bilbao Phil, along with The in the Encores series productions of Malaysian Philharmonic. On television, The Boys from Syracuse, Tenderloin and Debbie co-starred on the CBS series Carnival at New York’s City Center. Trial and Error, was seen on NBC’S She has appeared as Reno Sweeney in Pursuit of Happiness, and has starred in Anything Goes, Love Life at the Walnut several specials for PBS, including Live St. Theatre, Red, Hot and Blue at the from The Kennedy Center, The Boston Papermill Playhouse and the West Pops Celebrate Bernstein, Rodgers and Coast Premiere of The Goodbye Girl. Hart for Great Performances, and Ira Debbie has performed her nightclub act Gershwin’s 100th Birthday Celebration. worldwide, from New York’s Rainbow Debbie has four solo CDs to her credit, and Stars, 54 Below and Birdland to including her latest release, Big Band London’s Pizza on the Park, and back Broadway, along with Defying Gravity, home again to Atlantic City, where The M-G-M Albumand Part of Your she’s had the honor of performing with World: The Music of Alan Menken. Her Jay Leon, Harry Anderson and the other recordings include Calamity legendary George Burns. A favorite with Jane, Unsung Sondheim, Lucky Stiff, Symphony audiences, she has sung with Miss Spectacular, Louisiana Purchase, A over 175 Orchestras around the world. Broadway Christmas, as well as Mack and She has toured with Keith Lockhart and Mable in Concert: Live from the Drury the Boston Pops, appeared with Lang Lane Theatre among others. Debbie has Lang and the Chinese Philharmonic in sung with the New York City Ballet in Beijing, along with Peter Nero and the Peter Martin’s Thou Swell at Lincoln Philly Pops, The National Symphony Center, appeared with Bette Midler in Orchestra (with Marvin Hamlish), the Universal feature Isn’t She Great?, The NY Pops with the legendary and can be heard as one of the voices 3 Who’s Who in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Debbie and wonderful new recording called is the proud mother of three beautiful Big Band Broadway! It is available and children. www.debbiegravitte.com spectacular! In ‘07 Russ appeared as featured guest on Marian McPartland’s RUSS KASSOFF (Musical Director) is Piano Jazz-NPR following the an accomplished jazz pianist, conductor, release of his critically acclaimed CD music director, composer, orchestrator, Somewhere. Russ has accompanied and/ and arranger, whose varied talents are or recorded with: Perry Como, Dean much valued and on display in the Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Vic Damone, music world. Russ toured as pianist to Carly Simon, Debbie Gravitte, Luciano Frank Sinatra by request from ‘80-’91 Pavarotti, Tierney Sutton, Marilyn including “The Ultimate Event Tour” Maye, Tony Danza, Rebecca Luker, (‘88-’89) featuring Sinatra, Sammy Red Norvo, Chris Connor, Mimi Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Liza Hines, Rod Stewart and Sylvia Syms Minnelli with whom he also toured -- a wonderfully eclectic and grateful for 18 years (‘82-’01). On Broadway career. In the jazz world he has enjoyed he was MD/Conductor for Twyla a 35 + year association with the late Jazz Tharp’s Come Fly Away (2010) and Guitar master Bucky Pizzarelli. His CD was conductor/pianist for Charles Bird Fly By achieved #1 status in 2010 Aznavour in concert (’98). Since 2003 on the Jazz channel Music Choice. he has served as music director to Rita Russ hosts “The Jazz Deli” – streaming Moreno and in 2018 MD for Eddie on WFDU.FM - “listen to HD2” Brigati: After The Rascals, a monthly Saturday mornings 10AM-Noon! residence at The Cutting Room in “You are the best.” - Frank Sinatra, NYC. In July Russ will be returning for ‘87. www.russkassoff.com - check out a very special engagement as one of five the Celebrity Deli Wall of Fame! And music directors for a fourth year with www.facebook.com/russ.kassoff.1 Michael Feinstein’s virtual American Songbook Academy, a showcase for the JAMIE BURNETT (Set & Lighting finest and most talented high school Designer) is a Founding member of students in the country. He is looking The Elm Shakespeare Company. The forward to a triumphant annual return Summer of 2019s production of Love’s to Bryant Park as Pianist in the Park Labour’s Lost was his 23rd Season with the week of July 26, 2021. In 2017, the illustrious company. As resident Russ went into the recording studio as Set and Lighting Designer for the Elm Pianist/Conductor/Arranger for Tony Shakespeare Company he designed Award winner Debbie Gravitte and the lighting for every production for the Russ Kassoff Big Band, for an exciting past 23 years. He has designed sets 4 Who’s Who for almost every production till 2009. involving specialized lighting. His latest International Festival of Arts and ideas Projects include Branford High school 2018, Lighting design: Requiem for and Theater, Fairfield Community Theater, Electric Chair, 2017 Never Stand Still, Southington High School Theater and Iseman Theater. Collective Conciousness This very Theater as consultant and Theater company: Lighting Design. Lighting and rigging Systems design Skeleton Crew, Rasheeda Speaking, and installation. He is a 2005 recipient Jesus Hopped the A Train, Sunset Baby, of the New Haven Arts Award. Top Dog Underdog. Also designed the past 4 seasons. SCSU shows include LOUIS IGOE (Sound Engineer) is lighting design for Stop Kiss, Much Ado happy to be joining us for the opening about Nothing, The Boyfriend and Our season of The Legacy! He has been Country’s Good. Sacred Heart University: the head sound engineer on several In The Heights, Jesus Christ Superstar. Broadway shows (Tootsie, Beautiful, The past few years he has lit the main Nice Work..) and is glad to see you, the hall in the New Haven Armory with audience, in the seats! Thanks to Cat artistic lighting for the Citywide Open and Sandy. Studios events serving the unique art installations there. With Projects for KEELY BAISDEN KNUDSEN a New Millennium, he was Designer (Artistic Director & Co-Founder) An for the Stamford Train Station Façade award winning director, Keely has Lighting. Producer/Lighting Designer/ performed, directed, and choreographed Production Manager for 2014 hit internationally in plays, musicals, Terra Tractus (The Earth Moves), Also operas, and dance companies in (2005) Terra Mirabila, (2001) Terra hundreds of theatrical productions Lumina and Terra Continuum (1999) and has performed in 48 of the United the grand multimedia extravaganzas all States and in the UK. Realizing her performed in the Stony Creek Granite vision of a new theater company on Quarry. He also designed PNM’s the Connecticut Shoreline, Keely’s Branford Luminata (2010) lighting ideals of inspiring, inclusive work that the town hall on the Branford Green. uplifts the human spirit and connects He is a consultant, Lighting and Set communities formalized in the creation designer, special events planner, and of the Legacy Theatre with Co- film/video Gaffer as well as a licensed Founder Stephanie Stiefel Williams, a electrical contractor. His company, performing colleague and dear friend. Luminous Environments, specializes Keely has directed, choreographed, in Theater and TV Studio Renovations and taught a myriad of performing and site-specific public art installations arts courses at such institutions as 5 Who’s Who Quinnipiac University, Yale University, as a professional performer in musicals, Fairfield University, Hartt School of concerts, and plays throughout the Drama, Southern Connecticut State Northeast. As Miss Connecticut, University, Westminster College, and she represented the state at the Miss was the Director of Education of New America Pageant in Atlantic City. In Haven’s acclaimed Elm Shakespeare addition to her position on Legacy’s Company for several years. Additionally Board, Stephanie is a member of the a composer/lyricist and playwright, Board of Trustees at the Goodspeed she is currently collaborating on two Opera House and the Performing Arts musicals and is a member of ASCAP. Advisory Council at the University of Her directing has been heralded by Notre Dame. She has become involved the Arts Paper as “…visually striking, on a producing level with productions emotionally moving” and “captivating” of Gypsy and Showboat in London’s and of her direction of Hamlet it West End, the recent award-winning was said, “Knudsen has made the revival of Sweeney Todd in New York, notoriously difficult Shakespeareanand Broadway’s Escape to Margaritaville. language accessible.” Her creation of A former attorney, she received her the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe has juris doctorate with honors from the been an especially rewarding program University of Connecticut School of as she acts and directs with those Law. who ambulate with crutches and wheelchairs. Her BFA is from New GINA MARCANTONIO York University’s Tisch School of the (Development Director) is the Arts, at which she graduated first in Immediate-Past President of the the class, and she received her Masters Association of Fundraising Professionals Degree in Drama on full scholarship (AFP), Connecticut Chapter and a from The Royal Scottish Academy of seasoned fund development professional Music and Drama in Glasgow.