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Our Town |
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Stray from the Heart would like to thank the Transport Group for inviting Stray from the Heart's wonderful furry friends to be showcased onstage during each intermission of their upcoming performances of "Our Town" at the Connelly Theatre in New York City. The production stared Broadway veterans Tom Ligon ("Paint Your Wagon" 1969 (with Clint Eastwood), "Bang the Drum Slowly," Broadway's "Angela" (with Geraldine Paige)) and Barbara Andres (Recently seen in "Cabaret" as Fraulein Schneider).
There was a different dog showcased during each performance. We hope you saw them all! This was a limited engagement only, February 9 thru March 3, 2002. (please see details below) If you did not make this great event, you can still help support Stray from the Heart with an online donation. It's quick, secure & tax-deductible! We hope you had a great time!
As you may or may not know, Transport Group started way back in 1993 when a group of seventeen artists were admitted to the University of Virginia's Masters in Fine Arts program. They studied for three years in an intensive arts environment until they graduated in 1996. The majority of the artists involved in the "pilot" program moved to New York City. In short, this group became tightly woven -- sibling-like -- because of their shared experiences at UVA and with New York City life. After eight years of collaboration and life experience, this group of UVA family have created a New York theatre company entitled Transport Group. While in graduate school, Jack Cummings III (an MFA directing candidate) developed an idea for the classic play, "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder. He contemplated casting the play with two elderly actors (instead of the classic 20-somethings that typically star) and a young 12 year old girl as the Stage Manager (typically cast with someone like Henry Fonda, for example). Jack was finally able to test his vision in 1999 at The Lark Theatre Company in New York for a holiday benefit performance. The response was overwhelming. The Lark asked Jack to return in 2000 for a repeat performance of "Our Town." This time Mr. Cummings had an original underscore composed for the piece (by Mary Mitchell-Campbell) with live piano, cello and vocal accompaniment. The response again surpassed expectations. Jack Cummings III and Robyn Hussa decided to form Transport Group in January 2001 after collaborating on over a dozen productions spanning almost a decade of their lives. On October 15, 2001, they launched their company with "Gimme a Break" -- a benefit where 33 Broadway stars (Malcom Getz, Rita Gardner, Barbara Walsh, Chip Zien and Vianne Cox, to name a few) sang the songs that made them famous in front of an audience of 300. Nancy Rosati of "Talkin' Broadway" summed up the evening when she wrote: "Last night, Transport Group presented its first, and hopefully not its last, fund-raising benefit. Almost 300 people attended the event at 45 Bleecker Street, entitled "Gimme A Break." Co-founders Jack Cummings III and Robyn Hussa kicked off the event by inviting everyone to their inaugural production of "Our Town" in February, and then introduced the night's host, Bryan Batt. . . Bryan summed up the evening well by saying, "It's like the history of musical theatre before your very eyes." . . . The next time Transport Group has a benefit, they're going to have to book a much larger theatre, because no one will want to miss it." As a result, Transport Group is proud to announce that "Gimme A Break" will be an annual fall event. We are also proud to announce that on February 9, 2002 Transport Group is mounting their requested production of "Our Town" for a limited engagement at the Connelly Theatre in New York City. The production stars Broadway veterans Tom Ligon ("Paint Your Wagon" 1969 (with Clint Eastwood), "Bang the Drum Slowly," Broadway's "Angela" (w/Geraldine Paige)) and Barbara Andres (Recently seen in "Cabaret" as Fraulein Schneider. Other B'way credits include "A Delicate Balance," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and "On Golden Pond") and employs over 14 UVA "siblings" who have shared in almost decade of collaboration. For more information and ticket reservations, please visit www.smarttix.com and select "Our Town." Our press contacts are Joe Trentacosta and Michelle Moretta from Springer/Chicoine - 212-354-4660 or See you in February! Robyn Hussa |
