Tony Sheldon, who earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance as the drag goddess Bernadette in the 2011 musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert, plays the role of the patrician Sir in Goodspeed Musicals' revival of the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint鈥擳he Smell of the Crowd.
The production runs May 20 鈥揓une 26 at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT.
Also in the cast: Caesar Samayoa as Cocky, Michelle Aravena as The Kid and Gregory Treco as The Stranger.
The musical allegory imagined mid-1960s Great Britain as a circus with the working-class Cocky as a perpetual clown, and the upper-class Sir as an imperious ringmaster. However, this production is directed by Don Stephenson, who plans 鈥漚n arresting new version鈥� set in 鈥渁 world turned upside-down.鈥�
The book and score by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley included several songs that became standards, including 鈥淲ho Can I Turn To?,鈥� 鈥淎 Wonderful Day Like Today鈥� and 鈥淔eeling Good鈥� (currently heard in a commercial for Volvo XC9 cars).
Here are scenes from rehearsals:
Newley played Cocky on Broadway opposite Cyril Ritchard as Sir. The show was a follow up to Bricusse and Newley's 1961 hit musical Stop the World鈥擨 Want To Get Off.
Choreography is by Liza Gennaro. The show also has set design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Tony Award winner Goldstein, lighting design by Stephen Terry and music supervision by Michael O'Flaherty.
Tickets are available through the Goodspeed Box Office (860) 873-8668 or at
Coming up at the Norma Terris Theatre will be a new musical, A Sign of the Times, featuring the songs made famous by British singer 鈥渁nd other hit-makers of the day,鈥� July 28鈥揝eptember 4. The show has an original story by Richard Robin and an original book by comedy writer .
(Updated May 20)
