Shakespeare's Wit Gets a Hippie-Era Twist in CCM's 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' Feb. 26-March 8

The Bard will be sporting bell-bottoms in the Tony Award-winning musical

Two Gentlemen of Verona

, the next production in the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s (CCM’s) 2008-09 Mainstage Series. The classic 70s rock musical genre receives a comedic boost from Shakespeare’s whimsy and wit.

Based on the playwright’s work of the same name,

Two Gentlemen of Verona

is a frothy celebration of young love, a hippie-era musical romp from the composer of

Hair

. Two best friends leave their small town behind to indulge in the big city’s hedonistic thrills. When a lovely young heiress catches both of their attentions, the boys engage in an outlandishly funny battle of one-upmanship.

Guest director and choreographer is CCM alumnus

Andrew Palermo

(‘95 BFA Musical Theater), who returns to CCM while on hiatus from dre.dance, the New York City-based contemporary dance company founded and directed by Palermo and childhood friend, Taye Diggs.

Palermo revels in his return to CCM. “What strikes me most about this production is the CCM cast, design and production team’s complete professionalism and attention to every detail,” he says. “I’ve performed in Broadway productions, at Carnegie Hall, around the country and the world. I’ve seldom seen such dedication and enthusiasm.”

Continues Palermo, “Working on this production reminds me of why we do what we love, exemplified by CCM’s brimming young student talent as well as its seasoned academic professionals.”

Two Gentlemen of Verona

will be performed in CCM’s Patricia Corbett Theater Feb. 26–March 8, 2009.

Please see below for complete ticket and performance information.

ARTIST INFORMATION

Andrew Palermo, guest director
Andrew Palermo is the co-artistic director of dre.dance, a contemporary dance company in New York City that he helms with childhood friend, Taye Diggs. Since its 2004 inception, dre.dance has garnered praise from the New York press calling the young company “powerful,” “athletic,” “gifted,” “passionate,” “propulsive,” “unexpected,” “weird,” “abstract” and “wonderful.” For more info, visit www.dredance.com.
 
Outside of dre.dance, Palermo’s New York stage choreography credits include Great Joy at New Amsterdam Theatre, Kristin Chenoweth at Carnegie Hall, Esther Demsack at The Public, Journey to the West at 37 Arts, New York City Festival of Dance 2005 featuring Idina Menzel, X’Posed/Jai Rodriquez at Hudson Theatre and 1969 A Year in Review at Douglas Fairbanks Theatre. Regional and university credits include ACE at The Old Globe, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Bright Lights, Big City at Prince Music Theatre, Aida at Music Theatre of Wichita, Man of La Mancha at Sacramento Music Circus, The Wild Party (Lippa) at Wichita State University and Hair (Director/ Choreographer) also at WSU.
 
Palermo’s performing highlights include original Broadway casts of Wicked and Annie Get Your Gun, and the Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He has toured nationally and internationally with West Side Story, and performed Off-Broadway in Michael John La Chiusa’s Little Fish. Other performing credits include Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl and numerous regional theaters.
 
For the camera, Palermo has choreographed for Tracey Ullman’s “State of the Union” (Showtime), Comedy Central’s “Stella,” the film “Holey Habits,” as well as commercials for G-Shock and The Showtime Network/Apple Computers.
 
Teaching credits include  instruction in modern, musical theater, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, lyrical, acting and audition techniques at CCM, University of Michigan, Pepperdine University, Wichita State University, SUNY Potsdam, Music Theater Italy, Rochester School of the Arts, Broadway Dance Center, The Edge P.A.C., Millennium Dance Complex, Dance New Amsterdam and numerous national conventions, studios and performing arts camps.
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University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
MAINSTAGE SERIES

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Music by Galt MacDermot
Lyrics by John Guare
Book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro
 
Andrew Palermo, guest director/choreographer
Roger Grodsky, musical director
 
Based on the Bard’s whimsical comedy, the Tony Award-winning 1971 rock musical Two Gentlemen of Verona is a frothy celebration of young love from the composer of Hair. Two best friends leave their small town behind to indulge in the big city’s hedonistic thrills. When a lovely young heiress catches both of their attentions, the boys engage in an outlandishly funny battle of one-upmanship.
 
Performance Dates:
Feb. 26–March 1, March 5–8, 2009
* Feb. 26 & 27, March 5 & 6 (Thurs. & Fri.): 8 p.m.
* Feb. 28 & March 7 (Sat.): 2:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
* March 1 & March 8 (Sun.): 2:30 p.m.
 
Location:
Patricia Corbett Theater, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
 
Admission:
$15–28
 
Tickets & Information:
513-556-4183 or www.ccm.uc.edu