The fundraiser is the concept of Paul Puccio, the group's Dramaturge, and a member of the Board. Puccio observes "Musicals are so collaborative, and success in the theatre is so much a matter of timing, that many flops either have glorious songs that never found the right home or are actually quite good plays that came along at the wrong moment. It's rare that a theatre company will take the risk and produce a musical that received reviews that bottomed out -- but a concert like this one gives us an opportunity to sample some terrific material from plays that may not see the light of day soon or ever again."
Kate Swan, 4th Wall's Artistic Director, will stage the production. She is joined by musical director, Markus Hauck. Both Swan and Hauck bring a great deal of experience to the project. Swan is a Broadway dancer turned director/choreographer, and Hauck is a graduate of Boston Conservatory with numerous regional musical theatre credits. Of the project, Swan says, "4th Wall, like so many other arts organizations, is finding new ways to raise funds in these challenging economic times. We think that these one-night-only concert events are a fun way to thank our audiences for their support of our mission, which is to bring under-produced, edgy, and new works to the stage."
4th Wall has assembled an array of talent for "Flop of Ages: GREAT Songs from Bad Shows," including some favorite actors who have appeared on the 4th Wall stage over the group's 15-year history. In addition, the company has invited a few special guests from the New York stage to join them including Jim Stanek, a well-known performer who has appeared in The Story of My Life, Lestat, Little Women, The Rivals, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, and Indiscretions on Broadway in addition to numerous regional productions. Broadway performer Mary Stout, whose credits include On the Twentieth Century, Jane Eyre, Beauty and the Beast, My Favorite Year, and Me and My Girl, along with numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions, will also appear. Stanek and Stout will be joined by Teri Furr, who appeared in Beauty and Beast, Gypsy, and Les Miserables; and Rusty Reynolds from Miss Saigon as well as the Funny Girl Actor's Fund Benefit.
All tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling the Box office at 973-748-9008 ext. 279. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted. Tickets may also be purchased online and additional information is available at www.4thwalltheatre.org.
4th Wall's 2011-2012 season continues with The Story of My Life in February of 2012, to be followed by the Broadway hit play Speech & Debate in March. The group closes the season with the Tony Award-winning musical Parade in June of 2012.
