FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24,
2015
CONTACT:Randall
Hartzog, Theatre
Memphis, Director of Marketing and Communications
rhartzog@theatrememphis.org / 901.682.8601
Guest Artist
Follows Road to Oz at Theatre Memphis
Memphis, TN – The Boy from Oz opens March
6 and runs through March 29, 2015, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. Touted
as one of the national premieres on its return to the United States, this “life
of” musical tells
the story of Peter Allen's rise from an intro act for Judy Garland, to his
marriage to her daughter, Liza Minnelli, through his triumph as an Oscar-winning
song writer and Radio City Music Hall concert star and his untimely death. Featuring
the original songs made popular in night clubs and on tours, memorable hits as
“Don't Cry Out Loud,” “Love Don't Need a Reason,” “Everything Old is New Again”
and “I Go to Rio” are included In this all out extravaganza.
As guest artist at Theatre Memphis in
the lead role of Australian Peter Allen in The
Boy from Oz, Josh Walden lives up to the challenge of portraying one of
the most energetic and prolific
songwriters and performers of the modern era. His talents extend to both sides
of the boards in that he directs and produces for theatre, as well. His
production as director of TM’s A Chorus
Line in 2013 led to a partnership that set him on a path that brought him
back to Memphis to perform on the Lohrey Stage in his own right. Walden returns
to Theatre Memphis with open arms and is happy to be on the boards this time.
He says, “I love watching the company perform … I'm just so impressed by this
community of artists who live completely different lives by day and then shed
all their cares to sell this show at night. They truly inspire me to be
better. I love Theatre Memphis. There is such joy around the theatre.
Everyone is proud of the work and strives towards excellence in all
departments.”
Besides his accomplishments in
singing and acting, his dancing skills pushed him to create his own company,
Walden Dance Theatre, which according to Walden, “couples the technical skills
of dancing with the tools of the acting world to create a highly charged
theatrical setting while exploring the power of being still.” However, not one
to stand still, he also created the film company Walza Productions in 2012 and
has already had a film accepted into the New York City Independent Film
Festival and the Big Apple Film Festival. An author of a children’s book and an
entrepreneur in event planning and publishing, Walden spends most of his time
in the theater having performed in national tours and Off-Broadway and regional
theater venues. His Broadway credits include 42nd Street, La Cage aux Folles and A Chorus Line.
Jerry Chipman directs his first musical with this
production of The Boy from Oz. Having
directed a fair amount of comedies and dramas he says, “I saw this show as a
drama with production numbers. The biggest difference has been the shared
vision.” Chipman adds, “When I signed on to direct I told executive producer
Debbie Litch to line up the best musical director and choreographer so they
could make a novice ‘look good’. Gary Beard (musical director) and Jared
Johnson (choreographer) are an amazing duo. I’ve been amazed by their tireless
enthusiasm for getting each number exactly right.”
Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch (who is
performing in this production as the legendary Judy Garland) sings not only
Walden’s praises, but also the talents of the totally committed cast. “There is
no way we can do a show of this magnitude without the talent and dedication of
our volunteer performers,” she remarks. “For them to be able to do this type of
musical is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And to experience it with a
seasoned professional like Josh only elevates the experience for them and the
audience.” Chipman supports that thought, “ Josh brings exactly the essential
elements: a great sense of showmanship supported by boundless energy and a
strong vocal and dancing talent.”
###
TITLE: The Boy from Oz
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY: Peter
Allen
BOOK BY: Martin Sherman and Nick Enright
DIRECTOR: Jerry
Chipman
VENUE AND
ADDRESS: Theatre
Memphis on the Lohrey Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117
RUN DATES: March 6 - 29, 2015
TIMES
OF SHOWS: Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm
with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays
TICKETS: $30 adults, $15 students with
valid ID
BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323
WEB:
www.theatrememphis.org
MEDIA
SPONSOR: The Best Times
Theatre
Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins
Extended (corner of Perkins Extended and Southern) and is a community theatre
whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experiences to enrich the
lives of our audiences and participants.
Theatre
Memphis receives season sponsorship and funding from: First Tennessee/ArtFirst, The Jeniam Foundation, The Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation, ArtsMemphis and Tennessee Arts Commission.