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ED DIXON
Visitors- 42,357
Coming up...
THE SOUND OF MUSIC- A mini-tour of the Broadway classic produced by Chris Manos and Atlanta Theater of the Stars. My second time to play Max with them on tour, (my third all together) from second week of August thru September 6th. Mandy Bruno is Maria and Burke Moses is the Captain. Am playing opposite the very sexy Teri Hansen-Kocyigit.
SUNSET BOULEVARD- I'm going to reprise the role of Max in this marvelous piece at the Signature Theater in Washington, DC which I last played on the first national tour. (Actually Signature is across the river into Virginia, but close enough for DC.) I'll be playing opposite Flo Lacey for what? The fourth time and once again will be directed by my dear pal, Eric Schaeffer.
WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL- Just picked up three new venues, The Oregon Cabaret Theatre, the Cleague Theater in Cleveland and Change of Pace Productions in Duluth, MN. These are in addition to Circa 21 in Illinois and The Beloit Civic Theater in Wisconsin. As of right now there are TWO other theaters that appear ready to come on board as well. 2010 is going to be a very good year for WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL.
SECRETS OF A LIFE ON STAGE... AND OFF- my book about my first forty years in show business has just been accepted by Bear Manor Media and will be published in 2010. It recounts interactions with Leonard Bernstein, Alvin Ailey, Busby Burkeley, Ruby Keeler, Richard Nixon, Ann-Margret, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Schwartz, Stephan Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Cy Coleman, Tony Danza, Kathie Lee Gifford, David Merrick and a host of others. It's a (hopefully) funny and hair raising appraisal of a large swath of theatrical history.
Recently Completed...
THE STUDENT PRINCE- At Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera with the absolutely remarkable Chad Johnson as the Prince. Truly one of the great voices in the world. The last time I did THE STUDENT PRINCE I played Detlef, the young student leader and this time (forty years later) I was kindly old Doctor Engel singing Golden Days and remembering my youth. No kidding!!! Ps. Also on that national tour, forty years ago, was my mentor and idol, the amazing George Rose as Lutz... ah, "the sunshine of our happy youth."
SWEENEY TODD- Played Judge Turpin in Stephen Sondheim's thriller at Barrington Stage directed by artistic director, Julianne Boyd and starring Harriet Harris and Jeff McCarthy. It was a smash and Mr. Sondheim showed up, had a champagne toast with us and was BEYOND effusive.
WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL- A fantastic premiere production at Circa 21 Theater in Rock Island, Illinois directed by artistic director, Dennis Hitchcock. It was a critical and audience success. There are now some fantastic videos of this production on youtube.com.
WHEATLEY'S FOLLIES- A workshop of a new musical about the creation of THE BLACK CROOK, the very first musical comedy ever. This piece is destined for The Signature Theater in DC where it will make its debut next year. Eric Schaeffer directed May 3-7 at the 42nd Street Studios.
THE GREAT GAME- Randall Wreghitt presented a reading of this wonderful new play starring the absolutely magnificent Zoe Caldwell. What a thrill to sit at a table and read this terrific play with her. I played the role of Rawlinson, a rather duplicitous Brit and was reunited with the gorgeous, Angali Bhimani, with whom I had done Mary Zimmerman's ODYSSEY at the Goodman.
JOHN BULL'S OTHER ISLAND- I played Corny Doyle in this very rare Shaw play for The Shaw Project at the Player's Club directed by David Staller and featuring Daniel Jenkins and Reg Rogers, both of whom were superb.
TO LIFE- A reading of a new musical at New World Stages directed by Leigh Silverman and starring Randi Graff who i hadn't worked with since LES MISERABLES. I played Manny and "old Jew." Many laughs were had.
DIAL M FOR MURDER- Played Inspector Hubbard at Northport, Long Island in a gorgeous production directed by Peter Flynn of the Hangar Theater. Bottari and Case did the costumes and sets, which were wonderful, and the cast included Tom Hammond and Cat Walleck.
Demo of WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL- Recorded at Sound Associates on West 45th Street, the cast includes Linda Balgord, Lynne Wintersteller, Paul Schoeffler, Jeremiah James, Kelley Dorney and yours truly. Musical direction was by the atomic pianist, Ian Schugel.
LEND ME A TENOR- A workshop of a new musical version of the classic comedy, directed by Ian Talbot and musical directed by Paul Gemigniani. Starring Cady Huffman, Jill Paice and yours truly. Completed on January 24th at St. Luke's Theatre. This was A LOT of fun! It's due to open on the West End this fall.
THE ILLIAD- in Vancouver Canada for the Olympics, did a dramatic reading of selections from Homer's great work, the parts that have to do with the games. Produced by the Onassis Foundation and directed by David Muse of The Shakespeare Theatre in DC. It was narrated by the remarkable Sam Tsoutsouvas, the only real Greek in the production. I played old Nestor and King Priam. It was a wonderful experience and if you haven't seen Vancouver... go.
RICHARD CORY- Which debuted at Lyric Stage in Dallas in 2000 was just voted by the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, "One of the best shows of the decade." Wow!
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- Spent the holidays at the Ordway in St. Paul (brrr) playing Cogsworth in a new version of the old standard, directed by my old pal, Robert Johanson. The cast was delightful and we had a delightful time, though wearing a giant clock costume may not be my favorite way to celebrate Xmas.
INHERIT THE WIND- I played Brady, the Bible thumping crusader, who is clearly based on William Jennings Bryan at the Cleveland Playhouse for all of October and November. Always wanted to play that fabulous part and it was a terrific production with a wonderful cast. Seth Gordon directed and I played opposite Scott Jaeck who had done the part before and was superb.
THE FINAL TABLE- A reading of a new play at Shetler Studios about a poker game in the afterlife between five dead presidents. I'll play William Howard Taft. Joel Froomkin will direct, Monday, September 14th.
WHEATLEY'S FOLLY- A reading of a musical about the making of THE BLACK CROOK, America's first musical. I played Jeremiah Burnett, a "grand old man of the theater" in a Signature Signature Theatre production at Chelsea Studios, Tuesday, August 25th. The cast included Donna Lynne Champlin, Danny Burstein, Colin Hanlon, Nancy Opal, Michele Pawk and Brian Sutherland.
TALE OF TWO CITIES- Just completed taping the role of Barsad in England for PBS which will air in December and also be available as a DVD. We recorded a CD in London and then came to the Theatre Royal in Brighton where we taped two live performances. There was a massive cast and crew of Americans and British combining forces for a really dynamic event. The entire process was completed in only ten days, an amazing feat of logistics.
PIRATES!- At the Huntington Theater in Boston. I was, once again, the Modern Major General in the revamping of the old G & S classic by Nell Benjamin, Gordon Greenberg and John McDaniel. This was the third leg of a journey which has included Goodspeed Musicals and Paper Mill Playhouse, and will hopefully end on the Great White Way. There were certainly a lot of interested producers in the Huntington audience. I won Boston's Hubbie award for this performance.
LES MISERABLES- Just completed a run at TUTS of the role I played 1700 times on Broadway, Thenardier. I was Master of the House with Bob Billig, the original conductor, director Fred Hanson, who was part of the original team as well, plus long time Jean Valjean and Javerts, Rob Evan and Robert Hunt.
THE ROAD TO QATAR- This outlandish spoof by David Krane and Stephen Cole (based on real life) recently debuted at The York Theatre. Was delighted to share the stage with the fabulous Jason Graae and David Hibbert, directed by David Glenn Armstrong.
BUOYANT BILLIONS- one performance only of the rare G. B. Shaw play produced by Project Shaw at the Players Club on February 16th, directed by David Staller. Other cast members include George S. Irving, Loni Ackerman, Bryan Batt and Veanne Cox.
BIG RIVER- at Goodspeed Musicals. I played King in the Roger Miller musical directed by Rob Rugierro. His gorgeous direction wonderful cast and beautiful design team made it the hit of the season. We also did a reading of WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL during the course of the run using actors from the cast of BIG RIVER.
WHODUNIT... THE MUSICAL- a reading of my brand new musical treatment of Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1908 short story, THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE. There was one performance at the York Theatre on July 14th (Monday) at 7:30 PM. The cast included Lynne Wintersteller, Anne L. Nathan, Paul Schoeffler, Matt Scott, Maria Couch, Warren Kelley and Dale Radunz. Directed by Robert Johanson and musical supervision by James McQuillen. Stage managed by Jess Speaker. Commissioned by www.Miracleor2.com ... expect a full fledged production in the very near future.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE- at Studio 54, produced by the Roundabout Theater Company. This was the highly touted production imported from London's West End. I played Mister (the pastry eating South Carolina dude) in the first act, and Redmond (the Texan museum fundraiser) in the second. Sam Buntrock, the young director from England was spectacular, as were the cast and concept. A very joyful experience.
GIANT- at the New Forty-Second Street Studios. I played Uncle Bawley in Michael John LaChiusa's version of the Edna Ferber Novel (and Liz Taylor/Rock Hudson movie) directed by Eric Schaeffer. We did two workshop performances, May 29 and 30.
THE NIGHTENGALE- at the New York Theatre Workshop. Directed by James Lapine with book and music is by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik of SPRING AWAKENING. Based on a short story by Hans Christian Anderson. I played the Minister of State in this tale of ancient China. The cast included Mark Kudisch, Tonya Pinkins, and Barrett Foa.
IN GOOD KING CHARLES' GOLDEN DAYS- for Project Shaw on Monday, March 17th at 7:00 pm. I played the delighfully daffy role of Sir Isaac Newton in one of George Bernard Shaw's last plays, at The Player's Club. It's a wonderfully interesting work that one rarely, if ever, gets a chance to see, much less perform.
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS- at the St. James Theater over the holidays. I played Old Max (Not Mature Max, mind you, OLD Max) the narrator (who's a dog, by the way) and the one who gets to sing, "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch!" They wrote me a new song, "This Time of Year" and I loved introducing it at the Saint James, the theater where I first saw Ethel Merman in HELLO DOLLY. Whoo hoo!
THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS- Just got back from the Signature Theater in Washington, DC where I did a reading of WHOREHOUSE, reprising the role of The Governor. (I did the national tour with Ann-Margret a few years ago.) Eric Schaeffer, artistic director and founder of the Signature Theater is looking at doing a revamped version of the old tuner and I'm very pleased to be participating. It's always a joy to work with Eric and the new Signature Theater is GORGEOUS.
TWO MASTER CLASSES- for Gordon Greenberg at the Hilton Theater. There were hundreds of teachers from all across the US and Canada and several well known actors talked about audition techniques. I was very moved by the proceedings as the topic brought up so many memories of four decades of autitioning. I shared the bill with Alex Gemaniani, Leslie Kritzer (who made me cry with a GORGEOUS song from YENTYL) and Laura Bell Bundy. Both classes were very, very enjoyable.
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