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OFC's Broadway in Brighton Series Presents
The Boy From Oz
Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen. Book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright
Performances September 12-29, 2024 at the OFC Creations Theatre Center Main Stage
Run time approximately 2 hours plus intermission; Appropriate for ages 13 & up
Starring Blake McIver Ewing as Peter Allen (Full House, The Little Rascals)
and Marcia Mitzman Gaven as Judy Garland (Tony Award Nominee, Original Broadway Casts: The Who's Tommy and Chess)
Under the direction of Eric Vaughn Johnson
Upstate New York Regional Premiere!
It’s time to shake the maracas and dust off your dancing shoes as The Boy from Oz tells the dazzling, funny, and heartbreaking true story of singer songwriter Peter Allen. From humble beginnings growing up singing in country pubs throughout the Australian outback, Peter’s career took off without warning after being discovered and taken under the mentorship of, the one and only, Judy Garland. As her opening act, Peter relocated to New York City and quickly introduced to Judy’s daughter and future wife, Liza Minnelli.
Peter Allen rose to international stardom in the 1980s, best known for his hits including ‘I Honestly Love You,’ 'Don't Cry Out Loud,' ‘Best That You Can Do,’ ‘Not The Boy Next Door,’ ‘Everything Old Is New Again,’ and the showstopping, ‘I Go to Rio.’ From winning an Oscar, to selling out performances in Radio City Music Hall, and receiving adulation when he returned to Australia, Peter struggled through divorce, heartbreak, failure, and navigating through the unknowns of the AIDS epidemic.
Blake McIver Ewing and Marcia Mitzman Gaven will reunite on stage in The Boy From Oz, after originally performing together almost 30 years ago in the 1997 World Premiere production of "Ragtime" in Los Angeles. Marcia starred as Mother, for which she won the Ovation Award for Best Lead Actress, and Blake starred as her son, Edgar. In OFC’s The Boy From Oz, Marcia and Blake will once again perform as mother (in-law) and son.
Starring Blake McIver Ewing as Peter Allen
Blake’s vast experience in the entertainment industry is derived from multiple disciplines, from film and television to live theatre and the recording studio. Blake has succeeded professionally as an actor, writer, director, producer and recording artist.
Performing on network television at age six, Blake won the title of ’92 Jr. Vocalist Champion on the original Star Search. His starring roles on hit series such as “Full House” and “Hey Arnold” led to feature films including “The Little Rascals” and gave him the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg and Penelope Spheeris.
Blake has worked as a recording artist and session singer on soundtracks and albums for Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, David Foster, John Williams, James Horner, Jon Secada, and Sheena Easton as well as writing and co-producing his own solo album “The Time Manipulator.”
While managing his own theatre company, YMTA, Blake directed a production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center and produced the critically acclaimed intimate theatrical premiere production of “The Light in the Piazza” at the El Portal Theatre.
Blake recently directed and choreographed a US tour for international cabaret superstar Ariana Savalas and two off Broadway productions for Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 12 breakout star Jackie Cox. He also spent 4 seasons as a series regular on BRAVO’s hit social commentary show “The People’s Couch.”
Starring Marcia Mitzman Gaven as Judy Garland
Marcia received a TONY Award nomination for her performance as Mrs. Walker in the Broadway smash "TOMMY” directed by Des McAnuff and was praised by music critics for her "show stopping performance" on the Grammy winning original cast recording. During her Broadway career, she starred as Svetlana in "CHESS” directed by Trevor Nunn, (Broadway Cast album), The Widow in "ZORBA" with Anthony Quinn, Rizzo in "GREASE", and starred in Cy Coleman's, "WELCOME TO THE CLUB". Off -Broadway credits include Audrey in "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
At Lincoln Center she was mentored by opera diva Beverly Sills who recruited Marcia to star in several New York City Opera productions in their Broadway Show Series. Marcia won critical raves as Nellie in "SOUTH PACIFIC", Meg in "BRIGADOON" opposite Tony Roberts, and Mrs. Lovett in "SWEENY TODD" for Harold Prince.
Marcia is known by Los Angeles audiences for her starring role as Mother in the American premiere of “RAGTIME”, for which she won the Ovation Award for Best Lead Actress, and starred opposite Roger Rees, as Abigail Adams in “1776” at Reprise! Also in Los Angeles, Marcia won the Ovation award and L.A. Drama Critics Circle award for Best Lead Actress as Florence in "CHESS". She was Countess Charlotte in “A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC” at the Doolittle Theatre and created the role of Mrs. Walker in La Jolla Playhouse’s hit "THE WHO'S TOMMY” before re-creating the role on Broadway.
Film and television credits include: “MOONLIGHT MILE” with Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon, "THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES" with Tom Hanks, “FRAISER”, "ELLEN", “BABYLON 5”, "THE DREW CARREY SHOW”, "BEVERLY HILLS 90210", with recurring roles on "THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL" and in the remake of GET SMART as the evil head of "Chaos" opposite a huge Komodo dragon. Her extensive voice over work can be heard in animation (she voiced the roles of Maude Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, Luann Van Hooten and Miss Hoover in “THE SIMPSONS”) and in countless commercials and promos.
THE CAST OF THE BOY FROM OZ
Peter Allen: Blake McIver Ewing
Judy Garland: Marcia Mitzman Gaven*
Liza Minnelli: Channing Weir
Marion Woolnough: Laura Jean Diekmann
Dee Anthony: Tripp Hanson
Greg Connell: Jack Saleeby
Chris Bell: Jacob Anspach
Mark Herron: Brett Cole Young
Young Peter Allen: Cameron Korzinski
Young Peter Allen Understudy: Jack Hartman
Ensemble: Jacob Anspach, Nellie Cotrupe, Sam Guida, Qawiyya Haqq, Claire Kennard, Julia Polisoto, Jack Saleeby, Rico Velazquez, Brett Cole Young
*𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴' 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴' 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
No longer caught between the moon and New York City, the global phenomenon of The Boy From Oz makes its regional premiere in Rochester as the first time the show being performed in New York State besides the 2003 Broadway production. This electrifying story is under the direction of Eric Vaughn Johnson. By arrangement with David Spicer Productions www.davidspicer.com.au
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Thursday, September 12 at 7:30PM
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Friday, September 13 at 7:30PM
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Saturday, September 14 at 2PM
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Saturday, September 14 at 7:30PM
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Sunday, September 15 at 2PM
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Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30PM
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Thursday, September 19 at 7:30PM
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Friday, September 20 at 7:30PM
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Saturday, September 21 at 2PM
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Saturday, September 21 at 7:30PM
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Sunday, September 22 at 2PM
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Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30PM
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Thursday, September 26 at 7:30PM*
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Friday, September 27 at 7:30PM
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Saturday, September 28 at 2PM
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Saturday, September 28 at 7:30PM
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Sunday, September 29 at 2PM
*The performance on 9/26 will be ASL interpreted
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