The York Theatre Company
James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director
As Part of Its Developmental Reading Series
Presents
THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS
A Fable of Vaudeville
Written, Arranged, and Directed by Chip Deffaa
Featuring songs from the repertoire of Eddie Foy & his family, plus originals by Deffaa
Presented at the York Theater, 619 Lexington Ave. , NYC, 3 p.m. July 13, 2012.
THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS, A Fable of Vaudeville , is an original musical comedy by Chip Deffaa. Based on true events, it tells the story of Eddie Foy–a beloved entertainer who took his seven kids into vaudeville with him following the death of his wife. Out on the road, they learned the true meaning of family. And they became an American institution--the top family act of their day. Their story inspired a popular motion picture (starring Bob Hope), as well as a later TV special (starring Eddie Foy Jr. and the Osmonds). ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award-winning writer Chip Deffaa (author of the Off-Broadway successes George M. Cohan Tonight! and One Night with Fanny Brice) has written the script. The score mixes vintage favorites popularized by the Foys (“Chinatown My Chinatown,” “Row Row Row,” “Moonlight Bay,” etc.) with originals by Deffaa. The show is the only hit family musical to have emerged in recent years from the New York International Fringe Festival (Elena .K. Holy, Artistic Director). A cast album has just been released by Original Cast Records.
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CAST...
Michael Townsend Wright (“Eddie Foy”) developed his comic timing doing “live” burlesque sketches with the late Joey Faye, and as a regular on TV’s vaudeville-flavored "Uncle Floyd Show.”". He’s guested on such TV shows as “The Naked Brothers Band" and "Rescue Me". He's performed in such films as Lansky and The Rat Pack, and the forthcoming Pizza With Bullets (with Vincent Pastore and Talia Shire). Wright may l be heard on the Seven Little Foys cast album (Original Cast Records). www.michaelotownsendwright.com.
Beth Bartley (“Mrs. Foy”), who’s a graduate of Juilliard, appeared on Broadway with the late, great Sir Alan Bates in Fortune's Fool. Other credits include the films Kinsey and The Daymakers; the TV series "Mercy"; a regional production of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"; a national tour with the Acting Company in Comedy of Errors. She may be heard on the Seven Little Foys cast album. Chip Deffaa wrote the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Foy with Michael Townsend Wright and Beth Bartley in mind.
Colin Pritchard (“George M. Cohan”) has a long association with the role of Cohan. He played Cohan on the original demo recordings for The Seven Little Foys; then played the role for six weeks in the world-premiere production of The Seven Little Foys, in Connecticut; then portrayed Cohan on the CD You’re a Grand Old Rag: The Music of George M. Cohan, with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra; and he was just in George M! at Westchester Broadway Theater. He’s toured the US and Japan with 42nd Street and has appeared regionally in shows ranging from Cabaret to Singin’ in th Rain.
Devon Eddy (“Bryan Foy”), whom Chip Deffaa has enjoyed on stage in Connecticut productions of such shows as Once Upon a Mattress and 42nd Street, has been a part of the Seven Little Foys project since the very beginning. He was in the world-premiere production and on the early demo recordings, and can be heard on the new Seven Little Foys CD (Original Cast Records). He has studied for years with Broadway pro Scott Wise .
Matthew Nardozzi (“Charlie Foy”) has appeared on Broadway in Inherit the Wind and Dracula. His film credits include Two Days, Snapshots, Derek & Lucas, Chapter 27. He was a recipient of 2010 and 2011 CARE Award for Excellence in Acting, Academics and Community Service. He’s been nominated for 2012 Young Artist Awards in two categories: Best Performance in Live Theater: Young Actor and Best Performance in a Short Film: Young Actor.
Ethan Haberfield (“Richard Foy”) was in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins, playing “Michael Banks.” He played “Tiny Tim” in a national tour of Scrooge–In Concert. He recently won a 2012 New Jersey Tony Award as “best featured actor in a play,” for his work in the Shakespeare Theater of NJ’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird. He’s been seen on TV on “Sesame Street” (with Sutton Foster) and on “30 Rock,” and in the film Sinister. www.ethanhaberfield.com.
Emily Bordonaro (“Madeline Foy”) appeared in the national tour of Whistle Down the Wind; and starred in the Fringe Festival production of The Gargoyle Garden. She’s appeared on TV in "Celebrity Ghost Stories 2" and "Celebrity Nightmares Decoded" (Biography Channel); and in such films as Disconnect and Brilliant Mistakes. She may be heard on soundtrack of Not Waving But Drowning. She played “young Fanny Brice” on the album of Chip Deffaa’s show Presenting Fanny Brice (Eldridge), and is on the Seven Little Foys CD.
Casie Pepe-Winshell ("Mary Foy”) has been a mainstay of the Hartford Children’s Theater, appearing in such productions of theirs as Honk, 13, Little Women, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown–for which she won a National Youth Theatre Award. She’s on The Seven Little Foys CD (Original Cast Records).
Zac Ballard (“Eddie Foy Jr.”), who’s nine years old, has already appeared in productions of such shows as Rags, A Christmas Carol, Annie Get Your Gun, and Oliver. He and Alex Dreier (“Irving Foy”) were both recently in the Irish Repertory Theatre’s all-star presentation of Oliver, and he and Ethan Haberfield (“Richard Foy”) were recently in a reading of Timmy the Great.
Alex Dreier (“Irving Foy”) has appeared on Broadway in Billy Elliot, and on television in “Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight” (HBO) and in two episodes of “Royal Pains” (USA Network). His voice has been heard on a Carols for a Cure CD and on a “Sponge Bob” promo (Nickelodeon).
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CREATIVE TEAM….
Chip Deffaa (playwright/songwriter/director) is the author of six published plays and eight published books; for 18 years he wrote for The NY Post. George M. Cohan Tonight!, which Deffaa wrote/directed Off-Broadway at the Irish Rep, was hailed by The NY Times as "brash, cocky and endlessly euphoric" It’s been performed everywhere from the U.K. to o Korea. One Night with Fanny Brice, which Deffaa wrote/directed Off-Broadway, was praised by The Times for delving "deeper into Brice's story" than Funny Girl ever did. Deffaa has won an ASCAP Award and an IRNE Award. Deffaa is represented by Peter Sawyer, president, The Fifi Oscard Agency. Please visit: www.chipdeffaa.com
Richard Danley (music director) has worked with Chip Deffaa on many projects, including recording sessions, readings, and productions–most recently music-directing the Off-Broadway production of Deffaa’s One Night with Fanny Brice. He music-directed the Fringe Festival production of The Seven Little Foys, as well as the forthcoming album of the show. He has served as music director/arranger for Peter Duchin's revues, and for many cabaret acts, and was a featured pianist with "Broadway and Barbershop" at Carnegie Hall.
Emmaleigh Pepe-Winshell (stage manager/ lighting designer) has worked on productions of shows ranging from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” to Urinetown. She is a student at DePaul University. She's equally at home doing acting, stage-managing, and lighting-design.
Missy Dreier (assistant stage manager / swing) has been seen on stage in "Helen on 86th Street" (Chernuchin Theater) and on TV in "30 Rock," and has been heard in voiceovers on "Sesame Street."
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A Seven Little Foys CD has just been released by Original Cast Records. For more info on the album, or to purchase a copy, please click here:
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