JON PETERSON has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, honored by the Drama League, and presented with the Bistro Award, as well as the Connecticut Critics Circle Award, for his portrayal of George M. Cohan.
Jon Peterson in "George M. Cohan Tonight!"
Jon was born and raised in London, where he trained for nine years at the Royal Ballet, with but one goal in mind: to sing and dance. West End musicals then came along--performing in shows like The Sound of Music (Rolf), She Loves Me (bus boy), Whoop-Dee-Doo!,42nd Street (Andy Lee), Sophisticated Ladies, Blitz! (Georgie Locke), Dames at Sea (Lucky), A Chorus Line (Paul), and Cats (Skimbleshanks/Mistofolees)...
Jon Peterson
Jon did a teen dance movie, Anna Ballerina, cabaret shows, and TV appearances and plays, including Noel Coward's Cavalcade.
Jon came to the U.S. to work as an assistant choreographer for Molly Molloy and Baayork Lee. He then grabbed the chance to go across country as the Emcee in Sam Mendes' production of "Cabaret," while also finding time to record a CD of his own, "Skiddoo."
He was working as the stand-by for the emcee of the Broadway production of Cabaret when Chip Deffaa wrote George M. Cohan: In His Own Words for him.
Chip Deffaa, playwright, with Jon Peterson
Jon Peterson in "George M. Cohan: In His Own Words"
Peterson has subsequently portrayed Cohan in several other shows that Deffaa has written for him, including The George M. Cohan Revue, George M. Cohan & Co., and George M. Cohan Tonight.
He has been happy to play Cohan in productions both in New York and on the road. (The photo at right was taken during the Milwaukee Irish Irts Festival.)
Music director Sterling Price-McKinney (seated) with Elery Bakaitis and Jon Peterson, preparing for a recording session
Peterson may be heard on the CD The Johnny Mercer Jamboree (Original Cast Records) and, of course, the cast album of George M. Cohan Tonight! (Sh-K-Boom Records/Ghostlight Records).
For more information on Peterson--shown at left in rehearsal with pianist Sterling Price-McKinney and below in a scene from the Off-Broadway production of George M. Cohan Tonight!--check his web site: www.JonPeterson.biz
At the Bistro Awards! The photo at right shows Jon Peterson (holding the Bistro Award he received from Back Stage, the showbiz weekly, for his portrayal of Cohan) along with booking manager/publicist Don Schaffer, and playwright Chip Deffaa.
We are booking tour dates now for JON PETERSON in GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT!
For more info, contact Chip Deffaa Productions LLC, 50 Quartz Lane, Paterson, NJ 07501-3345; telephone: (973) 684-3340; Email: OriginalCast1@aol.com
