GeorgeMCohan.org

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ABOUT CHIP DEFFAA

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"GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT"

"COHAN: In His Own Words"

"THE GEO. M. COHAN REVUE"

"GEO. M. COHAN REVUE" CD

"YANKEE DOODLE DANDY"

"GEORGE M. COHAN & CO."

"YANKEE DOODLE BOY"

"MAD ABOUT THE BOY"

"IRVING BERLIN'S AMERICA"

"IRVING BERLIN RAGTIME"

"IRVING BERLIN & CO"

"THE IRVING BERLIN STORY"

"IRVING BERLIN IN PERSON"

"ONE NIGHT W FANNY BRICE

"PRESENTING FANNY BRICE"

"THE FANNY BRICE STORY"

"THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS"

"FOYS" at FRINGE FESTIVAL

"SEVEN FOYS" REHEARSALS

"FOYS" READING AT YORK

"SEVEN FOYS" CAST ALBUM

RYAN FOY

"THE FAMILY THAT SINGS"

"SONG-AND-DANCE KIDS"

"THEATER BOYS"

"THEATER BOYS" CD

"A FEW MOMENTS..."

"JOHNNY MERCER JAMBOREE"

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ABOUT GEORGE M. COHAN

BACKGROUND INFO

"COHAN" IN KOREA-2007

"COHAN" IN KOREA-2016

"COHAN" IN SCOTLAND

"COHAN" IN LONDON

A YOUNG ACTORS PRODUCTION

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JON PETERSON AS COHAN

JUSTIN BOCCITTO AS COHAN

DAVID HERZOG AS COHAN

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WRITING SEMINARS

YANKEE DOODLE DANDY

This is the biggest show (in terms of cast size) of Chip Deffaa's various shows inspired by the life of master showman George M. Cohan.  Available  for licensing now from Leicester Bay Theatricals!
A scene from the Crystal Sea Drama Company's 2012 production of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
 
There are 33 speaking parts in this full-length, two-act musical comedy, which is published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals . For more info on licensing, please go to: 

 www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com/yankee-doodle-dandy     

You can, if you wish, use 33 different actors to play the 33 different characters. And you can also  have  a chorus as big or as small  as you want.  Eighteen of the 46 musical  numbers in this show feature members of the chorus, so there’s plenty for the chorus to do.
 
 

However, it is also entirely possible to do this show well with a smaller cast, if that is your preference.  The show will work perfectly fine with, say,   20 or so  actors,  with some “doubling” of roles.   The plentitude of ensemble moments give the show a big feel.  The score is rich with Cohan favorites. And even includes a couple of specialties by Irving Berlin, who idolized Cohan. 
 If you’re planning a really big production--at, for example,  a regional  theater or community  theater, or at a college, high school, or middle school--and you would like  to use a big cast, this exuberant musical comedy can be performed with as large a cast as you choose to have.  This is an ideal choice for a big high school, college, or community theater that wants a big show, with lots of life, lots of color, and lots of characters!
   
Our thanks to the talented actors who’ve helped in workshopping this show.  The photos below show  the cast of our first reading at Roy Arias Studios, New York City: Chris Hlinka (George M. Cohan), Bob Diamond (Jerry Cohan), Suzanne Dressler (Nellie Cohan), Katie Brandenstein (Josie Cohan), Ian Palmer (Young George M. Cohan), Emily Bordonaro (Young Josie Cohan), Jennifer Cohan Ross (Agnes Nolan), Michael Townsend Wright (Edward Albee and assorted others), and Brady Chin (Irving Berlin and assorted others), along with playwright Chip Deffaa.  (And below the photos from our first reading of the show, you'll find photos from a recent full-scale production.)
 
 
"Yankee Doodle Dandy" is published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals.  For more information on licensing this musical play, please go to:
http:/www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com/yankee-doodle-dandy
 
The Crystal Sea Drama Company of San Antonio, Texas, under the direction of Irene Miller, produced "Yankee Doodle Dandy" this season.

 
 
 
 
Our thanks to Irene Miller, Artistic Director of the Crystal Sea Drama Company of San Antonio, Texas, for these rehearsal photos; their production of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" was presented in May of 2012.
 
 
Members of the Crystal Sea Drama Company  presented samples from the show at a school in San Antonio, helping stir up interest in their production....
 
 
 
 
Playwright Chip Deffaa recently received a wonderful surprise--a poster for the  Crystal Sea Drama Company's  production of his show "Yankee Doodle Dandy"--autographed by the various members of the cast. 
 
The signed poster now hangs, properly framed, in Chip Deffaa's home.
David Cook (in the red tailcoat) as George M. Cohan, and the cast of "Yankee Doodle Dandy."
 

 
More than 90 costumes were created for the 32 cast members!  Costume designer Lisa Lamberson and Costume Department Head Marla Ripps oversaw a crew of nine people who helped make costumes.
 
 

 

This photo shows crew members building set pieces that were  "flown in" (with the help of fly-rail operator Casey Birkes)  for scene changes,  during the production.  Ten people worked on the set and props crew.
 
A scene from the Crystal Sea Drama Company's production of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." (A complete list of cast and credits will be found below the production photos on this page.)
 
 
David Cook as George M. Cohan
 
 
"My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you...." George M. Cohan's famous curtain speech.
Chris Miller, Jacob Pursell, David Cook
 
"Yankee Doodle Dandy" is published and licensed by Leicester Bay Theatricals.  For more information on licensing this show, please visit:
http://www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com/yankee-doodle-dandy
 

The Crystal Sea Drama Company was kind enough to print the notice at right in their program.... 
 
 
A member of the tech crew works the fly rail, to fly in backdrops for scene changes.
 
Here is the complete cast of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," as presented by the Crystal Sea Drama Company of San Antonio:
  
George M. Cohan                  David Cook

Josie Cohan                            Corinne Seager

Nellie Cohan                          Andrea Miller

Jerry Cohan                           Matt Hansen

Teen Jerry Cohan                  Tim Romero

Civil War Soldier                   Kevin Nolin

Drummer Boy                       Chris Miller

Flag Bearer                            Owain Grandfield

Jerry’s Mother                       Sarah Epstein

Teen Nellie Cohan                 Jennifer Miller

Postman                                 Matthew Jenkins

Young George M. Cohan       Chris Miller

Young Josie Cohan                Anna Franklin

Teenage Josie Cohan                        Emma Lancaster Elzinga

Teenage George M. Cohan    Jacob Pursell

Brady Shinn                           Christopher Dick

Choir Director                       Steven Chronley

Child Solo 1                            Sarah Shodrock

Child Solo 2                            KD McIlvain

Child Solo 3                            Colleen Gostomski

Kid                                          Mia Orosco

Mrs. McGreevy                      Chloe McBride-Lallier

Mrs. Evans                             Erin Franklin

Edward Albee                                    Josh Weeden

Manager                                 Sidney Murray

Clerk                                       Alicia Pomeroy

Flo Holzman                          Claire Gostomski

Detective                                Steven Chronley

Mrs. Ciaran                            Colleen Crockett

Mrs. O’Reilly                           Grace Lamberson

Mrs. Moore                            Faith Mahaffey

Miss Ross                              Jennifer Miller

Samuel H. Harris                  Tim Romero

Telegram Delivery Boy        Owain Grandfield

Train Conductor                  Steven Chronley

Mae Irwin                               Alicia Pomeroy

Eddie Foy, Sr.                         Kevin Nolin

Bertha Foy                             Colleen Crockett

Clara Foy                                Emma Lancaster Elzinga

Mary Foy                                Jennifer Miller

Madeline Foy                         Anna Franklin

Eddie Foy, Jr.                         Owain Grandfield

Rachel Foy                             KD McIlvain

Irene Foy                               Colleen Gostomski

Nora Bayes                            Claire Gostomski

Jack Norworth                       Steven Chronley

Tate                                        Zac McIlvain

GMC Cast Member 1             Mia Orosco

GMC Cast Member 2             Erin Franklin

GMC Cast Member 3             Chloe McBride-Lallier

Irving Berlin                          Matthew Jenkins

Willie Morehouse                  Ali Dunlap

Agnes Mary Nolan                Danika Birkes

Alice Nolan                             Sidney Murray

Young Mary Cohan               Sarah Shodrock

Teenaged Mary Cohan         Chloe McBride-Lallier

Crew                                       Casey Birkes, Annie Dick, Luke Gostomski, Holly Harper,                                                Megan Ibarra, Samantha Juarez, Andrew                                                                          MondragonDeVoss, Eric Nolin,  Adri Orosco, Avery                                                         Palewich, Leah Tafoya

 
George M. Cohan (photo from the collection of Chip Deffaa)
 
 
George M. Cohan as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in "I'd Rather Be Right"
 
 
If you'd like additional info, please feel free to contact:
CHIP DEFFAA PRODUCTIONS LLC
50 Quartz Lane
Paterson, NJ 07501-3345
Tel. (973) 684-3340
Email:
 Footloose518@aol.com


This show may be licensed  directly from Leicester Bay Theatricals.  
"Yankee Doodle Dandy" has most  recently been produced at the Chicago Lakes Area Schools Summer Theater Program (Lindstrom, Minnesota)!  We're delighted for every new production!  

Copyright (c) 2007 by Chip Deffaa Productions LLC

 50 Quartz Lane, Paterson, NJ 07501-3345; telephone: 973-684-3340; Footloose518@aol.com