SAVE THE PALACE

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NATIONAL REPORT: CONNECTICUT, BY CHARLENE DONAGHY

In Connecticut, as in other states, we inspire each other: dramatists like Emma Palzere-rae and Judith Clinton who organize productive writing retreats in southeastern CT, Steven Otfinoski who elevates our dramatist community, William Squier of Curtain Call who was instrumental in bringing together dramatists for our June event, and many more.

Another dramatist who comes to mind is Roy O’Neil who is an inspiration not only in his writing but also in his musical skills and determination to his craft. Roy and I met a few years ago at the Warner Theater where I first heard of his musical Eddie and the Palaceades. The piece was in an early draft but, even back then, the music was infectious and the story universal. And, perhaps more important to our CT dramatists’ community, it is a story born in our state, of our state.

Eddie and the Palaceades is the story of a one hit wonder from the 1960s. He runs for mayor 30 years later to save the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT, where his band got its start and its name.

Somewhere in my romanticized version of this story, the musical premieres at The Palace in Waterbury and, quite frankly, they should snap this up before an NYC theatre steals it.

At the Midtown International Theater Festival it was nominated for nine awards including “Best Musical Production” and “Best Book, Lyrics, and Music”. At the Manhattan Theater Mission’s New Musicals Showcase it won “Catchiest Song” for “Bangarang,” “Best Comedic Couple,” and “Audience Favorite.”

The seed and passion for the show sprouts from Roy’s Waterbury, CT hometown. Everything in the show - the band, Palace Theater, crooked politicians, planning and zoning deals, historic architecture, salt of the earth citizens, Italian restaurants, primary elections, write-in campaigns - is traceable back to Waterbury. But the show itself is fiction: what make it a success are the characters and the emotional roller-coaster they each ride from start to finish.

Eddie and the Palaceades is fun and uplifting, with just the right blend of what is worth fighting for in this life, intertwined with love, friendship, and 22 songs that you can’t stop singing.

A true CT story, written by one of our own, and that, to me, is inspirational for dramatists in every state.

[photo caption: Eddie and the Palaceades performance in the 2014 Midtown International Theater Festival. Photo credit: Faith/Focus/Flash (Dlo Slaughter).]

cdonaghy@dramatistsguild.com

playbills from our shows

MITF PLAYBILL

people in the show

KAYLENE SEIDL, MERETE MEUNTER, JAMIBETH MARGOLIS

Fiddler_afn_dakh

Fiddler on the Roof (In Yiddish) at Stage 42 in Manhattan has a few connections to our MITF team. Kayleen Seidl who made her New York City debut playing Mary in our show is part of the Fiddler cast and Merete Meunter our choreographer is assistant choreographer on the show. Jamibeth Margolis who was our casting director and director is also casting director for Fiddler.

Kayleen_Seidl_and_Merete_Meunter

Kayleen and Merete

ANNIE EDGERTON

Roy O'Neil met up with Annie Edgerton, who is in the touring cast of Kinky Boots, when the show played their run at the Palace in Waterbury.

Annie played Roz Sherwood in the Eddie and the Palaceades shows at the Midtown Festival. She has been touring with Kinky Boots for a year and a half and has been all across the country and to Japan.

And at a recent industry workshop, Annie played the role of Gracie and panel member Jim Kierstead, one of the Kinky Boots producers, said about Eddie and The Palaceades, "I like the music very much".

Wine MInx Annie When she is not on stage or singing the National Anthem at ball parks across America, Annie is a wine appraiser and consultant.

HEATHER MILAM

Heather was our costume designer for the MITF. She is a professor at University of Indiana and fortunately was back to New York for a vacation during the summer our show was going up. She made the cast look great and provided a visual layer of characterization to each role. Follow the link for more appreciation of her costume design and more info on Heather.

HEATHER MILAM, COSTUME DESIGNER