HOME
WHY NOW?
SYNOPSIS
PLAY MUSIC
AWARDS
MEET THE WRITER
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
- MAY 17, 2022 SAVE THE PALACE AT THE PALACE
- OCTOBER 21, 2021 -THEATRE ROW INDUSTRY READING
PRESS & REVIEWS
- EDDIE AND THE PALACEADES "SAVE THE pALACE" CD IS OUT
MEET THE CHARACTERS
VIDEOS

HOME
WHY NOW?
SYNOPSIS
PLAY MUSIC
AWARDS
MEET THE WRITER
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
- MAY 17, 2022 SAVE THE PALACE AT THE PALACE
- OCTOBER 21, 2021 -THEATRE ROW INDUSTRY READING
PRESS & REVIEWS
- EDDIE AND THE PALACEADES "SAVE THE pALACE" CD IS OUT
MEET THE CHARACTERS
VIDEOS

SAVE THE PALACE

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by Mayor Biggie Williams and the Aldermen
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MITF PLAYBILL

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

PEOPLE IN OUR 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

10 GUYS WHO HAVE PLAYED EDDIE Top left is Neil Culhane who was first to read the part of Eddie at our early on “pizza and beer" table read. Top middle is Michael Holland who sang Eddie’s opening number “Meet Me at The Palace” for our very first TRU Workshop, The First Act Feedback Festival. Michael has the longest running association with the show and has arranged and produced most of our studio demos. Top right is Shelley Valfer who played Eddie at the Manhattan Theatre Mission's New Musical Showcase and he has played Mayor Biggie Williams in subsequent shows at Midtown International Theatre Festival and at a TRU Workshop presentation. Midle left is Bill E. Dietrich who was Eddie for the Midtown International Theatre Festival run (Best Actor Nomination) Middle middle is Peter Cook who played Eddie for our staged reading run at the Woods Hole Theater on Cape Cod. He is seen sporting the official Eddie and the Palaceades band jacket. To his right is Brian Ozenne who brought Eddie to life at our Square Foot Theater production. Bottom left is Bruce Rebold who played Eddie in our 2017 TRU Workshop. Rob Richardson is at the bottom middle. He played Eddie for our "Broadway Bound" industry reading at Theatre Row in 2021. Next over is Alex Rains, Texas actor, who played Eddie for our reading in Grapevine, Texas (Where there is another Palace Theater) And bottom right is most recent Eddie, Rick Fountain. He played the part in our Save the Palace Cabaret in Washington Depot, CT

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

Heater Milam, M.F.A.

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.

LADIES WHO PLAYED GRACIE Top left is Alice Ostrander who was first to read the part of Gracie at our 2013 table read. Top middle is Susan Cohen DeStefano who played Gracie in our Manhattan Theatre Mission Showcase. Top right is Sheila Egan who brought Gracie to life for the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Middle left is Sonia Schonning who played the part at the Woods Hole Community Theatre reading in 2016 and to her right is Toni-Ann Carey who was Gracie for the production at Square Foot Theater in 2017. Middle right is Annie Edgerton who played the role of Roz, the magazine editor, in the MITF production and she played Gracie in our 2017 TRU Workshop. Bottom left is Haley Swindel who rocked Gracie's part in the 2021 Theatre Row production. Next is Kristal Seid who played Gracie in the reading down in Grapevine, TX. And bottom right is Semina Delaurentis who sang Gracie at our 2025 Save the Palace Cabaret in Washington Depot, CT.

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