Chicago, IL - Pride Films and Plays will enliven the New Year by bringing back two leading actresses from its recent acclaimed production of the musical The Boy From Oz in a new show entitled Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli — Once in a Lifetime: The London Palladium Concert — a Tribute, featuring Nancy Hays ( as Judy Garland ) and Michelle Lauto ( as Liza Minnelli ), with music direction and orchestral arrangements by Robert Ollis ( co-producer ).
This musical tribute recalls the historic concert by these two famous performers at the London Palladium, just as Liza's singing career was beginning to take off. The Boy from Oz veterans Cameron Turner ( choreography ) and John Nasca ( costume design ) will round out the creative team for this dynamic new show.
Accompanied by a jazz combo, this lively cabaret show will feature those solos, duets and medleys that are Judy and Liza classics. This is an opportunity to celebrate the unique mother/daughter relationship that they shared and to see how Liza learned so much in performance from Judy — the consummate song stylist.
Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli — Once in a Lifetime: The London Palladium Concert — a Tribute previews Sunday, January 31st ( 7:00 p.m. ) at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago. Press opening is Monday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range between $15 and $25. For ticket information call 773-867-1946 or order online at www.uptownunderground.net, Tickets are not for sale at the regular PFP phone number.
Nancy Hays ( Judy Garland ) recently returned to theatre to portray Judy Garland in The Boy from OZ, presented by Pride Films & Plays, after performing for years as an opening act for Tommy Tune, Rita Rudner, Smothers Brothers, George Burns and others. Her country song Come Dance with Me is an international hit, and she was featured in the film The Minnesota Connection. Nancy has also made numerous TV appearances ( including one on ABC dancing with Mario Lopez ). Nancy has recorded five albums and toured the UK multiple times.
Michelle Lauto ( Liza Minnelli ) is so proud to be playing one of her idols again after an exciting run as Liza in The Boy From Oz with Pride Films & Plays this past summer. Favorite credits include Murder Ballad ( Bailiwick Chicago ), Next To Normal and Spring Awakening ( NY Regional Premiere ). Up next for Michelle is the Chicago premiere of 35mm ( Circle Theatre ), and Xanadu with the American Theater Company. www.michellelauto.com
Robert Ollis ( Music Director, Arranger, Pianist ) is an Artistic Associate of Pride Films and Plays and served as Music Director and Orchestrator for PFP's acclaimed production of The Boy from OZ, following a lengthy run as music director of Leo Schwartz's The Book of Merman, also presented by PFP. Robert was nominated for Jeff Awards for his music direction of PFP's Songs from an Unmade Bed and its celebrated premiere of Under A Rainbow Flag. Robert received a Jeff Award for his musical direction of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Other notable projects have included Violet, Elton John's AIDA, Assassins, A Man of No Importance, My Favorite Year, The Who's Tommy and The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Dennis DeYoung. He has also music-directed several Chicago Casting Auction productions, including The Drowsy Chaperone and Damn Yankees, as well as countless local theatre-benefit concerts. Robert has accompanied cabaret performers such as Andrea Marcovicci and Alexandra Billings at Feinstein's in New York City and at Davenport's in Chicago.
Cameron Turner ( Director, Choreographer ) Recent credits include The Boy from OZ ( Pride Films and Plays ) - choreographer; assistant choreographer for The Wild Party ( Bailiwick Chicago ) and Jesus Christ Superstar ( Theo Ubique ); A New Brain ( Lincoln Lofts ); Young Frankenstein, Spamalot and S'Wonderful ( Timber Lake Playhouse ); and Lysistrata Jones ( Roosevelt University ). This spring, Cameron will be directing and choreographing the Chicago premiere of 35mm: A Musical Exhibition ( Circle Theatre ).
John Nasca ( Costume Design ) is an Artistic Associate of PFP and and the Artistic Director of Glitterati Productions. His directing credits include Gypsy, Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood, Beautiful Thing, The Ritz, Love Sucks, Maurice, Moon Over Buffalo and The Glass Protege. He is also a four-time Joseph Jefferson nominated costumer and the proud recipient of an After Dark Award and two Broadway World Awards. His costume work includes Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Anyone Can Whistle, Noises Off, Metropolis, Phantom, Die! Mommie, Die!, Poseidon: An Upside-Down Musical, Follies, The Miracle Worker, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Me and My Gal, The Little Foxes, Rigoletto, The Great White Hope, Tintypes, The Women, On the Waterfront, Reefer Madness and Something's Afoot. This past year he designed the costumes for The Boy From Oz and Design for Living. He currently is working on a new musical called Heavenly Evening for which he wrote the book. Glitteratiproductions.com
About Pride Films and Plays
Pride Films and Plays is Chicago's premiere script and screenplay development non-profit, and changes lives through the generation of diverse new work with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP "A powerful and empowering entity."
In 2015, PFP produced 5 Jeff Recommended full productions, 3 film fests, and 3 festivals of new work at Center on Halsted.
In 2016, our Winter Season includes the Chicago premiere of Ten Dollar House by Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer at Piccolo Theatre ( Jan 7 to 31 ) and the world premiere of Raggedy And by David Valdes Greenwood at Rivendell Theater ( March 10 — April 10 ). Our season will include a world premiere musical TBA, and our Fall Season is centered around the world premiere of Resolution by Heather McNama and Nancy Nyman at Rivendell.
Founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has received 12 Jeff Nominations, and 4 Jeff Awards. Find more information at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by calling 800-737-0984.
