Neil Berg's Broadway Stars Return To Open Alleghany Arts Council's Season Monday, Nov. 2   At the insistence of local audiences, Neil Berg’s widely acclaimed musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows will return to the Alleghany Highlands to open the Arts Council's 56th consecutive season Monday night, Nov.2. The curtain will go up at 8 pm with a talent-laden team showcasing four actors from last year's show plus one new cast member. Although musical director and pianist Neil Berg missed last year's show due to illness, he will be back on the Curfman Hall stage Monday night along with his wife Rita Harvey (Christine Daee, Phantom of the Opera), Ray McLeod (Wreck, Wonderful Town), Carter Calvert (Grizabella, Cats), Danny Zolli (Jesus, Jesus Christ Superstar), and Grant Norman (The Phantom, Phantom of the Opera). *Cast is subject to change based upon possible Broadway and touring developments. NEIL BERG wrote the hit Off-Broadway musical “The Prince and the Pauper”, which ran for two years at the Lambs Theater in New York City. The New York Times raved “(Berg’s) music soars on Angel’s wings”. Neil recently composed the Broadway musical “Grumpy Old Men”, based on the contemporary movie classic starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and “The Man Who Would Be King” with book and lyrics by DJ Salisbury. along with producer Adam Friedson. Berg is currently collaborating with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and Friedson on a new musical called "The Twelve" based on the lives of Jesus' disciples. RITA HARVEY starred as Hodel in the hit Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof with Rosie O’Donnell and Harvey Fierstein. She made her Broadway debut performing the lead role of Christine Daee in The Phantom of the Opera, after two years performing the role with the second national tour. She starred off-Broadway as Lady Edith in the hit musical The Prince and the Pauper. Rita has performed as featured soloist around the world with such stars as Robert Evan, Betty Buckley, Ben Vereen, Craig Schulman, Lillias White and Michael Crawford. RAYMOND JARAMILLO MCLEOD A Broadway veteran, most recently Mr. McLeod appeared as ‘Wreck’ in the Tony Award winning production of “Wonderful Town”. He has also worked in shows with such stars as Michael Crawford (Dance of the Vampires), Placido Domingo (Metropolitan and Los Angeles Operas), Taye Diggs (The Wild Party) and Will Smith (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). However, his daughters only know him from his work with Disney on the soundtracks: Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladin and Pocohantas. CARTER CALVERT New York credits include starring in the original Broadway production cast album, and touring productions of It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues. Ms. Calvert toured Europe in Smokey Joe's CafĂ©, played Grizabella in the national tour of Cats, and appeared as the title role in Always, Patsy Cline. DANNY ZOLLI Best known for his monumental number of performances as Jesus, Judas, and Annas in more than 15 productions of Jesus Christ Superstar throughout the world, Danny's unique and stirring performance of the aria "Gethsemane" is debated among "Jesus Christ Superstar" fans as one of the best. Danny has just completed and will soon be releasing his second solo album entitled "Sometimes Simple is Best". Most recently, Danny starred as Jesus in the 20th Anniversary concert of Jesus Christ Superstar. GRANT NORMAN Last seen playing the role of Gaston in the Broadway production of “Disney's Beauty and the Beast”, Grant also played the role of the Beast on the North American National Tour where he garnered two National Theater Award nominations. Before that he played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's “The Phantom of the Opera” on the American National Tour as well as at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: CI, Conviction, All My Children. Jane Newkirk is the Arts Council's president. She stated, "It was seeing this show in 2007 that made me want to get seriously involved with working backstage for the Arts Council. The performers were just amazing and I couldn't believe we could actually get them to come here and sing for us. Now I'm their biggest fan." "We had no choice but bring this show back for the third time," said Arts Council Executive Director Tammy Scruggs. "We've had some of our largest crowds ever for this event and patrons leave each time begging for more. It was the most requested encore I can remember in my 15 years of presenting." Tickets are $20 adults and $8 students and are on sale now at Music Unlimited and The Gettin' Place in Covington and Owen's Pharmacy in Clifton Forge as well as in the Arts Council office inside Stellar One Bank. Group rates are also available for groups of 10 or more. A new feature this year also allows patrons to purchase tickets on-line at alleghanyarts4all.com. For more information, call 962-6220.

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