Jackie Brenneman as Fanny Brice and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. rehearse a scene from Funny Girl at The South Pasadena Public Library #1.
Nick Mestakides as The Ziegfeld Follies Tenor, joined by the lovely Follies Girls rehearses The Most Beautiful Girl In The World in The Conundrum Theatre Company's revival production of Funny Girl.
While full rehearsals are currently underway at multiple locations – including The Community Room of The South Pasadena Public Library, the new non-Equity professional theatre group of the Greater Pasadena Area, The Conundrum Theatre Company, has announced its complete cast of its Inaugural Production of ‘Funny Girl’ the classic, Tony-nominated, Oscar-winning musical theatre hit that made the gifted Barbara Streisand into an international stage and screen star.
‘Funny Girl’ is the musical stage story of the wonderful Jewish-American actress, singer, and comedienne, Fanny Brice, who garnered success, fame and fortune as a star of ‘The Ziegfeld Follies’ on Broadway, but who also found, won, and lost the love of her life, handsome and dashing gambling man, Nick Arnstein, in the process. This wonderful show, with Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill and a Book by Isobel Lennart, will be staged by Conundrum on Friday Oct. 14th, Saturday Oct. 15th, and Sunday Oct. 16th of 2016 onstage at The Historic Rialto Theatre, 1023 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena.
Steven Sass as Eddie Ryan, Alison Korman as Mrs. Brice and Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. rehearse a scene from Funny Girl at The South Pasadena Public Library. Photo by Ryan Luevano.
The Conundrum Theatre Company’s new and innovative revival of ‘Funny Girl’ will be produced by Emily Mae Heller and mounted under the direction of Bryan Snodgrass. The choreography and musical staging will be done by Toni Fuller, and musical direction will be executed by Ryan Luevano, leading a 22-piece live orchestra. Though the details of the production design team members are still being finalized, Mandee Mitchell will serve as Production Stage Manager of ‘Funny Girl,” and veteran musician Michael Griffin will serve as both Rehearsal and Show Accompanist for the show.
The Conundrum Theatre Company’s ‘Funny Girl’ stars Jackie Brenneman as Fanny Brice and Michael Cortez as Nick Arnstein. The featured and prominent supporting performers include: Alison Korman as Mrs. Brice, Steven Sass as Eddie Ryan, Meggan Taylor as Mrs. Strakosh, Mark Melo as Tom Keeney, Sharone Rosen as Mrs. O’Malley and Anne Wendell as Mrs. Meeker. The versatile group of acting, singing, and dancing performers of The Henry Street / Ziegfeld Follies Ensemble include: Ashley Byrd, Alexandra Gates, Dahlya Glick ( Emma ), Kathleen MacCutheon, Amy Mendonca, Nick Mestakides ( The Ziegfeld Follies Tenor ), Melissa Padilla, Amanda Jane Salmon, April Sheets, Victoria Strafuss ( also serving as the Fanny Brice Understudy ), and Chaise Tait ( appearing as John The Stage Manager and The Ziegfeld Follies Stage Director ). And rounding out the cast, will be 2015 / 2016 Elate Season Ticket Holder Award Nominee for Best Actor Darryl Maximilian Robinson as the great Broadway impresario extraordinaire Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.
The Conundrum Theatre Company’s revival production of ‘Funny Girl’ is being produced in association with the not-for-profit organization, Friends Of The Rialto Theatre, a group committed to the preservation and restoration of the lovely, 1200-seat single-screen movie palace built by architect Lewis A. Smith back in 1925.
Theatregoers who desire tickets and reservations to see The Conundrum Theatre Company’s exciting new revival of ‘Funny Girl’ should contact: [email protected]. Individuals interested in making a financial donation or a donation of time to The Friends of The Rialto Theatre should visit their Facebook Page or contact: [email protected] .
