CHIP DEFFAA'S "THEATER BOYS" A musical comedy, starring DAVID CRONIN and KEITH ANDERSON, with Jonah Mayor, Matt Nardozzi, Zack Riopelle, Ricky Schroeder, Cody Dericks, Andrew Lanctot, Matt Zanfagna, Chris Giordano; with special thanks to Miss Carol Channing Book, Music, and Lyrics by ASCAP award-winner CHIP DEFFAA (with a couple of standards thrown in) Music Direction by RICHARD DANLEY, with BRIAN NALEPKA on bass and SKYE STEELE on violin; Choreography and tap-dancing by TYLER DUBOYS Music preparation by Donald Brown and Richard Danley; recording engineer: Slau Halatyn. "THEATER BOYS" was first produced at the Kaufman Theater/the Algonquin Theater Group, 123 E. 24th Street, New York City, and subsequently produced at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, 50 W. 13th Street, New York City. © and (P) by Chip Deffaa, 2013 * * * HERE’S WHAT REVIEWERS HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT "THEATER BOYS" . . . "I hated to see 'Theater Boys' end.... The crowds were ecstatic." --Joe Franklin, WBBR/Bloomberg Radio "A fantastic and funny insider's look at the New York theater scene." --Barry Z, BarryZShow.com "'Theater Boys' is the most entertaining gay musical in years.... Deffaa not only knows how to entertain an audience... he also knows how to move an audience….” --Rob Adams, www.Stage-Space.biz "A cheeky musical comedy... The loose plot revolves around the Director, who has lured country bumpkin Kipp back to his apartment for an 'audition' on his first day in New York City. The director attempts to slyly talk Kipp out of his clothes, but the boy's naivete protects him from carnal knowledge....” --“Back Stage” "Their world is a silly one, made interesting by an enthusiastic cast, a lively score..." --Robert Weinstein, www.NYTheatre.com "A spoof of theater and its wannabe participants.... Songs are often entertaining and skillful. Laughs are mostly rooted in the wide-eyed naiveté of one small town young man and a former child star, both auditioning for a new gay show. Act Two is a revelation: flashbacks show two main characters as teens coming to terms with being gay, each with a first love. Suddenly more serious and tender, there’s also warm coming-of-age humor. The acting here is thoughtful and moving.... Silliness and spunk return for the finale...” --Rob Lester, “Cabaret Scenes" magazine * * * A SYNOPSIS OF THE MUSICAL "THEATER BOYS"… As the lights in the theater go down, we hear--as a kind of overture or curtain raiser--a bit of the tune “You’ve Captured My Heart.” Fresh off the bus from what he feels is the greatest hometown in the world, a place called Chilliwack, Kipp (played by David Cronin) has arrived in New York City with dreams of becoming an actor. He is young, naive, optimistic, hopeful, and awfully good-looking. He meets one Christopher T. Worfle–“The Director” (played by Keith Anderson)–a seasoned director/playwright/producer and caterer, who says he is developing what will be the ultimate Off-Off-Off Broadway gay musical. At his Hell’s Kitchen walk-up, the Director tries to impress Kipp by dropping names of assorted show-business greats and near-greats he claims to have known–everyone from Stephen Sondheim to Bob Fosse to Jonathan Larson, to... David Cassidy. He says he wants to get to know Kipp better, and in a first audition, he tries to get Kipp out of his constricting clothes. He is quite confident there is a place for Kipp in his forthcoming gay musical. Yes, he assures Kipp, he will want to see Kipp nude for the show, but that is not for his own personal gratification, he vows; it is for a much greater good, it is “FOR THE THEATRE.” By undressing for him, the Director tries to persuade Kipp, the young actor will be honoring the memories of assorted immortals, from Mae West to Babe Ruth. The director does not succeed in getting Kipp out of his clothes, but invites him back for the open-call auditions. The Director has great optimism about the future; he moved to New York City, he notes, upon the advice of one of the great ladies of the theater, Miss Carol Channing, who impressed upon him--with a voice that to him had the authority of an oracle: “You will find what you are looking for in New York.” At the auditions, the Director says he’d like each of the guys present to tell a bit about themselves–who they are, why they want to be in his gay musical, how they first came to realize they were gay. It’s not just that he likes to know his aspiring actors intimately, he stresses, he actually plans to construct his forthcoming musical out of the stories they share with him. The first to share his story is actor Rocky Kreeger (played by Ricky Schroeder). He is perhaps the Director’s biggest success story, having previously starred in the Director’s show "Naked Maids Dusting." He tells how he had grown up in Footville, Georgia, dreaming of someday meeting all of the glittering celebrities he read about in the reports of syndicated gosssip columnist “LIZ SMITH.” His dream was to someday be written up by Liz Smith as a new star. Upon arriving in New York, he’d met the Director who’d promised to introduce him to the leading lights of show business. And, thanks to the Director, he soon was in a room filled with celebrities he’d been reading about for years–the Director got him a job catering an “OPENING-NIGHT PARTY” for a lavish Broadway production On the Waterfront: The Musical. And while the party was not exactly what Rocky had hoped it might be, it did lead to Rocky getting his first, highly coveted mention by Liz Smith. The next aspiring actor to bare his soul is figure-skater Casey DePaw (played by Cody Dericks), recently dismissed from the cast of Romeo and Juliet On Ice, who now yearns to make it in the world of legitimate theater. He feels theater will be a healthy new outlet for him, and will help him take his mind off of the love of his life, who has jilted him. Trying a bit too hard to convince everyone that his obsessive love is history, he sings “WHEN LOVE GROWS COLD.” Kipp admits he has never done anything in his life as impressive as Rocky or Casey have, but insists that he has come from the best hometown anyone could ever have grown up in. With vaudeville panache, he sings “UNDER THE CHILLIWACK MOON” (also known as “Kipp’s Moon Song”). And while there may be no place on earth quite that perfect as his hometown, it is obvious Kipp does not really need fame or fortune to find happiness. The Director wants to know more about Kipp’s own past, but Kipp is not ready to talk yet. The next actor to tell his story is Braden Walker (played by Jonah Mayor), who in his youth spent eight seasons on a sitcom, "Where’s the Chef?" There isn’t much demand in the industry these days for the talents of the former child star, now in his 20s. He says he is not gay himself, but insists that “MAYBE”–if the role were artistically challenging enough, and dramatically sound enough, as he’s quite sure the Director’s proposed follow-up to "Naked Maids Dusting" will be–he would be willing to portray a gay character on the stage. And even do love scenes with someone like Kipp. In fact, he could envision them, as close friends, building a life together. But Kipp isn’t interested in this confused, closeted fellow (“SWEET TEA”/”SOMEBODY’S BABY”). Kipp allows that he’s pleased to be in the same room as a former Hollywood star, but he adds that he has never really been all that impressed with Hollywood. His heart belongs to his dear hometown: “CHILLIWACK REPRISE.” The Director insists needs to know more about Kipp’s own background–asking who was the first boy Kipp ever fell for. Kipp says he’ll share that story... provided the Director will do likewise.... And Act One closes. The Second Act begins with two longer, more thoughtful sequences, as first Kipp, and then the Director, share the stories of their first loves. Kipp and the Director are opening up to one another now, and these stories they share, of early experiences with love and sexual experimentation–while funny–have honest emotion in them. Kipp tells of his first boyhood crush–recalling sneaking out to go skinny-dipping with the town’s bad-boy, Reese Brock (played by Matt Nardozzi), when Reese was 14 and he was 13 (“CRATER LAKES BLUES”). With Kipp having shared how he first fell in love, the Director chooses to do likewise, remembering how--as an idealistic, 16-year-old aspiring poet/playwright (played by Andrew Lanctot)--he met a fellow 16-year-old in his neighborhood, named Nathan (played by Zack Riopelle), whom he thought was as beautiful as his favorite poet, Rupert Brooke. Neither one is initially willing to admit he’s gay, or attracted to the other, although they d spend all their free time together, watching old movie musicals. Nathan knows every word, every song in his favorite films by heart (“MY MAN”). Their summer-long friendship grows frustrating. They are attracted to one another, but neither one knows what to do about it, and they are unable to talk honestly about their feelings. Nathan tries to address the situation obliquely, although it takes a while for Chris (the Director, at the age of 16) to figure out what Nathan is driving at (“TELL ME WHY”/”BACK IN KOKOMO”). Nathan tells of a stage hypnotist he once saw, back when he lived in Kokomo, who could get people to do things under hypnosis that they would never ordinarily do. If Chris were to hypnotize him, he suggests, Chris could get him to do all sorts of things against his will, of which he’d have no memory afterwards. Chris decides to try hypnotizing him, enabling Chris to have his way with him without either one having to admit what is going on. Afterwards they can enjoy their old movie musicals, until next time (“DO IT AGAIN”). The Director, feeling inspired by everything he’s heard and experienced that day, tells Kipp he wants to feature him in a big showcase number in his forthcoming musical. It will be the ultimate medley of moon songs, with Kipp wearing progressively less and less, ending–if the Director has his way (and the budget will allow)--with 60 naked guys on a Ziegfeld-style grand staircase, gracefully mooning the audience. Kipp and the Director sing their way through the “MOON MONTAGE,” with the Director making his costuming choices quite clear. Kipp sings how life was better back in his hometown. And explains how he only left his near-perfect hometown because of a chance meeting with Miss Carol Channing--who told him, with the voice of an oracle, that he’d find what he needed in New York. His idealized hometown may not quite exist–not the way Kipp sings of it, anyway. For he’s singing of longing for a “home” that seems to represent youth and innocence, and everything working out easily in a way that never quite happens for us as adults in real life. And maybe Kipp can’t quite have his beloved, idealized Chilliwack. And maybe the Director can’t quite have his dreamed-of smash-hit Off-Off-Off Broadway gay naked “Follies,” with a cast of 60. But the two can have each other, they realize as they work together. Maybe that’s enough. And who can fight Carol Channing? The finale brings the whole cast together, doing a number from the Director’s show: “UNDER THE MELLOW ARABIAN MOON.” * * * OUR COMPANY... DAVID CRONIN (“Kipp”) has been a professional actor since childhood, when he appeared as “Tiny Tim” in Susan Stroman’s production of "A Christmas Carol" at Madison Square Garden in New York. He has appeared in musicals ranging from "The Pajama Game" to "Sweeney Todd." He’s most recently starred (playing “Peter”) in the pop opera "Bare" at the White Plains Performing Arts Center Educated at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (New York’s renowned “Fame” high school) and the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, he has sung with the Nevada Opera, New York’s City-Wide Youth Opera, and the LaGuardia Arts Opera Workshop. He has worked on projects with Chip Deffaa for seven years, ranging from making the original demo recordings for Deffaa’s musical comedy "The Seven Little Foys" to appearing in the original production (at the Fresh Fruit Festival in NYC) of Deffaa’s "Theater Boys"--for which he and another cast-mate won best-in-festival awards for their work. KEITH ANDERSON (“The Director”) has done a little of just about everything throughout his performance career--from concerts to musicals to plays, to tours throughout North America and Japan, to singing jingles, to cabaret, to the Kennedy Center. He most recently appeared as “Ian” in "The Vampires" by Harry Kondoleon and as “Aeneas” in "Trojan Women: A Love Story" by Charles Mee. His credits include singing “The Star Spangled Banner” for the Cubs, narrating "Biography: Billy Idol" for the Biography Channel, and singing backup for the late, great Perry Como. Chip Deffaa, who first saw Anderson in the Off-Broadway musical "Fairy Tales" (and also enjoyed him on the premiere recording), wrote the role of “the Director” with Anderson in mind. Deffaa picked Anderson to sing on the original "Theater Boys" demo recordings (along with Santino Fontana, Seth Sikes, Clark Kinkade, and others). Anderson also starred in the first production of a revue Deffaa conceived and produced, "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree," and may be heard on the cast album (Original Cast Records). Anderson studied music at Northwestern University, and currently performs in garages all over New York with his band The Sub Counts. RICKY SCHROEDER (“Rocky”), who’s from Rochester, New York, has studied musical theater at NYU. He’s been seen on the New York stage in the shows "Icons" and "Naked Boys Singing." and is a favorite at the gala annual charity show created by Jerry Mitchell, "Broadway Bares." He’s danced everywhere from regional productions of shows like "Footloose" to the Miss Florida Pageant, to the recently completed film version of Jason Robert Brown’s musical "The Last Five Years." ZACHARY RIOPELLE (“Nathan”) currently attends New York’s LaGuardia High School, where he studies drama and most recently appeared in the musical "Grease." For four years he has attended the French Woods Festival of Performing Arts, where he has gotten to perform in such shows as "Singin’ in the Rain," "Little Me," and "13!" He may be heard (playing the role of “Richard Foy”) on the cast album of Deffaa’s musical comedy "The Seven Little Foys," singing such songs as “Daddy, You’ve Been a Mother to Me” and “You Remind Me of My Mother.” (He would like to thank his parents for being so supportive, and give a special thanks to his sister Lily, adding that she is the light of his life and his inspiration to be his best every day.) MATTHEW NARDOZZI (“Reese”) has appeared on Broadway in "Inherit The Wind" (starring Christopher Plummer) and "Dracula." He also voiced the role of “Cub Reporter” in Disney's "Schoolhouse Rock: Earth," and this season can be heard on an episode of "Minute To Win It." He has been seen in the feature films: "Chapter 27" (with Jared Leto & Lindsay Lohan), "Two Days," and "Snapshots," which premiered at Cannes. He has also been seen on "The Battery's Down," "Good Morning America," and "The American Revolution Project." He has appeared in presentations of Chip Deffaa’s "The Seven Little Foys" in New York and "Irving Berlin’s America" in New Jersey. And, at the 34th Annual Young Artists Awards in 2013, he won the award for best young actor in live theater. He is also a competitive swimmer, and has swum for the US Team in the World Friendship Games in Austria. JONAH MAYOR (“Braden”), a recent graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), grew up in NYC , and also lived in Texas for quite some time. His musical-theater credits include playing “Roger” in Rent (Soop Theatre), “Dauntless” in "Once Upon a Mattress" (Preston Players), and “Tony” in "West Side Story" (Salesian Players). He has also been a soloist with Aida Cruises. His goal is to become a pop artist and tour around the world. Jonah would like to give a special thanks to Elaine Petricoff–Cohen for all the constant support since day-one at AMDA. CODY DERICKS (“Casey” and “Liz Smith”), originally from Sparta, New Jersey, is a graduate of Hofstra University, where he performed in both Shakespearian dramas and musical theater. He has most recently co-starred in "Romeo and Juliet," at both the Chain Theater in New York City and at the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival. Among other productions he’s appeared in: "Carrie" (directed by Jack Saleeby), "Rent," "Spring Awakening," "Much Ado About Nothing," and "The Threepenny Opera." ANDREW LANCTOT (“Chris–the Director, at the age of 16"), is originally from Romeo, Michigan, where he was active in theater, performing in area productions of such shows as "Little Women" and "Seussical"; he currently attends the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). MATT ZANFAGNA, who sings in the ensemble (and also provides the speaking voice of “that gal from Hairspray”) is an alumnus of AMDA; he’s sung in concert with Marni Nixon, and has appeared in productions of such musicals as "Peter Pan," "The Producers," "Rent," "Hair," and "High School Musical." CHRIS GIORDANO (ensemble), a Pace University graduate, has been seen regionally in "The Nutcracker," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "Hair." * * * MISS CAROL CHANNING -- who inspired the musical comedy "Theater Boys" and to whom the show is dedicated-- is, of course, one of the great ladies of the American stage, famed for her work in such musicals as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Hello Dolly!" (for which she won the Tony Award). Chip Deffaa notes: “I’ve never witnessed a performer with more presence on stage than Carol Channing. I’ve seen her many times since I was young. But besides being a tremendous musical-comedy artist, she’s also—in real life—one of the wisest, most insightful people I know. A profound woman. About 20 years ago, when I was dealing with the passing of someone very close to me, she helped me more than anyone else. I jotted in my notebook advice she gave to me, adding the words: ‘Carol Channing—voice of an oracle.’ Over the years, I’ve acknowledged her, as a source of inspiration, in assorted scripts and recordings. " It means a great deal to Deffaa that "Theater Boys" includes some of Miss Channing's own words. "As she's so wisely said to me--and as we hear in 'Theater Boys'--'We are all wired for love.' That's the ultimate message of this show. I'm very grateful to her for her inspiration, guidance, help . Wonderful woman." * * * CHIP DEFFAA (playwright/director) is the author of six published plays and eight published books. "George M. Cohan Tonight!," which Deffaa wrote and directed Off-Broadway at the Irish Repertory Theatre, was hailed by The New York Times as "brash, cocky, and endlessly euphoric." It has since been performed everywhere from the United Kingdom to Korea. "One Night with Fanny Brice," which Deffaa wrote and directed Off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theater, was praised by The New York Times for delving "deeper into Brice's story" than "Funny Girl" ever did. The Associated Press acclaimed it as a "charming, fast-paced" musical. Deffaa’s books include "Swing Legacy," "Voices of the Jazz Age," "In the Mainstream," "Traditionalists and Revivalists in Jazz," "Jazz Veterans," "F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Princeton Years" (ed.), "Blue Rhythms," and (with David Cassidy)"C'Mon Get Happy." For 18 years, Deffaa wrote for The New York Post, writing news, feature stories, and reviews dealing with jazz, cabaret, and theater. He was also a longtime writer for Entertainment Weekly magazine. Deffaa has won an ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award, a New Jersey Press Association Award, and an IRNE Award (Independent Reviewers of New England). Deffaa's most recent plays include "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Song-and-Dance Kids," "Presenting Fanny Brice," and "Irving Berlin’s America." All of Deffaa's plays are available for licensing. He is represented by the Fifi Oscard Agency, New York City. For more information, please visit: www.chipdeffaa.com. RICHARD DANLEY (music director/pianist). A respected, New York-based accompanist, conductor, and arranger, Danley is Chip Deffaa’s first choice among music directors. He has worked with Deffaa on many projects, including recording sessions, readings, and full productions, such as "George M. Cohan Tonight!" (most recently in New Orleans), "The Seven Little Foys" (at the New York International Fringe Festival), and "One Night with Fanny Brice" (in both its original 2011 Off-Broadway production at St. Luke’s Theater, NYC, and its 2013 revival at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, NYC). He played on the premiere recordings of Deffaa’s shows "Presenting Fanny Brice" (Eldridge), "The Seven Little Foys" (Original Cast Records), and "Irving Berlin’s America" (Original Cast Records). He has served as musical director/arranger for Peter Duchin's Broadway revues, music director for cabaret shows in New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. He was a featured pianist with “Broadway and Barbershop” at Carnegie Hall. Other credits include: arranger/conductor for Broadway-style revues in NYC, Montreal, Switzerland, and Texas. He has conducted industrials in South Carolina and Hawaii, and has appeared on daytime dramas in television. Training: B.S., David Lipscomb University. Member: AFTRA, AF of M. BRIAN NALEPKA (string bass) is a founding member of the Manhattan Rhythm Kings. He was an original cast member of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show "Crazy For You." With the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, he's performed concerts in all 50 states, and with over 85 symphony orchestras in the U.S. and Canada. They’ve often appeared, too, with Tommy Tune. And they’ve done television specials with the Boston Pops, including the Emmy Award-winning "Celebrating Gershwin.” Brian Nalepka has recorded on over sixty CD's, including seven with Leon Redbone. His bass, tuba and vocals can be heard on the soundtracks of such movies as "The Aviator," "One Night Stand," and "Elf." He resides in Bloomfield, New Jersey, with his wife, Mary Alice Shaughnessy, former longtime People Magazine writer and reporter, and author of "Les Paul--An American Original" (William Morrow). They have two daughters, Ella and Nora. SKYE STEELE (violin) has been playing since the age of three. He earned a Jazz Performance degree from the New School. He’s led groups of his own, such as the Skye Steele Quintet (with whom he recorded his debut album, "Late Bloomer"), Glorious Sunshine, and The Hot Holy Mess. He’s had opportunities to work with the likes of Anthony Braxton, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Butch Morris, Willie Nelson, Rufus Wainwright, Duncan Sheik, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, The Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra, Howard Fishman, Vampire Suit, Nation Beat, and Anistar. Steele has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Iridium, Irving Plaza, and dozens of other venues. Touring experience includes extensive travel in the US, Canada, and Mexico, performances in Brazil, China, Israel, and throughout Europe. As an educator, Steele has worked with students at Syracuse University, the University of Florida, California State Summer School for the Arts, and dozens of public schools around the country. For more information on Steele’s career and recordings, please visit: www.skyesteele.com. TYLER DUBOYS (choreography/tap dancing) has aided in the development of several of Deffaa’s shows. He’s participated in readings of "The Seven Little Foys" and "Song-and-Dance Kids," and was featured on the premiere recordings of "Presenting Fanny Brice" (Eldridge), "The Seven Little Foys" (Original Cast Records), and "Irving Berlin’s America" (Original Cast Records). He’s performed in many touring musicals, such as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," "Anne of Green Gables," and "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular." Since 2007, he has been a member of the Connecticut-based dance company “In Motion,” where he is also a frequent guest choreographer. In addition, he’s an aerialist, and a certified instructor in AntiGravity Yoga®--a hybrid technique that combines high-flying aerial acrobatics with restorative yoga. He is currently studying dance at NYU / Tisch School of the Arts. HOWARD CRUSE, who created the artwork, graphics, and logo that grace the front cover of this CD, is an internationally acclaimed cartoonist. He is the author of the graphic novel "Stuck Rubber Baby" (which was nominated for the American Library Association’s Lesbian and Gay Book Award; and was chosen as "Best Graphic Novel" in the United Kingdom Comic Art Awards and was awarded the French "Prix de la Critique"), and such collections of his comics as "Wendel," "Barefootz," "From Headrack to Claude," "Dancin’ Nekkid with the Angels," and "The Other Side of Howard Cruse." FRANK AVELLINO, who did the design and layout of this CD, is a graphic designer who specializes in promotional art for theater and the performing arts. Among his recent credits: doing the design and logo work for Chip Deffaa’s Off-Broadway production, "One Night with Fanny Brice" (and for its cast album); for Carl Kissin and Rob Baumgartner’s new musical "Date of a Lifetime" (which he helped produce); and for the boy-band musical by Damon Intrabartolo, "Ride," which is currently in development. Avellino has also done the design and layout for two other CD’s of Deffaa’s: "The Seven Little Foys" (Original Cast Records) and "Irving Berlin’s America" (Original Cast Records). www.logoyourshow.com. SLAU HALATYN, who recorded, mixed, and mastered this CD, has an international reputation in the recording field. He has served as recording engineer for four previous CD’s of Deffaa’s--the premiere recordings of "One Night with Fanny Brice" (Original Cast Records), "Presenting Fanny Brice" (Eldridge), "The Seven Little Foys" (Original Cast Records), and "Irving Berlin’s America" (Original Cast Records). This album was recorded at Halatyn’s Be-Sharp Studios, 30-80 33rd St., Astoria, NY 11102. Production Assistant: Jessee D. Riehl. Aide-de-camp: Ben Youngstone. Videographer: Max Galassi. Technical advisor/historical consultant: Luis Villabon * * * All of Deffaa’s shows are available for licensing. For more info: go to: www.chipdeffaa. com. * * * CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS... This project would not have been possible without the support–financial and otherwise–of many people. We’d like to acknowledge them. Our deep gratitude to co-producers Deb Deffaa and Louis Deffaa Sr. We appreciate greatly the help of our associate producers, Donnie Snyder and Tom Gavin. Many thanks to our backers, without whose generous support this CD could not have been made. We’re very grateful to: Don Brown, Devon Darrow, Joseph Shapiro, Karen Kelly, Rebecca Brite, George Winters, Lee Martin, Elyse Derman, Dixie Melquist, George Golden, Jerry Wichinsky, Christine Ramus, Jerry Castaldo, Matt Nardozzi, Jan Monsch, Arthur Raphael, Sandy Denmark, Joe DiLeo, Lawrence Leritz, Patrick Shank, Paul Mendenhall, Sharon A. Wilcox, Roger Gindi, Bob Diamond, Ciaran Sammon, Louis Deffaa Sr., Lyle Ressler, Dale Joan Young, Frank DeMayo, Jann Rooney, Confetta Ras, Keith McElwee, Stanley Blum, Pat Kafafian Zengel, Gregory S. Andriate, Jack Quinn, Stephen Hanks, Jeremy Phelps, Floryn Glass Stock, Sheila R. Riddle, Robyn Pepe, Alanna Maharajh Stone, Roy Zemlicka, Glenn Hargett, Byron Eddy, Andrea Oberheiden-Brent, Patrick Lacey, Tamara Colloff-Bennett, Keith Anderson, Maria Judge, Bill Ervolino, Jackie and Bob Gumholtz, Max Deffaa, Julia Deffaa, Aurelia Perry, Chris Henry, Dennis Reid, Toni Schaller, Ira Goldberg, Richard Thomas, Michael Townsend Wright, Chas LiBretto, Sharla Herbert, Lauren Bianco, Lawrence Leritz, Peter Michael Marino, Jack Quinn, Rich Jenkins, Donnie and Earl Snyder, Ronni Richman Gerstel. * * * Our gratitude, always, for their encouragement and wisdom, to the one-and-only Carol Channing (who has long been supportive, and who so generously recorded spoken lines for this project); to the late George Burns, whose encouragement always meant a lot; to ASCAPs unfailingly helpful musical-theater expert, Michael Kerker; to Carol Polcovar, for kindly giving us an opportunity to premiere this musical –just the way we wanted--at the Fresh Fruit Festival. And thanks–for general inspiration–to Tommy Tune. Special thanks to Nathan Letts, Braden Bacon, Daniel Everts, Daniel Pintauro, Luis Villabon, A. R. Biggs, Maryann Lopinto, Danny Walker, Dave Warren, Maxwell Beer, Ryan Lammer, Justin Eisbrenner, Jack Connolly, Corey M. Smathers, and the New Leviathan Ragtime Orchestra. Thanks for their assistance in various ways to Ted Kurdyla, Jack Saleeby, Paul Burchett, Bailey Cummings, Max Galassi, Ben Orlando, Edith O’Hara, Sandra Nordgren, June Rachelson Ospa, Max Morath, Deb Deffaa, Louis Deffaa Sr., Alberta Deffaa, Emily Bordonaro, Michael Kasper, Brian Gari, Sam McCoy, Santino Fontana, Jack Sprance, Chase Brock, Renee Purdy, Will Conard, Eric Johnson, A. J. Pflumm, Michael Dikegoros, Bernice Burge, Jack Quinn, Naomi Miller, Jeff Sewell, Cody Green, Jamie DeRoy, Sharon Wilcox, Agnes Duggan Dann, Ed Bassett Jr., Lynda Barry, Ian Palmer, Michael Herwitz, Cyrus Cohen, Lauren Moran Mills, Eve Prouty, Alec Bordonaro, and Bruce Yeko, President of Original Cast Records. Thanks, too, to recording engineer Slau Halatyn, and his Be-Sharp Studios. Our gratitude, too, to Cracking Inc. (C. A. McCarroll, J. M. McCarroll, principals); to the irrepressible Victoria Leacock Hoffman; to the ever-inspiring Brodericks and Parkers; to our audience-research consultants, Max and Julia Deffaa; to Korean producers Hansaem Song and Ungsuh Kenneth Park; and to show-people Tyler Patterson, Okey Chenoweth, and Anthony Rapp, who’ve helped more than they realized. * * * "Theater Boys" had its first reading at Theatre Row Studios, NYC, with the following cast members: Jed Peterson, David Colbert, Petra deLuca, Sean Flaherty, Farhan Akbar, Ricky Marson, Chip Deffaa. The first demo recordings were made at Steffan Studios, NYC, by the following collective personnel: Keith Anderson, Seth Sikes, Santino Fontana, Clark Kinkade, Colin Pritchard, David Colbert, David Herzog, Robert Micheli, with Richard Danley, D. Jay Bradey (musical directors). The show was developed and first produced in New York City by Chip Deffaa Productions LLC (Chip and Deb Deffaa, principals). Interns: M. Herwitz, I. Palmer. "Theater Boys" had its world premiere production at the Fresh Fruit Festival (Carol Polcovar, artistic director; Louis Lopardi, technical director), presented at the Kaufman Theater/the Algonquin Theater Group, 123 E. 24th Street, New York City. Chip Deffaa was the writer/co-director; Brett Kristofferson was the music director; Gregorey Garrison was the co-director/choreographer; Joyce Liao was the lighting designer; Keith Anderson was the production assistant. Additional choreography by Tyler Watkins. Aide-de-camp: J. K. Saleeby. The cast included: Tyler Watkins, Tyler Etheridge, Danny J. Kingston, David Cronin, Eric Stevens, Chris Scocca, John Kultgen, Michael Montalbano, Jacob Burlas. "Theater Boys" was subsequently produced at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (Edith O'Hara. Founder/Artistic Director; Sandra Nordgren, Producing Artistic Director), 50 W. 13th Street, NYC. Chip Deffaa was the writer/director; Richard Danley was the music director; Tyler DuBoys and Alex Acevedo were the co-choreographers; Peter Charney was the assistant director; Kate Solomon-Tilley was the stage manager. The cast included Michael Czyz, Joseph Spitale, Sam Donnenberg, Philip Louis Calabro, Andrew Lanctot, Jorid de Graaf, Danny Coelho, Will Meredith, Taylor Martin, Ben Orlando, Mark Andrew Garner, Elliot Halperin, Hawkins Gardow * * * "Theater Boys" is available for licensing from The Fifi Oscard Agency (attention: Peter Sawyer), New York City, (212) 764-1100; Email: psawyer@fifioscard.com * * * This CD is part of a series of 500 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and cabaret recordings released by ORIGINAL CAST RECORDS, Box 496, Georgetown, CT 06829. Deffaa’s other cast recordings for this label include "Irving Berlin’s America," "The Seven Little Foys," "One Night with Fanny Brice," and "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree." (p) and © 2013 Chip Deffaa Please visit: www.chipdeffaa.com © and (P) by Chip Deffaa, 2013