“Sitting 'Round The Piano,” a musical revue in which local singers and performers belt out their favorite show tunes, premieres July 31 at Actors Theatre Playhouse and runs through Aug. 9.
Did you ever want to sing your favorite songs from your favorite musicals in a room filled with your friends and fans?
Doing just that are Cindy Choate, Leslie Cotter, Nancy Groff, Jason Guerino, Julie Olssen, Ken Olssen, Ray Mahoney, Joanne Mead, and Mark and Marilyn Tullgren, all under the stage and musical direction of Mark Tullgren and Ken Olsson.
According to producer and musical performer Marilyn Tullgren, the thought was to find a way to bring more musical entertainment to the Playhouse in a format similar to the popular annual Ten Minute Play Festival, where material changes every season.
They also wanted to avoid restricting themes or plots, just roll out the pure fun of singing popular show tunes so many love but never get the opportunity to perform.
“Quickly, we contacted our friends with the simple question, How'd you like to sing your favorite songs in a musical revue the performers themselves create? Bingo: We had our cast in no time at all,” Tullgren explained.
She added that the revue's title says it all.
“It's a talented gathering of friends and singers and their favorite songs sitting alongside a piano. Whether it's in a living room at a party or on the stage of the Actors Theatre Playhouse, it's a heartfelt, full-out evening of fun dedicated to the songs we love.”