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OUR CREATIVE TEAM... |
 DAVID LEVY (Book
and Lyrics) has most currently written and directed SOPHISTICATED ELLINGTON,
a pops evening for symphony orchestras, which is currently touring the country
and will be conducted this season by Erch Kunzel at Carnegie Hall, as well
as by Keith Lockhart for the Boston Pops. For the Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra Classical Series, he wrote a new theatrical narration of Bartok's
MIRACULOUS MANDARIN, starring Werner Klemperer.
For Broadway Cares, he wrote book and lyrics for A SALUTE TO 100 YEARS at the Minskoff Theatre, starring Bea Arthur, Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon and Petula Clark, among others. Off-Broadway, he has written book, music lyrics for the Drama Desk nominated musical HEY MA...KAYE BALLARD at the Promenade Theatre and Kennedy Center. His musical THE WONDER YEARS, winner of seven Los Angeles Drama-Logue awards, including one for best music and lyrics, ran successfully at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles, Off-Broadway at the Village Gate and throughout the country. For the St. Louis Muny, he has written new book and lyrics for Frank Loesser's HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN starring Michael Feinstein and the book for IT'S COLE PORTER, as well as THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES MUNY SPECTACULAR. Other regional credits include book, music and lyrics for ALL DRESSED UP at the Whole Theatre Company, WAITING FOR YOU starring Roz Ryan at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, and Ameritech's YULETIDE CELEBRATION for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition, his new musical THE BARRY SISTERS co-authored with Barry Kleinbort is scheduled to open in Florida this fall. |
 LESLIE EBERHARD
(Book and Lyrics) has been a writer on the NBC TV hit series FRASIER,
as well as THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW, and Disney's PRIDE AND JOY. He is
currently the Co-Executive producer and Co-Creator of the hit teen series
USA HIGH. Among his numerous TV credits, he was previously a producer/writer
on the long running Saturday morning series, SAVED BY THE BELL. In New York,
he was the co-author and lyricist of the musical HEY MA... (nominated for
a Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Award) which played off-Broadway
at the Promenade Theatre, as well as at the Kennedy Center, ALL DRESSED
UP, which premiered at the Whole Theatre Company, JOLSON at the Paper Mill
Playhouse, THE WORLD'S GREATEST GIRL DETECTIVE (recipient of the New York
State Council on the Arts Award), and WAITING FOR YOU at the Coconut Grove
Playhouse in Florida.
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 PHIL HALL (Music).
The better part of Phil's career has been spent as a conductor/musical director.
On Broadway, he conducted PLAY ME A COUNTRY SONG and was associate conductor
for the Broadway revival of MAME which starred Angela Lansbury. He conducted
the third national tour of CATS. He musical directed SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM
at the Michigan Opera Theatre. He conducted the Yeston/Kopit PHANTOM at
Atlanta's Theatre of the Stars. He conducted SAYONARA at Houstons's Theatre
Under the Stars, Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre and Kansas City Starlight's
Indoor Season. He conducted THE WIZARD OF OZ which starred Phyllis Diller
as the Wicked Witch at both St. Louis' MUNY and Indianapolis Starlight Theatre.
He conducted THE MERRY WIDOW which starred Ron Raines of GUIDING LIGHT fame
at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars. He conducted the premiere of a new
musical, THE PRINCE OF CENTRAL PARK, which starred Nanelle Fabray. Other
musical directing credits include SOME ENCHANTED EVENING at Kennedy Center;
the premiere production of SLEEPING BEAUTY at St. Louis' MUNY; THE DESERT
SONG, 42nd STREET, and the premiere of RHYTHM RANCH (with Tony Award-winning
choreographer, Susan Stroman)--all at Paper Mill Playhouse; and the premiere
of GREAT EXPECTATIONS at Pennsylvania Stage Company. He has conducted summer
tours of ME AND MY GIRL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. He musical dircted (in
1993 and 1994) the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's A YULETIDE CELEBRATION--shows
for which he also did extensive musical and choral arranging. He appeared
on stage in Paper Mill's 1989 spring production of SHOW BOAT which aired
on PBS' "Great Performances' series, playing the role of Jake who plays
for Julie to sing "Bill."
Phil wrote and arranged music for the American premiere of Christopher Sergel's adaptation of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Paper Mill Playhouse. He vocally arranged SOPHISTICATED ELLINGTON, a concert of Duke Ellington's music for symphony dates across the United States. He arranged a THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL OVERTURE, orchestrated by Michael Gibson, for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He was also one of the vocal arrangers for SOME ENCHANTED EVENING--a review of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs. He is the vocal arranger for BRAVO BROADWAY symphonic concerts. His gospel arrangements of "Nearer, My God, to Thee" and "More About Jesus' have been published by Warner Brothers Music Publishing, and his arrangement of "Into the Woods My Master Went" is published by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing. As a voice teacher and coach, he taught masterclasses for three seasons in Vienna in musical theatre audition techniques at the Tanz Gesang Studio/Theatre an der Wien. He also maintains a considerable teaching/coaching studio in New York City, where he resides. He is an alumnus of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Indiana University at Bloomington. He is a native of Durham, North Carolina. He has had the good fortune to work with such celebrities (in addition to those already mentioned) as Tommy Tune, Bernadette Peters, Martin Short, Madeline Kahn, Faith Prince, Petula Clark, Sally Ann Howes, Judy Kaye, Spiro Malas, Donna McKechnie, Andrea McArdle, John Raitt, Lily Tomlin, Raquel Welch, Bea Arthur, Gregory Hines, Alice Ripley, David Canary, Julia Barr, and Laurie Beechman. |
 PHILIP Wm.
McKINLEY (Director). This internationally known director/choreographer
has been called, "...the great Ziegfeld of our generation." Demonstrating
his versatility and creative prowess, Mr. McKinley most recently embarked
on one of his most challenging directorial assignments. He conceived, directed
and choreographed for producer Kenneth Feld the 128th edition of RINGLING
BROS. and BARNUM & BAILEY'S "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH." The production,
which opened at Madison Square Garden, received rave reviews from the New
York critics and will tour the United States, Canada and Mexico. He directed
the world premiere of William Luce’s five character play CHANEL in Toyko,
Japan for which he received the honor of being the first American director
to direct an American commissioned work for Japan. Also in Tokyo he was
the director/choreographer for an international company of the rock musical
HAIR. The company was composed of Japanese, Filipino and British actors
and performed in English and Japanese. His German production of the Yeston/Kopit
PHANTOM was dubbed "the most successful tour in Germany."
McKinley directed the BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 8TH ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION at the Minskoff Theater. The cast featured Bea Arthur, Victor Garber, Geoffrey Holder, Judy Kaye, Bebe Neuwirth, Chita Rivera, and Gwen Verdon as well as dozens of stars from past and present Broadway productions. New York's BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE stated that is was "...one of the most exciting shows seen on Broadway..." Also in New York he directed the wonderfully zany, Off-Broadway musical ZOMBIE PROM. The production which featured a teenage Zombie as the leading man, was an instant hit with the audiences but unfortunately did not fare as well with the critics. With the recent release of the CD and productions slated all across the United States and Europe this show is beginning to "rise from the dead" -- proving that there is life after death...at least in show business. At the North Shore Music Theater and the Kansas City Starlight Theatre, he directed the premiere of the romantic musical thriller, Dr. JEKYLL & Mr. HYDE by Levy, Eberhard and Hall. And most recently at North Shore he directed a 30th anniversary production of the musical HAIR which won critical acclaim from the Boston critics and broke house box office records. McKinley also directed the 1997 revival of the Kopit/Yeston PHANTOM for Frank Young and Theater Under the Stars in Houston. In Kansas City he received the Drama Desk and People's Choice Awards for Best Director and Best Show for his production of PHANTOM produced by The New Theatre. His THE WIZARD OF OZ starring Phyllis Diller, won him a Kansas City Drama Desk nomination for Best Director. And his production of the musical version of James Michener's SAYONARA has been seen in several cities in the United States including Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego and Kansas City. The Westchester Broadway theater hailed his production of SAYONARA as their "most spectacular production in 20 years." Past directing credits also include THE GLASS MENAGERIE, THE EFFECTS OF GAMMAR RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS, THE LION IN WINTER, VANITIES, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES as well as musical credits that include helming PETER PAN starring B.D. Wong and David Ogden Stiers, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC starring Betty Buckley, THE MERRY WIDOW (his own adaptation), PHANTOM, CANDIDE, THE DESERT SONG featuring the New York City Opera principals, and the world premier of RHYTHM RANCH choreographed by Susan Stroman. These productions have been seen at leading theaters in America including Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars, Sacramento Music Circus, 5th Avenue Theater, North Shore Music Theater, Casa Manana etc... This winter Mr. McKinley will return to his winter quarters in Tampa, Florida to conceive, direct and choreograph the 129th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Elephants, clowns and all. "Ain't Showbiz great!"
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