From buckslocalnews.com
Hopewell, N.J.'s Off-Broadstreet Theatre welcomes back "Jolson & Company," the story of Al Jolson, the entertainer known for such hits as "Mammy," "You Made Me Love You" and "Sonny Boy," for three performances including New Year's Eve.
The shows include a Tuesday evening, Dec. 29 performance, a Wednesday matinee on Dec. 30 and the theater's annual New Years Eve festivities. Splits of champagne will be given to usher in the New Year on Thursday. Area restaurants are offering dinner packages to accompany the theater.
Off-Broadstreet Artistic Director Robert Thick, of Hopewell, will become clean shaven, add a few white curls, a pair of spectator shoes and cross the footlights to appear in the leading role.
Off-Broadstreet welcomes back Peter Wright of Westminster Choir College fame at the keyboard for "Jolson & Company." Wright’s virtuosity at the piano fascinated audiences during both the first presentation of "Jolson & Company" and "The Fantasticks."
Bill Bunting, of Hopewell, returns as Barry Gray a radio interviewer speaking on air with Jolson. Bunting also plays several other men in Jolson’s life including his father, brother, a minstrel conductor and an Army colonel starting the famous USO.
Denise Mihalik, of Chatam, will star as the many women in Jolson’s life. She plays the gambit from his Jewish immigrant mother, to the sexy Mae West and the tap dancing Ruby Keeler – one of Jolson’s four wives.
Al Jolson was known as simply “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.” Jolson’s father was a rabbi and a cantor, giving young Al voice lessons preparing him to sing for synagogue. Jolson and his brother discovered street music and joined the Vaudeville Circuit as teenagers. Jolson’s career flourished as he went on his own in Vaudeville and starred in the first talking motion pictures. As was common of the time, Jolson often appeared in blackface, a tradition he discontinued in the 1940s. Stars like Mae West, Ruby Keeler and Josephine Dunn performed with him.
Performances of "Jolson & Company" are Tuesday, Dec. 29 with dessert at 7 p.m. and curtain at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 30 with dessert at 1:30 p.m. and curtain at 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 31 with dessert at 7 p.m. and curtain at 8 p.m. Admission Tuesday and Wednesday is $27.50 with a senior rate of $25 for Wednesday afternoon only. Admission for Thursday, New Year’s Eve is $35. All prices include dessert and show.
For reservations or more information contact the Off-Broadstreet Theatre, P.O. Box 359, 5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell, N.J., by phone at 609-466-2766 or visit off-broadstreet.com.
Todd's Note:
Blackface is used in one number. Hooray, for Off-Broadstreet Theatre, for staying true to form!
