Vanities to play on Broadway from 2 Feb

Vanities, a New Musical by Jack Heifner, with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Judith Ivey, will begin performances on Broadway from 2 Feb 2009 at a Shubert theatre to be announced. The official opening will take place in late February.

Vanities, is currently playing a pre-Broadway engagement at the Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, California) where it began performances on 22 Aug and will run through to 28 Sep 2008.

As previously announced Vanities stars Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Side Show) as �Mary,� Sarah Stiles (Avenue Q, Spelling Bee) as �Joanne� and Anneliese van der Pol (Beauty and the Beast) as �Kathy.�

Based on the 1976 comedy that ran for 1,785 performances Off-Broadway, Vanities takes a look at the journey of three All-American girls as they mature from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to independent women. Spanning the turbulent �60s through the late �80s, Vanities celebrates the lives and loves of three best friends caught up in rapidly changing times.

Vanities was originally produced at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto in the summer of 2006. The critically acclaimed production was awarded two Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Musical Production and Best Original Score, and was also showcased at the 2006 National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival of New Musicals.

Other members of the creative team include Choreographer Dan Knechtges (Xanadu, Spelling Bee), Set Designer Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Curtains), Costume Designer Joe Aulisi (Charlie�s Angels), Lighting Designer Paul Miller (Legally Blonde), Sound Designer Tony Meola (Wicked), Music Director Carmel Dean (�Spelling Bee) and Orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby).

Vanities will be produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions and Bartner/Jenkins Entertainment.

Bios.

Lauren Kennedy (Mary) was most recently seen playing the 'Lady of the Lake' in Monty Python's Spamalot. Her other Broadway credits are: 'Side Show' (1997), 'Sunset Boulevard' (1994) and 'Les Mis�rables' (1987).

Sarah Stiles (Joanne) is currently starring in the Broadway company of Avenue Q as Kate Monster and Lucy. She also appeared in the Broadway and first national touring companies of 'The 25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee, and in the national tour of 'Titanic.'

Anneliese van der Pol (Kathy) made her Broadway debut in 2007 as the final Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast.' She starred for six years and in 100 episodes of the popular Disney Channel show 'That's So Raven' as Chelsea Daniels, Raven's best friend.

Jack Heifner (Book) is best known for the comedy Vanities, which ran for five years in New York and became one of the longest-running comedies in Off-Broadway history. He is also the author of over 30 other plays. Heifner has written the book to six musicals, including 'Leader of the Pack' on Broadway. He has also written for television and film. Vanities remains one of the best-selling scripts and most-produced plays from the latter half of the 20th century.

David Kirshenbaum (Music and Lyrics) is the composer-lyricist for 'Summer of �42' (book by Hunter Foster), which ran Off-Broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre, and 'Party Come Here' which was performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2007. He also wrote the score to the holiday musical 'Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus' (book by Myles McDonnell), and is a contributing songwriter for the Disney Channel TV series 'Johnny and the Sprites.'

Judith Ivey (Director) makes her Broadway directional debut with this production. Ivey is the recipient of the Tony Award for her portrayals in 'Steaming' (1982) and 'Hurlyburly' (1984), the Obie Award for her performance in 'The Moonshot Tape,' among countless other awards for her stage and film work. Ms. Ivey's most recent directing credit is the Off-Broadway production of 'Secrets of a Soccer Mom.'

Dan Knechtges (Choreographer). was recently nominated for the 2008 Tony Award for Best Choreography, for his work in 'Xanadu.' His other Broadway credits are: '110 in the Shade' (2007 revival) and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' (2005).

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