Monday, February 22, 2010

Broadway Lyricist Explains June 13th , 2010 Benefit Revue Name: THEY CHANGED BROADWAY

Metuchen, New Jersey -02/22/2010 –Michael Colby, acclaimed award-winning librettist, lyricist, and performer, explains the name of Neve Shalom’s one-night only benefit revue planned for June 13, 2010 at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen.

“It’s the perfect name,” says Michael Colby, managing continuity for the benefit. “Neve Shalom wants a unique experience, and a unique experience deserves a compelling title that tells the story at a glance.” He adds that, “The Jewish contribution to the musical goes well-beyond hit songs and Jewish themes.”

Mr. Colby is hand-picking songs from Broadway’s historic plays to weave into a two-hour, one-night benefit that will feature well-known Broadway performers.

The approximately two-hour revue takes a Broadway Musical journey from Berlin to Bernstein and Beyond. Mr. Colby, a member of Congregation Neve Shalom, is no stranger to writing for benefits having written continuity for two benefits at the 92nd Street Y: STANDING OVATIONS (starring Carol Channing, Nell Carter, Elaine Stritch, Leslie Uggams, and other great ladies of the theatre) and THE LONGEST RUNNING SHOW ON BROADWAY (a tribute to Maurice Levine, hosted by Angela Lansbury). He also wrote STEPHEN SCHWARTZ: A CELEBRATION, a benefit for the Directors Company, starring Betty Buckley, Paul Shaffer, Kathy Najimi, et al.

“Congregation Neve Shalom is extremely lucky and proud to have Michael and his family as members of the synagogue and doubly blessed to have him participating so actively in the planned June 13 production of THEY CHANGED BROADWAY, “ says Hope Seratelli, Neve Shalom board member and fundraising.

The appeal of a Broadway musical revue is that Neve Shalom is giving local residents a valuable and unique Broadway experience without travelling into Manhattan Proceeds from THEY CHANGED BROADWAY benefit Youth and Elderly, Meals on Wheels, Save the World Committee, and the Edison-Metuchen-Colonia-Woodbridge and surrounding Middlesex County, NJ community at large.

THEY CHANGED BROADWAY is scheduled for 4PM, June 13th, 2010 at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen, New Jersey.

About Michael Colby

Michael Colby (http://www.michaelcolby.com/) is the librettist/lyricist of such musicals as CHARLOTTE SWEET (Drama Desk Award nomination), TALES OF TINSELTOWN, NORTH ATLANTIC (Show Business Award), SLAY IT WITH MUSIC, MRS. McTHING, THEY CHOSE ME!, and LUDLOW LADD. He was chief writer for the Drama Desk Award-winning New Amsterdam Theatre Company, and has been a frequent writer for The NY Festival of Song as well as the Theatre By the Blind. Among the personalities for whom Mr. Colby has written material are: Linda Lavin, Tony Randall, Tovah Feldshuh, Savion Glover, Dina Merrill, Susan Stroman, Michael Feinstein, Jack Gilford, Andrea Marcovicci, Kristin Chenoweth, Bruce Adler, Cliff Robertson, Lainie Kazan, Jane Powell, Eric Stoltz, Julie Wilson, Alison Fraser, Mary Cleere Haran, Stephanie Pope, Donna McKechnie, & Cicely Tyson.

Michael’s MEESTER AMERIKA, was acclaimed as “Best Score [of the New Jersey theatre season]” and “A superb celebration of Yiddish Theatre… Show music of the highest order,” by Peter Filichia, The Star-Ledger.
About The Forum

The Forum Theatre Arts Center (http://www.forumtheatrearts.com/) is a nonprofit performing arts organization and has been the Cultural Arts Center of central New Jersey since 1928, when it was built as a theatre and vaudeville tryout house, then soon after as a neighborhood movie house. The Forum Theatre has presented hundreds of American and World Premieres with an emphasis on musical theatre, as well as numerous A-list concerts. The Forum Theatre is located at 314 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840. Phone: (732) 548- 5600

About Congregation Neve Shalom

For 75 years, Congregation Neve Shalom (http://www.neveshalom.net) has been providing religious services and Jewish Education for its Conservative Egalitarian members at 250 Grove Avenue, Metuchen, NJ. Neve Shalom maintains a vibrantly active and welcoming community with educational programs, religious services and lay leadership.

Neve Shalom's annual Suzy Schwartz Concert, and Book and Author Events are well-known to surrounding residents for their ability to draw well-known and famous performers, authors, and lecturers.

For More information about “They Changed Broadway” call (732) 548-2238 EXT. 24 or visit http://www.theychangedbroadway.blogspot.com/.

Congregation Neve Shalom is located at 250 Grove Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840. Phone: (732) 548- 2238

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