“They Changed Broadway” writer and co-producer Michael Colby announces today that Ben Rauch, familiar to audiences from numerous appearances on television, film and stage has agreed to lend his voice for a particularly difficult song in the one-night only revue.
“I am very happy to be part of the revue working alongside Michael Colby, Michael Goldfried, Leah Horowitz, Jonathan C. Kaplan, Michael Lavine, Neva Small, Stuart Zagnit and Sara Louise Lazarus,” says Mr. Rauch.
Mr. Rauch adds, “A revue based on the Jewish Contribution to the American Musical makes for a show with a lot of very rich entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds. The audience will have a fantastic time.”
Ben Rauch last worked with Michael Colby in Michael’s acclaimed “Meester Amerika” and with Michael Colby, Michael Lavine and Sara Louise Lazarus as Ludlow Ladd in ‘Ludlow Ladd’, featuring Kristen Chenoweth.
The Jewish contribution to the American musical goes beyond Jewish themes. “They Changed Broadway” features hand-picked songs from Broadway’s iconic musicals woven into a two-hour, one-night program featuring well-known, sought after and award-winning Actor’s Equity performers.
“We can’t be happier to have Ben Rauch available to make a special appearance in ‘They Changed Broadway’,” says Hope Serratelli, Neve Shalom board of director and fundraising vice-president. “He’s a talented and memorable actor who will add a lot.”
“They Changed Broadway” gives Middlesex County residences a chance to see very talented professional actors in their own backyard at the historic and intimate 500-seat Forum Theatre in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Proceeds from the June 13th revue benefit Neve Shalom Youth and Elderly social and educational program, Meals on Wheels, and the Edison-Metuchen-Colonia-Woodbridge and surrounding Middlesex County, NJ community at large.
Tickets for “They Changed Broadway” are on sale now with advance purchase discounts available. Call (732) 548- 2238.
Ben Rauch (www.benrauchsite.com) appears regularly on CW’s “Gossip Girl”, PBS’s “Nate the Great”, and Comedy Central’s “Strangers with Candy”. Ben’s film credits include Sam (The Nice Guy) with Russell Crowe in Tenderness directed by John Polson, Tony in “5G” directed by Alex Tanaka, Eddie in “Last Day” directed by Charlie Zinn, and Phil in “Nomi’s Bat Mitzvah” directed Jessica Scharzer.
On stage, Ben Rauch has been seen as Sam Weinberg in “A Few Good Men” with Lou Diamond Phillips at the Casa Manana Theatre, as Shorty in “People Are Living there” at the Signature Theatre, as Jay in “Lost in Yonkers” at the Theatre Virginia, and as Sage in “Black Out Blues” at the NY Fringe Festival.
Among his many other commercial, voice-over and stage credits, Ben Rauch has excited audiences as Linus in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, Shloyme in “Meester Amerika” by Michael Colby, and as Ludlow Ladd in the show of the same name, “Ludlow Ladd” directed by Sara Louise Lazarus and featuring Kristen Chenoweth.
You can see samples of Ben’s work on YouTube or on his website: www.benrauchsite.com.
About Michael Colby
Michael Colby (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. 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.
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.
About The Forum
The Forum Theatre Arts Center (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 (www.neveshalom.net) has been providing religious services and Jewish Education for its Conservative Egalitarian members. 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.
Congregation Neve Shalom is located at 250 Grove Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840. Phone: (732) 548- 2238
For tickets, requests for interviews or more information about “They Changed Broadway” call (732) 548-2238 EXT. 24 or visit http://www.theychangedbroadway.blogspot.com/.
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