Cast
Composer/Lyricist JOSHUA ROSENBLUM has been described variously as the new Tom Lehrer, except he can sing, much funnier than I used to think he was, and about to find himself in serious trouble with the federal government. His musical Fermat’s Last Tango received a critically acclaimed production at the York Theatre in 2000, and the DVD of the production has been screened at dozens of colleges and universities all over the world. When he is not attempting to bring down the federal government with musical satire, Rosenblum moonlights as a Broadway conductor, having led the orchestras for twelve Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. His specialty is flying vehicles (Miss Saigon and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). This fall, he takes a detour to Whoville, leading The Grinch at the Hilton Theatre. On the classical end, Rosenblum has served as guest conductor for the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the American Repertory Ballet. As pianist, he has appeared with The New York Pops and The New York Chamber Symphony. He is also a music journalist, and has contributed over 300 CD and concert reviews to Opera News.
BONNI ALLEN has been active in the theater, film, and commercial scene in the Twin Cities for 4 years. Theater credits include “Don’t Hug Me“, “A Class Act“, and “Funny Business” at Hennepin Stages, “A Christmas Carol“, and “Magical Moments” with Actors’ Theater of Minnesota, “Sisters of Swing” and “Christmas of Swing” with The Great American History Theater, “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol” at Pioneer Place on Fifth, and “A Piece of My Heart” with Theater Unbound. She has also performed at Paul Bunyan Playhouse, and The Red Eye Theater as well as with “Spontaneous Productions” improv and as a swing dancer with “The Swing Cats“. Most recently she played “Judy” in “Beyond the Rainbow” at Theatre L’ Homme Dieu and she currently swings in as Darla and Moira in “We Gotta Bingo” with Actors’ Theater of Minnesota. This fall, Bonni will be performing in the world premier of “How to Mow the Lawn“, a new musical scheduled to open at Old Arizona in September.
BILL SCHARPEN loved playing Bing Crosby for two seasons in the History Theatre production of Christmas of Swing with the Andrews Sisters. He also appeared in And the World Goes Round and My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra at the Jon Hassler Theatre. He has recently returned to the Minneapolis after kicking around New York and Chicago for the past 15 years. In Chicago he worked at Drury Lane (Crazy for You, Annie), Candlelight (Phantom), Theatre at the Center (Funny Girl, Arsenic and Old Lace, Baby, Sweet Charity, 42nd Street, Grand Hotel) and Illinois Theatre Center (Blood Brothers). Local theatre goers of a certain age may remember Bill from Chimera Theater, TRP, the Edgewater Eight and Minnesota Opera. No stranger to playing politicians onstage, Bill may be the only actor to have portrayed 3 Roosevelts: T.R. (Tintypes), F.D.R. (Annie), and Eleanor (Christmas of Swing).
ROSS YOUNG is an actor, director, and commercial talent in the Twin Cities. His performing credits include long runs of Tony and Tina’s Wedding at The Hey City Theater and Don’t Hug Me at Hennepin Stages in Minneapolis, and annual appearances in The Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play for the Actors Theater of Minnesota. He has also performed at Dudley Riggs, Theater L’Homme Dieu, The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Pioneer Place in St. Cloud, and several other area theaters. Most recently he has appeared in Magical Moments, We Gotta Bingo and A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol.