Award-winning Broadway star Faith Prince is to replace KLea Blackhurst in The Best of Times, 42nd Street Moon’s 80th Birthday salute to Tony-winning Broadway composer/lyricist, Jerry Herman. The Best of Times will be presented at the Alcazar Theatre on Thursday, January 26 at 7 pm.
“Klea’s been given the opportunity to play one of her dream roles – Rose in Gypsy – for a winter run in Chicago. It starts rehearsals immediately, which takes her out of the Herman show,” stated Greg MacKellan, 42nd Street Moon’s Artistic Director. “We’re thrilled for Klea, and also thrilled and very fortunate that Tony Award-winner Faith Prince will step in and join Jason Graae in The Best of Times.”
Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since she swept the theatre awards winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in the critically-acclaimed revival of Guys and Dolls. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, Noises Off. She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally's Unusual Acts of Devotion.
She has guest starred on Lifetime's new hit series Drop Dead Diva, in the role of Brooke Elliott's mother, Elaine. Other recent guest starring roles have included Ugly Betty, Medium and CSI. She was a series regular on Showtime's Huff starring as "Kelly Knipers", the lovable and quirky love interest of Oliver Platt. Prince recurred for five seasons on Spin City. Other television credits include the self-titled series Faith,Sweet Potato Queens, Grey's Anatomy, House, Monk, Now and Again, Welcome To New York and Law and Order. Film credits include Our Very Ownwith Allison Janney and Cheryl Hines, Picture Perfect, Dave, and My Father the Hero.
Prince sings frequently with The Boston Pops, the Utah Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops, The Philly Pops, and more. She toured her one-woman show Moving On in Australia to rave reviews. She also toured in Over the Rainbow, a concert celebrating the centennial of Harold Arlen. A live recording of her award-winning show entitled A Leap Of Faith was recorded at Joe's Pub in New York, and is available on DRG Records. She recently starred in the concert version of Sweeney Todd with the Orlando Philharmonic.
The Best of Times will be hosted by 42nd Street Moon Artistic Director Greg MacKellan, and will also feature Moon performers Debbie de Coudreaux, Tyler McKenna, Sharon Rietkerk and Kelly Sanchez. MacKellan will direct The Best of Times. Dave Dobrusky will serve as Musical Director, with the narrative written by Joe Mader.
Jerry Herman turned 80 on July 13 of this year. His shows lit up Broadway through the 1960s, 70s, 80s and into the 90s. “Through the Bottom of the Glass,” a little known song from Dear World, typifies the Jerry Herman worldview: you just have to know where to aim your gaze, and life as it should be reveals itself. “Open a New Window,” “Hello, Dolly!” “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Mame,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It’s Today!,” “Milk and Honey,” “Shalom,” “Time Heals Everything,” “I’ll Be Here Tomorrow,” “I Am What I Am” – these great songs and more will radiate from the Alcazar stage for one special evening.
Faith Prince’s co-star, Jason Graae, has appeared on Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy! and Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up? Off-Broadway he appeared in Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, All in the Timing, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh(Drama Desk Nomination Best Actor in a Musical) and others. He has performed his one-man show all over the country, including Rainbow and Stars, Birdland, and the Metropolitan Room in NYC, Wolf Trap, Feinstein's in L.A., the Fairmont Hotels in New Orleans and Dallas, and The Plush Room and Rrazz Room in San Francisco, to name a few. He toured the U.S. with Jerry Herman in Hello, Jerry! On PBS, he was a guest soloist twice with the Boston Pops and once with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony on "Holiday for the Troops at The Kennedy Center" and in "Words and Music by Jerry Herman." His forty CD recordings include original cast albums, concerts, compilations (including three produced by Greg MacKellan), and three solo CDs, including “Perfect Hermany – Jason Graae sings Jerry Herman.” His accolades include the New York Nightlife Award, and four Bistros.
Tickets ($70) may be purchased through the Moon Box Office online at 42ndstmoon.org, or by phone at 415/255-8207. The historic Alcazar Theatre is located at 650 Geary Street in downtown San Francisco.
