John Rapson & Kevin Massey Will Headline National Tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

John Rapson & Kevin Massey

The musical won four Tonys in 2014.

The dastardly cast assembles! John Rapson and Kevin Massey will headline the national tour of the Tony-winning musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder. Following previews in Schenectady in September, the tour will begin performances in Chicago and go on to play numerous cities across the U.S. including Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Tempe, Houston and Seattle.

Rapson takes on the role of the colorful assembly of D’Ysquith heirs (all eight of them), while Massey will play Monty Navarro, the charmingly devilish young man out for their blood. Joining them will be Kristen Beth Williams as Sibella Hallward, Adrienne Eller as Phoebe D’Ysquith and Mary VanArsdel as Miss Shingle.

Rapson heads to the tour after making his Broadway debut in Les Miserables. Massey appeared in the Great White Way company of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, where he understudied the role of Monty. He’s also appeared in Memphis, Tarzan and Big River. Williams’ Broadway credits include Pippin, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Anything Goes. A recent grad of NYU Tisch, Eller previously appeared regionally in The Little Mermaid and Hairspray. VanArsdel previously appeared in the national tour of Mary Poppins.

Rounding out the cast are Christopher Behmke, Sarah Ellis, Matt Leisy, Megan Loomis, Dani Marcus, Lesley McKinnell, Kristen Mengelkoch, David Scott Purdy, Chuck Ragsdale and Ben Rosenberry.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. All the while, he’s got to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars. Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance…and be done in time for tea.

The musical opened at Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre on November 17, 2013, and went on to become the most nominated and honored production of the 2013-14 Broadway season. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder is the winner of four 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Direction of a Musical (Darko Tresnjak), Book of a Musical (Robert L. Freedman) and Costume Design of a Musical (Linda Cho).

By Michael Gioia
20 May 2015

Bryce Pinkham
Photo by Monica Simoes

Directed by Matt Lenz, Dust & Shadowfeatures a book by Kasey Marino, music by Jonathan Reid Gealt and lyrics by Dustin Sullivan.

Jim Augustine presented the reading, which starred Pinkham (Gentleman’s Guide) as Sherlock Holmes, Aaron Lazar(The Last Ship, The Light in the Piazza) as Dr. John Watson, Lilli Cooper (Spring Awakening, Wicked) as Miss Monk and Kevin Massey (Gentleman’s Guide, Memphis) as Constable Bennett.

Rounding out the cast were Joseph Dellger, Sally Wilfert, Drew Gehling, Michael Deleget, Nick Spangler, D.C. Anderson, Oliver Hollmann, Alexa Green, Julia Burrows, Amy Toporek, Sally Eidman, Jenny Ashman, Matt Faucher and Jamal Lee Harris.

Shawn Pennington was the production stage manager, and Andy Einhornprovided music direction. Zoe Treeson was the production assistant, and Jeremy Lyons was on piano with Peter Sachon on cello.

Producer Augustine told Playbill.com that plans for the musical include an out-of-town tryout with commercial runs in New York City and abroad.

Songwriter Gealt was featured in Playbill.com’s Contemporary Musical Theatre Songwriters You Should Know. Click here to read more about his work.

The 2014 TONY Award winning Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. All the while, he’s got to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance…and be done in time for tea.

54 Below Celebrates Frank Wildhorn, a series of concerts spotlighting the music of composer Frank Wildhorn, will be presented at the intimate Manhattan nightspot December 2-6, backed by a band led by Wildhorn on piano. Show times at 54 Below are scheduled for December 2-3 at 7pm and December 5-6 at 7pm and 9:30pm.

The December 2-3 concerts will feature a reunion of the original cast members from Bonnie & Clyde performing selections from the score (with lyrics by Tony and Academy Award winner Don Black and book by Emmy Award nominated Ivan Menchell). Scheduled to perform are Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Melissa van der Schyff, Louis Hobson, Mimi Bessette, Michael Lanning, Kevin Massey, and members of the cast of original cast.

54 Below Celebrates Frank Wildhorn has music direction by Jason Howland and is produced by Nicholas Cheng. Also performing will be Julia Adamy (bass), Clint de Ganon (drums), David Mann (woodwinds), and Antoine Silverman(violin).

Wildhorn is the composer of Broadway shows Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War, Dracula, Wonderland, Bonnie & Clyde, and Victor/Victoria, as well as the international hits Carmen, The Count of Monte Cristo, Rudolf, and the upcoming Death Note for Japan, Casanova for Vienna, and Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge and The Man Who Laughs for South Korea. With almost 100 million albums of his music sold and over 20 Broadway and international shows, Wildhorn remains one of the most important musical voices working today.

There is a $50-$100 cover charge, plus a $25 food and beverage minimum. For tickets, call (646) 476-3551 or visit 54below.com. 54 Below is located at 254 West 54th Street.

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, is the new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife. A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, 54 BELOW is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. The venue provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. Located at 254 West 54th Street, 54 BELOW features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$95.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/54-Below-to-Celebrate-Frank-Wildhorn-with-Series-of-Concerts-This-December-20141106

Kevin Massey, Chris Hoch, Autumn Hurlbert and More Will Sing Leslie Becker Tunes in Free NYC Concert Autumn Hurlbert Broadway’s Future Songbook Series — presented by Arts and Artists at St. Paul — will continue Nov. 24 at 6 PM in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Directed, hosted and produced by John Znidarsic, the free evening will spotlight the songs of Leslie Becker. Performers interpreting Becker’s work will include Kevin Massey, Jillian Gottlieb,Chris Hoch, Autumn Hurlbert, Tim Ewing, Kristin Maloney, Erica Aubrey, Aaron Young, Zoe Raphael, Mathew Schwartz, Marc Koeck and Tyler Lenhart. Dan Pardo is the music director. Leslie Becker has written book and lyrics for the musicals A Proper Place, Love 3, Fetching Water and Here We Are, which have been presented and/or workshopped at the York Theatre, Transport Group, Human Race Theatre, San Gabriel Civic Light Opera and The Downbeat New Musicals events. She is also the author of the best-selling book “The Organized Actor” and the follow-up book “The Build Your Business Book.”

http://playbill.com/news/article/kevin-massey-chris-hoch-autumn-hurlbert-and-more-will-sing-leslie-becker-tunes-in-free-nyc-concert-335190

NOVEMBER 17th at 7:30pm  at Merkin Concert Hall (129 W 67th St, NYC)

With Sean Hartley, host
Searching for the meaning of life? Look no further than the Great White Way! Broadway Close Up gets metaphysical at this light-hearted celebration of Heaven, God and the eternal questions as framed by the great writers of Broadway. Featuring music by Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Kurt Weill, George and Ira Gershwin, Stephen Schwartz, Rodgers & Hammerstein and Bock & Harnick.

Featuring Tony nominee Barbara Walsh (Hairspray). With Devanand Janki (Director), Greg Pliska (Music Director), Dan Acquisto, Nathan D. Brown (guitar), Kimberly Chatterjee, Darius De Haas, Carver Duncan, Daniel Lynn Evans, Adam Hyndman, Celeste Hudson, Kristen L. Luzi, Kevin Massey (Memphis), Dara Orland, Clarke Thorell and Sally Wilfert.

http://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/broadway-close-up-hallelujah-broadway

Come check out our NYMF show July 23-27!  Click here for extended information. I’m playing a president for the first time since 5th grade!

Will scandal, surrender, or strength define them? 

At the turn of the 18th century, America stood firmly on the backs of its slaves while Paris burned as its poorest citizens revolted against the aristocracy. Two worlds united by one electrifying score, MADAME INFAMY is the dark and moving tale of Marie Antoinette, last Queen of France, and Sally Hemings, slave and mistress of President Thomas Jefferson. Fighting hardship, scandal, and loss, each must find the strength to combat a nation in hopes of protecting the ones she loves.

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