Carry It On
In a career spanning 40 years, two-time Grammy nominee Maureen McGovern has been hailed as “the Stradivarius Voice” and acclaimed for her concerts and Oscar-winning/Gold records, as well as her theatrical performances on Broadway. In her powerful musical memoir, Carry It On, she brings her story to life with extraordinary interpretations of the songs of her generation—music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and many others.
WATCH
PHOTOS
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Captivating and genuinely moving… a substantial success.
THE STAR-LEDGER
MEET THE ARTISTS
THE CAST
Maureen McGovern
Maureen McGovern‘s career spans 40 years and includes recordings, concerts, theater, film, television, radio, and songwriting, all with a voice that defies categorization. It is no wonder she has been called “The Stradivarius Voice.” Her PS Classics CD, A Long and Winding Road, has been praised by The New York Times as “…a captivating musical scrapbook from the 1960s to the early 70s. Ms. McGovern’s vocal technique is second to none.”
Grammy nominated for “Best New Artist” (1973) and “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance” (1998), she is a guest artist on the Grammy Award-winning CD/DVD Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers (2006 “Best Musical Recording for Children”). She won the coveted Tokyo Music Festival Grand Prize Award (1975) for her performance of Paul Williams’ “Even Better than I Know Myself.”
Maureen’s recording career began with the Oscar-winning International Gold Records “The Morning After” and “We May Never Love Like This Again” from the classic disaster films, The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. She also introduced the Oscar-nominated songs “Wherever Love Takes Me” in the film Gold, and “Nice to Be Around” from Cinderella Liberty. Other hit recordings include, “Can You Read My Mind?” from the motion picture Superman and “Different Worlds” from the ABC TV series, Angie. Critically acclaimed recordings include songwriter tributes to George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers, Marilyn and Alan Bergman and her solo piano/voice albums, Another Woman In Love and The Pleasure of His Company with Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, Mike Renzi.
Producing Artistic Director Philip Himberg invited Maureen to the Sundance Institute Theatre Program to play ‘Madame Emery’ in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. He directed her as ‘Countess Aurelia’ in the historic revival of Jerry Hermans musical Dear World, an adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot, at Sundance and in the West Coast premiere of William Finn’s Elegies at the Canon Theatre. Their long association led to a collaboration with Philip as Director and Co-Writer on her one-woman show. A Long and Winding Road (currently Carry It On) which premiered at Arena Stage in DC and also at the Huntington Theaer in Boston, garnering Maureen an IRNE Award for “Best Solo Performance.” Recently, Maureen performed in a new production of Carry It On at Geva Theatre in Rochester, NY. Maureen, Philip and her extraordinary Musical Director/Arranger/Pianist, Jeff Harris, are pleased to bring this latest nation of Carry It On to the Two River Theater audiences.
In 2005, McGovern returned to the Broadway stage, originating her Drama Desk-nominated role of ‘Marmee’ in Little Women, The Musical and reprised her role in the 32-city 1st National Tour of Little Women, The Musical. Maureen made her 1981 Broadway debut as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, starred as ‘Luisa’ in Nine with Raul Julia, and ‘Polly Peachum’ in 3 Penny Opera with Sting. Off Broadway, Maureen originated the role of ‘Mary’ in Brownstone and starred as ‘Mrs. Anna’ in the recent Broadway revival National Tour of The King and I.
As ‘Eleanor of Aquitaine’ in The Lion in Winter, Maureen made her 2001 dramatic debut and also originated the role of ‘Eleanor Bridges’ in the world premiere of Letters from ‘Nam in Boston. She starred as ‘Mary Turner’ in Of Thee I Sing for the Reprise Series at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse and at The Kennedy Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music in tandem with Let ‘Em Eat Cake. She reprised her role of ‘Eleanor Bridges’ in One Red Flower (formerly Letters from ‘Nam) in a
Los Angeles benefit performance for New Directions, an organization whose mission is to empower veterans and facilitate their successful return to families and society.
Regionally, Maureen has starred in productions of The Sound of Music, South Pacific, and Guys & Dolls (playing both Sarah and Adelaide), and I Do, I Do. Her children’s musical, The Bengal Tiger’s Ball, had its Central Florida premiere in 1999, co-sponsored by Disney. She wrote the captivating music, co-created, and starred in the production.
Feature films include Maureen’s roles as the ‘Nightclub Singer in The Towering Inferno and ‘Sr. Angelina,’ the guitar-strumming nun in the comedy disaster classics Airplane! and Airplane X: The Sequel which was a fitting and hilarious finale to her early “Disaster Theme Queen” decade. Maureen can also be heard as the voice of ‘Rachel’ in the DreamWorks animated video/DVD Joseph: King of Dreams with Ben Affleck. Her television roles include One Life to Live, The Tracey Ullman Show, Pacific Blue, Duckman, and Beyond Belief, and on radio, she spent three seasons as a frequent special guest on Garrison Keillor’s “American Radio Company of the Air.”
Maureen has been honored by Irish America Magazine as one of the Top 100 Irish Americans, received the “Songs From The Heart Award” from NARAS and the American Music Therapy Association, the “CUNY (City University of New York) Lifetime Achievement Award” for making a remarkable difference in the lives of individuals and students with disabilities, the “Imagination Award” from Imagination Stage for her work with children, the arts and philanthropy, the “Festival of Children Foundation’s Founder’s Award” for her dedication to broadening and enriching the lives of children and has received a Doctorate of Music (Hon) from Youngstown State University.
She serves on the National Board of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and is Chairperson of the annual Shamrocks Against Dystrophy Campaign. For 33 consecutive years, Maureen has performed on the MDA Labor Day Telethon, including serving as co-host in New York City for six years. Maureen supports music therapy and has been an Artist spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association since 2001.
THE CREATIVES
Co-Writer and Director
Philip Himberg
Philip Himberg
Philip Himberg (Co-Writer and Director) is the producing Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre program, which offers year-round support for American and international artists through its developmental laboratories. Sundance identifies and hosts both emerging and established playwrights and supports their development of new work for the stage. Under his aegis since 1997, Sundance has supported such work as: Grey Gardens, The Light in the Piazza, Spring Awakening, I Am My Own Wife, Crowns, The Good Negro, and An lliad, among hundreds of other titles. The Sundance Theatre Program/East Africa supports theater makers in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, as well as residency labs in Africa each year. Philip most recently wrote Paper Dolls, a new play with music adapted from the Israeli documentary film, which just completed a workshop at The Public Theater. He co-wrote and directed the world premiere of A Long and Winding Road (now titled Carry It On) with singer/actor Maureen McGovern at the Arena Stage in DC, Huntington Theatre in Boston, and Geva Theatre, Rochester. He directed the world premieres of Terrence McNally’s Some Men at the Philadelphia Theatre Company (2006) and William Finn’s Songs of Innocence and Experience at the Allen Room (Lincoln Center Songbook) and in Williamstown, as well as the West Coast premiere of Tony Kushner’s Only We Who Guard the Mystery Shall Be Unhappy starring Sally Field. His L.A. production of William Finn’s Elegies was its West Coast premiere. For Sundance, he directed revivals Of Fiddler on the Roof (with Michael Rupert), Funny Girl (with Judy Blazer), and a revised version of Jerry Herman’s musical Dear World (starring Ms. McGovern). In 2008, he directed Flora the Red Menace for REPRISE/LA (with Eden Espinoza), Mr. Himberg received his BA atre Arts at Oberlin. He was co-artistic director of Playwrights Horizons in the theatre’s most formative years and directed there as well. He is a recipient of the Theatre Communications Group/National Endowment for the Arts Artistic Fellowship. He was Staff Producer for the Mark Taper’s Improvisational Theatre Project (I.T.P.), a resident touring ensemble that created and performed new work for young audiences. He is currently President of the Board of Trustees of Theatre Communications Group. His first published essay appears in The Dutton Anthology, Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys. Mr. Himberg holds a dern doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture since 1985.
Music Direction and Arrangements
Jeffrey Harris
Jeffrey Harris
Jeffrey Harris (Music Direction and Arrangements) is a musician who is comfortable in many kinds of music: pop, jazz, classical, and musical theater. He is also equally at home as a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and lyricist. He has worked with such diverse singers as Maureen McGovern, Chaka Khan, Barbara Cook, Jack Jones, Audra McDonald, Cleo Laine, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christine Andreas, Liz Callaway, and Karen Akers. His longest association has been with Maureen McGovern, playing on and arranging six of her CDs, writing many songs for her (she has recorded 16) and appearing with her frequently on television and in concerts. Mr. Harris has worked extensively on Broadway as both a pianist and conductor, most recently as Associate Musical Director for Gypsy (starring Patti LuPone, directed by Arthur Laurents). Other Broadway credits include On the Town (directed by George C. Wolfe), Fosse, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Crazy for You, and in many of the Encore Series shows at City Center including Tenderloin (cast album), Babes in Arms (cast album), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Apple Tree, and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. He is a frequent guest as a pianist and conductor with many of the leading orchestras including the Boston, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit, and National Symphony Orchestras, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and as a regular member of the New York Pops. He was featured on the PBS television special, Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds, playing piano and speaking about the music of Richard Rodgers. As a composer for the theater, he most recently composed Pinocchio: An Adoption Musical (book and lyrics by Susan Dilallo), which has been produced at South Coast Repertory and Omaha Theater Company. Born in California to a musical family, Jeff Harris attended the University of Southern California on a full scholarship receiving his Bachelors of Music in Composition. He now makes his home in the New York City area.
Scenic Designer
Neil Patel
Neil Patel
Neil Patel (Scenic Designer) designed Two River’s production of August Wilson’s Jitney earlier this season. Broadway: Oleanna, [title of show], Ring of Fire, Side Man, ‘night Mother, Wonderland. West End: Side Man, Underneath the Lintel. Off-Broadway: BAM, Second Stage, New York Theatre Workshop, Public Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout, Playwrights Horizons, others. Regional: The Kennedy Center, Arena, Guthrie, Steppenwolf. Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theater, Center Stage, others. Opera: Opera de Montreal, Vancouver Opera, New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theater of St Louis, and Nikikai Opera Tokyo. International: RSC, Parco Tokyo, Archa Theatre Prague. Hebbel Theatre Berlin. Television/Film: In Treatment (HBO), Alone. Dance: Shadowland (Pilobolus). Awards: 2000 EDDY Award; 1996, 2000, 2003, 2009 Drama Desk nominations; 1996 and 2001 Obie for Sustained Excellence; 2008 Helen Hayes Award.
Costume Designer
Gayle Susan Baizer
Gayle Susan Baizer
Gayle Susan Baizer (Costume Designer) is a costume designer for stage, film, and television. Gayle received her BFA from Chouinard Art School and MFA, with Creative Honors, from California State University, Long Beach. She is a Member of United Scenic Artists, the Costume Designers Guild, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Awards include the L.A. Drama Critics Ensemble Award to CSULB-Department of Theatre, Mademoiselle Guest Editor, Monsanto-Chemstrand Design Award, two Tommy Awards for Swimwear, and a Dramalogue Award. Costume design stage credits: Carry It On, The Magic of Ai and Yuki, On the Verge, The Magic of Lawrence and Priscilla, A Christmas Carol, Swimming in the Shallows, Dreams of a Sunday Afternoon, Panama, Vinegar Tom, Pride and Prejudice, The Magician Broadway Workshop, Pinocchio, Johnny Johnson, Gaîté Parisienne, and The Orphans. Film and credits include Twice Upon a Christmas, Once Upon a Christmas, Follow Your Heart, The Misery Brothers Storybook, Amore!, Mad About You, Miami Hustle, Make My Day—The Pointer Sisters, 1996 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies—The Pointer Sisters, Help Wanted: Kids, and numerous national commercials.
Lighting Designer
David Lander
David Lander
David Lander Two River Theater: Carry It On written and performed by Maureen McGovern. Broadway: The Heiress with Jessica Chastain and Dan Stevens, The Lyons with Linda Lavin, Master Class with Tyne Daly, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams (Drama Desk Award; Tony and Outer Critics nominations), 33 Variations with Jane Fonda (Tony and Outer Critics nominations), I Am My Own Wife (Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations) among others. Off-Bway: Atlantic Theatre, The Public Theater, MTC, Roundabout Theatre, Signature Theatre, The Vineyard Theatre among others. Regional: Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, among others. International Theatre and Opera: Dublin, Delhi, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo among others.
Projection Designer
Maya Ciarrocchi
Maya Ciarrocchi
Maya Ciarrocchi (Projection Designer) is a video artist and projection designer. She has created projections for performance with such artists as Merce Cunningham, Ping Chong, Bebe Miller, and Donna Uchizono as well as for regional theater. Her work has been exhibited at chashama, the Chocolate Factory, Dance Theater Workshop, Westbeth Gallery, and Sasha Wolf Gallery, all in New York, and at Artisphere (VA); Borderlines Film Festival (UK); Hammer Museum (CA); Moving Pictures Festival (Canada). Ciarrocchi has received residencies from the Kala Arts Institute (CA), the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (NYC), and the Ucross Foundation (WY). She was awarded a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) in 2006. She earned a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase and an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts.
Sound Designer
Zachary Williamson
Zachary Williamson
Zachary Williamson is very pleased to be designing again for Two River, where previous designs include A Wind in the Willows Christmas, Carry It On, Jacques Brel, Opus, Charlie Brown, 26 Miles, ReEntry, Glass Menagerie, Charlatan’s Seance, Umbrellas of Cherbourg and House of Blue Leaves. Broadway credits (Associate): Lysistrata Jones, The Ritz, and Pal Joey. Off-Broadway credits: Irish Repertory Theater, Second Stage, Origin, Partial Comfort, American Records and Urban Stages. Recent regional credits: Denver Center Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Kansas City Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Westport Country Playhouse, 5th Avenue Seattle, Ordway Center, Clarence Brown, Long Wharf, Round House, St. Louis Rep, Syracuse Stage, Vermont Stage, Virginia Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, Goodspeed, Asolo, and TheaterWorks Hartford. International credits: Broadway Asia International and Edinburgh Fringe.
Production Stage Manager
Robert V. Thurber
Robert V. Thurber
Robert V. Thurber (Production Stage Manager) is very happy to be here at Two River Theater-reuniting with several old friends returning to this production, and meeting new friends here in Red Bank. New York: Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (ASM); Children, Dinah Was, A Good Swift Kick, A Night at the Alhambra Café, Now Hear This!, Avow, and Goodwill (all as PSM). National Tours: Cabaret and Les Misérables (both as 1st ASM). Regional (all PSM): The Sunshine Boys and Cabaret (John W. Engeman Theater at Northport NY), Carry It On with Maureen McGovern (Geva Theatre, Rochester); Miss Saigon and Meet Me In St Louis (TUTS, Houston); Faustus, the Last Night (Spoleto Festival USA); Goodspeed Opera Company premieres of Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief and Silver Dollar; Dennis DeYoung’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Tennessee Repertory Theatre; and many other from Maine to Arizona. Proud member of AEA since 1989.