The new Baby Boomer musical comedy revue, "DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!", written and directed by SAUL ILSON will begin previews on Wednesday, May 6th at 3 PM at off-Broadway's Actors Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street. The revue stars stars BARBARA MINKUS ("Picon Pie"), MARCIA RODD ("The Last of the Red Hot Lovers"), STEVE ROSSI (of Allen & Rossi) and RONNIE SCHELL (Gomer Pyle). Musical numbers will be staged by Rudy Tronto.
"DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!" is a laugh-filled 90 minutes of music and comedy that celebrates the occasionally bumpy but always amusing journey as baby boomers become ‘seniors'.
The musical, which has been warmly embraced in Palm Springs (4 seasons at the Annenberg Theatre) and Walnut Creek near San Francisco, opens officially on Wednesday, May 20th at 8 PM.
Director/Writer SAUL ILSON was nominated for 5 Emmy Awards and won the Writer's Guild of America Award for comedy during his hugely successful 40+ years in television. Saul produced and wrote some of the most successful comedy-variety series and specials on television including the legendary Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. After working in his native Canada, he moved to Hollywood working with Billy Crystal, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cosby, Bea Arthur, Carol Channing, Frank Sinatra and many others. He won an International Emmy and a Juno Award, (Canada's version of the Grammy) for his score for "Rich Little's Christmas Carol" which aired in Canada, on HBO and in 27 other countries.
BARBARA MINKUS made her NY debut in Julius Monk's "Bits and Pieces" and received raves playing Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" around the country. She starred on Broadway in "The Education of Hyman Kaplan" and was a popular guest on all the top talk shows and a regular on "Love American Style for six seasons. More recently she played Molly Picon off-Broadway in "Picon Pie"; Jennie Grossinger in "Saturday night at Grossinger's" in LA and Miss Lynch in "Grease" at the St Louis Muni.
MARCIA RODD made her Broadway debut in Joan Littlewood's OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR! She created the role of ‘Olivia' in the award-winning musical YOUR OWN THING and the originated the fast-talking, pot-smoking "Bobbi Michelle" in Neil Simon's LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS. Marcia earned a Tony nomination as Best Actress in a Musical for Cryer & Ford's SHELTER and played Hal Linden's daughter in Herb Gardner's I'M NOT RAPPOPORT. Other New York credits include DAUGHTERS, I CAN'T KEEP RUNNING IN PLACE, THE MAD SHOW and THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Her films include Jules Feiffer's LITTLE MURDERS, T.R. BASKIN, CITIZENS' BAND (aka HANDLE WITH CARE), THE SCOTTISH TALE, THE SCOUT, MULLIGANS and WANTED. On TV she appeared on 13 QUEENS BLVD, THE DUMPLINGS, FOUR SEASONS, FLAMINGO ROAD, TRAPPER JOHN MD, and played Johnny Depp's Mother on 21 JUMP STREET.
STEVE ROSSI is half of the world famous comedy team of Allen and Rossi. At the age of 6 he appeared in "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby, "The Jolson Story" and over 30 movies. He teamed with Marty Allen in 1957 and soon became America's #1 comedy team, appearing on every top TV show from Ed Sullivan to The Tonight Show. In addition to producing the star-studded 25th Anniversary Allen & Rossi Special, Steve has produced 11 comedy albums and sold more than 2 million copies of his hit record "More."
RONNIE SCHELL began his career as a stand-up comedian at San Francisco's Purple Onion while still in college. He began his TV career playing Duke on "Gomer Pyle". His many TV credits include co-starring with Goldie Hawn on "Good morning World; playing Marlo Thomas' agent on "That Girl" and guest appearances on "General Hospital", "Yes, Dear" and Disney's "Phil of the Future". He has appeared in over 24 films as well as voicing many cartoons.
The performance schedule for "DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!" beginning May 6th is Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 PM and Saturday evenings at 8 PM. On Opening Night, Wednesday, May 20th, there will be an 8 PM performance in place of the 3 PM matinee.
Tickets at $56.50 and $31.50 are available through www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200.
For more information visit www.dontleaveitalltoyourchildren.com
