"Don't Quit Your Night Job," the critically acclaimed comedy
variety show featuring a revolving cast of Broadway's brightest performing
without a net, kicked-off the new year at their monthly home The Zipper Factory
(336 West 37th Street,
between 8th & 9th Avenues) on Thursday, February 14 at 11:30PM. Proceeds go to the Open Doors Theatre Development Fund.
Featuring Co-Creators Steve Rosen (The Farnsworth Invention), David Rossmer (Fiddler on the Roof), Sarah Saltzberg (Spelling Bee) and Dan Lipton (The
Coast of Utopia). With special guests Christian Anderson (Avenue Q), Derrick Baskin (The
Little Mermaid), Nicole Bocchi (Mary
Poppins), Tara Copeland ("30 Rock"), Jared Gertner (Spelling Bee), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Legally Blonde), Jason Kravits (The
Drowsy Chaperone), Grammy Winner and Oscar nominee Michael McKean (The Homecoming) Ashley Morris (Die Mommie Die), Maurice Murphy (Spelling Bee), Tony winner Sara Ramirez
("Gray's Anatomy"), Jimmi Simpson (The
Farnsworth Invention), plus musical guests David Josefsberg (The Wedding Singer) and Jeff Gurner (The Lion King) with Damien Bassman (Next to Normal) on the drums. Stage
Managed by Melanie Morgan (Curtains).
Open Doors is the Theatre Development Fund's theatre arts
mentoring program for high school students, and was started in 1998 by TDF with
playwright Wendy Wasserstein. Its goal is to explore the relevance of theatre
in the lives of today's youth.
Visit "Don't Quit Your Night Job" on MySpace at www.myspace.com/dontquityournightjob. The next "Don't Quit Your Night Job" is scheduled for Thursday, March 27.
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
Maurice Murphy, Asmeret Ghebremichael and Derrick Baskin rouse the crowd with the opening theme-song
Co-host David Rossmer collects words for a madlib
Co-host Steve Rosen as Baby Bear
Co-host Sarah Saltzberg
David Rossmer and Jason Kravits as patient and doctor, recreate a scene from the fictional play Stranded
Jimmi Simpson sizes-up the competition in Celebrity Dating Game
Brynn O'Malley wins the Quitty Award for the Most Unintentionally Sexually-Suggestive Line in a Show
Ashley Morris channels Oprah
Sarah Saltzberg imitates Richard Simmons
Michael McKean, formerly of Spinal Tap, entertains the crowd with an original song about "Sweeney Todd"
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Jared Gertner
Nicole Bocci performs a scene from August: Osage County
Sarah Saltzberg and Nicole Bocci
Nicole Bocci
Nicole Bocci
Sarah Saltzberg and Nicole Bocci
David Josefsberg
David Josefsberg and Jeff Gurner sing about the "potential" of childbirth
Steve Rosen and David Rossmer host a theatre talk-show
Steve Rosen and David Rossmer
Jared Gertner goes spelunking into Asmeret Ghebremichael
Sarah Saltzberg (as Hillary Clinton), Jason Kravits and Christian Anderson (as Barack Obama) unite
Sarah Saltzberg (an evil ground-hog) terrorizes villagers Tara Copeland and Jason Kravits
Ashley Morris, a genetically-mutated fish/seal, and devil-worshiping ground hog Sarah Saltzberg
Sarah Saltzberg
Jason Kravits
Christian Anderson
Jared Gertner, Asmeret Ghebremichael (as syrup-queen Mrs. Butterworth) and Christian Anderson
Jared Gertner and Asmeret Ghebremichael celebrate the wonders of breakfast!
Sara Ramirez, as musical guest, provides a hilarious rendition of "The Man I Love"
Sara Ramirez
Sara Ramirez
Sara Ramirez
Sara Ramirez
Sara Ramirez
Music Director Dan Lipton
On drums, Damien Bassman
The cast of Don't Quit Your Night Job
