Doin’ It for Love
Testa Dura Production
December 10th
Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre will
be buzzing with talent when Testa Dura Production Company
presents Hollywood and Broadway legends Kaye Ballard, Liliane
Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams on Friday, February 24th, in Doin' It For Love -
an evening of song, dance, and comedy acts from the best of
Broadway and New York cabaret. A benefit for Texas Humane
Legislation Network, tickets will go on sale this Thursday,
December 22nd, at noon.
Combining Ballard's
musical talent, comedic wit and timing, Montevecchi's
cabaret-style performances and Reams' song and dance routines -
and featuring a full orchestra led by David Geist - the
Broadway-style production is staged as a tribute to the
standards and the stories behind the music from some of the
most beloved entertainers in show business. Proceeds from
the show will benefit the Texas Humane Legislation Network, an
organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of
animals through legislation, education and advocacy.
"I am honored to
perform and work with two of Hollywood and Broadway's most
celebrated performers," said Native Texan Reams.
"Doin' It For Love tells the personal stories behind the
music by Kaye, Liliane and myself. Not only will we
perform the music, but entertain the audience with stories
about the entertainment world then and now."
Kaye Ballard starred
on Broadway in The Golden Apple,
Carnival, Molly, Pirates of Penzance, Gypsy, Funny Girl,
Nunsense and Stephen Sondheim's Follies. She
has been seen in numerous films and television programs -
including the historic live telecast of Rodger and
Hammerstein's "Cinderella." She also co-starred
with Eve Arden in the NBC sitcom "Mothers-in-Law,"
which was recently re-released on DVD.
Receiving a Tony
Award for her portrayal of "Liliane La Fluer" in Nine, Liliane
Montevecchi began her career as a prima ballerina - leading to
a film career in the 1950s when she starred in King Creole with
Elvis Presley, Meet Me in Las Vegas with Cyd Charisse, The
Sad Sack with Jerry Lewis and The Glass Slipper.
She left Hollywood for a leading role in Follies Bergére. Her Broadway credits include starring in Nine, Grand Hotel, La Plume de Ma Tanta, and Stephen Sondheim's Follies.
Nominated for a Tony Award
for his performance in the original Broadway production of 42nd Street, Lee Roy
Reams made his Broadway debut in 1966 in Sweet Charity. He
has since has starred in numerous Broadway shows including Show Boat, Hello, Dolly!, Oklahoma, Beauty and
the Beast and The Producers. Reams
has also directed several shows - including An Evening with Jerry Herman - and was recently featured in the 2011 documentary Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age.
David Geist has starred in
several Broadway shows - including Cats,
Les Miserables, Wicked and The Lion King -
and has also performed alongside, and coached, several top
performers within the music industry including Hugh Jackman,
Sarah Brightman Michael Crawford. Geist has also worked
with composing legends Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Weber.
Doors will open at 7 p.m.
with the curtain going up at 8 p.m. For more information
and tickets, call (512) 474-1221 or visit www.AustinTheatre.org.
Lee Roy Reams, Kaye Ballard, and Liliane
Montevecchi
(Image courtesy Austin Theatre)
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