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ENCORE PERFORMANCE! 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents the legendary Carole Demas, who holds the distinction of originating the roles of Sandy in Grease on Broadway, originating the title role of Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife when it opened and numerous other roles on and off-Broadway in a SPECIAL ENCORE PERFORMANCE. She has performed on stage for more than six decades, including 2 years as Luisa in The Fantasticks at Sullivan Street Playhouse. Carole’s numerous television credits include The Magic Garden, PBS’ Showstoppers: Best of Broadway, and numerous guest starring roles on daytime and prime time programs.
Joining Carole will be her MAGIC GARDEN Co-Star: Paula Janis, and original GREASE cast member: Ilene Kristen. She is accompanied by her longtime friend and exquisite Music Director, Ian Herman, plus Tom Hubbard on Bass and Dave Silliman on Drums.
Cast
Carole Demas
Star
Paula Janis
Special Guest
Ilene Kristen
Special Guest
Creative Team
Ian Herman
Music Director
Stuart Allyn
Producer-Director
Meet the Company
Carole Demas
Star
Carole Demas, Broadway and TV legend, Bistro Award Winner, stole the hearts of audiences and critics alike with her captivating and critically-acclaimed creation of Sandy in Broadway’s iconic, original GREASE. Her 65 year career has included thousands of leading role performances on and Off-Broadway and in regional theater. Carole originated the title role in the premiere production of Stephen Schwartz’s THE BAKER’S WIFE, in Los Angeles. Among her other roles: two years at New York’s Sullivan St. Playhouse as Luisa in THE FANTASTICKS and the creation of original ingénue leads in Fred Ebb’s MORNING SUN; RONDELAY (director Cyril Ritchard, choreographer Jacques d’Amboise); Oscar Brand’s HOW TO STEAL AN ELECTION (opposite Clifton Davis); Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt’s PHILEMON and THE BONE ROOM among many others. In major regional theatres: Philia (A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM); Regina (ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST); Angel (CELEBRATION); Wanda (ENTER LAUGHING); Corrie (BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, with Joan Bennett) and singing for the Champlain and NY Shakespeare Festivals for multiple seasons.
Carole played numerous guest star roles on classic prime time TV (including, KOJAK, MANNIX, ROUTE 66, BARNABY JONES, MAN FROM ATLANTIS, FANTASTIC JOURNEY (recently, BLUE BLOODS/CBS and ALLEGIANCE/NBC) and recurring roles on daytime dramas (EDGE OF NIGHT, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, AS THE WORLD TURNS). For the popular PBS Series GREAT PERFORMANCES, Carole joined other stars of the Great White Way for Lorimar’s SHOWSTOPPERS - THE BEST OF BROADWAY. On film, Carole starred in the 300 YEAR WEEKEND, with William Devane and THE SPACE WORKS for Trans-Lux Corp. Other films include appearances in: A LOVELY WAY TO DIE for Universal Films and THE DIS-APPOINTMENTS ROOM.
Her New York City concert and cabaret performances include: (BROADWAY ORIGINALS (Town Hall), OFF-BROADWAY CLOSE UP (Merkin Hall), 50th Anniversary celebrations for GREASE, WBAI Radio, Lincoln Center Library and The Fantasticks. She is seen in NYC’s favorite cabaret venues (Feinsteins/54 Below, Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, Laurie Beechman Theater, New World Stages annual gala, Le Poisson Rouge, The Iridium, The Triad-Stage 72, Signature Theatre, Urban Stages, Concerts For City Greens, etc.). She sang for BROADWAY TO BARBADOS for two seasons and recently headlined on Crystal Cruise, Film and Theatre Cruise to French Polynesia. She was a recurring favorite star in The Ziegfeld Society Productions. Her previous one-woman show in NYC and other locales (including The Caribbean Theatre, St. Croix) received rave reviews…”a powerhouse of musical theatre”, “a vocal champion”, “a consummate artist”, her voice has been described as “shimmering and thrilling with great warmth, sweetness and surprising power”. Her tribute to Jones and Schmidt THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE With Broadway’s Sarah Rice also garnered wonderful reviews. Her engaging, exciting cabaret and concert performances have brought funds and attention to many worthy causes, Most recently a sold out benefit concert in Rochester New York.
Carole starred (with lifelong friend Paula Janis) in TV’s most successful regional children’s series, THE MAGIC GARDEN (for over 12 years) leading to hundreds of live family concerts and recent viral posts on Facebook. Carole and Paula were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Carole's versatility has been seen on camera in principal roles in over 200 commercials for television (everything from men’s cologne to peanut butter and often singing the jingles as well), among them Kodak, Promise Margarine, Lipton Tea, Puss ‘n Boots, Wonder Bread, M&M’s, Clairol, Timex, Lysol, AT&T, etc. more at www.caroledemas.com, www.caroleandpaula.com
Paula Janis
Special Guest
PAULA JANIS traveled widely as a solo musician and folk singer, performing at Greenwich Village’s Café Wha?, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan Center and Carnegie Hall, etc. Joining the folk trio, The Wee’Uns, as lead vocalist and musician, on television, and universities: Princeton and NYU. As Co-Star of THE MAGIC GARDEN, Paula combined her two loves, music and education, into an award-winning series. With a B.S. in Drama from Skidmore College, an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from NYU, Paula became a Director of Head Start Programs in NYC. She performed on educational recordings, and was featured on public television. Her one-woman show, Paula From The Magic Garden, was seen in schools, libraries, camps, churches and synagogues. Juggling her roles as actress, educator and head of household, Paula’s proudest achievement remains her role as “Mom”. Paula’s children are Victoria, Monica and Gregory Janis.
Ilene Kristen
Special Guest
A native New Yorker, Ilene made her Broadway debut as a dancer in “Henry, Sweet Henry”. She originated the role of Patty Simcox in “Grease” and portrayed the infamous Leona Helmsley in “Mayor”. Ilene is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Delia Ryan on “ Ryan’s Hope”, and her ten-year stint as the gambling, beer-guzzling and always-inappropriate hairdresser Roxy Balsom on “One Life to Live”, for which she received two Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Ilene portrayed the Brooklynite waitress Norma Gilpin on “Loving” , wannabe socialite Madeleine Thompson on “Another World”and reprised the role of Delia Ryan in a character crossover on “General Hospital” for two years.
Night time TV sightings include Deception, Unforgettable, HBO's Show Me A Hero, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, The Good Policeman, Third Watch, The Sopranos, Family, and The Black Donnellys. Along with Morgen Fairchild , Ilene appeared in the pilot “Melange” playing bartender Dolly Faye and Stella in the film “Bleeker” . Ilene has acted extensively Off and Off-Off Broadway and has been a member of The Ensemble Studio since 1984. Her album of original songs “I’m Not Done With U Yet” is available on Amazon and iTunes.
Ian Herman
Music Director
Ian began his musical career studying classical piano. At the age of thirteen he was a guest soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. After attending Manhattan School Of Music, Ian began working with performers including Jane Olivor, Donna McKechnie, Anita Morris, Judy Kaye, Liliane Montevecchi, Tom Andersen, Dawn Derow, Karen Mason, Sharon McNight, Carole J. Bufford, Marilyn Sokol, Angela LaGreca, Carole Demas, and Joy Behar in nightclubs in New York and around the country. In 1999 he received the Backstage Bistro Award for best Musical Director. He was a pianist and vocal coach at the Broadway revival of GREASE, working with guest stars such as Al Jarreau, Jon Secada, Sheena Easton, Chubby Checker, and Darlene Love. His other Broadway credits include JELLY’S LAST JAM, THE WHO’S TOMMY, SONG AND DANCE, and SWING, for which he wrote vocal and dance arrangements. and LAUGHING ROOM ONLY with Jackie Mason. He was also conductor for THE TOXIC AVENGER at New World Stages. Recently Ian released a new solo CD of all original pieces entitled Images.
Stuart Allyn
Producer-Director
Stuart is an award winning Broadway sound designer, consultant, and recording engineer. He also produces events and sometimes directs them. He works with an array of Broadway concert stars. He has an EMMY Award for lead audio - The 1994 Winter Olympics. Theatrical Sound Designs include: critically acclaimed NY debut PHANTOM by Maury Yeston & Arthur Kopit; New York Premier of James Michener’s SAYONARA; the multi-award winning SONG OF SINGAPORE - “Best Off-Broadway Musical”; Sondheim’s COMPANY national tour; New York Shakespeare Festival’s ONE FLEA SPARE and SATURN RETURNS. He served The White House and recently was designer/mixer for Broadway to Barbados concerts 3 years running, Actor’s fund benefit for Kathi Moss with 40 original cast Broadway Stars from NINE, GREASE and GRAND HOTEL, and the 25th Reunion Concert of GRAND HOTEL. Mr. Allyn designs and mixed The MAC Award Winning City Greens Concerts and has mixed the Newport Jazz Festival, concerts at Carnegie Hall, etc.
Other credits include: The Winter In Lisbon with Dizzy Gillespie, award winning scores for Columbia Pictures; critically acclaimed independent films; specials for PBS including: Placido Celebrates Seville; and Sesame Street, 20 Years and Still Counting, with Ray Charles, Placido Domingo etc.; Grammy nominated albums: Lickety Split (The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra,) and Mel Lewis, 20 Years at the Village Vanguard. Nominated for 4 Grammys, 3 Emmys, an Obie, several CLIOs winner of EMMY, ASCAP, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and 3 film festival awards.
Photos
Carole Demas
Carole with Paula
Carole
Carole and Ilene
Carole
Carole
Multimedia
Firefly show Promo
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