Minneapolis Musical Theatre
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A CLASS ACT

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Area Premiere

June 4 – 27, 2004 – Hey City Theater

Music and Lyrics – Edward Kleban
Book – Linda Kline and Lonny Price

The Tony-nominated A Class Act is a love letter to the musical theatre.  It is the inspiring true story of Ed Kleban, lyricist of A Chorus Line, and his life-long quest for friendship, love and theatrical recognition.  Told through Kleban’s own, never-before-heard songs, A Class Act brings you behind the scenes and into the hearts of the rare, colorful people who make the musicals we grow up and fall in love with.  For anyone who has ever struggled to make a personal dream come true, A Class Act is the musical you must see!

Director / Choreographer – Steven Meerdink
Musical Director – Kevin Hansen

photo credit: Roy Blakey

Scenic Designer – Alan Sorenson
Costume Designer – Joshua Stevens
Rehearsal Accompanist – Emily Hanson
Stage Manager – Robbie Droddy

Cast
Lucy – Tina Miller
Bobby / Michael Bennett – Edward Williams, Jr.
Ed Kleban – Chet Taylor
Felicia – Stacey Lindell
Lehman Engel – Eric Johnson
Charley / Marvin Hamlisch – Kevin Hansen
Mona – Heather McCornack
Sophie – Bonni Allen

Reviews and Quotes

“The Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s area premiere of A Class Act charms with its theatricalization of the life of lyricist and composer Ed Kleban.  Chet Taylor plays Kleban and … brings to the role a wonderfully puckish persona. Eyes alight, he connects with the audience, as he acts and dances with skill.  A cast of seven supports Taylor on stage. Outstanding among them is strong-piped Stacey Lindell as Felicia, a fellow BMI student and a pushy record company executive at Columbia Records where Kleban worked. Together they dance a marvelous, desire-riddled routine to the song “Don’t Do It Again,” choreographed by director Steven J. Meerdink. Edward Williams, Jr. fills the stage as Michael Bennett, the strutting director of A Chorus Line.” – TalkinBroadway.com

“Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s production is a worthwhile presentation of an obscure musical.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press