"Her name was Lola..." and she's here in Pittsburgh CLO's production of Barry Manilow's Copacabana July 21 through August 2 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District.
Travel back in time with Lola, Tony and Rico when "music and passion were always in fashion." Inspired by Barry Manilow's Grammy® Award-winning hit song "Copacabana," this old-fashioned musical weaves a seductive story of love, jealousy and murder as told through the eyes of an aspiring songwriter. Complete with splashy production numbers and an original Latin-inspired score, Barry Manilow's Copacabana features more than a few surprises for even the biggest Barry Manilow fan.
Stephen Berger (Sam) returns to Pittsburgh CLO for the first time since 1993 when he starred in Fiorello! and South Pacific. His Broadway credits include The Pajama Game, Into the Woods, The Dinner Party, True West, Wonderful Town, Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Little Me. Mr. Berger also has a recurring role as Judge Berger in TV's "Law & Order."
Robert Cuccioli (Rico) made his Broadway debut as Javert in Les Misérables and earned a Tony® nomination for his role in Jekyll and Hyde. His previous Pittsburgh CLO credits include Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Funny Girl, Guys and Dolls, Bells are Ringing and The Pajama Game. He also directed Jekyll and Hyde for Pittsburgh CLO.
Tim Hartman (Brill/McManus) has appeared on Broadway in A Tale of Two Cities, and the Encore production of Finian's Rainbow. Mr. Hartman has performed in numerous Pittsburgh CLO productions, including 17 appearances in A Musical Christmas Carol. He has also appeared in Pittsburgh CLO's Les Misérables, Annie, Camelot and Funny Girl and in the films "The Silence of the Lambs," "The Piano Lesson," and "The Mothman Prophecies."
Elise Santora (Conchita) makes her Pittsburgh CLO debut. Her Broadway credits include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Capeman and Man of La Mancha. She also has been a back-up vocalist for David Bowie and Julio Iglesias.
Chandra L. Schwartz (Lola) was last seen as Sharpay in Pittsburgh CLO's production of Disney's High School Musical. She has performed on Broadway alongside Bernadette Peters in Gypsy and in Hairspray.
Sally Wilfert (Gladys/Mom) made her Pittsburgh CLO debut in Les Misérables this season. She has appeared on Broadway in Assassins, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and King David. She also performed in James Lapine's National Tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and was a back-up singer for Liza Minnelli in Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall.
Tony Yazbeck (Tony/Stephen) just completed his run as Tulsa in Gypsy on Broadway (Outer Critics Circle Nom.). Mr. Yazbeck's other Broadway Credits include A Chorus Line, Never Gonna Dance, Oklahoma! and Gypsy. He has appeared on television in "All My Children" and "As the World Turns" and is presently in the feature documentary "Every Little Step." He trained at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Point Park University.
Charles Repole (Director) has directed numerous productions for Pittsburgh CLO including Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Annie, Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Carousel and Cinderella. His New York City and Broadway directing credits include the highly acclaimed concert versions of Dubarry was a Lady and Call Me Madam and the revival of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, among others. As an actor, he has appeared on Broadway in Doubles, Whoopee! and Very Good Eddie, which earned him a Tony® nomination and a Theatre World Award.
John MacInnis (Choreographer) is thrilled to be returning to Pittsburgh CLO, where he choreographed the 2008 production of Annie Get Your Gun and the 2004 production of Beauty and the Beast. His other credits include the European companies of Beauty and the Beast set in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and Spain. In 2002 he directed and choreographed The Olympic Medals Plaza Ceremonies at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also directed and choreographed The Radio City Christmas Spectacular from 1999 to 2001.
Tom Helm (Music Director) returns for his 14th season with Pittsburgh CLO. On Broadway, he was the musical director of Les Misérables, Me and My Girl and the revival of Brigadoon. Mr. Helm was also the musical director for the First National Tour of Cats and conducted Cats on Broadway early in its run. Mr. Helm is also the resident music director at Paper Mill Playhouse.
