press release
Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story is Back at the Ogunquit Playhouse October 2 through 20
For Immediate Release:
September 18, 2013
Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story starring Kurt Jenkins as Buddy Holly returns by popular demand to rock the Ogunquit Playhouse’s season to a close from October 2 to October 20. If you saw this record-breaking show last year, come see it again. For those of you who missed it now is your chance to see one of the most popular shows in Playhouse history!
Follow the incredible journey of Buddy's meteoric rise to the top of the record charts during the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll in this dynamic tribute musical. You'll be cheering for more, with such rousing fifties favorites as "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy," "Maybe Baby," "That'll Be the Day," "Raining In My Heart," Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" and the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace." This joyous celebration of a musical legendhas audiences on their feet in every corner of the globe and it will explode once again on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage in a toe-tapping, hand-clapping extravaganza! “Oh Boy!”
Following his debut as Buddy at Ogunquit Playhouse in 2012, Kurt Jenkins went on to play the lead role in the recent National Tour of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story. He now returns to the stage where it all began one year ago! Jayson Elliott also returns to Ogunquit to play the Big Bopper. In addition to his many stage credits, Mr. Elliot has played The Big Bopper in several tribute concerts along the East Coast, as well as the role of Brian in the 2011 Ogunquit production of Avenue Q. Xavier Cano joins the cast as Ritchie Valens. He has appeared in the Broadway production of Grease and Off Broadway productions of Giant and Rent.
Scott Moss who has appeared in four productions of Buddy as Joe Maudlin, marks his debut as Norm Petty in the Ogunquit production. He has also appeared in many regional theatre productions throughout the U.S. including Johnny Guitar, La Traviata, Man of La Mancha, Macbeth, My Fair Lady and Biloxi Blues.
Hipockets Duncan will be played by James Beaman who starred as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles opposite Maxwell Caulfield at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2007 and went on to star as Sir Robin in the First National Tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. In addition, he has performed in many Off-Broadway productions and in regional theatres across the U.S. including Goodspeed Musicals, North Shore Music Theatre, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Stages St. Louis and many others.
Director-Choreographer for Buddy is DJ Salisbury who has directed and choreographed for theaters nationwide including Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre of the Stars-Atlanta, Sacramento Music Circus and Riverside Theatre-FL. As Director-Choreographer he has worked on many shows including Man of La Mancha, Into The Woods, La Cage Aux Folles, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Full Monty, Evita, Ragtime and nine productions of The Will Rogers Follies. In New York he directed numerous readings, workshops and concerts including a revised Mystery of Edwin Drood (featuring Sally Struthers) and the Lincoln Center solo concert of Disney composer Alan Menken, among others. Mr. Salisbury has worked in various capacities with Broadway heavyweights Jerry Mitchell, Kathleen Marshall, Lynne Taylor Corbett, Susan Stroman, Jeff Calhoun and Tommy Tune. As choreographer he worked on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars Road Trip” and “The Rachael Ray Show.” He was also head writer/lyricist for the Emmy-winning Oklahoma Centennial TV special starring Reba McIntyre, Vince Gill, Kelli O’Hara and Shirley Jones.
John Banister is the Music Supervisor for the Ogunquit production of Buddy. He works full time as a musical director and supervisor in productions around the world, most notably for Buddy Worldwide LTD, the creators of the Buddy musical. He has had a vast history working with Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story around the world and including the Duchess Theatre, London. Mr. Bannister was nominated for The Sterling Award for Most Outstanding Musical Director in Edmonton, Canada for The Buddy Holly Story. In 2011, John wrote and arranged Junior Buddy, a children’s version of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story which is sold worldwide. He continues to publicize Buddy Holly’s music by regularly appearing on television and radio and giving talks and master classes across North America. In 2013/14, Mr. Bannister will be Music Director for the British anniversary tour of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story and Music Supervisor for Buddy Worldwide LTD and the ‘Theatre Of The Stars’ North American regional tour. He is an honors graduate of The Royal Academy of Music, London and began his career as a classical musician playing timpani, percussion and piano with orchestras such as The Royal Philharmonic, Welsh National Opera and Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet.
Jason Cohen joins the creative team as Music Director and is part of the ensemble cast. He a recent graduate from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (BFA Drama) where he has studied at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, the Experimental Theatre Wing and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He has also worked as a musician, musical director and arranger in New York and London.
Tickets are on sale now for Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story running October 2 through October 20, 2014 Early Bird Season Subscriptions and gift certificates are also available for sale. To purchase, call the Box Office at 207-646-5511 or go online at OgunquitPlayhouse.org.