Robby Benson’s Original Musical OPEN HEART
Open Heart, starring Robby Benson, Karla DeVito, Stan Brown, and Cliff Bemis at the Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main Street, Park City.
Rating: For Mature Audiences-Language.
Ticket prices range from $23-$36 and $200 for Cabaret tables.
Opening Night after party with cast $22.00.
For tickets call 435-649-9371 or visit www.parkcityshows.com.
Whatever happened to Robby Benson -- actor, singer, songwriter, director and most memorably heart throb star of the 70’s and voice of the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast? Multi-talented Robby Benson, now mid-life 50, is still busy with his career. He has a novel that is being published by HarperCollins entitled Who Stole the Funny?; hitting bookstores in late August. He’s currently teaching at NYU.
Over five years ago, Benson penned the book, lyrics and music for the musical Open Heart. The show opened Off-Broadway at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre to rave reviews in 2004. Samuel French Publishers has just released the rights to the production. In celebration, The Egyptian Theatre Company invited Robby Benson and the original cast to remount a concert version of the production. Benson, who called Park City home for six years, generously consented and managed to shuffle his busy schedule to accommodate the performances-March 30, 31, and April 1.
The show was written as a valentine tribute for his wife, Karla DeVito. You might remember DeVito from the Bat Out of Hell tour, singing killer vocals with Meatloaf. DeVito still sings killer vocals and is showcased throughout Open Heart. She plays a variety of characters as does Stan Brown, also from the original cast. Benson plays the role of Jimmy, a workaholic who rediscovers life’s priorities in this intimate, funny and poignant musical. The Park City Singers will provide back up vocals for the concert performance.
The leading character Jimmy, played by Benson, is a director of family-friendly sitcoms. Benson in real life directed sitcoms Friends and Ellen. Like Benson, Jimmy is also a husband and father. And like anyone in the entertainment business, Jimmy is under constant pressure to replace his last success with his latest. He is also expected to be at home, on time, to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife, Jayne. During the craze of work deadlines and pressure from home, Jimmy has what appears to be a heart attack. His dream-like journey takes place between the real and surreal as his life comically flashes before him; his choices and the consequences of those choices. Incidentally, Benson underwent three open heart surgeries by the time he was 48. His experiences as a heart patient and his desire to perform with his wife served as additional inspiration for Benson when writing Open Heart.
Have you ever asked yourself "How did I get here?" Open Heart takes a comic, irreverent look at the value of true love and second chances and how 60 seconds can change your life … forever!
Open Heart is an irreverent, comic look at love and life seen through the eyes of a man during a one-minute trauma that changes him...forever. Open Heart made its world premiere in March of 2004 at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City. Rodgers and Hammerstein Org. is licensing and publishing the musical for future productions. This particular album is unique in that it is the singer/songwriter versions of selected songs from the show. There are also three bonus tracks from Open Heart The Musical, featuring the remarkable talents of Karla DeVito and Stan Brown.
Karla DeVito and Stan Brown starred in the original cast in New York City and received rave reviews for their dazzling performances. The musical was written as an eternal valentine to Karla DeVito, a Broadway star and the 'woman behind the loaf' (Karla DeVito sang and toured with Meat Loaf on the original Bat Out of Hell Tour). Karla DeVito and Stan Brown are the most talented actor/performers "...to ever grace the stage." Soon, there will be an original Open Heart Album but until then, these songs will represent the six year journey of the musical.
