Playbill

By Robert Simonson
02 Nov 2004

Billy Philadelphia in Hoagy - The Hoagy Carmichael Musical
photo by Bill Sumner

Hoagy - The Hoagy Carmichael Musical, a new tribute to the "Stardust" and "Skylark" songwriter, begins previews at Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami Nov. 2 prior to Nov. 5 opening.

Bruce Dettman, Billy Philadelphia and William C. Trichon wrote the show, which "takes audiences on a musical and entertaining journey of the life and times of celebrated musician/composer Hoagy Carmichael."

Audiences will hear "Georgia On My Mind," "The Nearness of You," "Lazy River," "Heart and Soul," "Skylark" and what's billed as "the most recorded song of the 20th century": "Stardust."

Co-author and arranger Billy Philadelphia plays Hoagy Carmichael, supported by Tony Award-nominated B.J. Crosby (Smokey Joe's Cafe), with dancers and an on-stage band. Performances continue to Nov. 21.

Billy Philadelphia has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for 30 years as a pianist, musical director, arranger, singer, teacher, actor and composer. He was musical director for several local television shows, and played for Dame Edna in her first San Francisco run. He also works in cabaret with his performing partner (and wife), vocalist Meg Mackay. He teaches a popular class in Cabaret Performance through UC Extension and last summer taught at the first annual Cabaret Conference at Yale University.

B.J. Crosby was seen most recently in Bubblin' Brown Sugar at Atlanta's Theatre of the Stars. Prior to that she appeared as Matron "Mama" Morton in the Broadway production of Chicago and starred in George C. Wolfe's Harlem Song at the Apollo Theater. She was Tony nommed for Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Walter Painter, a three-time Emmy Award winner for his work in television, directs and choreographs. His work in the theatre includes the musical staging for the Broadway, national and London companies of City of Angels.

Co-author Dettman is a San Francisco based freelance writer whose articles and stories have appeared in Emmy, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Filmfax, Scarlet Street, True West, Military History, San Francisco and the Nob Hill Gazette. He is currently working on a novel and new play.

The company also includes dancer-singers Joanna Louise and Bob Gaynor.

Jim Rothermel is musical director and conductor, Louis St. Louis is music supervisor, dance arranger and additional vocal arranger. Designers are David Mitchell (scenic), David F. Segal (lighting) and Steve Shapiro (sound).

For more information, visit http://www.cgplayhouse.org/.