The Stars in
Broadway Sings The Odd Potato
Click on an image for biographical information.
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BJ CROSBY
(played "Millie Harris" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato)
BJ Crosby most recently played "Matron 'Mama' Morton" in the Broadway production of Chicago. Prior to that she starred in George C. Wolfe's Harlem Song at New York's Apollo Theater.
Other Broadway credits include One Mo' Time and Smokey Joe's Café for which she received Tony and NAACP nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, an Olivier Award nomination for the London Premier and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
National tours: The Civil War, Dreamgirls (Effie). Television: "Ally McBeal", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", "Law & Order", "Mad About You", "The Life of Romare Beardon", "The Bill Cosby Show", "Family Matters", "Victoria's Secret", and "Smokey Joe's Café: Live From Broadway". Other stage credits: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Ain't Misbehavin', Lady BJ Sings Lady Day. Concerts: New Jersey Symphony (guest soloist), Disney World with Dynamite National Talent and Stepp Stewart. Recordings: A Tribute to Billie Holiday with Ellis Marsalis (Ace Award), He's Right on Time (Rev Daryl Coley, Sparrow Records).
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FRANK GORSHIN
(1934-2005)
(played "Murray Weintraub" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato)
Frank Gorshin was most recently seen on Broadway appearing as the legendary entertainer George Burns in his one man show, Say Goodnight Gracie.
After two years in the Army during the Korean conflict, serving in Special Services as an entertainer, he returned to civilian life and quickly got a job in the Paramount Films' The Proud and the Profane, Bells Are Ringing, Where the Boys Are, and Ring of Fire.
But it was the role of The Riddler on the television series "Batman" for which he received an Emmy nomination, that changed his professional career. Mr. Gorshin went on to receive his second Emmy nomination as a guest star in a classic "Star Trek" episode.
Frank Gorshin as "George Burns" in Say Goodnight
Gracie
Photo: Carol Rosegg
No stranger to the stage, he made his Broadway debut in 1970 as the star of Jimmy based on the life of New York Mayor Jimmy Walker. He also starred in touring companies of What Makes Sammy Run; Promises, Promises; Peter Pan; Prisoner of Second Avenue; Deathtrap; Doubles; Ah, Wilderness!; On the 20th Century; Breaking Legs; Guys and Dolls; and most recently The Sunshine Boys co-starring with Dick Van Patten.
Other film roles included 12 Monkeys, Meteor Man, Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, Luck of the Draw, Castle Rock, Beethoven's 3rd, Manna From Heaven, "Back to the Bat Cave" for CBS and Blood Head directed by Christopher Coppola.
Mr. Gorshin passed away on May 17, 2005. We will miss him.
Visit Frank Gorshin on the web at: www.therealfrankgorshin.com
DEBBIE GRAVITTE
(played "Anna Levy" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato and sings "Don't Forget The Pepper" on The Odd Potato CD)
Debbie Gravitte was most recently on Broadway playing Matron "Mama" Morton in the hit revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. Tony Award winner for Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Debbie made her Broadway debut in the original cast of They're Playing Our Song and went on to appear in Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Nomination); Zorba, Blues In The Night, Ain't Broadway Grand, and Les Misérables. She's been featured in the Encores' productions of The Boys From Syracuse, Tenderloin, and Carnival. Off-Broadway: Free To Be You And Me, Out of Sterno and Broadway 68 at LaMama, ETC.
Debbie has sung in concert worldwide with numerous orchestras, including the London, Stockholm, Jerusalem, and St. Louis Symphonies. She recently finished her third solo CD, Big Band Broadway, the follow up to Part of Your World, The Alan Menken Album and The MGM Album.
On television, Debbie's appeared on PBS' "Broadway Plays Washington," "Evening with the Boston Pops," "A Rodgers and Hart Celebration," "Ira Gershwin's 100th at Carnegie Hall," and "Rodgers and Hart." She was seen with Bette Midler in the feature Isn't She Great? and can be heard as one of the voices in The Little Mermaid. Debbie is the proud and tired mother of three beautiful children.
Visit Debbie Gravitte on the web at: www.debbiegravitte.com
MARK JACOBY
(played "Joe Levy" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato and in the February '03 reading)
Mark Jacoby, recently seen as the Padre in the Tony Award nominated Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha, earned Tony, Outer Critics' and Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for his performance as Gaylord Ravenal in Showboat, directed by Harold Prince, and originated the role of Father in Ragtime on Broadway.
He made his Broadway debut as Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity (directed by Bob Fosse) and also appeared as Baron von Gaigern in Grand Hotel on Broadway. For two and a half years, Mark played the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway (a role he created in the American national tour). Other exciting roles include Guido Contini in the Chicago premiere of Nine (winning the Joseph Jefferson Award), Playwright in Enter The Guardsman (receiving a Drama Desk Nomination), and Norman Rockwell in the new musical, Rockwell, produced at New York's Blue Heron Theatre.
CHARLOTTE RAE
(played "Mrs. Fanny Rosenblum" and "Grandmother Rifka" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato)
Charlotte Rae has played every type of role, from the original Mammy Yokum in Broadway's L'il Abner to her Emmy nominated role as Mrs. Garrett on NBC's "The Facts of Life." Her television credits range from early work on such shows as "Car 54 Where Are You?" to "Molly the Mailperson" on "Sesame Street" to her co-starring role on "Hot L Baltimore." She also received an Emmy nomination for "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."
Her many stage credits include: the famed NYC production of Threepenny Opera (original cast recording); Tony nominated performances in Pickwick and Morning, Noon, and Night; and her musical debut in Three Wishes for Jamie. A few NYC stage credits include: The Beauty Part with Bert Lahr, David Rabe's The Boom Boom Room at Lincoln Center, Terrence McNally's Whiskey (Obie nomination), and The Vagina Monologues at the Westside Theater. She played "Winnie" in Samuel Beckett's Happy Days both in NYC and LA (Drama Critics Circle nomination).
Charlotte's most rewarding roles have been "Mistress Quickly" in Henry IV, Part 1 and 2 and the "Nurse" in Romeo and Juliet, both Joseph Papp productions for Shakespeare in the Park.
MOLLY EPHRAIM
(played "Rachel Levy" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato and appears on The Odd Potato CD)
Molly Ephraim made her motion picture debut as "Wendy Greenhut" in the 2008 Disney movie, College Road Trip. She also appeared as "Bielke", Tevye's daughter in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway and previously played daughter "Ally" in "Hench At Home", Michael J. Fox's 2003 sitcom pilot starring Craig Bierko and Tracy Pollan.
She was recognized by the Drama League for her outstanding performance in her portrayal of Little Red Ridinghood in the 2002 Tony Award winning Broadway Revival of Into The Woods starring Vanessa Williams. Other credits include: The Snow Queen at Prince Music Theatre, the Arden Theatre Company's Into The Woods (for which she received a Barrymore Nomination), staged readings directed by Patricia Birch of King Island Christmas, and Great Expectations, as well as many regional theatre productions, among them, Fiddler On The Roof, Annie, South Pacific, Carousel, and The Nutcracker.
Molly is currently a senior at Princeton University.
SKY JARRETT
(played "Sammy Levy" in Broadway Sings The Odd Potato and appears on The Odd Potato CD)
Sky Jarrett recently completed the Tenth Anniversary U.S. Tour of The Will Rogers Follies with Larry Gatlin produced by Dallas Summer Musicals. Previously, he made both his New York and Broadway debuts as Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with F. Murray Abraham at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
Sky has also delighted in performing the roles of Linus in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown at Palistage Youth Theatre, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with the Random Farms Kids Theater, and Michael Darling in Peter Pan at Yorktown Stage. Sky can be heard on the Nickelodeon series "Blues Clues" and seen on the VH-1 promos for "I Love the 70's". Thank you to Eileen Sherman and Jay Kerr for this wonderful opportunity. Kisses and hugs to my family and friends.
