Our History
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Broadway Sings is a professional concert production company featuring stars of the Broadway and National Companies of hit Broadway shows.
Broadway Sings was founded in 2003 by two Broadway veteran performers: Executive Producers Lisa Capps and Charles Bergell met while both were starring in the US National Tour of Les Miserables. They each subsequently went on to star in Les Miserable on Broadway. Between them, they have performing credits in Les Miz, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and the Who’s Tommy.
Together they have called upon their large network of contacts in the Broadway theatre world - including actors, directors, choreographers, musicians and designers - to create exceptional live entertainment experiences for corporate and private events around the world.
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| Broadway Sings works with a rotating creative team of active Broadway professionals including Broadway directors, music directors and choreographers, and designers to create an event with a true Broadway pedigree. |
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| OUR PRODUCTION TEAM: |
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| CHARLES BERGELL (Executive Producer) In the Broadway and National Touring Companies of Les Miserables, Charles understudied and performed the leading role of “Jean Valjean.” Prior to this, Charles was cast by director Harold Prince in the original company of the 2nd National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera. He has appeared in regional productions and national tours around the country, including the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Evita, the east coast premiere of Children of Eden at the Paper Mill Playhouse (cast recording), and Linda Eder’s Christmas Concert, filmed for Bravo Television. In 2002, he appeared in the Off-Broadway hit musical, The Prince and the Pauper. Charles attended and graduated from the renowned theatre program at Northwestern University with a BS in Speech, major in theatre. In 1995, Charles was the founder and producer of Broadway to You, a concert production company featuring Broadway performers, and produced concerts of Broadway performers for groups around the country. In 2003, he created the hugely successful “Broadway Nights” concert series at Cortina Restaurant in Paterson, NJ, which led to the partnership with Lisa Capps and the creation of Broadway Sings. |
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JEN BENDER (Director, Broadway Forum Teaching Associate) has been the Broadway Production Supervisor forDisney's The Lion King for the past several years. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Director of The Wedding Singer. She is also the Assistant Director of Avenue Q, as well as for the recent Broadway revival of Steel Magnolias. Other directing credits include Like You Like It at the Beckett Theatre, Disfigured at the American Theatre of Actors, and a reading of Jeff Whitty`s play Suicide Weather, starring Debra Monk. She has directed numerous readings, cabarets, and concerts at Maker, Donnell Library Theatre, The Knitting Factory, Bird land, and Ars Nova. She is on the teaching faculty of KAMP NYC, an intensive training program for musical theatre students ages 12-17 (www.kampnyc.com) and served on the inaugural staff of The Artist`s Crossing, a theatre company and school for the performing arts at the Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, Ohio (www.theartistscrossing.com). A graduate of Northwestern University, Jen is a producer and founding member of the New Voices Collective, a non-profit organization which provides a forum for a community of artists to develop new works and explore new directions. She is also one of the founding producers of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. |
LISA KLAGES (Production Stage Manager) Lisa is a Pace University student studying Theatre Arts - Directing/Stage Management and Psychology. Lisa is co-founder and Executive Board Member for Stand Up Productions, a not -for-profit theater company that donates 100% of the current season's proceeds to charities relevant to the themes of the shows. Lisa has extensive experience stage managing for various Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Regional groups. She began her stage management career at La Mama E.T.C, stage managing a tributary performance for the late founder, Ellen Stewart. Lisa is also a classical violinist, and has experience in music direction, pit musicianship, and violin education and private instruction. Lisa had the honor of directing her own version of Thornton Wilder's Our Town through Studio 501 at Pace University. Lisa also teaches acting at Hoboken Children's Theatre, alongside Broadway Sings co-founder, Lisa Capps. Lisa will graduate in 2013 from Pace University, and plans to continue professional stage management.
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| DAN RIDDLE (Music Director) Dan began his Broadway career in 1996 as assistant conductor of Les Miserables. Since then Dan has conducted the New York productions of Titanic, A Class Act, Oklahoma, Into the Woods, Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams, and The Light in the Piazza. B.M., M.M., The Juilliard School (Piano Performance) Diplom, Hochshule fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna (Piano and Conducting, Fulbright recipient). Winner of numerous international piano competitions. Performed as concerto soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Dallas, Monte Carlo, Cairo (Egypt), and many others. |
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| SARA BRIANS (Choreographer) is the Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for Irving Berlin`s White Christmas, directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Randy Skinner, and was a Dance Captain for the Tony Award winning Broadway Revival of 42nd Street. She was Assistant Choreographer for After the Night and the Music at the Biltmore Theatre (MTC). For Pace University, she has choreographed Pippin and Hoods and Hoofers. Sara has performed as a “Rockette” at Radio City Musical Hall and has appeared on The Late Show with Jay Leno, The Donnie and Marie Show, The Macy`s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Good Morning America. Other New York credits include Dance With Me, choreographed by David Marquez at The Duke Theater, and Broadway by the Year, The Musicals of 1963, at Town Hall. Her tap sounds can be heard on the recording of Sherry! The Musical, produced by James Lipton. Sara is a teacher for Camp Broadway and has also taught at Broadway Dance Center and New Dance Group in New York City. |
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Dan Riddle conducting the 2005 Tony Award-Winning The Light in the Piazza
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| JEREMY BITZ (Production Supervisor) is the Senior Producer of Special Programming for New York 1 News, Time Warner’s 24 hour cable news channel in New York City. Jeremy was instrumental in the formation of the “New York 1 Original Programming and Specials Unit,” for which he is now the senior producer. During 2004, Jeremy was in charge of coordinating, planning and producing all coverage of the Presidential National Nominating Conventions for the twelve stations in the Time Warner news group. He was also one of the senior producers in charge of election night and Presidential Inaugural coverage. Recently, Jeremy produced, at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the first Democratic Candidates debate for New York City Mayor for 2005. He was also a member of the production staff for the Pennsylvania’s Junior Miss Program and a Production Associate for the Miss America Program and telecast. |
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| DON BREWER (Broadway Forum Director) recently completed a run starring in the Las Vegas production of Mamma Mia. Broadway credits also include Les Miserables. National Tours: The Will Rogers Follies (starring Mr. Larry Gatlin), The Who’s Tommy. Regional: The Apple Tree and On The Twentieth Century (both at Good speed Opera House), Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Capital Repertory Theatre). Don is a graduate of Western Michigan University where he was named a presidential scholar at the end of his studies. He is currently working towards an M.F.A. in Theatre Education. |
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MARTIN KENWOOD (General Manager) is a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania`s Wharton School. He is a licensed real estate broker, mortgage banker, real estate investor, and business consultant. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including Mortgage Bankers Association and the New Jersey Apartment Association. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Daughters of Miriam Nursing Home in Clifton, New Jersey. Martin`s interests include magic, computers and photography. He enjoys traveling with his wife, Anne, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
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| THE LUCE GROUP (Lighting Design Team) |
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