La Tea Theater, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center,
107 Suffolk Street, between Rivington and Delancy, NYC
Tickets: 212-279-4499 (NY) or 888-FringeNYC (Outside NY) or www.FringeNYC.org

Monday, August 11 @ 3:00 PM, Thursday, August 14 @ 10:15 PM
Friday, August 15 @ 5:15 PM, Friday, August 22 @ 7:45 PM
Sunday, August 24 @ 1:30 PM

Directed by Dean Strober
Musical Director -- James Busby
Choreographer -- Christine O'Grady
Associate Musical Director -- Heather Edwards
Set Design -- Eric Green
Lighting Design -- Jesse Chan-Norris
Costume Design -- Xina Nicosia
Sound Design -- Erich Bechtel
Stage Manager -- Catherine Lascoumes
General Manager -- Maggie Edelman
Publicist -- Karen Greco

CAST
(In alphabetical order)

Citizen, Viv, Floozy, Anchor, Socialite, Joe, Al -- MICHELLE COLLIER
Citizen, DeLeo, Freitas -- LORIS DIRAN
A Guy, Doorley, Councilman, Aiken -- MICHAEL H. JOHNSON
Nancy Ann, Citizen, Wendy -- MICHELLE LOOKADOO
Citizen, Herb, Haxton, Corrente -- GARTH T. MARK
Citizen, Defense Attorney, Secretary -- MOLLY JO MCGUIRE
Citizen, Floozy, Judge, FBI -- MARISA MOSS
Citizen, Buckles, Pannone -- SPENCER ROWE
Buddy Cianci -- DAVID STERN
Press, Copeland, Blackjack, Ead, U. Club Prez – RON WILLIAMS

The Band

LAFRAE OLIVIA SCI (Drums)

HEATHER EDWARDS (Piano), JAMES BUSBY (Synth)

A "stranger-than-fiction" dose of reality with a neo-swing beat -- that is "BUDDY" CIANCI:  THE MUSICAL.  Based on the real life saga of Providence,
Rhode Island's all-time favorite mayor, Vincent A. Cianci Jr., aka "Buddy," Jonathan Van Gieson's new musical is a good, old-fashioned romp.  Combining clever songs like "The Armpit of New England" and "The Ass You Have to Kiss Today," a film noir mood and a Gen X sensibility, "Buddy" is a pulp-fiction creation for a pop-culture audience.

David Stern is a dead-ringer for Cianci, and perfectly blends cute clownishness with, at times, a menacing presence.  While most of the voices in the cast are weak, Michelle Lookadoo is strong as Cianci's wife
Nancy.  That's not to say that there weren't some standout performances. Ron Williams is hilariously versatile, Spencer Rowe especially thuggish, Marisa Moss oozes sweetness and Loris Diran is comic and overwhelming as the heavily-accented man who helps bring Cianci down. 

Definitely one of the highlights of this year's festival, I can't wait to see "Buddy" on Broadway. 

-- Kate Kolendo --

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