When was the last time you did something you really wanted?
It’s 1975. A used car salesman, a dentist, a real estate agent, a financial advisor, a deli owner, and a teacher put their careers and families on hold to pursue their passion – jazz – with their first professional “gig” in the Catskills. The results are funny, touching, and unexpected. Written by Douglas J. Cohen (No Way to Treat a Lady) and based on the film by Pulitzer Prize winner Frank D. Gilroy, The Gig won a prestigious Richard Rodgers Grant and the inaugural Noël Coward Prize.
Presented in July 2014 at NYMF (the New York Musical Theatre Festival), The Gig was a huge hit. The boys in the band included Michael Minarik (Rock of Ages), Steve Routman (La Bete), Larry Cahn (Guys & Dolls), Nick Gasworth (A Christmas Story), Kevin Pariseau (Legally Blonde) and me as warm-hearted deli owner Georgie. The cast also featured Stephen Berger (Kinky Boots), Doug Eskew (The Color Purple), Dee Roscioli, Donna Vivino and Kate Fahrner (all three – coincidentally – former witches of Wicked!). The show was directed by Igor Goldin, with music direction by Jonathan (Smitty) Smith, and choreography by Keith Andrews.
The Gig was the most honored show of NYMF 2014, with FIVE wins – excellence in lyrics, excellence in music, outstanding orchestrations, outstanding music direction and outstanding individual performance (Larry Cahn), and TWO honorable mentions – excellence in direction and outstanding ensemble performance. Congrats to the whole Gig gang!
