For Immediate Release

Onstage in Theatre Too at Theatre Three: Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye

Theatre Too’s 2009/2010 Season continues with a tribute to an extraordinary performer, Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye, compiled by Don Alan Croll. Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye begins on Friday, January 7, 2010 and will close on Sunday, January 24, 2010. Danny Kaye was a character or perhaps better said, many characters. His talent for loosing himself in an array of costumes, faces, and personalities brought him from the public schools of Brooklyn, to the Borscht Circuit – the summer camps of the Catskill Mountains, to television and film, and all over the world performing in variety shows for children and military troops. Paired with his wife, the level-headed Sylvia Fine, who wrote much of his material, he was unstoppable as a force in comedy and philanthropy. His audiences were always rolling in their seats and often throwing money at his benefiting charities, primarily UNICEF. Danny Kaye brought laughter into the average American home with Lucille Ball in The Danny Kaye Show, considered one of the best television shows of its time, and the CBS special, An Hour With Danny Kaye. He lit up the silver screen in movies such as Hans Christian Andersen, The Court Jester, White Christmas, The Madwoman of Chaillot, and many, many others. His costars include Katherine Hepburn, Louis Armstrong, and Gene Kelly. The world was in love with this redhead for his comedy, generosity, lunacy, and his immense talent. Of his tribute to Danny Kaye, Don Alan Croll says, "To try to duplicate the performance style of Danny Kaye would be an insult to his memory. Rather, I'd like to try to bring to mind the memory each of you have of this unique performer. Danny Kaye recorded a lot of memorable songs during his career — forgive me if I don't sing your favorite. For most of Kaye's success, his wife, Sylvia Fine, shares the credit. Few collaborators worked so well together. In all his work, new or old, he never forgot how he got where he got. He used to say, 'Sylvia has a 'fine' head on my shoulders.' I am pleased to tell you that I have received special permission from their daughter, Dena, to perform three songs composed by Sylvia Fine, and for this I am very grateful." About the compiler: Don Alan Croll Don Alan Croll, a native of Buffalo, New York, has exceptional theatrical as well as cantorial credentials. He began his acting career as the Baby Bear in Mrs. Robinson's first-grade class production of The Three Bears. From there, his career skyrocketed! After graduating with honors from the Ithaca College Theatre Department in New York, he appeared in the 1971 Broadway revival of On the Town with Bernadette Peters and toured in Man of La Mancha playing the Barber to such Don Quixotes as Allan Jones, John Raitt, and Howard Keel. He starred in the award-wining Off-Broadway Yiddish musical The Golden Land. He was seen in L.A. area productions of Big River and Funny Girl, the latter with Pia Zadora and Kaye Ballard. He appeared in the record-breaking San Diego premiere of I’m Not Rappaport playing 81-year-old Nat Moyer for which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Play by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. Don presented his one-man-show about the life of Danny Kaye, Songs of the Redhead for an unprecedented three years in a row at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles for the Performing Arts program and also performed the show in Theatre Too at Theatre Three in 2005. His television credits include appearances on General Hospital, Nine to Five with Sally Struthers, the Movie of the Week, Donor with Melissa Gilbert and Reasonable Doubts with Marlee Matlin. Don has performed in cabaret from New York City's "Bushes" to Los Angeles' The Gardenia Supper Club. He has also concertized around the country and in Israel as well. In 2002 he sang at the Kennedy Center's July 4th concert, "Let Freedom Sing." Don is an invested cantor. He graduated from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music in 1978. He spent ten years as the full-time cantor and music director of Temple Beth Torah in Upper Nyack, New York. He has appeared numerous times as a guest soloist with Kol Echad, the premiere Jewish chorale in Southern California, the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, and the New Mexico Symphony. He is a member of the Cantor's Assembly and a past board member of the American Conference of Cantors. Don has served Temple Shalom in Dallas for over 10 years. He was honored six years ago for his twenty-five years in the cantorate with honorary doctorate in music from Hebrew Union College. About Theatre Three: Theatre Three was founded in 1961 by Norma Young, Jac Alder, Esther Ragland, and Robert Dracup with a clear mission: Theatre Three seeks to illuminate the human experience with exemplary, intimate theatrical productions while nurturing authors, regional artists and audiences. About Theatre Three's production of Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye: Michael Serrecchia will direct. Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye cast features Don Alan Croll as The Man. Musical direction by Terry Dobson, set design by David Walsh, and lighting design by Paul Arnold. A Note about Production Photos: Photos from Songs of the Redhead: The Music of Danny Kaye may be found online in Theatre Three’s Press Room at http://www.theatre3dallas.com. The Official Opening: Official Opening Night is Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. All press please R.S.V.P to Kimberly Richard at 214-871-3300, option #2 or kimberly@theatre3dallas.com. Performance Times: Preview Performances: Thursday, January 7 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 9 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, January 10 at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Week One Performances: Saturday, January 16 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, January 17 at 2:30 p.m. Week Two Performances: Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 23 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, January 24 at 2:30 p.m. Schedule Change: Due to Don Alan Croll's responsibilities as a cantor, there will be no performances of this show on Friday. Ticket Prices: Previews: $20 & $30 (January 7 - 11, 2010) Regular Run: $25 & $30 (January 16 - 24, 2010) Tickets may be purchased by calling Theatre Three’s box office at 214-871-3300, option #1. Tickets may be requested online at www.theatre3dallas.com

For Further Information Contact: 2800 Routh Street, Suite 168, Dallas, Texas 75201 214-871-3300 fax: 214-871-3139 admin@theatre3dallas.com www.theatre3dallas.com