The Clarke Peters musical, Five Guys Named Moe at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford,New York is an engaging, energetic, foot-stomping, finger-snapping "wow" of a musical based on the music of the legendary American songwriter, singer, musician, and bandleader Louis Jordan. Directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford and starring Napoleon M. Douglas, Quentin Avery Brown, Tyler Johnson-Campion, Douglas Lyons, Tony Perry, and Isaiah Reynolds, Five Guys Named Moe runs until March 1, 2020. If you love musical comedies, run to get tickets!
Louis Jordan (1908 – 1975) was an American bandleader, songwriter, singer, and saxophonist. His music from the 1930s and 1950s helped pave the way for rhythm & blues. The musical, Five Guys Named Moe featuring Quentin Avery Brown as Eat Moe, Tyler Johnson-Campion as No Moe, Douglas Lyons as Four-Eyed Moe, Tony Perry as Big Moe, Isaiah Reynolds as Little Moe, and Napoleon M. Douglas as No Max, is a tribute to the music of Louis Jordan. A few of the iconic and memorable Louis Jordan songs in the musical include Early In The Morning (1947), Saturday Night Fish Fry (1949), Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby (1944), Safe, Sane & Single (1949), and Reet, Petite and Gone (1946).
Five Guys Named Moe
photos by John Vecchiolla
We had the pleasure of seeing the musical Five Guys Named Moe on opening night, Friday, January 31, 2020, which had us tapping our toes and laughing throughout. The plot of the play is centered around the character, No Max, who is broke, single and brilliantly played by Napoleon M. Douglas, as he is listening to the radio very late one night, drinking way too much, and feeling sorry for himself over the loss of his girlfriend, when the quintet, Five Guys Named Moe, step out of the radio waves and into his living room to help him get his life back on track with their hilarious philosophies.
Having the 6-piece band comprised of Musical Director John Daniels on piano, Steve Bleifuss on trombone, Jim Briggs on clarinet and sax, Dave Dunaway on bass, Jack Mack on percussion, and Brian Uhl on trumpet, playing on stage also contributed to the big band sound of the radio era.
Five Guys Named Moe
photos by John Vecchiolla
Directed and choregraphed by Richard Stafford, the cast was exceptionally talented with strong voices, dance ability, and comedic timing that kept the audience engaged and singing along to the Louis Jordan, Joe Willoughby, and Dr. Walt Merrick 1949 Calypso song, Push Ka Pi Shi Pie, as the Five Moes and No Max danced a Conga line through the theater.
Five Guys Named Moe
photo by John Vecchiolla
Gaiety, hilarity, and all-around joviality was the name of the game as the Five Moes doled out their often-questionable pearls of wisdom on how to treat the opposite sex as they sang and danced their way into the audience’s heart. The play opened in the UK in London’s West End in 1990. won a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in 1991 and ran on Broadway in 1992.
Five Guyes Named Moe
photo by John Vecchiolla
The 2-act play runs around 60 minutes for each act with a 30-minute intermission.
Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
Five Guys Named Moe
photo by John Vecchiolla
Cast:
|
Napoleon M. Douglas |
No Max |
|
Quentin Avery Brown |
Eat Moe |
|
Tyler Johnson-Campion |
No Moe |
|
Douglas Lyons |
Four-Eyed Moe |
|
Tony Perry |
Big Moe |
|
Isaiah Reynolds |
Little Moe |
|
John E. Lucas |
Understudy |
|
Markus Blair |
Understudy |
The Creative Team:
|
Louis Jordan |
Music and Lyrics |
|
Clarke Peters |
Book |
|
Richard Stafford |
Direction & Choreography |
|
Kristyn Pope |
Associate Choreographer |
|
John Daniels |
Musical Direction |
|
Steve Loftus |
Set Design |
|
Andrew Gmoser |
Lighting Design |
|
Mark Zuckerman |
Sound Design |
|
Allison Kirstukas |
Costume Designer |
|
Victor Lukas |
Production Stage Manager |
|
Lisa Tiso |
Producer |
The Band:
|
John Daniels |
Musical Director/Piano |
|
Steve Bleifuss |
Trombone |
|
Jim Briggs |
Clarinet, Sax |
|
Dave Dunaway |
Bass |
|
Jack Mack |
Percussion |
|
Brian Uhl |
Trumpet |
|
Von Ann Stutler |
Musical Contractor |
About Westchester Broadway Theatre:
"The Westchester Broadway Theatre (WBT) is the longest running year-round Equity theatre in the state of New York, with a 44-year history of over 200 main-stage productions and nearly 1000 Monday/Tuesday special events and concerts. Our objective with this world-class venue is to always provide our audiences – which come from far and wide – with the highest production values and most memorable entertainment/dining experiences. "
"WBT is the only theatre of its kind in Westchester where Broadway performers, directors and designers gather to create this level of Musical Theatre. Each show is produced exclusively for WBT and is approached similarly to a Broadway production: casting Broadway performers at auditions in New York City and engaging the creative staff (Directors, Choreographers, Musical Directors, Live Orchestra, Set, Costume & Lighting Designers, etc.) On musical "dark nights," WBT has presented nearly 1000 Monday and Tuesday night special events and concerts, featuring top-tier talents such as Jackie Mason, Tom Jones, George Carlin, Paul Anka, Wayne Newton and Harry Belafonte. With the continued support of our tri-state area audiences, we pledge to continue to present the best in theatre and dining!"
WBT performance schedule for Five Guys Named Moe: Wednesdays at 11:15 am, Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 am and 6:15 pm, Saturdays at 11:15 am, Sundays at 11:45 pm and 5:15 pm. Ticket pricing depends on options of Dinner & Show or Show Only. Visit the website or call the box office for pricing options.
For information on the play, upcoming performances, or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at+1-914-592-2222 or visit them on the website at www.broadwaytheatre.com.
Upcoming Performances – 2020 – 2021
|
Five Guys Named Moe |
January 30 – March 1, 2020 |
|
All Shook Up |
March 5 – May 3, 2020 |
|
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella |
May 7 – July 5, 2020 |
|
9 to 5 The Musical |
July 9 – September 19, 2020 |
|
Kinky Boots |
September 24 – November 29, 2020 |
|
Kinky Boots |
December 30 – January 24, 2021 |
The Westchester Broadway Theatre
One Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, New York 10523
Telephone: +1-914-592-2222
Website: www.broadwaytheatre.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestchesterBroadwayTheatrenew
Instagram: @wbt_theatre
Twitter: @wbt_theatre
Parking is always free and accessible. By train, take Metro North to Tarrytown.
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