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THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN DOCKS AT
BROADWAY PALM
Hit Musical Details Iconic Life Story of Titanic Heroine
MESA, Arizona (December 23, 2009) So long, Dolly! Move over, Mame! Make way for the biggest of Broadway's leading ladies, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. The Titanic may have sunk, but she survived. This spirited tale of a real-life American legend follows the exploits of Molly Brown, whose feisty determination to rise above her impoverished beginnings leads her from the backwoods of Hannibal, Missouri, to the palaces of Europe. Along the way, she marries a wealthy miner, enters the highest echelons of Monte Carlo society, survives the sinking of the Titanic and, most importantly, earns the approval she so desperately seeks of those 'beautiful people of Denver'. This Tony award-winning musical from the Golden Age of Broadway was created by Meredith Willson, the composer of The Music Man. Performances begin January 7th through February 20th. Adult ticket prices range from $45 to $54 and include a buffet meal. Tickets for children 12 and under are $22. Show only seats are available for $28. Student rush tickets (show only) are $10 and available 30 minutes prior to curtain to currently enrolled high school and college students with a valid school ID. Tickets may be purchased online at broadwaypalmwest.com or by calling the Box Office at (480) 325-6700.
M. Seth Reines, Artistic Director of the Broadway Palm Theatre, commented, “This lady had moxie and guts; two qualities which certainly are inspirational during tough economic times.“ He added, “Molly reminds us of what an indomitable spirit can accomplish within a lifetime.“ Molly’s life’s had a theatricality that easily translated to the stage and screen. The real Molly
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HE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN
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was Margaret Tobin, born of Irish descent on July 18, 1867. She grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, and at 19 went to Leadville, Colorado. She married James Joseph Brown, who worked in
the local silver mines. "Leadville Johnny" found a means of mining gold, making the Browns wealthy and, after a move to Denver, part of Denver society. Molly Brown helped found the Denver Woman's Club and spearheaded a campaign that raised the money to build the Roman Catholic cathedral in Denver. After touring Europe in 1912, she booked passage on a ship to return home -- the Titanic. Her heroism in assisting other survivors and getting people to safety was recognized with many honors including the French Legion of Honour in 1932. Molly Brown was head of the Titanic Survivors' Committee which supported immigrants who had lost everything in the disaster, and helped to get a memorial erected to the Titanic survivors in Washington, D.C. Molly Brown went on to study acting and drama in Paris and New York and to work as a volunteer during World War I. J.J. Brown died in 1922 and Margaret died in 1932 of a brain tumor in New York.
In 1960, the Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown opened with Tammy Grimes, who won a Tony Award for her performance. The production ran through 1962 for 532 performances. The film version was released in 1964 and is often cited for Debbie Reynolds’ rousing performance that garnered her only Oscar nomination. The film received six Academy Award nominations. Recently, the musical premiered in London at the Landor Theatre in May, 2009.
The role of Molly at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre will be played by Lisa LeCuyer, who has performed in the national tour of A Christmas Carol as Martha Cratchit, Oklahoma as Ado Annie, Cabaret as Sally Bowles, Chicago as Roxie and Company as Jenny. Ms. LeCuyer remarked, “Margaret Brown was an amazing woman who was truly ahead of her times.” She continued, “When I researched her life, I discovered she was an early feminist with a wonderful philanthropic outlook.”
The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is located at 5247 E. Brown Road, on the southeast corner of Brown and Higley Roads in the Alta Mesa Plaza. The theater is easily accessible from the
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THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN
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Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) or the US 60 (Superstition Freeway) via the Higley Road exits. Parking is free. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings with a dinner buffet 5:30 p.m. and show at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Matinees with a luncheon buffet at 11:45 a.m. and show at 1:15 p.m. A Sunday twilight performance includes a dinner buffet at 5:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. The Broadway Palm is fully ramped and handicap accessible. Hearing devices are available free of charge.
The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents a wide variety of the finest professional entertainment for all ages in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Located in the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area, the 450-seat complex has entertained over 800,000 guests since opening its doors in 2001. Named The 2007 Mesa Business of the Year, the Broadway Palm has recently been named “Best Dinner and A Show” (2007 New Times “Best of Phoenix”) and “Best Place to Bring a Visitor” (2007 azcentral.com’s “Best – Reader’s Choice”). Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre: The Valley’s Premier Dining and Theatrical Experience! Visit the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre at broadwaypalmwest.com. Group discounts are available for parties of 15 or more. For information, please contact Group Sales Coordinator Laurie DiMonte at (480) 325-6700 ext. 109 or laurie@broadwaypalmwest.com.
The Prather Entertainment Group (PEG) is the largest operator of Dinner Theaters in the United States. The Prather Family produces over 30 productions annually at its three entertainment facilities: the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatres in Fort Myers, Florida and Mesa, Arizona, and also produces and presents full-scale tours of musicals in venues throughout the country. Owners Thomas Ross Prather, Deborah Z. Prather and William T. Prather have entertained over 3 million audience members with critically-acclaimed Broadway-caliber musicals year-round for more than three decades.
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FACT SHEET
press contact: Linda Cobb
Office: 480.325.6700
linda@broadwaypalmwest.com
THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN: Music and lyrics by Meredith Willson; book by Richard Morris; directed by M. Seth Reines and choreographed by Dottie Lester-White; musical direction and supervision by JR McAlexander; sets by Robert Kovach, USAA; costumes by John P. White and coordinated by Mary Atkinson; lighting design by Russell A. Thompson; properties by Dominic Lau; sound design by Chris Kockler; technical direction by David Snyder; scenic artist: Denny Burkhart; production stage manager: Rob Watson.
CAST: David Burdett, Jake Delaney, Bobby Gouse, Jonathan Grunert, James Holden, Lisa LeCuyer, Elizabeth Loos, Traci McCormick, Carolyn McPhee, Michael Oberfield, Glenn M. Snellgrose II, Ashley Stults, Jessica Taige, Meg Trahan, Rob Watson and Michael Weaver.
RUNS: January 2- through February 20, 2010.
PRESS NIGHT: Friday, January 8.
LISTING INFO: The Unsinkable Molly Brown. January 7 through February 20, 2010. Times vary. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa. $22-$54. (480) 325-6700 or www.broadwaypalmwest.com.
SYNOPSIS: The Unsinkable Molly Brown is based on the rags-to-riches life story of Titanic heroine Margaret Brown. The family-friendly production features Meredith Willson's score including "I Ain't Down Yet," "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys" and "l'll Never Say No."
TICKETS: $45-$54 (dinner & show), $22 (kids 12 & under); $28 (show only); available at the box office (480) 325-6700 or www.broadwaypalmwest.com. For group discounts (15+), contact Laurie DiMonte at (480) 325-6700 x109 or laurie@broadwaypalmwest.com.
LOCATION: 5247 E. Brown Road (southeast corner of Brown and Higley Roads) in the Alta Mesa Plaza in Mesa, Arizona. Handicap accessible. Hearing devices available free-of-charge. Parking is free.
PHOTO EDITORS: High-resolution digital images are available upon request. | 
