About Us
Dedicated to the promotion of the Arts, Merciful Delusions Productions is happy to be producing Arts & Eats, a Variety Show, a celebration of the return of arts, food, and culture to NYC. In addition, MDP has produced 'Defeat the Street' a Variety Show in aid of the homeless, a few short films and a series of Tennessee Williams One-Act plays.
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ARTS & EATS
September 25th, 2021
at Le Rivage
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Doors Open: 12:45 PM
Performance Begins: 1:30 PM
About The Venue
Le Rivage
Le Rivage is a family tradition with quality passed down through three generations. New Yorkers have known The Café Du Soir up on East 86 St. The truest traditions remain intact.
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The Denamiels who commanded the menu and the kitchen have moved to Restaurant Row in 1984 establishing a new place, "Le Rivage".
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Le Rivage offers you a cozy, romantic French country atmosphere where traditional French cuisine is expertly prepared for your pleasure. Fresh flowers embellish each table, daily.
On The Menu
Menu items will be a lovely assortment of French savory and sweet delicacies that will be passed "flying brunch style."
The drink selection includes mimosas, bellinis, beer, wine or
an Le Rivage Signature Cocktail "Merciful Delusions."
The Acts
ACT 1
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1. Jeannine Goode-Allen - SHINE THE LIGHT from: “Feathers On The Breath Of God.”
2. Stefan Diethelm - RUN AWAY WITH ME from: “The Unauthorized Autobiography Of Samantha Brown.”
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3. Kae Fujisawa accompanied by John Bowen - I COULD ALWAYS FLY IN MY DREAMS own composition.
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4. Michelle Oppedisano - A SUMMER IN OHIO from: “The Last Five Years.”
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5. Gavin McDonough – LAST MIDNIGHT from: “Into The Woods.”
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6. Paul & Rochelle Chamlin - RIVER STAY AWAY FROM MY DOOR from the movie: “Swanee River.”
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7. Eric Michael Gillett - I WAS HERE from the upcoming musical: “The Glorious Ones.”
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INTERMISSION [15 Minutes]
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ACT 2
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1. Nicole Gut - WHEN YOU’RE GOOD TO MAMA from: “Chicago.”
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2. Elena Clark - FRENCH SONG from: "A My Name is Alice.”
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3. Nathaniel Claridad & Jack Utrata - I’LL NEVER BE JEALOUS AGAIN from: “The Pajama Game."
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4. Larry Toyter – HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN the Barbara Streisand arrangement.
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5. Johanne Kesten - BREEZE OFF THE RIVER from: “The Full Monty.”
6. Sandi V. Weldon - THEY JUST KEEP MOVING THE LINE from the TV Show: “Smash.”
7. David Sharp - SONG OF THE SLAVE own musical: “Kings.”
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END OF SHOW
Meet The Artists
John Bowen - (Musical director / keyboard player nationally and in the NYC area.) Productions include: CURTAINS (Theatre Under the Stars, Houston); Broadway: IN MY LIFE (Music Box Theatre); FOSSE; THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CURTAINS, HAIRSPRAY, PETER PAN, ON THE TOWN, 1776, OKLAHOMA, FUNNY GIRL, GREASE and PIRATES (Papermill Playhouse) and others.
Paul Chamlin - (Musical Director and accompanist) Has worked for hundreds of cabarets shows, benefits, concerts, and musicals. Paul works with singers in several musical theater programs as well as private coaching. Highlights of Paul’s MD experience include Kander and Ebb's 70, Girls, 70 and Rodgers and Hart’s Pal Joey at HB Studios, plus concerts at the legendary Friars Club featuring stars of Broadway. Visit www.paulchamlin.com.
Rochelle Chamlin - a classically-trained vocalist with a background in opera and choral work. Rochelle and Paul met at a gig, leading to an inspired musical partnership and numerous critically-acclaimed shows. Their CD “The First 10 Years” was hailed as “A warm collection that is perfectly suited to their talents” by Cabaret Scenes. Visit them at thechamlins.com.
Nathaniel Claridad - Off-Broadway/NYC credits include Here Lies Love (The Public Theater), Taylor Mac's 24-Decade History of Popular Music (St. Ann's Warehouse), The Awesome 80’s Prom, work with Red Bull Theater, Noor Theatre, Playwrights Realm, NYShakespeare Exchange, NYMF, N.A.A.P.; National Tour: Alice (The Kennedy Center); Regional: The Kennedy Center, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Folger Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Florida Studio Theatre, Cape Fear Regional, Imagination Stage, Hangar Theatre, Barrington Stage. Directing credits include Weathervane Theatre, Out of the Box Theatrics, Southern Rep, The One Minute Play Festival, ShakesBEER, The Drama League. MFA: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.
Elena Clark - a performer born and raised in Russia and based in New York. Her most recent work includes "Hello From Bertha", Short Play Festival, and self-produced short films which became a part of notable film festival. She is proud to perform in ARTS AND EATS and see her dear audience in person. elenaclarkperformer.com
John Concannon - (Production Manager) has been associated with Merciful Delusions Productions "Defeat the Street" and "An Evening of Four One Acts by Tennessee Williams." He is a Founding and Lifetime member of The Stage Managers' Association of the United States. He would like to give thanks to Nicole.
Stefan Diethelm - a Swiss performer, currently living in New York. He started singing at a young age, and trained extensively in both classical and pop. He attended a musical theatre college in Germany and is currently furthering his craft in New York at HB Studio.
Kae Fujisawa - a Director, Actor, Singer, and Playwright. She has directed over 20 plays during the past three years, including The American Dream by Edward Albee (as a Zoom production, 2021). The short film Lullaby, which she co-wrote with Nicole Gut and directed, won Best Suspense Short at the Culver City Film Festival (2019).
Eric Michael Gillett - A six-time recipient of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs
(MAC) Award is best remembered as the 27th Ringmaster of Ringling Bros and Barnum &
Bailey Circus. Broadway credits include multiple original casts, as well as off-Broadway and regional. Recent television: “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Wu Tang: An American Saga,” and “The Loudest Voice.”
Jeannine Goode-Allen - a playwright and performer, musician and teacher inspired by the use of sound, poetry and image to elevate and enlighten. Her mission is to help people reconnect to the arts in personal ways that become vehicles for transformation. Find out more about Jeannine’s work at: doctorofthesoul.com. Follow on IG @doctor_ofthesoul
Nicole M. Gut - (producer & performer) an Actor and Singer/Songwriter. Nicole equally enjoys working in theater as she does in film. Her favorite role is that of Bertha in Tennessee William's “Hello From Bertha’ in which she played several times off-Broadway. Nicole composes and sings for many of her roles and has been seen in the musicals; Hair, Le Misérables, Evita, and 70 Girls 70. www.nicolemgut.com Follow on IG @nicolemgut
Johanne Borge Kesten - an HB Studio trained actor, singer, voice actor, and fourth generation entertainer. Previous regional credits include Babes in Arms (Terry Thompson) at The Berkshire Theatre Festival, Beauty and the Beast (Mme de la Grande Bouche) at The Sharon Playhouse, and The Newport Music Festival.
Gavin McDonough - studied acting and voice at HB Studio where he was cast in several directors' workshops. He appeared as Rep. Elijah Cummings in an American Scoreboard reading of congressional transcripts and twice as Eric in Lorraine Hansberry's Les Blancs. Gavin dabbled in opera performing as Papageno in selected scenes from the Magic Flute. He returned to his love of musicals performing pieces in The Brooklyn Music School's cabaret and, during the pandemic, in Peter Szep's Home School Musical.
Michelle Oppedisano - a local actress and singer, and she is excited for her first performing job since moving to New York City this summer. She has performed in countless theatre productions all over the country, and she recently moved from Atlanta, where she performed in many theatre productions, independent films, commercials and an episode of Homicide Hunter.
Ilise Ratner - (Production Coordinator, Arts & Eats (and so much more.) Ilise’s background includes more than 20 years in client service and project management. Her diverse experience gives her unique insight and the demonstrated ability to implement a range of projects. From the demands of managing large scale, multi-layered corporate relocation operations to balancing the personal and professional lives of high-profile clientele Ilise has seen and done it all. What makes her unique is her high-touch, people-focused approach which ensures regardless of scope or subject, her clients’ well-being is paramount. www.theconfianzagroup.com
David Sharp - has been a Broadway and Hollywood performer and is an ordained Presbyterian minister. He is an award-winning writer who has authored four books. He currently combines his artistic and spiritual work as a teacher and guide at the Good&Sharp Studios, a home for spiritual creatives in Boulder, Colorado. For more information contact David at davidprestonsharp.com.
Larry Toyter - Regional: Frank N’ Furter (The Rocky Horror Show); Escalus (Measure for Measure, Powerhouse Theatre); Narcissus (Metamorphoses); Ragtime & Young Frankenstein (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre). Educational: Edgar (Nice Work If You Can Get It); Felton (The Three Musketeers); Betty Bumbrake (Peter and the Starcatcher). Musical Theatre BFA, Shenandoah Conservatory. EMC.
Jack Utrata - is an actor, writer, and filmmaker based in Manhattan. He has worked in TV, Film and Theater. Most notably, Jack was "Chase" in the the premier national tour of Paw Patrol Live with Nickelodeon. He is currently developing "11 Blocks to Go," a new TV comedy series, with co-writer Ashley Alexander. Jack also runs Utrata by Design Productions which offers video, editing and digital marketing services nationwide. For more things Jack, visit jackutrata.com. Graduate of UNC Chapel Hill.
Sandi V. Weldon - has performed & directed in the Bay for over 45 years. She moved from New Jersey to the West Coast to win the San Francisco Council on Entertainment’s “Cabaret Gold Award” along with Joel Grey & Ertha Kitt & the Marin Arts Council’s “Outstanding Achievement in the Arts” award. She founded 3 award winning theatre companies, directed over 300 plays & musicals and has performed with Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Tune; Yvonne DeCarlo, Carol Ita White. She taught Performing Arts Department at the College of Marin since 1975 and recently retired. She now lives in NYC with pups Pinky & Zeppole.
Thank you for supporting the Arts!
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