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Event
The Diamond as Big as the Ritz!
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About The Show
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Set to catchy melodies that hark back to the golden age of Broadway, the musical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's comic novella is told through a framing device of a young couple seeking to immigrate to the United States today. The couple puzzles over Fitzgerald's deliberate satire involving impossibly wealthy Americans and Fitzgerald's cavalier treatment of race issues. As the story moves back and forth from present day to the 1920s, the story takes on added comic satire and an edgy, engrossing perspective.
You can hear the entire cast album on YouTube here or listen to it on Spotify. A song from the show, Enough Already was nominated for Englands Best New Song competition for musical theater. See the video with an all-star cast including Daphne Ruben-Vega and introduced by Mario Lopez.
Music & Lyrics: Seth Bisen-Hersh
Book & Lyrics: R.C. Staab
Directed by: John Hickok
Based on the 1922 novella by F. Scott Fitzgerald
www.RitzMusical.com
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Theatre & Box Office Info:
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ATA Sargent Theatre, 314 W. 54th Street, Just west of Eighth Avenue, NY, NY 10019
Box Office opens one hour prior to show.
Running Time: 100 minutes without intermission
Accessibility: The theatre is located on the second floor. There is an elevator.
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Press
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"This is really two plays. The modern thread involves Yash and Mira, two young Muslims who have made their way to the Canadian border. Somewhere, along the way, Mira has obtained a copy of Fitzgeralds novella, and the two of them are reading it, assuming that it presents a current picture of modern day America. Unfortunately, its the actual picture of modern day America they have to face at the Canadian border...The historical thread is, of course, a skillfully rendered version of Fitzgeralds novella. Slightly altered so that it can be played by five actors, it adheres very closely to the storys original plot (which is well worth a read on its own). The play is tight and well written, and the time shifting works well. Its always clear when it takes place, so theres never any doubt as to which narrative is being presented, something that is a frequent problem in many modern plays.
The music offers a number of beautiful melodies, especially in The Diamond As Big As The Ritz, the title song, and the moving finale Enough, Already, a sentiment which I think most of us can appreciate in this unsettling age..."
Hi! Drama, Jan Ewing
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Cast & Creative:
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Ethan Yaheen-Moy Chan (Yash/John) (he/him) is a Queens born-and-raised actor. New York: Maddie: A New Musical (Teatro LATEA/NYTF), Working: A Musical (LPAC). Select Regional: Double Helix (Bay Street Theater, Goodspeed), BLENDED HARMONY (Theater Mu, History Theater), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Winnipesaukee Playhouse). Commercials: Dear Evan Hansen, Across the Country. BFA Musical Theatre, Western Connecticut State University. Advanced Regents Diploma in Vocal Music, LaGuardia School for Music, Arts and the Performing Arts. Thank you to Ellery, Eric, and Flynn at The Mine Agency, Cyrena at Red Letter Entertainment, and to John Hickok for your trust and mentorship. Finally, the biggest shoutout goes to Mom, Dad, Estella, and .
Johana Gracia Lara (Mira/Kismine) is an actor and singer, born in Mexico, raised in the Bronx, who studied classical voice/performance and music and graduated with honors at Lehman College. She is very excited to be part of the cast. As a soprano soloist, she performed major works including Haydn's Nelson Mass, Faure's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, Brahms Requiem, and Mozart's Requiem. Johana was selected to sing the national anthem at Yankee Stadium. She was also selected to perform for Carnegie Halls West Side Story and other venues such as Roundabout Theater, Circle in the Square Theater and Lincoln Center. Recently, she was in the quintet as Mrs. Anderssen in Sondheims A Little Night Music. Other select performance credits include Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Cinderella (Cinderella), Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), and
Evita (Eva Peron).
Megan Lomax (French Official/Gypsum/Mrs. Washington) is thrilled to be a part of A Diamond as Big as the Ritz. She was seen on Broadway in the Tony award winning show Skin of Our Teeth at the Vivian Beaumont. Other theater credits include: Small Town Icons (The Tank), No Good Deeds... (A.R.T/New York), Best Seats in the House (New Perspective Theater), The Great Bluffer (New Perspective Theater), 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, Rosie Revere, Engineer (TheaterWorks National Tour) Kudzu (AL Shakespeare Festival). TV: City on a Hill (Showtime). Education: BA, DeSales University.
Bobby Barksdale (Man/Percy/Aviator) is an actor, vocalist, producer, musician and content creator based in NYC. Bobby studied at Manhattan School of Music (BM Musical Theatre 2023) and is excited to be out of school and performing in the real world! Recent theatre credits include A Little Night Music (Henrik Egerman) and Rent (Paul, Angel u/s), and Bobby is also active in the film and TV world. Connect with Bobby on social media @booobbbbbyyyy everywhere!
Richard Rowan (American Official/Braddock) played General Genghis Kahn Schmitz in the First National Tour of SEUSSICAL with Cathy Rigby and has performed at many New York and regional theatres. His credits include SUGAR (Osgood), SHE LOVES ME (Headwaiter), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Marley), THE SCHOOL FOR LIES (Oronte), SISTER ACT (Monsignor O'Hara), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Lumiere), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Fredrik), SPELLING BEE (Panch), CRAZY FOR YOU (Eugene), URINETOWN (McQueen), JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT (Pharaoh), THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Pirate King), KISS ME KATE (First Gangster), FOREVER PLAID (Smudge) and most recently LUCKY STIFF (Solicitor/Emcee) at AMT Theatre. Richard also appeared on HBO's BOARDWALK EMPIRE.
Composer and Lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh is a prolific, versatile and award-winning composer/lyricist and performer. His musicals include Love Quirks (AMT Theater 2022, Off-Broadway BroadwayWorld Award for Best New Score), The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (ATA Theater 2024, 2019 Finalist: Stiles & Drewe Best Song Award), Stanley's Party (Manhattan Children's Theatre, 2010), More to Love (2014 Winner: Best Lyrics, West Village Musical Theatre Festival), The Spickner Spin (2004 Fringe NYC Audience Favorite Award), Meaningless Sex (2003 Fringe NYC Audience Favorite Award) and the Broadway bound Agatha Christie's The Secret Adversary. He wrote the score for the upcoming short musical film Malka starring Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh inspired by his grandmothers Holocaust experience. He has also written and starred in 10 cabaret song cycles of his work: And Then She Dumped Me, The Gayest Straight Man Alive, Meaningful Sex, Neurotic Tendencies, Why am I Not Famous Yet?, Writer's Block: a cabaret that was hard to write, I'll Relax When I'm Dead: a reluctantly prolific cabaret, If Adele Can Do It, So Can I: an evening of mostly sorrow, Not Your Grandma's Cabaret (unless shes really naughty) and Self-Isolation Song Cycle. He wrote/starred in the 5 seasons of the web series "Every Day a Little Seth," co-wrote/co-starred in the TV pilot version and has emceed, produced and accompanied over 825 musical theatre talent showcases at Don't Tell Mama. In addition, he has published 4 books: a memoir, "Sleep. Write. Now. Emerging from a dark year of insomnia, anxiety and depression from loss" and two books of essays: "Every Page a Little Seth" and "Millennials are Ruining the World!", which he turned into an audiobook and podcast, and "The Making of a Musical: the 12 year journey of Love Quirks". Also, he's the winner of 4 ASCAP Plus Awards. Additionally, he's had multiple crossword puzzles published in the New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Universal Crossword and Modern Crossword. He has two Bachelors from MIT (Computer Science & Engineering and Music Composition) and a Masters in Music Technology from NYU. www.sethbh.com FB/Twitter/Instagram/TikTok/Threads: @sethbhdotcom
Book Writer R.C. Staab is a New York-based playwright, librettist and lyricist whose musicals and plays have been produced in New York, San Francisco, the Midwest and England. He is a two-time nominee for England's Best New Song competition. Among his musicals and plays are How the Westons Won which ran off-Broadway in December 2018 at Jefferson Market Library directed by Joe Barros and co-produce by Out of the Box Theatricals. His musical, Dumb Luck, won the TRU Voices Musical Series and was one of three shows featured at the Music Theatre of Madison's Festival of New Musicals. In collaboration with Daniel Sturman, he wrote Zombie Wedding, featured at FringeNYC. He is the author two books, NYC Scavenger and 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore. He frequently writer for travel publications about he and his wife's adventures from Norway to Patagonia and around the world. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Valari, and their dog, Skye. www.rcstaab.com
John Hickok, Director, was the director of the acclaimed premier of Burning Blue on London's West End at the Theater Royal Haymarket, which won 2 Olivier Awards. He directed, designed the set and sound for subsequent productions in New York, San Francisco and L.A. Other directing credits include an award-winning Midsummer Night's Dream in Ohio, the off-B'way premiere of Eye of the Beholder with Kim Hunter and a production of Bus Stop which made the "10 Best Plays of 1980" in Boston. As an actor, on Broadway, John created the role of Governor Slaton in the Tony-winning Parade, directed by Hal Prince; Chief Minister Zoser in Elton John's Aida, and Professor Baer opposite Sutton Foster in Little Women. He can be heard on three cast alumbus. He is also Special Agent Milton in Red Dead Redemption 2. He has been a professional actor for more than 40 years performing in New York and throughout the United States. Favorite gigs include Cowboy Eddie in the premiere of Joy/George St. Playhouse, Man & Boy opposite Frank Langella/B'way, John Adams in Frank Galati's 1776, Wizard in John Doyle's August Rush, Polonius in Hamlet, Beauregard in Mame opposite Michelle Lee and Kathy Rigby's Peter Pan. He's done Romeo and Juliet three times (Mercutio, Tybalt and directed it) and Midsummer Night's Dream four times (Lysander twice, Peter Quice and direct it.) He's taught Shakespeare and directing at Queens and Bard Colleges and is an adjunct profession of theater at WestConn, where he directs and teaches Performance and Meisner Techniques.
Mitchell Brownell, Music Director is a Buffalo born, Queens based music director. They are a classically trained pianist, conductor, and vocal coach graduated from the Crane School of Music. Other credits include Into the Woods/ A Little Night Music/ Les Miserables/ Mother Courage and Her Children/ The Rocky Horror Picture Show/ Rent/ Chicago/ Mean Girls/ Spamalot/ Urinetown/ Mamma Mia/ Legally Blonde/ Little Shop of Horrors/ Last Five Years/ 13/ Frog and Toad/ Seussical/ The SpongeBob Musical/ The Addams Family/ The Little Mermaid/ Falsettos.
Lindsey Alterman, Assistant Director, is a New York-based director and graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School. Recent productions include Why (Nuworks Theatre Festival), The Laramie Project (ASDS Repertory) and Reflection of a Shadow (NYTF Award Winner). She has also dramaturged for several productions, including Red (Ghostlight Theatre) and What We Choose to Breathe (The Tank.) As an Assistant Director, she worked previously on Seth Bisen-Hersh's Off-Broadway production of Love Quirks (AMT Theatre) and she's pleased to be joining him again on this production of The Diamond as Big as the Ritz.
Parker Jenkins, Lighting Director (he/him) is thrilled to be a part of the design team for The Diamond as Big as the Ritz. Parker is a New York based actor, director, playwright, and lighting designer, and recently received his MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School. As an artist, Parker is drawn towards exciting, dynamic, and experimental theatre that challenges our perceptions of what theatre can be. Recent lighting credits include: The Edge of Tonight (Equity Library Theater of New York), Someone Has To Die (Teatro Latea), Reflections of a Shadow (Teatro Latea), What We Choose To Breathe (The Tank), Flaccid (The Tank).
www.parker-jenkins.com / @_parkerjenkins_
Georgia Evans, Costume Designer (she/they) is an NYC-based theatre artist and alum of Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. Her directing and performance work was most recently seen at the 2024 ChaShaMa Gala, The 2023 Edinburgh Fringe and Studio 440. She currently holds the position of Inaugural Directing Fellow at Theatre Company Built4Collapse. Her design credits include The New Electric Ballroom (Hedgerow Theatre), Passage (NYU Meisner), Afterlife (NYU Meisner), and Scenes from Chekhov (NYU Meisner). Assistant credits include Kin (WP), and Dance Nation (Atlantic Theatre School). PA credits include Hells Kitchen (Broadway), Once Upon a Mattress (NY City Center), and Tick, Tick, Boom! (The Kennedy Center).
Emma Weiner, Stage Manager
Hannah Simpson, Box Office
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LocationAmerican Theater of Actors (Sargent Theatre) (View)
314 West 54th St., 4th Floor
New York, NY 10019
United States
Categories
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
Q&A
| Question: |
I'd like to see "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz". I have limited mobility and need an aisle seat with minimal stairsteps. |
| Answer: |
Hi Janet (and others with this question), this should not be a problem at all. Whichever performance you choose I can easily reserve an aisle seat for you. I have not seen the theater yet, but I know there is an elevator to the floor it opens to. We can seat you wherever is comfortable with minimal steps. |
Accessibility
Each theater is accessible via the elevator, for the steps outside the building a ramp is provided. (Information from: https://americantheatreofactors.org/?cpt_team=rebecca-jones)
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