Willie and Me is a new Broadway play,
for a new generation,
and for those who remember...
the circus,
Emmett Kelly Sr., &
who want to be a kid again!
Brad Oscar Will Star in Reading of
Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story
BY ANDREW GANS
AUG 25, 2017
The drama is written by Stephen Woodburn and Jonathan Cerullo
Spotlight Communications, Inc. will present an invitation-only reading of the new bio-drama Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story September 18 in Manhattan.
Tony nominee Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!, The Producers, Nice Work If You Can Get It) will star in the title role.
Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story is co-written by Stephen Woodburn and Jonathan Cerullo and concerns the life and times of Emmett Kelly, Sr., known to millions of Americans as the sad-faced clown Weary Willie. His trademark routine was the sweeping up of a spotlight into his pocket. Despite touching the hearts of children worldwide, Emmett Kelly, Sr. and his oldest son, Junior, could never reconcile, and it broke the father's heart.
In addition to performing in a variety of circuses, including Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus for 14 years, Emmett Kelly performed on Broadway in Keep Off the Grass, a 1940 production starring Ray Bolger, Jimmy Durante, Jackie Gleason, and Jerome Robbins. He also appeared in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 Academy Award-winning film The Greatest Show on Earth.
The reading, which will be directed by Cerullo, will also feature Vanessa Wendt, who will play a variety of roles.
To learn more about the play, visit WillieAndMe.com. Spotlight Communications, Inc. is running an Indiegogo to help cover costs; to participate, click here.
Brad Oscar to Star in World Premiere Invited Reading of WILLIE AND ME: THE EMMETT KELLY STORY
by BWW News Desk Aug. 24, 2017
Spotlight Communications, Inc. presents Tony and Drama Desk Award Nominee Brad Oscar in WILLIE AND ME: THE Emmett Kelly STORY, a theatrical play on the life and times of Emmett Kelly, Senior, America's iconic, sad-faced clown who swept up the spotlight, on Monday, September 18th.
This invitation only World Premiere reading will be held in New York City before a select group of theatrical investors and producers.
WILLIE AND ME: THE Emmett Kelly STORY is a loving portrait of the man behind the makeup and paints a colorful picture of the circus and a bygone era in American life. The heartfelt sentiments he conveyed in the character he created, known as Weary Willie, were expressed without ever smiling or uttering a single word. Despite touching the hearts of children worldwide, Emmett Kelly, Sr. and his oldest son could never reconcile and it broke Emmett's heart.
In addition to performing in a variety of circuses, including Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus for 14 years, Emmett performed on Broadway in "Keep Off the Grass", a 1940 production starring Ray Bolger, Jimmy Durante, Jackie Gleason and Jerome Robbins. He also appeared in Cecil B. DeMille's 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth and was seen on television with luminaries like Carol Burnett, Ed Sullivan, Tony Bennett and Bette Midler.
Emmett's wife Evi and his two daughters, Stasia and Monika will be the honored guests for this reading.
Co-written by Stephen Woodburn and Jonathan Cerullo, the reading will be directed by Cerullo, an award-winning theatre veteran. Cerullo is known for his work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally and has worked in circus, film, and television. This reading is produced by Spotlight Communications, Inc.
To learn more about the play, visit www.willieandme.com. Spotlight Communications, Inc. is running an Indiegogo to help cover costs of this reading.
To participate, visit https://igg.me/at/willie-and-me-play/x/15237851
“Brad Oscar to Star in World Premiere Invited Reading of Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story” by BroadwayWorld - “Spotlight Communications, Inc. presents Tony and Drama Desk Award Nominee Brad Oscar in Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story, a theatrical play on the life and times of Emmett Kelly, Senior, America's iconic, sad-faced clown who swept up the spotlight, on Monday, September 18th.” http://bway.ly/nzuav
READINGS AND WORKSHOPS
Karen Ziemba and Carson Elrod Will Join Brad Oscar in Reading of
Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story
BY ANDREW GANS
SEP 06, 2017
The drama is written by Stephen Woodburn and Jonathan Cerullo.
Spotlight Communications, Inc. will present an invitation-only reading of the new bio-drama Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story September 18 in Manhattan.
Tony nominee Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!, The Producers, Nice Work If You Can Get It), as previously reported, will star in the title role. Oscar will be joined by Tony winner Karen Ziemba — currently on Broadway in Prince of Broadway—as Evi Kelly, Emmett Kelly’s wife; and Carson Elrod (Peter and the Starcatcher, Reckless, Noises Off) as Junior, Emmett Kelly's son.
Read: BRAD OSCAR WILL STAR IN READING OF WILLIE AND ME
Willie and Me: The Emmett Kelly Story is co-written by Stephen Woodburn and Jonathan Cerullo and concerns the life and times of Emmett Kelly, Sr., known to millions of Americans as the sad-faced clown Weary Willie. His trademark routine was the sweeping up of a spotlight into his pocket. Despite touching the hearts of children worldwide, Emmett Kelly, Sr. and his oldest son, Junior, could never reconcile, and it broke the father's heart.
In addition to performing in a variety of circuses, including Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus for 14 years, Emmett Kelly performed on Broadway in Keep Off the Grass, a 1940 production starring Ray Bolger, Jimmy Durante, Jackie Gleason, and Jerome Robbins. He also appeared in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 Academy Award-winning film The Greatest Show on Earth.
The reading will be directed by Cerullo and will also feature Vanessa Wendt and David Ryan Smith playing a variety of roles.
To learn more about the play, visit WillieAndMe.com.
Top Row L-R: Karen Ziemba, Brad Oscar, Carson Elrod
Bottom: Vanessa Wendt, David Ryan Smith