Something Heavenly is coming to Dallas

edited by Madelyn Miler, the TravelLady

Uptown Players closes its 2010 season with the U.S. premiere of the Pet Shop Boys musical, Closer to Heaven at the historic Kalita Humphreys Theater, former home of the Dallas Theater Center.

Set amid the hedonistic gay culture of London, Closer to Heaven tells the story of Dave - young, sexy and fresh from Ireland and seeking the big time in London. Meanwhile, the outrageous Bob Saunders, pop manager extraordinaire, has his own plans for Dave. As fame and fortune beckon, Dave quickly learns that things aren't always as straightforward as they seem. Closer to Heaven opened in London on May 15, 2001 and a second production opened in Brisbane, Australia on June 9, 2005. This production is the U.S. premiere. 

A heavenly cast

The cast features Morgana Shaw as Billie Trix, Evan Fuller as Dave, Jason Kane as Vic, Lee Jamison Wadley as Shell, Clayton Younkin as Mile End Lee, Coy Covington as Bob Saunders and Mikey Abrams as Flynn, along with an ensemble that includes Michael Albee, Wes Cantrell, Andrew Chard, Stephanie Felton, Maija Johnson, Drew Kelly, Summer Kenny, Kelly McCain, Chris Reynolds, Alexandra Valle, Jason Villarreal and Jeff Walters. The production is under the direction of Bruce R. Coleman, with choreography by John de Los Santos and musical direction by Adam C. Wright.

When is Heaven open?

The production runs October 1 through October 24, 2010, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays (no matinee October 3), but a special Thursday night performance at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 21. Performances will take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Boulevard (entrance off Blackburn) in Dallas. Tickets are $30-40 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at 214-219-2718.

Uptown Players made the move to the historic Kalita Humphreys Theater, former home of the Dallas Theater Center in January. Uptown Players recently announced its 2011 season will also take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. For more information, visit www.uptownplayers.org.

About Uptown Players:

Now ending its ninth season, Uptown Players has gathered a dedicated following with an annual audience base of over 14,000 patrons, including almost 1000 season subscribers. The response from the community and critics has been remarkable, including over 25 Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League, several hundred “The Column” Awards and 20 Theater Critics Forum Awards in its first eight seasons. Uptown Players has also been named the best theatre company by the Dallas Voice Readers from 2006 to 2009 and by the Dallas Observer in 2004, 2005 and 2009. 

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer and devoted follower of the Uptown Players. She thinks they have the best looking audience.

Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogaYaYa, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com and www.teaAtlas.com.

When she is not out too late, she tries to contribute to her blog http://madelynmiller.blogspot.com/