The historic Ford Amphitheatre:
L.A.'s oasis under the stars
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Lee is the resident choreographer for Reprise Theatre Company under the Artistic Direction of Jason Alexander. Choreography for Reprise includes Li’l Abner, On Your Toes, Damn Yankees, On The Town, Brigadoon, I Love My Wife and several of the summer events at The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Most recent credits include: directing this year’s Alzheimer’s Benefit; directing and staging American Stars In Concert starring Kimberly Locke, Melinda DooLittle, and Diana Degarmo; choreography for the soon-to-be-released animated feature Alpha Omega; Kiss Of The Spider Woman for Havok Theatre Company, for which she just received the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Award; Fidder On The Roof for the Rubicon Theatre Company; the World Premiere of Silk Stockings at Musical Theatre West; directing and choreographing What a Pair, a benefit for the John Wayne Cancer Institute starring some of the biggest female stars of TV, film and theatre; and the Bravo series Step It Up and Dance. Other credits include: Beehive at the El Portal Theatre; the Full Monty and All Shook Up for Musical Theatre West; I Do I Do and Side By Side By Sondheim for The Pasadena Playhouse; Lies and Legend for the Rubicon Theatre; direction and choreography for several large-scale shows for Harley-Davidson throughout the country; Warner Bros.’ animated feature The King and I; Universal Studios’ New York Rascal Show; Disney’s Santa Clause 3 Stage Show at the El Capitan Theatre; Disney International’s Latin American Stage Tour, A Dream Is A Wish; the Opening Gala for Theatre Under the Stars, TUTS; Hobby Performing Arts Center honoring Jerry Herman; the Opening of Ford Field, the Detroit Lions football stadium, starring Gladys Knight; the opening of the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs starring Ruben Studdard. Lee’s work has been seen in many S.T.A.G.E. (Los Angeles’ longest-running AIDS benefit), Actor’s Fund, and Alzheimer’s benefits, as well as the CHOC Follies, an annual event for Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Lee’s choreography has won her three Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Awards, two Ovation Awards, Garland awards, and many nominations for these awards. Her On Your Toes for Reprise won her the 2007 Ovation, LADCC and Garland awards. Lee is a member of SSDC. Special thanks to a very talented cast and crew and especially to Jason, Suzi, Danny and, as always, JJ.
Mary has performed in various musical capacities around the globe. She has served as Musical Director, keyboardist, vocalist and arranger with Grammy Award artists Wilson Phillips, Helen Reddy, and Rita Coolidge. She continues to perform in concert with fine artists such as Little Anthony and the Imperials, Freda Payne, Deborah Gibson, Glenn Yarbrough, Dale Kristien, Bill Hutton, Jordan Bennett, The Diamond’s, Michael Maguire, Phantom’s Leading Ladies, Jason Graae, Vicki Lewis, David Engel, and Tami Tappan. Mary recently wrote all of the arrangements and served as MD and pianist for a wonderful one woman show performed by Stefanie Powers and for Lorenzo Lamas who debuted his cabaret act to rave reviews at Feinstein’s in NYC. She can be seen and heard on television as pianist and Music Director for many of the wonderful PBS Doo Wop specials. Mary is an award-winning songwriter whose compositions have been performed and recorded by Sergio Mendes, Glenn Yarbrough, Helen Reddy, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Deniece Williams and Cheryl Barnes. She has also composed music for television, including the series Matlock, for Viewer’s Choice Pay TV and numerous feature films. In addition, Mary composed the United States theme song for “Million Minutes for Peace,” performing it at the United Nations, St. John’s Cathedral, and the Hollywood Bowl. In the wonderful world of Musical Theatre, she has served as Associate Music Director for the Reprise productions of Company and Kismet. She has also been an orchestra member at the Pasadena Playhouse for their productions of 110 in the Shade, Purlie, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Ray and in numerous other productions in the Los Angeles area. In addition, Mary was Musical Director for the first annual “Hope for the Holidays” at the Key Club for APLA, the 2008 S.T.A.G.E. Benefit, “Blame it on Bacharach.” and the 2009 “The Brothers Gershwin” S.T.A.G.E. Benefit. She was also co-Music Director for the REAF “Help is on the Way XIV” Benefit in San Francisco.
