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W.Va. native and 'Grease' star moves on to Dickens musical

October 01, 2007 @ 01:49 AM

The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- Derek Keeling, Winfield, W.Va., native and star of the former NBC show "Grease: You're The One That I Want," will next perform as Charles Darnay in "A Tale of Two Cities" at Sarasota, Florida's acclaimed Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Saturday, Oct. 13 will mark the world premiere of the sweeping musical epic. The show's run, which will be through Nov. 18, also will serve as a Broadway tryout.

The show's book, music and lyrics were written by Jill Santoriello and based on the classic novel from Charles Dickens. The musical's creative team has collectively garnered nine Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, one Oscar, one Emmy Award, two Drama Logue Awards, one Theater World Award, one Obie Award, 23 Tony Award Nominations, 16 Drama Desk Nominations and one Grammy Nomination.

Keeling, who has degrees from Mars Hill College and the University of Kentucky and now lives in New York City, spent two years performing as Danny in the national tour of "Grease" with Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker. Other career highlights include Orlando in "As You Like It," Howard in "When Pigs Fly," and Jerry in "The Zoo Story."

Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution and "A Tale of Two Cities" is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. When Dr. Manette is released from the French Bastille after 17 years, he must be resurrected from the brink of madness by his daughter, Lucie. In England they meet two very different men: the exiled French aristocrat, Charles Darnay, whom Lucie marries, and the drunken cynic, Sydney Carton. Soon family secrets and political intrigue combine to draw Lucie and her family back to Paris. At the height of the Reign of Terror, the musical finds an unlikely hero in Carton, inspired by love to make an extraordinary sacrifice.

Events
Harry Connick Jr.
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Award-winning jazz artist Connick will perform part of his "A Holiday Celebration" tour. Tickets, visit www.theclaycenter.org or...
Erik Meyers
7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20-23. Enjoy a fast-paced, high-energy comedy show. Meyers has been a regular on 98 Rock...
MU Theater: "The Glass Menagerie"
8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 19-22. Tennessee Williams' 1944 drama "The Glass Menagerie," his self-described "memory play," has been considered...
Festival of Trees and Trains
Saturday, Nov. 22-30. Questions, call 606-324-3175.
4th annual Holly Berry Festival
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in the lobby. Featuring hand-made items designed and made by local and area crafters and a book sale. Sponsored by the Marshall...
World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions
3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, in the coliseum. Tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or any Ticketmaster box office.
51st annual Model Railroad Show
5-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28-30. Featuring model railroads, hobby shops, memorabilia sales, railroad books, new and used...
Planetarium Show: "Reason for the Season"
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon and 2 p.m. Sunday, starting Nov. 28. Questions, call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
Movies

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Rated


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Submitted photo

Winfield native and star of "Grease: You're The One That I Want" on NBC, Derek Keeling will next star as Charles Darnay in "A Tale of Two Cities."

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