Date: Jun 07, 2010

Andrea McArdle Concert (June 12 and 13) Launches Hofstra Entertainment's 2010 Summer Theater Season

Also Featuring "Davi Sings Sinatra" (July 16 to 18); "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" (July 16 to August 1); and "Annie" (August 14 to 29)

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY …  Hofstra Entertainment’s Summer Season begins with Broadway’s original “Annie,” Andrea McArdle, and ends with a full production of the classic family musical. This summer season also marks the beginning of a yearlong celebration commemorating Hofstra University’ 75th anniversary, bringing with it exciting theatrical and musical performances into the spring and summer of 2011.

For tickets and more information on all of the following performances, call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Or visit www.hofstra.edu/HofstraEntertainment . Tickets also may be purchased online at www.tickets.com.

(A summer subscription package for Davi Sings Sinatra, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Annie is available for $65.)

June 12 to 13:  Andrea McArdle in Concert – You Don’t Know Me

Andrea McArdle has created an amazing career in Broadway productions of Les Miserables and Beauty and the Beast, and has attained enormous international success since her legendary and Tony Award-nominated performance as Broadway’s original Annie in Annie. Her incredible voice is matched by her love of many different musical styles. This concert takes you on a fabulous musical journey highlighted by unforgettable selections from Broadway shows, the Great American Songbook and some of Ms. McArdle’s pop favorites. Also featuring Larry Yurman, piano/moderator.

Show times: Saturday, June 12, 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 13, 2 p.m.

Location: Monroe Lecture Center Theater, California Avenue, South Campus

Tickets:  $35/$30 senior citizen (over 65); $18 matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID or Hofstra faculty/staff/student with current HofstraCard (one-ticket maximum).

*This concert is not part of Hofstra Entertainment’s Summer Subscription package.

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July 16 to 18: World Premiere! A Tribute to a Legend: Davi Sings Sinatra
Conceived by Robert Davi, directed by Bob Spiotto, creative consultant Chazz Palminteri

Robert Davi is one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world. He studied acting under the legendary Stella Adler at the world-renowned Actors Studio. As the indelible villain Franz Sanchez in the James Bond film License to Kill to more recent film and television appearances, he has thrilled audiences. He has appeared opposite Marlon Brando in Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, Clint Eastwood in City Heat, Bruce Willis in Die Hard, and Roberto Benigni in Son of the Pink Panther. He also appeared in 82 episodes of the NBC series Profiler playing Agent Baily Malone, and as Commander Acastus Kolya on Showtime’s Stargate Atlantis. Recently, in his directorial debut The Dukes (co-starring Chazz Palminteri, Peter Bogdanovich and Miriam Margoles,) Davi returned to his lyrical roots by portraying a doowop singer trying to make a comeback. The movie won nine major international festival awards. Lesser known, Davi’s first passion is singing. He studied under Samuel Margolis, famed singing teacher at the Metropolitan Opera, who also taught Robert Merrill, the man who Sinatra would sometimes call upon for vocal workshops. Interestingly, Davi’s career in entertainment began when he acted alongside the Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra, in Contract on Cherry Street. How appropriate that Robert has come full circle and pays tribute to the man who gave him his start and kept an eye on him throughout the years.

Opening for Robert Davi is Tom Dreesen, who has made more than 500 appearances on national television as a standup comedian, including 61 appearances on the Tonight Show. He’s a favorite guest of David Letterman and has even guest hosted the show. For 14 years he toured the nation as the opening act for Frank Sinatra.

Show times: Friday, July 16, 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 17, 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 18, 2 p.m.

Location:  John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus

Tickets: $30/$25 senior citizen (over 65); $18 matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID; $15 Hofstra faculty/staff/student with current HofstraCard (two-ticket maximum)

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July 16 to August 1: The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry, directed by Pamela Seiderman

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Driving Miss Daisy comes a touching and bittersweet comedy, set in 1939 Atlanta, of an upperclass Jewish family coping with budding romances, the rumblings of World War II, the premiere of Gone With the Wind and, above all, Ballyhoo, the biggest social event of the year. The Last Night of Ballyhoo was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Play. (Recommended for ages 13 and older.)

Show times: Friday, July 16, 23, 30 at 8 p.m.;  Saturday, July 17, 24, 31 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 18 and 25,
and August 1 at 2 p.m.

Location: Monroe Lecture Center Theater, California Avenue, South Campus.

Tickets: $25/$20 senior citizen (over 65); $18 matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID; $15 Hofstra faculty/staff/student with current HofstraCard (two-ticket maximum).

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August 14 to 29: Annie

Winner of seven Tony Awards. Featuring book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin. Based on "Little Orphan Annie" with permission of Tribune Media Services, Inc. Directed and choreographed by Amy Dolan Fletcher. Musical direction by Stephen Pagano.

Join Hofstra Entertainment for a celebration of the 125th Anniversary of James Whitcomb Riley’s poem “Little Orphant Annie” (1885) that inspired Harold Gray’s comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.”

Show times: Saturday, August 14, 21 and 28,* 7:30 p.m. (*Gray Wig Scholarship performance); Saturday, August 28, 2 p.m.; Sunday, August 15, 22 and 29, 2 p.m.; and Friday, August 27, 7:30 p.m.

Location: John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus

Tickets: $30/$28 senior citizen (over 65); $18 matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID; $15 children 12 and under
$15 Hofstra faculty/staff/student with current HofstraCard (two-ticket maximum).

Friday evening and Saturday matinee special: Children 12 and under receive one free ticket with the purchase of one full-priced ticket. The Gray Wig Scholarship Night on Saturday, August 28, benefits scholarships at Hofstra University.