springerassociatespr
1501 Broadway, Suite 506 * New York, NY 10036
212.354.4660 / 212.354.7588 (fax)
For Immediate Release:
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’s
JEFF KELLER
TO JOIN THE CAST OF
BILLY VAN ZANDT & JANE MILMORE’S
YOU’VE GOT HATE MAIL
AT THE TRIAD
OCTOBER 21 & 28
October 17, 2011(New York) - Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore (Silent Laughter, Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., A Night at the Nutcracker) welcome Jeff Keller to their e-mail comedy of errors, Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore’s You've Got Hate Mail on October 21 & 28 at the Triad (158 West 72 St, NYC.)
Hailed by critics (“The perfect bedroom farce…expertly directed…riotously enacted by a five-person ensemble!” –NY Post) (“LOL…The audience is guaranteed to do just that – Laugh Out loud!” -Star Ledger) (“It doesn’t get better than this!” –Show Business Weekly) (“A rapid-paced romp with a millennium twist! Hilarious!” –Curtainup.com), (“Behind this very funny theater piece lurk many surprises” –Huffington Post), You’ve Got Hate Mail is a hilarious look at online hook-up and break-ups.
Love "bytes" all when an extra-marital affair goes horribly wrong, thanks to a juicy e-mail left sitting on a desktop. The story is told entirely in e-mails from laptop computers, although the play does manage to have an unforgettable chase scene - thanks to Blackberries and iPhones.
In addition to the playwrights, the cast includes Glenn Jones, Barbara Bonilla and Fran Solgan. Gary Shaffer (High School Reunion: The Musical) directs. However, the opportunity exists for terrific guest artists to step in from time-to-time. Upcoming guest stars include Cerina Vincent (Not Another Teen Movie) on Oct. 28, Jeff Keller (Phantom of the Opera) and Meg Bennett (“Young & Restless,” Grease) on Oct. 21 and 28. And, also upcoming, “Newhart’s” Julia Duffy and Peter Scolari will be reuniting. Date TBA
Van Zandt & Milmore are the authors of 23 plays published worldwide with Samuel French and translated into multiple languages around the globe. They are, quite possibly, among the most successful playwrights in the world. Their play, Love Sex and the I.R.S, is performed somewhere in the world almost every day!! A production even just recently opened in Beijing!!! Van Zandt's solo play The Property Known as Garland, which starred Adrienne Barbeau (who also happens to be Billy’s wife) as Judy Garland, broke house records at the Actor's Playhouse in its initial Off-Broadway run. Their television and film projects have brought them Emmy nominations, People's Choice Awards and NAACP Image Awards for their writing and producing on "I Love Lucy: The Very First Show," "Martin" and "The Hughleys."
YOU’VE GOT HATE MAIL
Written by Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore, directed by Gary Shaffer
Begins Friday, October 7, 2011
Plays every Friday at 7PM
Running Time is 80 Minutes no intermission
The Triad located at 158 West 72 St, NYC.
(Please note there is a two drink minimum, cash only)
Tickets are: VIP $35.00 (Includes preferred seating); General Admission $30.00
Tickets can be purchased by visiting or by calling 212 868 4444
For more information, bios, high-res photos and schedule, go to
Press performances: Friday, October 7 at 7PM; Friday, October 14 at 7PM
(Limited seating available after 10/14)
To speak with Ms. Milmore or Mr. Van Zandt or to arrange press seats please contact
Springer Associates PR/ Gary Springer / Joe Trentacosta, 212-354-4660
/
Who’s Who:
JEFF KELLER is one of the original cast members of Phantom of the Opera and the first American to play "The Phantom" on Broadway. He began his professional career in Harold Prince's Candide, played Perchik opposite Zero Mostel in the Broadway revival of Fiddler On The Roof, was directed by Carl Reiner in Gary Marshall's comedy The Roast. He created the role of Johnny Cantone the Sinatra-like crooner in The 1940's Radio Hour, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination. Jeff was in the cast of the award winning Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George. He went on to play George in the West Coast premiere of the show and won the San Francisco Theater Critics Circle award. Other Broadway credits include On The Twentieth Century, Jule Stein's One Night Stand, and Alan Jay Lerner's Dance A Little Closer. Jeff took a leave from Phantom to create the character of Marley's Ghost in Alan Menken's musical version of A Christmas Carol. Off-Broadway he starred as the villain Barnaby in Charlotte Sweet, created the role of Sam in the hit musical Personals. He has appeared in concert with Leonard Bernstein and has performed in numerous Repertory Theaters around the country. On TV he played Peter Prescott on Loving. He became known in Brazil on October 10, 1998 when, during his marriage ceremony to the ballerina Andréia Romana Simm, he sang the love song, "El Dia Que Me Quieres" to his bride. Because of the tremendous wave of publicity that was generated by Jeff and Andréia, TV coverage of their wedding was carried live and his singing was heard all over Brazil. Since then he has continued to perform in Brazil in numerous concert tour appearances. Jeff left Phantom 4 years ago to devote full time to "Dance Art Creative Center", the performing and visual art school started by he and his wife. Even with his busy schedule Jeff finds the time to sing with symphony orchestras around the country. He has performed with Broadway star Judy Kaye and the Princeton Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, and Albany Symphony. Jeff was recently inducted into the Freehold High School Hall Of Fame, an honor he shares with Bruce Springsteen. He is extremely pleased to be doing a role in play written by his friends of almost 40 years.
BILLY VAN ZANDT & JANE MILMORE (writers/performers) are two of the most often-produced playwright in the world. “These two people are a riot!” - New York Times. Billy and Jane met at a high school drama competition in Rumson, New Jersey. Together ever since, they have written and starred in twenty-two plays, including their Off-Broadway comedies You’ve Got Hate Mail (in its 16 month at the Triad), Silent Laughter; Drop Dead; the Marx Bros. musical A Night at the Nutcracker; and the summer stock perennial Love Sex, and the I.R.S. Billy’s solo play The Property Known as Garland starring his wife, Adrienne Barbeau, broke house records at Off-Broadway’s Actors Playhouse in 2006. Together, Billy and Jane’s plays have been produced at over 20,000 theaters worldwide, including two productions directed by Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis (“Billy and Jane are funny, outrageous, off the charts writer/performers!”). All plays are published by Samuel French, Inc., and translated into multiple languages around the globe. Recently, Love, Sex, and the I.R.S. played Guyana (as Love, Sex and the Tax Man) and made its Chinese debut in Beijing; Wrong Window premiered in New Zealand; You’ve Got Hate Mail opened in Malta; and The Property Known as Garland entered its sixth month in Warsaw with Polish icon Hanna Sleszynska. For television, these award-winning writers have produced over three hundred hours of comedy, including “The Hughleys,” “Suddenly Susan” with Brooke Shields, “Newhart,” “Martin,” with Martin Lawrence - which won them a People’s Choice Award, “Daddy Dearest” with Don Rickles and Richard Lewis, “Anything But Love” – with Jamie Lee Curtis, “Bless This House” with Andrew Dice Clay, “The Wayans Bros.,” “Yes, Dear,” “Center of the Universe” with John Goodman and Jean Smart, and “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show” which won them an Emmy nomination. Between TV seasons, the duo returns home to New Jersey where they introduce their plays (usually a new one every year or so) with the same company of actors they have worked with for over thirty years, known as the “unofficial” Van Zandt-Milmore Rep Company. And if that weren’t enough, their movie A Wake in Providence, won the Audience Award at both the Fort Lauderdale International and Boston Film Festivals. Billy is married to actress Adrienne Barbeau, and the father of fourteen year-old twins Walker and William. His brother is music icon Little Steven Van Zandt. They live in Los Angeles, CA and Navesink, NJ. Jane Milmore is the oldest of five girls. Her sister is romance novelist Kaitlin O’Riley. And her sister Jennifer is actress Jennifer Milmore. Jane lives in Beverly Hills, CA, Rumson, NJ, and NYC. “If you’ve never seen these clowns at work, you should be ashamed of yourself.” Asbury Park Press
GARY SHAFFER (director)Gary Shaffer's directing credits include High School Reunion: the Musical (co-director), Fiorello!; The Pajama Game; Promises, Promises; Run For Your Wife; Side by Side by Sondheim; Noises Off; Camelot; Not Now, Darling; Forum; Guys & Dolls; and Pump Boys & Dinettes. His original comedy Bases Loaded was recently performed at Ocean County College in New Jersey. Producing credits include the Off-Broadway runs of Anne Meara's After-Play, My Italy Story, Kosher Franks, Santa Claus is Coming Out and Carol Channeling. His company, Shaffer Marketing, has handled promotions for productions in New York, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Mr. Shaffer is an assistant professor of Media Studies at Ocean County College, Toms River.