Stairway to Paradise at NYCity Center

Stairway to Paradise, an original Encores! production celebrating the great Broadway revue, will star Kristin Chenoweth, Kevin Chamberlin, Christopher Fitzgerald and Ruthie Henshall, from 10 - 14 May 2007 at New York City Center.

The cast also includes Jenn Gambatese, Michael Gruber, Shonn Wiley, J. Mark McVey, Holly Cruikshank, Kendrick Jones and Capathia Jenkins.

Directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, Stairway to Paradise is a celebration of half century of Broadway revues, that will include numbers and sketches from such classic Broadway shows as The Band Wagon (1931), As Thousands Cheer (1933), Pins and Needles (1922 & 1937), Call Me Mister (1946), The Garrick Gaieties (1925), New Faces of 1952 and other legendary musicals and revues of the era.

Between 1900 and 1950, while Broadway book musicals were morphing from operetta to musical comedy to the musical plays of Rodgers and Hammerstein, there existed an equally thrilling profusion of Broadway revues � plotless, bookless, sketch-driven shows featuring girls, gags, star comedians like Bert Lahr and Fanny Brice, and some of the finest popular songs ever written. Ziegfeld was the king of the revue, but hundreds of imitators and emulators followed his lead.

Kristin Chenoweth was recently on Broadway in The Apple Tree (2006), which began as an Encores! production. She originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked (2003) and won a Tony Award for her role as Sally in You�re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 revival).

Kevin Chamberlin appeared on Broadway in My Favorite Year (1992) and Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1993 revival) at the Lincoln Center, Triumph of Love (1997), Dirty Blonde (2000) and Seussical (2000). He has also played Amos Hart in Chicago (1996 revival).

Christopher Fitzgerald�s appeared on Broadway in Amour (2002) and originating the role of Boq in Wicked (2003). Most recently, Fitzgerald was seen in the Off-Broadway 'Gutenberg! The Musical!' This is his second Encores! production: he was in Babes in Arms.

Ruthie Henshall was born in England. West End appearances include 'Cats', 'Miss Saigon' and playing Fantine in 'Les Mis�rables'. Henshall's Broadway credits include Putting It Together (1999 revival), Chicago (1996 revival) and Miss Saigon (1991).