THE LANDING Review Quotes

“ELEGANT AND POIGNANT! Fans of Mr. Kander will certainly appreciate hearing this old master elicit increasingly complex feelings from what at first feel like basic melodies. Greg Pierce, has infused his wispy bedtime stories for grown-ups with an autumnal sense of regret for lives lost and paths not taken.The deft cast artfully matches its surroundings… […]

“ELEGANT AND POIGNANT!

Fans of Mr. Kander will certainly appreciate hearing this old master elicit increasingly complex feelings from what at first feel like basic melodies. Greg Pierce, has infused his wispy bedtime stories for grown-ups with an autumnal sense of regret for lives lost and paths not taken.The deft cast artfully matches its surroundings… gentle, color-coded stylishness in sophisticated storybook shades of gray, blue and red. David Hyde Pierce is quietly terrific throughout!”

– Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“ENCHANTING! ‘THE LANDING’ KEEPS YOU ENTHRALLED.

It is a lovely, quirky new musical theater work with a sparkling cast! Julia Murney brims with cheerful loopiness and Hyde Pierce radiates a comical menace. ‘The Landing’ leaves you wanting more. Let’s hope Kander and Pierce have lots more like this ahead!”

– Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press

“HAUNTING, STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL AND DEEPLY MOVING!

Directed with a nimble hand and a full heart by Walter Bobbie. ‘The Landing’ transports us and lift our hearts. Young Frankie Seratch juggles Noah, Darius and Collin with impressive dexterity. Paul Anthony Stewart brings a robust sensitivity, then shows his deft lighter side.”

– Elysa Gardner, USA Today

“GO RIGHT AWAY!”

– Brandon Thorp, Village Voice

“HEART-PIERCING

“Under Walter Bobbie’s stylized direction and mounted on John Lee Beatty’s abstract sets gorgeously lighted by Ken Billington, the pieces in this minimalist show look unmoored from what we earthlings call reality. The conceptual treatment of longing and loneliness is imaginative and the four-piece ensemble is excellent.

– Marilyn Stasio, Variety

“THE AMERICAN MUSICAL HAS A BEGUILING, RISK-TAKING,
NEW WRITING TEAM AT THE VINEYARD THEATRE THESE DAYS!

Excellent actors! Kander’s music mixes his street-smart show-biz signature
with yearning romantic ballads.”

– Linda Winer, Newsday

“GOOD NEWS!

A brave departure for John Kander. Gorgeous, insightful and often funny.”

– Robert Holfer, The Wrap

“HAUNTING AND UNFORGETTABLE!

Director Walter Bobbie leads this four-person cast to committed and boundlessly energetic performances. The Landing is an excellent production. Fascinating and heart-rending!

– Zachary Stewart, Theatermania

“KANDER’S MUSIC HAS A LOVELY TINKLY SOUND WITH
KANDERESQUE SOPHISTICATION AND BOUNCE.

Well performed, especially by the versatile and always terrific David Hyde Pierce. Being the front and center boy is a tall order to fill and Frankie Seratch handles it with considerable charm and confidence. It’s a lot of fun and gives Julia Murney a chance to strut her vocal and performance talents. Paul Anthony Stewart adds to the fun in multiple roles.”

– Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp

“’THE LANDING’ IS AN ELEGANT TRIPTYCH OF SHOWS!

John Kander is in a metaphysical, not New York, frame of mind. The cast is superb!”

– Jeremy Gerard, Bloomberg News

Artists

Ken Billington

(Lighting Design) 97 Broadway shows including CHAPLIN, HUGH JACKMAN BACK ON BROADWAY, CHICAGO, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, WHITE CHRISTMAS, [title of show], THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Lily Tomlin in THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS…, FOOTLOOSE, SWEENEY TODD, the Broadway revivals of BYE BYE BIRDIE, FINIAN’S RAINBOW, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, ANNIE, HELLO DOLLY, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, MY FAIR LADY and hundreds of touring productions from HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Other: SHAMU ONE OCEAN and SHAMU ROCKS for the 3 SeaWorld Parks, JUBILEE!, Bally’s Las Vegas, FANTASMIC! at Disneyland. Awards: Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Lumen (Architecture), Ace (Television).

Colyn Fiendel

(Assistant Stage Manager) Broadway: BIG FISH, LUCKY GUY, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, CHAPLIN, THE ROAD TO MECCA. Off-Broadway: THE LANDING, THE LYONS (Vineyard Theatre); WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Second Stage); THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE GALA (The Public Theatre); NAKED BOYS SINGING! (Original Company). Tours/Tryouts: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, WEST SIDE STORY (Troika ); BIG FISH. Graduate of Purchase College with a BFA in stage management. Proud AEA member. Love to my parents, sister, and Johnny.

Roy Harris

(Production Stage Manager) Broadway: Orphans; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Dividing the Estate; and thirteen directed by Daniel Sullivan, including Good People, Morning’s at Seven, The Sisters Rosensweig, and The Heidi Chronicles; The Road to Mecca and Twelve Angry Men, (Roundabout Theatre Company). Off-Broadway: The Landing and The Lyons (Vineyard); Water by the Spoonful, Wings and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Second Stage); Dying City, The Clean House, Third, and Ten Unknowns (Lincoln Center Theater). Author of five books, most recently More Recipes & Reminiscence and Brunch over Broadway. Proud grandfather of Addi, Amelia, Annie, and Win.

John Monaco

Vineyard Theatre: KID VICTORY, THE LANDING, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Musical coordinator for close to 75 Broadway musicals, guitarist/banjoist for almost 40 Broadway shows. He has had the priviledge of working with Richard Rodgers, John Kander, Jule Styne, Elmer Bernstein, Harvey Schmidt, Philip Springer, George Forrest, Robert Wright, and Stephen Flaherty.

Larry Hochman

(Orchestrations) Broadway: BOOK OF MORMON (Tony, Drama Desk), PIPPIN, BIG FISH, CHAPLIN, SCOTTSBORO BOYS (first produced at the Vineyard), SPAMALOT, ADDAMS FAMILY. 5 Tony Nominations. Television: Composer of Nickelodeon’s “The Wonder Pets!” (5 Emmys). 25 Regional and Off-Broadway shows incl. DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY (Maury Yeston), THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (Marvin Hamlisch). 17 films incl. The Informant! (Marvin Hamlisch) and Disney (Annie, Lady and the Tramp II, Little Mermaid II). Recordings, concerts: Paul McCartney, Eric Idle, Barbra Streisand, Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic. In Memoriam (symphonic poem, publ. E.B. Marks). www.LarryHochman.net

Paul Masse

(Conductor, Piano) Broadway: The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, AVENUE Q, 42ND STREET (Revival), WICKED, CHICAGO, THE PAJAMA GAME (Revival), GYPSY (2003 and 2008 Revivals), THE PRODUCERS, WHITE CHRISTMAS.  Off-Broadway:  INNER VOICES (“Borrowed Dust”), THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, JACQUES BREL…, THE FANTASTICKS.  Regional:  SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (Denver Center), FIRST YOU DREAM (Kennedy Center/Signature Theatre), THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (Guthrie).  1st National/LA:  WICKED.  TV:  “The Colbert Report”, “The View”, “The Rosie Show”, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”. Various Film soundtracks. Original cast albums:  The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The Scottsboro Boys, Noel and Cole.  Concert performances at: Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below. BFA from New York University.

David Loud

Vineyard Theatre: KID VICTORY, THE LANDING, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (also Broadway). Broadway credits include THE VISIT, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, CURTAINS, RAGTIME, A CLASS ACT, STEEL PIER, and revivals of PORGY AND BESS, SHE LOVES ME, COMPANY, and SWEENEY TODD. Off-Broadway: THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND. PBS: “First You Dream.” He originated the role of Manny in Terrence McNally’s MASTER CLASS (starring Zoe Caldwell) and made his Broadway debut in Harold Prince’s original 1981 production of Stephen Sondheim’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. He is a graduate of Yale University and is currently teaching at the Manhattan School of Music.

Nevin Steinberg

(Sound Design) Recent Broadway: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA (Tony nomination), THE PERFORMERS, MAGIC/BIRD. Recent Off Broadway: FAR FROM HEAVEN. Audio Consultant for Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium. Over thirty Broadway productions as a former founding principal of Acme Sound Partners and five additional Tony nominations for The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS, BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, FENCES, HAIR and IN THE HEIGHTS.

John Lee Beatty

(Set Designer) Since 1976 Mr. Beatty has designed sets for over 100 Broadway productions, including the long-running revival of CHICAGO; the Pulitzer Prize winners DOUBT, PROOF, RABBIT HOLE, TALLEY’S FOLLY and CRIMES OF THE HEART; and noted revivals of A DELICATE BALANCE, THE HEIRESS, and DINNER AT EIGHT. Other productions include: THE BIG KNIFE, THE NANCE, GOOD PEOPLE, VENUS IN FUR, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, THE ROYAL FAMILY, TIME STANDS STILL, MAURITIUS, LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, BURN THIS, PENN & TELLER, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, THE COLOR PURPLE, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, and FIFTH OF JULY, among others. His long relationships with Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center Theater, Circle Repertory and City Center Encores! have led to Tony, Obie, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk Awards and the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Josh Rhodes

(Choreographer) Josh’s Broadway credits include FIRST DATE and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA (Outer Critic Circle, Astaire Award, and Drama Desk nominations).  On stage and screen he choreographed COMPANY starring Neil Patrick Harris, and  SONDHEIM’S 80th BIRTHDAY CONCERT for The New York Philharmonic and PBS. Other stage credits include: BROADWAY: THREE GENERATIONS at the Kennedy Center, ON THE TOWN for the LA Philharmonic, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Patti LuPone at Ravinia, WORKING at the Old Globe, the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago, and the Drama Desk Award winning production at the Prospect Theater in New York, BARNUM at the Asolo Rep (Sarasota Theatre Award), THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG starring Jason Alexander at LA’s Reprise, STARS OF DAVID at the Philadelphia Theater Company, ACADEMY at the Maltz Jupiter, 1776 at the Papermill Playhouse, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO at the Ogunquit Playhouse, CHESS, and DREAMGIRLS at the North Carolina Theatre, CLYDE & BONNIE at the Aurora Theater, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS at the Manhattan School of Music, ALL SINGING ALL DANCING, LEGENDS!, and BROADWAY BY THE YEAR-1954 at Town Hall.  As a director, Josh created and directed BROADWAY BARES 20 and 21 in New York,  THE FULL MCNALLY at the Westport Playhouse, and PAUL NEWMAN’S DREAM at Avery Fisher, and many 2XIST Fashion shows. His performance credits on Broadway include: FOSSE, BELLS ARE RINGING, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, URBAN COWBOY, MAN OF LA MANCHA, THE BOY FROM OZ, and CHICAGO.

Walter Bobbie

(Director) Walter Bobbie has directed on and off-Broadway.  His credits include GOLDEN AGE, VENUS IN FUR, SCHOOL FOR LIES, WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE SUBMISSION, SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, NEW JERUSALEM, HIGH FIDELITY, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, SWEET CHARITY, THE OTHER WOMAN, TWENTIETH CENTURY, FOOTLOOSE, DURANG DURANG, FOR WHOM THE SOUTHERN BELLE TOLLS, CHICAGO, A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING, as well as Encores! FIORELLO, TENDERLOIN, GOLDEN BOY, NO NO NANAETTE, and the Carnegie Hall concerts of SOUTH PACIFIC and CAROUSEL.   He served as Artistic Director of City Center’s Encores! and sits on the Executive Board of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Mr. Bobbie is also an actor whose theatre credits range from the original GREASE through HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FILM, I LOVE MY WIFE, CAFÉ CROWN, ANYTHING GOES, GETTING MARRIED , DRIVING MISS DAISY,  ASSASSINS, GUYS & DOLLS, POLISH JOKE, and last season’s ON YOUR TOES  at Encores!  Mr. Bobbie is the recipient of the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Tony Awards.

Paul Anthony Stewart

Broadway: THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE (Roundabout Theatre Company), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CYRANO THE MUSICAL. Off-Broadway: HARBOR (Primary Stages), DREYFUS IN REHEARSAL. Regional: RIDE THE TIGER (Long Wharf Theatre), TWELFTH NIGHT (Westport Country Playhouse), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Berkshire Theatre Festival), FUNNY GIRL (Drury Lane), MARRY ME A LITTLE (Dorset Theatre), CRIME & PUNISHMENT (Cleveland Playhouse), CHANGES OF HEART (Mark Taper Forum), QUILLS (Geffen Playhouse), HELLO AGAIN (LA Premiere), PERA PALAS (Long Wharf Theatre), THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE (Huntington Theatre), CHILDREN OF EDEN (American Premiere). TV: “Guiding Light” (Emmy nomination), “Blue Bloods”, “Damages”, “Law & Order”, “Dream On”, “The Hunger”, “The Inheritance” (Hallmark Movie), “First Time Out”, “Loving”. FILM: “Somewhere in the City”, “Shadows and Fog”. Princeton Graduate.

Frankie Seratch

Frankie’s most recent projects include the lab performance of the new musical BULL DURHAM, and the readings of MILLIONS and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. Favorite roles include playing Kerry Butler’s son in the NYMF production of PANDORA’S BOX, and Jem in The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. In addition to theatre, Frankie is a very accomplished voiceover artist, working steady recording TV/Radio commercials, theme songs, audio books, and video games. Thanks to my family and friends who support all my adventures, John Shea at Frontier Booking, and especially Steve Irlen at Inspired Artist Management.

David Hyde Pierce

Broadway: Kander & Ebb’s CURTAINS (Tony Award), VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (Tony nomination), LA BETE, ACCENT ON YOUTH, SPAMALOT, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, BEYOND THERAPY. Off-Broadway: CLOSE UP SPACE, ELLIOT LOVES, ZERO POSITIVE, THAT’S IT FOLKS!, THE MADERATI, THE AUTHOR’S VOICE, HAMLET, MUCH ADO, THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Film: The Perfect Host, Down with Love, Full Frontal, Wet Hot American Summer, A Bug’s Life, Treasure Planet, Wolf, Nixon, Sleepless in Seattle, Little Man Tate, Crossing Delancey. TV: “The Powers That Be”, “The Outer Limits”, “Titus”, “Frasier” (Emmy, SAG Award). As director: Anselmi & Hargove’s musical IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, George Street Playhouse; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Julia Murney

Julia Murney last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in WICKED after playing the role on the national tour for which she received an Acclaim Award. Other New York credits include LENNON, Andrew Lippa’s THE WILD PARTY (Drama Desk nomination), FALLING (Drama Desk nomination), THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, A CLASS ACT, SAVED, CRIMES OF THE HEART, QUEEN OF THE MIST, CLOSER THAN EVER, and TIME AND AGAIN (Lucille Lortel nomination). She’s been seen regionally all over the U.S. and has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, Feinstein’s, The Kennedy Center, Caramoor, Town Hall and Birdland. Among her TV credits are “30 Rock”, “Sex and the City”, “Brothers and Sisters”, “Ed”, “NYPD Blue”, all three Law and Orders and about a gazillion voiceovers. juliamurney.com.

John Kander

Vineyard Theatre: KID VICTORY and THE LANDING with Greg Pierce, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and FLORA THE RED MENACE with Fred Ebb. Theatre: A FAMILY AFFAIR with James and William Goldman. With Fred Ebb: CABARET (Tony Award), ZORBA, THE HAPPY TIME, 70 GIRLS 70, CHICAGO, THE ACT, WOMAN OF THE YEAR (Tony Award), THE RINK, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Tony Award), STEEL PIER, CURTAINS, and THE VISIT. Movies and television material with Fred Ebb: “Liza with a Z” (Emmy Award) and HBO’s “Liza Minnelli’s Steppin Out” (Emmy Award); Cabaret; Funny Lady (Academy Award nomination, Best Song); Lucky Lady; New York, New York; and Chicago The Movie (Academy Award nomination, Best Song). Film scores: “An Early Frost,” “Breathing Lessons,” “The Boys Next Door,” Kramer vs. Kramer, Blue Skies Again, Places of the Heart.

Greg Pierce

Greg Pierce’s first collaboration with John Kander, THE LANDING, premiered at the Vineyard Theatre. His play SLOWGIRL was the inaugural play of Lincoln Center’s Claire Tow Theater (LCT3). It was subsequently produced by Steppenwolf Theatre and the Geffen Playhouse. His play HER REQUIEM was also produced by LCT3. He wrote the libretto for the opera FELLOW TRAVELERS, based on the novel by Thomas Mallon, (composed by Gregory Spears) which premiered at Cincinnati Opera. Other plays include THE QUARRY (with composer Randal Pierce, Vermont Stage Company), and THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE, based on the novel by Haruki Murakami, (Edinburgh International Festival, Singapore Arts Festival, The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival). He has been commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theatre, Vermont Stage Company, and Manhattan Theatre Club. He is currently working on two new projects with John Kander.

Michael Krass

(Costume Design) Vineyard Theatre: THE LANDING, THE LYONS, MARY ROSE, BEAUTIFUL CHILD, EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARD), ANTIGONE IN NY, AMERICA DREAMING, HIT THE LIGHTS. Broadway: MACHINAL (Tony nomination); THE LYONS, AFTER MISS JULIE; THE CONSTANT WIFE (Tony nomination); TWELVE ANGRY MEN; YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN; RECKLESS, THE REHEARSAL (Drama Desk nomination), HEDDA GABLER, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE; many more. Off-Broadway: world premieres by Edward Albee, John Guare, Nicky Silver, Kenny Lonergan, David Rabe, Christopher Durang, Alfred Uhry, Theresa Rebeck, Elaine May, Keith Bunin. Downtown NY: built for collapse, THE SERPENT (Daniel Kramer), HADESTOWN (Rachel Chavkin), etc. Dance: BalletTech. Regional: The Guthrie, Arena Stage, The McCarter, Old Globe, La Jolla, ten summers at The Hangar, twelve summers at Williamstown. Film: Campbell Scott’s HAMLET. Opera: PELLEAS AND MELISANDE in St. Petersburg, Russia. Teaching: eighteen years at NYU undergrad, now the grad school at Brown.