THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

WBT OPENS MY FAIR LADY–The All-Time Musical for the Entire Family Returns

Posted on September 20, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Piia Haas. September 20, 2011:

Westchester Broadway Theatre brings back perhaps the most popular musical of the 1950s, My Fair Lady, this week from September 21 to November 27, and a return run from December 28 to January 29.

Broadway’s Greatest Love Story, based on George Bernard Shaw’s classic play Pygmalion returns. The story revolves around Eliza Doolittle,(Jennifer Babiak) a coarse little peddler of flowers in Covent Garden who agrees to take speech lessons from phonetician Henry Higgins (Tom Galantich) in order to fulfill her dream of working in a flower shop. The musical of their love story is the stuff dreams are made of. Photo, Courtesy WBT by John Vecchiolla

Henry Higgins bets his friend, Colonel Pickering, that he can pass the common girl off as a society lady. Eliza succeeds so well, however, that she outgrows her social station and even and manages to become an indispensable part of Higgins’ life. The
musical features an award-winning score, with hits such as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “Get Me to the Church on Time.”

Jennifer Babiak (Eliza Doolittle) Returns to Westchester Broadway Theatre
after appearing here as the spunky Emma Carew in Jekyll & Hyde. WPCNR praised her performance in J&H as a “steadfast haunting diamond-like voice of divine inspiration,” and “precise as a finely cut diamond.”

Her previous credits include: Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof (Anya/ Chava, Shprintze, Bielke u/s and performed). National Tours: West Side Story (Maria), Evita (Mistress) and Grease (Sandy). Regional: Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), Green Gables (Diana),
and North Shore Music Theatre’s A Christmas Carol (Meg). Jennifer is a
Graduate of New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music and Performing
Arts Professions.

Broadway staple, Tom Galantich plays Henry Higgins. His credits include Boeing Boeing, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mamma Mia!, The Boys From Syracuse, City of Angels, Into The
Woods. Off-Broadway: Distracted (Roundabout), Ghosts and Biography (Pearl
Theatre). He has toured nationally with starring roles in White Christmas,
Company, and Dracula. Among his many regional credits are his most recent as
Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at North Carolina Theatre and here
at WBT in City of Angels, 42nd Street and Jekyll & Hyde.

Tom was seen as recurring character Joe Chappell, on Law & Order. Other TV: Ed, Law & Order: CI, Chappelle’s Show, The Cosby Mysteries, All My Children, One Life To
Live, Another World. Film: Julie & Julia, Watching TV With The Red Chinese,
and The Chosen One. Tom is a veteran of numerous commercials and has sung at
Carnegie Hall in a salute to 100 years of Broadway.

The original 1956 production of My Fair Lady featured Rex Harrison as Henry
Higgins and Julie Andrews as Eliza. The production helped define the modern
musical theater.

MFL opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 15, 1956 and enjoyed a run of 2,717 performances, which lasted more than nine years. It won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Rex Harrison. The national tour began on March 18, 1957 and ran for several years, and broke box-office records in city after city.

The 1964 film which won several Oscars, including Best Picture, starred Rex
Harrison, Stanley Holloway and Audrey Hepburn.

The WBT production, stars Jennifer Babiak as Eliza Doolittle, Tom Galantich
as Henry Higgins, and William McCauley as Colonel Pickering. Bill E.
Dietrich will play Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle, Joe Chisholm will
play Freddy. Kathleen Huber takes on Mrs. Higgins,

The multi-talented ensemble features: Gabriel Beck, Brittany Bohn, Gina
Duci, Glenn Giron, Jordan Grubb, Jennifer Hatzes, Cort Larson, Robin
Lounsbury, Megan Marod, Karen Murphy, J.P. Qualters Tara Sweeney, Joe
Torello, and Michael Warrell.

The Production is Directed by Charles Repole who had been at the helm for
several WBT productions including I Love you,You’re Perfect, Now Change and
Sugar. Choreography is by Michael Lichtefeld, Set Design is by Steven
Loftus, Costume Design by Gail Baldoni, Lighting Design is by Andrew Gmoser,
Sound Design by Jonathan Hatton. Properties are by Grumpy’s Props, Wigs/Hair
by Gerard Kelly, Production Stage Manager is Victor Lukas and the Assistant
Stage Manager is Ron Rogell.

William McCauley (Colonel Pickering) You may remember him as R.F. Simpson in
“Singin In The Rain” and Mr. Potter in “A Wonderful Life,” Bill returns for
his 10th show for WBT. Named LA Actor of the Week for “Autumn Canticle,” he
was also Scrooge in LA’s musical “Christmas Carol.” He replaced Jerry Orbach
in “Chicago,” playing Billy Flynn for three years. He has played Henry
Higgins, Harold Hill, Daddy Warbucks, and Dick Cheney. Broadway debut in
Zefirelli’s “Saturday Sunday Monday” with Sada Thompson and Eli Wallach. TV:
Tyrone in PBS’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” a year on “Loving,” “Law &
Order: CI,” and “30 Rock.” One of New York’s finest cabaret performers, he
was resident entertainer at the St. Regis Hotel for two years.

Charles Repole (Director) City Center Encores! Series: Dubarry Was a Lady
starring Faith Prince and Robert Morse and Call Me Madam starring Tyne Daly.
Broadway: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation
Benefit at Carnegie Hall starring Regis Philbin, Marvin Hamlisch, Judy
Collins, Anne Reinking and the NY Pops conducted by Skitch Henderson, the
Easter Bonnet Competition at the Palace Theatre and A Salute to Frank
Sinatra at Carnegie Hall. He conceived and directed Dance! featuring the
works of the Alvin Ailey dance company, the Martha Graham dance company,
the Cleveland Ballet, David Parsons and Stomp!; Lyrics And Lyricists 25th
Year Celebration with Angela Lansbury, Rosie O’Donnell, Joel Grey, Beebe
Neuwirth, Jerry Herman, Cy Coleman, Stephen Schwartz and Sheldon Harnick;
Folk Songs USA starring Burl Ives, Pete Seeger, Art Garfunkel and Odetta,
and Standing Ovations with Tony Randall, Carol Channing, Elaine Strich,
Nell Carter, Leslie Uggams and Donna McKecknie. George M! starring Joel
Grey, Zorba starring Anthony Quinn, Call Me Madam starring Leslie Uggams,
Annie starring Rue McClanahan, The Solid Gold Cadillac starring Charlotte
Rae. The San Antonio Art Festival’s La Pericole starring Angelina Reaux and
Joel Grey. Mr. Repole was nominated for Chicago’s prestigious Joseph
Jefferson Award for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, He has also
directed many productions for WBT including his first professional directing
job, They’re Playing Our Song , Anything Goes, Sugar and I Love You,You’re
Perfect, Now Change!

For Showtimes, go to www.BroadwayTheatreBlog.com, or call 914-592-2222.

8 WPHS STUDENTS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS

Posted on September 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. September 19, 2011:

Eight White Plains High School seniors were named Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The students are: Matthew Africano, Aneesh Bhattacharya, Emmett Caruso, Isabelle Daly, Adam Jaffe, Jens Sannerud, Eric Smiley and Benjamin Van Doren.

Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists were named nationally — less than one percent of U. S. high school seniors — who will continue in the competition to advance to Finalist level and compete for about 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million. The program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program, to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence. Finalists will be announced in February and scholarship winners will be named in the spring.

4 WPHS Musical Artists Tapped for NYSMA

Posted on September 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. September 19, 2011:

Four students from White Plains High School have been selected to participate in the 2011 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Conference in Rochester, NY, in December. They were selected from thousands of students across the state, for the most prestigious honor a New York State music student can receive.

Each student prepared a NYSSMA solo at the highest level of difficulty possible and scored at the highest possible level within their instrument group or voice part.

The students are: Shaina Brady (Violin, String Orchestra), Lauren Gamiel (Double Bass, Symphony Orchestra), Klara Gribetz (Alto, Women’s Chorus) and Jens Sannerud (French Horn, Symphonic Band). Their teachers are Penelope Cruz, Kathryn Davis and William Eckfeld.

Gary West, Coordinator of Fine Arts, commented that “White Plains is very proud to have four students chosen from our district.”

Ryan Vs. Pagan in the Ring Rumble for the First Time

Posted on September 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2011. By John F. Bailey. September 19,2011:

Last Tuesday evening at the Council of Neighborhood Associations, the campaign for the District 5 County Legislator Seat began with a debate between the incumbent Bill Ryan of White Plains and Dr. Iris Pagan, also of White Plains.

Bill Ryan and Iris Pagan prior to the bell in the first round of their campaign for the County Legislator District 5 Seat last week.

Mr. Ryan said legislators are working in a new environment, “searching for a new normal,” citing the need to maintain service delivery and maintain the high level of constituent services.

He said he is always ready to help if a member of the district has a problem. He borrowed former County Executive Andrew Spano’s mantra that the way to cut county property taxes is by the state assuming $211 Million in mandates (12% of the County Budget). I asked him wouldn’t the state just tax us in state taxes for the money anyway, and Ryan said it was up to the state to cut mandate spending.

Dr. Pagan stated county taxes are too high.She committed to taking a hands-on approach to determining spending of all county services. She said volunteers could take up the slack of future county cuts. Ryan responded to this aggressive cost-cutting approach by saying the approach should be “nickel and dime” to keep county services fulfilling needs.

Though asked by a resident of Scarsdale how much they thought the County $1.8 Million budget should be cut, each candidate did not answer that question

Dr.Pagan attacked Mr. Ryan for supporting the HUD housing agreement requiring the county to build affordable housing in communities where minorities and zoning restrictions make it difficult for moderate income families to obtain housing. Ryan defended his support of the settlement, saying not doing so could cost the county $500 Million in fines.

Pagan shot back, would he (Ryan) support the County Executive’s position that HUD is trying to turn this into a segregation correction settlement? Ryan said if any party is attempting to alter the agreement, he would have to weigh that. Asked by Pagan if he supported Astorino’s position, Ryan said he did not say that.

Pagan also chided Mr. Ryan for not getting the county involved in the French American School of New York purchase of Ridgeway Country Club last year.

Ryan said he had, in a public meeting in 2010, offered to the city that he could bring the possibility of the county purchasing the Ridgeway Country Club to the Board of Legislators, or help the city purchase the club, which, in this reporter’s opinion, lead the audience to believe the City of White Plains had officially turned county help down.

Mr. Ryan, in that 2010 meeting which took place October 12, 2010 at Ridgeway School, told the gathering, according to the WPCNR report,

Ryan reminisced that in 2009, he had urged the county to “model this out to see if it made any sense to add it to the county’s golf courses.” He said the county should revisit it, but cautioned, “Clearly the county is not in the (financial) position.”

(To read the WPCNR Report of that October 12, 2010 meeting, go to

http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article8309.html

Asked about this unclear situation, Karen Pasquale Senior Advisor to Mayor Roach in a statement to WPCNR, wrote “The county has never approached the city about this. Whether they approached Ridgeway is something you would need to ask them directly.”

The HUD Settlement, FASNY wishy-washy positions, and Mr. Ryan’s willingness to cut expenses were Dr. Pagan’s key attacks.

On the Playland management situation, Pagan criticised Ryan for approving a lease with a children’s museum before responses to RFPs had been vetted and finalist(s) picked. Ryan said the childrens museum had been in the original Request for Proposal. Ryan, in one of the few commitments either candidate made Tuesday night, said Playland would be preserved and functional under any new finalist the County selections. Ryan is Chair of the Board of Legislators Recreation & Parks Committee.

Ryan at least four times cited his long experience as Chair of the Board of Legislators—and articulated in detail the complexities involved in shoot-from-the-hip budget cutting and policy making. His deft verbal juggling and jousting gave the impression of careful consideration and maturity in dealing with the issues with the audience not really knowing exactly what he would do on the issues.