Plane Crazy now has a PHOTO CALL profile on Playbill.com. Check out the article since they have included publicity photos of Faith (Allison Spratt), Janet (Jodie Langel), Holly (Hollie Howard) and Brett (Rick Todd Adams), and they look great

According to this article in Playbill:

PHOTO CALL: New Musical Plane Crazy Gets Ready for Lift-Off at NYMF

By Morgan Allen
31 Aug 2005

Plane Crazy -- a new musical by Suzy Conn -- is currently in rehearsals for its debut as part of the upcoming New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The new piece, which features direction by Jamibeth Margolis, "explores clashing values in an engaging story that follows two young [airline stewards] who are learning about love and life in the high-flying airline business circa 1965", according to press materials.

At left and below, cast members Jodie Langel, Allison Spratt, Hollie Howard and Richard Todd Adams are seen in promotional photos for the production.

Plane Crazy runs Sept. 15 at 8 pm; Sept. 17 at 4:30 & 8 pm; Sept. 19 at 4:30 pm; Sept. 21 at 1 pm; Sept. 23 at 4:30 pm; Sept. 24 at 4:30 pm; and Sept. 25 at 1 pm at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre.

All Photos by Ben Strothmann.

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Dear Diary,

Today was the official NYMF press conference! How exciting! And to top it off my fabulous husband flew in last night so he was able to attend as well!

Our first call was 10:15 am to participate in filming of a documentary for NYMF. The whole cast was there, looking fabulous, decked out in Plane Crazy t-shirts and black skirts for the gals and black pants for the guys! The cast was filmed at Dodgers Stages on the Altar Boyz Stage. First, Randy, our choreographer, re-spaced the 3-minute Plane Crazy number to fit the stage and then they ran it and filmed it a couple of times! Very cool.

Our next call was at 3:45 pm for sound check and walk through with the other shows and Kris Stewart and Isaac Horowitz from NYMF. You could feel the electricity building in the room. My hubbie and I brought down the Plane Crazy press bags (awesome Plane Crazy totes filled with important info) and gave them to Adriana from Shaffer-Coyle to distribute to the press. The press filed in around 4:30pm. I watched as they got their Plane Crazy bags, and started pulling out the poster and ooohing and ahhhing. Way to go to our graphic designer Michael Karst!

Then Kris Stewart welcomed everyone and introduced Isaac who then introduced all the numbers. Plane Crazy kicked off the whole thing! It was so cool to hear Isaac announce my name in front of the press. Then the cast and Seth, our musical director, totally nailed the Plane Crazy number. They were so polished. Great applause, and I must confess a fair bit of hooting and hollering from the Plane Crazy supporter corner!

Then the other shows did their numbers -- The Ballad of Bonny and Clyde, The Mistress Cycle, Nerds, No Boundaries, The Big Time and an improv musical featuring the music of Brian Lowdermilk and lyrics of Kait Kerrigan. It was great -- the Festival is going to be amazing!

After the show part was over we went and mingled with the press, had our picture taken by Broadwayworld.com and I got interviewed by TheaterMania and Broadway.com!

Thanks to everyone who made Plane Crazy a smash at the press conference!
And thanks to NYMF!

Back to rehearsals tomorrow!

Photograph by Ben Strothmann. Ben Strothmann has been photographing portraits and live theatre for 10 years. Since building his first darkroom in his hometown of Milwaukee WI, his portrait studio now looks out over Manhattan where he shoots headshots for actors and cd covers for musicians. Born to a famous cheesecake lady (Suzy Strothmann of Suzy's Cream Cheesecakes), Ben is also an actor and pianist. Currently he lives in Astoria and studies guitar and Icelandic. See www.benstrothmann.com for more info.

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Individual tickets for Plane Crazy are now on sale to the public!

To get your tickets, click on this link to TheaterMania, and order online. Or, you can call Theatermania at (212) 352-3101 and ask for tickets to "Plane Crazy".

DATES
Thursday September 15 at 8:00 pm
Saturday September 17 at 4:30 pm and 8:00 pm
Monday September 19 at 4:30 pm
Wednesday September 21 at 1:00 pm
Friday September 23 at 4:30 pm
Saturday September 24 at 4:30 pm
Sunday September 25 at 1:00 pm

VENUE
The Beckett
410 West 42nd Street
South side of West 42nd Street
Between 9th & Dyer Avenues

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Virgin Atlantic has launched a campaign where they talk about "Jetrosexuals"...and reminisce about a time that is awfully familiar to me...

Maybe we should launch Venus Airlines as a real carrier. Hands up everyone who wants to fly like it's the '60s again...

Here's some of the Virgin copy: I LOVE IT...

Start at the golden dawn of commercial air travel: a time when the airplane was a majestic luxury ship that sailed through clouds, and when passengers dressed up and swilled cocktails on their way to exploring a newly accessible world. These fortunate few were the "jetsetters" of their day, and their progeny would be the jetrosexuals of a later age. They came from fast paced industries such as arts and entertainment, high technology, fashion and finance. And this new generation understood the need to leave terra firma behind each day in order to move business and culture forward. They embraced the challenge of travel. However, they did not wish to have their spirits (and other body parts) crushed in the process. They wanted and demanded a flying experience that combined the luxury and glamour of the jet set days with modern conveniences and innovative approaches.

1. Do you fly out of the country for business at least 3 times a year?
2. Do you know how to "work the airport"? (In other words, you aren't the person who is fumbling for things and holding up the security line?)
3. Do you speak some basic phrases in at least 3 different languages?
4. Do you ever worry that your passport will have too many stamps?
5. Do you have favorite hotels/restaurants in London, LA, NY, Milan, Paris, and Hong Kong?
6. Can you recall the last time you checked your luggage?
7. Do you know which of your shoes will set off the metal detector at the airport, and which ones will not?
8. Do you have a favorite airport?

(Did you answer yes to at least 5 of the above questions? You are a jetrosexual. Don't be alarmed.)

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Plane Crazy is one of only THREE Next Link shows chosen to perform at The New York Musical Theatre Festival's official press conference on Tuesday August 30 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. This event, hosted by NYMF Executive Director Kris Stewart, is the big kick-off to the 2005 Festival.

There will be also be three invited shows and one commissioned show featured at the press conference.

The press conference will take place at Dodger Stages on 350 West 50th Street, where Altar Boyz is currently playing.

Plane Crazy will be performing a three-minute excerpt from the opening number of the show, and you guessed it, it's called "Plane Crazy"...

Kendra Bator, Associate Producer of Plane Crazy says, "...it is an honor to be one of only three Next Link shows profiled at the NYMF Press Conference. Our entire cast and creative team are thrilled to be a featured part of the event. It's a wonderful way to continue to share Plane Crazy with a broader audience and to get people humming Suzy's tunes!"

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People are loving our "Air Crew get into Plane Crazy for FREE" promotion. It got picked up today on Broadwayworld.com: According to this article on Broadwayworld.com:

Plane Crazy, the new musical comedy set during the swinging '60s Jet Age, has announced that all air crew can gain free admission to the show by wearing their uniform or wings. The offer applies to both current and former airline employees, and includes flight attendants and pilots.

The show will run at the Beckett Theatre (at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street) from September 15th through 25th as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Presented by NYMF and Michael Rubinoff in association with Kendra Bator, the show will feature book, music and lyrics by Suzy Conn. Directed by Jamibeth Margolis, Plane Crazy will be choreographed by Randy Slovacek and feature musical direction by Seth Weinstein. It stars Jodie Langel (Les Miserables) as Janet Jones, Allison Spratt (Good Vibrations) as Faith Hope, Hollie Howard as Holly Banks, Richard Todd Adams as Brett Mansford, Kevin Kraft as Clive Miller, William Broderick as Sam Crenshaw and Christopher Guilmet as Larry Stevens.

And on Saturday Cory posted it on BoingBoing (thanks Cory!):

Free admission to Plane Crazy musical in NYC for flight crews
I've blogged before about Plane Crazy, my friend Suzy Conn's new musical about 1960s airline stewardesses and the sexual revolution, currently playing at the New York Musical Festival in Manhattan.

The show's been getting great reviews in places like Billboard, and now the producers have a new wrinkle: free admission for flight attendants who turn up in uniform.

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A couple of days ago, my husband was on an American Airlines flight (LAX to JFK) and, as usual, he was talking about the show, Plane Crazy.

As he told a group of flight attendants that the show was opening September 15 in New York (The Beckett, Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th) they got really excited.

One commented, "Finally, someone is telling OUR story..."

So, we thought, since Plane Crazy is really a loving tribute to flight attendants everywhere, why not let all flight attendants attend the show for free? While we're at it, why don't we let the captains in as well? IN FACT, WHY NOT LET ALL AIR CREW ATTEND PLANE CRAZY FOR FREE?

Yep, that's right, all air crew (current and former) get into the show for free...they just have to wear their uniform or wings to the show. For free air crew passes to the show, e-mail Plane Crazy's producer, Michael Rubinoff, at mrubinoff@mrubinoff.com (we have to subject this offer to availability just in case it gets out of control...thanks for understanding).

Here are the show dates:

Thursday September 15 at 8:00 pm
Saturday September 17 at 4:30 pm and 8:00 pm
Monday September 19 at 4:30 pm
Wednesday September 21 at 1:00 pm
Friday September 23 at 4:30 pm
Saturday September 24 at 4:30 pm
Sunday September 25 at 1:00 pm

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Wowee...Plane Crazy with its own posting on Playbill. I don't know what to say...this is so exciting.

So, according to this article in Playbill:

Coffee, Tea or Do Re Mi? Plane Crazy, New Musical About '60s Stewardesses, Takes Off in NYMF Sept. 15-25
By Kenneth Jones
18 Aug 2005

The high-flying good old days -- when flight attendants were called stewardesses and galley meals were made to order -- soar again with Plane Crazy, the new musical about a time "when stews were sexy and the world was sexist."

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Michael Rubinoff, in association with Kendra Bator, present the U.S. premiere of Suzy Conn's musical comedy, Sept. 15-25 for eight performances at The Beckett at Theatre Row.

Plane Crazy features book, music and lyrics by Conn, direction by Jamibeth Margolis, choreography by Randy Slovacek and musical direction by Seth Weinstein.

The musical is "set against the backdrop and glamour of the swinging '60s jet age -- the intersection between the dawn of transatlantic airline travel, the introduction of the Pill, the genesis of the modern Feminist Movement, and the Golden Age of Advertising -- a time in history when stewardesses represented an exclusive sorority of women with the freedom to choose their careers and their sexual partners," according to production notes.

Plane Crazy follows the adventures of two young Venus Airlines stews, Faith Hope and Janet Jones, "as they learn about love and life in the high-flying airline business, circa 1965."

Faith (played by Allison Spratt, of Good Vibrations) is billed as "a naive, virginal Mid-western gal looking for Mr. Right," while Janet (played by Jodie Langel, once of Les Miserables) is a randy, cynical New Yorker who is just looking for a good time."

Plane Crazy also features Hollie Howard as Holly Banks, Richard Todd Adams as Brett Mansford, Kevin Kraft as Clive Miller, William Broderick as Sam Crenshaw and Christopher Guilmet as Larry Stevens.

The ensemble includes Barbara Helms, Craig Laurie, Eric Jon Mahlum, Sarah Mugavero, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Dana Saltzman, Ryland Shelton and Nicky Venditti.

The design team for Plane Crazy is Jason Courson (scenic design), Elizabeth Payne (costume design), Jesse Belsky (lighting design) and Tony Angelini (sound design).

Lyricist-librettist-composer Conn divides her time between Toronto, New York, and Chicago, where she is enrolled in the Theatre Building Chicago, Musical Theatre Writer's Workshop. She's in the workshop process with a second musical, The Tale of Pigling Bland (co-written with Mitchell Kitz), "a classic coming of age pig story based on the Beatrix Potter story of the same name."

Like all NYMF shows, Plane Crazy runs in repertory at various times. The eight performances at The Beckett at Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd Street, are Sept. 15 at 8 PM, Sept. 17 at 4:30 PM and 8 PM, Sept. 19 at 4:30 PM, Sept. 21 at 1 PM, Sept. 23 at 4:30 PM, Sept. 24 at 4:30 PM, Sept. 25 at 1 PM.

Tickets are $15 each and available through (www.TheaterMania.com), or by calling (212) 352-3101 or visiting www.nymf.org.

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Attention, attention please...

In a wonderful bit of recursive marketing, the airline featured in Plane Crazy, the new musical comedy debuting at the New York Musical Festival, now has its own Web site.

The name of the airline is Venus Airlines, and it is run by Mr. Crenshaw (but you can call him Sam).

William Broderick plays Sam "Silver Fox" Crenshaw, as he is known among the stews (stewardesses) who have worked for him. As President and Founder of Venus Airlines he runs his airline with military precision. This of course reflects his history as a World War 2 flyer...no, no...World War 2 hero (yes, that's much better).

His wife, Trixie Crenshaw, also runs a tight ship in their family home in Connecticut where she reigns as esteemed social butterfly and legendary party thrower.

So, what is it like to fly Venus Airlines?

From its wildly-colored jets, adorned with a rainbow of stew legs, to the exclusive Venus offer of membership in their Mile High Club, Venus is an airline unlike any other!

Every year, thousands of perky young women fight tooth and manicured fingernail for the most glamorous job in the world: Venus Airlines Stewardess!

All the stews who work for Venus Airlines are gorgeous, groovy young ladies, meticulously groomed and ready to provide a Venus flyer with either a smile, a martini, or two eggs over easy, at a moments notice!

So go ahead, Fly the Sexy Skies and check out venusairlines.com.

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Plane Crazy will hit the stage at The Beckett, Theatre Row at 8 pm on September 15 with sixteen of the most talented, amazing (and gorgeous) performers in New York City!

Plane Crazy will star Allison Spratt as Faith Hope, and Jodie Langel as Janet Jones, the two young stews who learn about love and life in the high-flying airline business in 1965.

Plane Crazy will also feature:

Hollie Howard as Holly Banks
Richard Todd Adams as Brett Mansford
Kevin Kraft as Clive Miller
William Broderick as Sam Crenshaw
Christopher Guilmet as Larry Stevens

The fabulous ensemble will be played by:

Barbara Helms, Craig Laurie, Eric John Mahlum, Sarah Mugavero, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Gina Philistine, Dana Saltzman, Ryland Shelton and Nicky Venditti.

Here's the lowdown on the cast...

CAST BIOGRAPHIES (Welcome Aboard):

ALLISON SPRATT (Faith). Broadway: Good Vibrations, Footloose. National Tours: Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde. New York: Footloose (Westchester), Mask (reading, Dir. Richard Maltby, Jr.).

JODIE LANGEL (Janet). Broadway: Les Miserables. National Tour: Cats, Les Miserables, Martin Guerre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

HOLLIE HOWARD (Holly). Broadway: Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, Annie Get Your Gun. National Tours: Fame.

RICHARD TODD ADAMS (Brett). National Tour: Phantom Of The Opera. New York: Little Fish (Second Stage), Listen To My Heart (Upstairs at Studio 54), Far From the Madding Crowd (NYMF). Regional: She Loves Me (Papermill Playhouse), Jekyll and Hyde (Seaside Music Theatre).

KEVIN KRAFT (Clive). Broadway: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Off-Broadway: Johnny Guitar, As You Like It (The Acting Company). Regional: Floyd Collins (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Master Harold and the Boys (St. Michael's Playhouse).

WILLIAM BRODERICK (Sam). New York: Far From the Madding Crowd (NYMF), Berlin (Theatre 315), Henry IV, Part One (Century Center). Regional: The Fantasticks (Stamford Center for the Arts), Jekyll & Hyde (Arvada Center for the Arts).

CHRISTOPHER GUILMET (Larry). New York: Have a Heart (Musicals Tonight), John Lennon's Gargoyle (NYTW). Regional: Camelot (Stages St. Louis), 1776 (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Vera Wilde (Edinburgh Fringe Festival).

BARBARA HELMS (Ensemble). Off-Broadway: The Watercoolers. New York: A Midsummer Nights Dream (Center Stage), Southern Discomfort (Neighborhood Playhouse). Regional: The Full Monty (Drury Lane, Chicago), Cabaret (Barn Theater), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Northshore Theater).

CRAIG LAURIE (Ensemble). National Tour: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Forbidden Hollywood, Miss Saigon. Regional: Forbidden Broadway (Gem Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mill Mountain Theatre), Cabaret (Barrington Stage).

ERIC JON MAHLUM (Ensemble). National Tours: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wizard of Oz. Regional: Titanic (The Fireside Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Opera Kansas), South Pacific (Summer Lights Playhouse).

SARA MUGAVERO (Ensemble). Theatre: Carousel (New Jersey Performing Arts Center), New Voices (Paper Mill Playhouse), Bernstein's Mass (Boston Conservatory), Nine (Boston Conservatory), City of Angels (Boston Conservatory).

KATHRYN MOWAT MURPHY (Ensemble, Assistant Choreographer). Broadway: Fosse. National Tours: Chicago, Fosse. Regional: A Chorus Line, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (Theater Under the Stars).

GINA PHILISTINE (Ensemble) Broadway: Bombay Dreams, Saturday Night Fever. National Tours: A Chorus Line, The Goodbye Girl. Regional: West Side Story, A Chorus Line.

DANA SALTZMAN (Ensemble). Theatre: Funny Girl, Showboat (Merry Go Round), The King and I (Cortland Rep), Gospel at Colonus (Ithaca).

RYLAND SHELTON (Ensemble). Theatre: The Winter's Tale (Looking Glass Theater), Martha and Me: A Musical (The Linhart Theatre, Fringe NYC), Caligula: A Glam Rock Opera (Zipper Theatre), New Stages at the York (The York Theatre).

NICKY VENDITTI (Ensemble). National Tours: Contact, Swing!, Holiday Celebration. Regional: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Tarrytown Music Hall), Fame (St. Patrick's Auditorium).

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Two Plane Crazy shows have been added due to popular demand!

Yes, you heard me right! Plane Crazy has added two performances in the New York Music Theatre Festival:

Monday September 19 at 4:30 pm
Saturday September 24 at 4:30 pm

Now you have two additional chances to see the Classic '60s Musical Comedy; two additional chances to learn to do "The Venus Flytrap", two additional chances to earn 100 free Air Miles on selected airlines, two additional chances to go back to a time When the Stews Were Sexy and The World Was Sexist!; and two additional chances to see Plane Crazy for only $15!

So get your tickets now before they sell out! For tickets call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or visit nymf.org

Here's the full eight-show schedule:

(All performances are at The Beckett, Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC)

Thursday September 15 at 8:00 pm
Saturday September 17 at 4:30 pm and 8:00 pm
Monday September 19 at 4:30 pm
Wednesday September 21 at 1:00 pm
Friday September 23 at 4:30 pm
Saturday September 24 at 4:30 pm
Sunday September 25 at 1:00 pm

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