Broadway icon Terrence Mann comes to St. Louis in the fall to play the part of King Triton in Variety Theatre’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid for six shows-October 18-21, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.
A three-time Tony nominee, Terry was the original Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, the original Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, and the original Beast in Beauty and the Beast. He also originated the role of Chauvelin in The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Man in the Yellow Suit in Tuck Everlasting. His most recent Tony nomination was for his portrayal of King Charlemagne in Pippin, which also earned him the Outer Critics Circle Award.
Last spring, Terry starred as Jerry Springer in The New Group New York premiere of Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Signature Theatre. Other Broadway credits include The Addams Family (Mal Bienekie), Lennon (Ensemble), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank ‘N Furter),Getting Away with Murder (Greg), A Christmas Carol (Scrooge), Rags (Saul), Barnum (Ringmaster), and Jerome Robbins Broadway (Narrator).
Terry’s credits also include a wide range of film and TV work. Currently, he can be seen as arch-villain Mr. Whispers on the Netflix series “Sense8.” He appeared as Bob on the Sci-Fi Channel’s series “The Dresden Files.”
Additional credits include features CRITTERS, A CHORUS LINE, BIG TOP PEE-WEE, and SOLAR BABIES and TV shows; ”Sleepy Hollow,” “Instinct,” “Law and Order,” “Mrs. Santa Claus,” “American Revolution,” and “One Life to Live.”.
Terry’s theatre credits also include work as a director, composer, professor and artistic director. He is the Director/Composer for the musical adaptation on Romeo and Juliet currently in development. He was the founding Artistic Director of the Carolina Arts Festival and currently serves as the endowed chair of Musical Theatre at Western Carolina University. In addition, he is the Artistic Director of the Connecticut Repertory Theater’s Nutmeg Summer Theater Festival. He and his wife Charlotte d’Amboise are co-artistic directors of the Triple Arts Musical Theatre intensive for young performers at Western Carolina University.
Now in its 10th year, Variety Theatre is the country’s only production of its kind. Featuring an inclusive Children’s Ensemble performing alongside a professional adult cast, this Broadway classic is a must-see event. In 2018, Variety Theatre was awarded the “Special Award for a Body of Work” by the St. Louis Theater Circle, an honor that is not an annual award, but is only presented when it is felt it is truly deserved.
“But one theater here defies a particularly persistent stereotype: the assumption that only able-bodied people can perform in musical theater. In recognition of their eye-opening, audience delighting productions, we are very happy to present our special award for a body of work to Variety Theatre”. Judith Newmark, Post-Dispatch
Yet again under the direction of Tony Award nominee, Lara Teeter, Variety’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid will feature Variety children with disabilities in the children’s ensemble, along with St Louis’ most talented children, as well as Adult Actors’ Equity Association performers.
The 2018 cast of Disney’s The Little Mermaid will include 16 children with a disability, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down’s syndrome, autism, brittle bone disease, muscular dystrophy, hearing impairment, and blindness. They will all be singing and dancing their way into your heart. Behind the scenes, 10 children with disabilities including cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, hearing loss and neuro-muscular disorder, will be working as interns with the designers and directors.
About Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis
Variety empowers children with physical and developmental disabilities, also referred to as children with special needs, and improves their quality of life. Our programs highlight ability rather than disability. This holistic approach gives access to critical medical equipment and therapies, along with innovative Camp and Performing Arts programs, which provide opportunities for recreation, socialization, and artistic expression. Children gain or maintain independence, boost socialization among their friends and family, demonstrate belief in themselves, and increase skills they need to engage their world as fully as possible. www.varietystl.org
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.