100 Years of Broadway Program Book

NEIL BERG

(COMPOSER/LYRICIST/PRODUCER)

Neil is the composer/co-lyricist, along with Pulitzer Prize/TONY-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, of the award-winning new musical The 12, currently playing its pre-Broadway tryout to much acclaim at the Goodspeed Opera House, directed by TONY award winning Director John Doyle, and produced for Broadway by Cody Lassen and Joe Grano. The 12 previously ran at The Denver Center to unanimous rave reviews and won the 2015 HENRY Award for best new play or musical.

Neil is currently in development as the composer of My Cousin Vinny, a new musical based on the iconic movie, with book/lyrics by original screenwriter Dale Launer.

Neil has two new commissioned musicals opening 2024, The Sabbath Girl at the Penguin Repertory Theatre (directed by Joe Brancato), and How My Grandparents Met at The NJ Rep Theater, both written with playwright/book writer/co-lyricist Cary Gitter.

As a producer, Neil is the creator and co-producer, along with his producing partner Adam Friedson, of Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway and 50 Years of Rock & Roll, which continues to be one of the top Broadway touring concerts in the United States, playing over 100 shows a year for the past sixteen years. You can find a current schedule at www.neilberg.com.

As owner of Leftfield Productions, Inc., an entertainment Company based in Nyack, NY, Neil has produced over a thousand Broadway concerts worldwide with such legends as Michael Crawford, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen, Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Rita Moreno, Donna McKechnie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Liz Callaway, Alice Ripley, Stephanie Block, Capathia Jenkins and many others.

Neil is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, and can be reached at NeilBerg.com

Neil is married to actress Rita Harvey and dedicates everything to her and their son, Lucas David Berg.

CARTER CALVERT

Often reviewed for her six-star smoldering voice, Carter is best known for originating her role in the Tony®-nominated Broadway musical It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, alongside Grammy® winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter. She is featured on the cast recording and starred in the show’s national tour. Other tours include the title role in Always Patsy Cline opposite Sally Struthers, the featured role of “Grizabella” in the Broadway national touring company of Cats. the European tour of Smokey Joe’s Café, and an international tour of Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway.

She’s received accolades for her off-Broadway work in Forbidden Broadway: Comes Out Swinging and The Thing About Men. She has originated World Premiere roles in the musicals Forbidden Vegas, Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers and the Great American Trailer Park Musical. Her regional credits include IANBTB at Denver Center Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Crossroads Theatre Company, New Victory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theater; Annie Get Your Gun [Title Role], Evita [Title Role] at Algonquin Arts, Sunday in the Park with George at Arena Stage, Unsung Cole (And Classics Too) and A Grand Night for Singing at Cleveland Playhouse; Honky Tonk Angels at Cincinnati Playhouse at the Park; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Theatre By The Sea; Kiss Me Kate at Theatre Under The Stars; and Pump Boys and Dinettes in Branson, Missouri. Carter has opened for iconic performers including Liza Minnelli, Marilyn McCoo, Chubby Checker and The Temptations. Her television credits include “The David Letterman Show,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” and “The Today Show.” She is an accomplished actress, as well as a popular voice-over artist. She’s been featured in numerous national television and radio commercials. While still in high school, Downbeat Magazine named Carter “Best Female Jazz Vocalist” and Starsong Records has hailed her as “Best Female Vocalist of the Year.” Ms. Calvert has been touring the globe as a headliner on prestigious cruise lines as well headlining in clubs and theaters across the country with her solo shows, VIVA LA DIVA! Celebrating the DIVAS of Broadway, Pop, Country and R&B, Natural Woman: A Carole King Celebration & Walkin’ After Midnight: A Tribute to Patsy Cline. As a recording artist, Carter Calvert and the Roger Cohen Trio debuted at number 13 on the CMJ jazz charts (beating out Paul McCartney!). Her latest CD, It’s A Man’s World, debuted in the top 10 receiving rave reviews as is available on iTunes. Carter is proud mother of her beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Ella, and proud wife to her handsomely talented drummer-husband, Roger Cohen.

DANNY ZOLLI

Although Danny is renowned around the globe as vocal powerhouse with an enormous vocal range and the ability to sing everything from Broadway to razor-sharp Rock & Roll, Danny is probably best known for his monumental number of performances, and record breaking number of productions as Jesus, Judas, and Annas in more than 26 productions of Jesus Christ Superstar throughout the world.

On Broadway, the 20th Anniversary National Tour, as well as the 25th Anniversary North American Resurrection Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Irene Cara, Syreeta Wright & Dennis DeYoung, Danny not only won audience, and critical acclaim for his menacing portrayal of The High Priest Annas, but also for his poignant work in understudying and frequently performing the roles of both Jesus and Judas. Danny also starred as Jesus in the 30th Anniversary concert of Jesus Christ Superstar, along side original JCSS Broadway & film stars Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, Barry Dennen as Pontius Pilate, and lyricist Sir Tim Rice.

As Judas Iscariot, Danny starred in the most recent Broadway Tour, the first two major European touring productions of the Webber/Rice classic, as well as at The Actors Playhouse in Miami and at Austin’s Musical Theater in Texas. As Jesus, Danny starred in heralded productions at New Hampshire’s Palace Theater, West Virginia’s Public Theater, Virginia’s Potomac State Theater, as well as in multiple productions and concerts with A2Z Theatrical Productions of Rhode Island and New York’s Leftfield Productions.

Some of his many regional theater credits include playing Che’ in Evita, the title role in Candide, Tobias in Sweeney Todd, Danny in Baby, the quirky F/X Fitzterwald in the Broadway bound production of Starmites, as well as starring as Joseph in the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center’s critically acclaimed production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, for which Danny received a Barrymore Award nomination for Best Actor. He starred as The Arbiter in both the recent BC/EFA concerts of Chess at the John Houseman Theater in New York City, as well as the concert production mounted by New York’s Leftfield and Norse Productions. As a highly sought after concert performer worldwide, Danny has had the privilege of performing for three American Presidents, The Papal Cardinal Delegation form Rome, has shared the stage with such luminaries as Three Tenor’s opera legend Jose’ Carreras, The Gypsy Kings, Sir Cliff Richard, Peter Frampton, Diana Ross, Phoebe Snow, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Linda Eder, Liz Callaway, Rita Moreno, Trisha Yearwood, Hal Holbrook, BeBe Wynans, Betty Buckley, Felix Cavalari (The Rascals), Leslie West (Mountain), Zach Starky (son of Ringo Starr), and starred as the principal male soloist in the rock concert extravaganza The British Rock Symphony. Also over the last 9 years Danny has starred, and lent his incredible rock sensibilities and voice as one of the lead singers of the orchestral rock extravaganza The World Rock Symphony Orchestra where he shared the stage with rock luminaries from around the world. Still performing a full concert and performance schedule, won’t you please visit www.dannyzolli. com to learn more about Danny’s Shows, his new or previous solo albums, or just to learn more about Danny’s upcoming projects.

RITA HARVEY

Rita performed the role of Hodel in the Broadway revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” directed by David Leveaux and starring Alfred Molina, Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O’Donell. After covering the two older daughters, she took over the role of Hodel and can be seen in the role at the Lincoln Center Archives.

She made her Broadway debut performing the role of Christine Daae in “The Phantom of the Opera” after two and a half years in the role with the national touring company.

Rita created the role of Lady Edith in the Off-Broadway hit musical “The Prince and The Pauper” at the Lambs theatre. Also Off-Broadway, Rita has appeared as Ethel Chicester in “Peg O’ My Heart” at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Katrrin Binder in “Flirtation” at the Marvel Rep., and Diva in Terrance McNally’s “Plesir D’more” at 59E59 Theatre. Rita also created the role of Elizabeth in the highly-acclaimed concept CD/DVD of “FrankensteinThe Musical” available at Amazon.com.

Favorite regional productions include Helen in “Fun Home” (White Plains Performing Arts Center and Theatersquared), Diana in “Next to Normal” (Theatersquared), Ethel McCormick in “Footloose” (The Fulton Theater), Martha Cratchitt in “Tim And Scrooge” (Westchester Broadway Theater), Laurey in “Oklahoma” and Johanna in “Sweeney Todd” (both at Marriot’s Lincolnshire Theater), Julie Jordan in “Carousel,” Christine in Maurey Yeston’s “Phantom,” Amaila in “She Loves Me,” Fiona in “Brigadoon,” Ann Collier in “1940’s Radio Hour,” Katrin in “I Remember Mamma,” and Rose in “Street Scene”.

Rita majored in Opera Performance at Simpson College and then received her master’s degree at Northwestern University.

Favorite opera roles include Susanna in “Le Nozze Di Figaro,” Adele in “Die Fledermaus,” Laurie in “The Tender Land,” and Monica in “The Medium”.

Rita is the principle soprano in “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway,” which was voted the number one touring concert in the country. She has performed in concert with such stars as Rob Evan, Liz Calloway, Betty Buckley, Ben Vereen, Craig Schulman, Lillias White, Rita Moreno, and Michael Crawford.

She has performed with many symphonies, including the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (with Maestro Stuart Malina), the Hershey Symphony, the Westfeld Symphony, the Rockford Symphony and the Syracuse Symphony.

Her two solo cabarets, “I Know These Things” and “Letting Go,” played to rave reviews, and a recording of “Letting Go” is available on CDBaby.com. Her studio CD, “Wishing...,” is available on CDBaby.com and iTunes.

Her one-woman show, “Heart Like a Wheel: The Music of Linda Ronstadt,” has been booking around the New York area and will soon be seen at the Triad Theatre in NYC.

Rita is married to Broadway composer Neil Berg. They have a super-cool, baseball playing, 16-year-old son, Lucas Berg.

Check out ritaharvey.com for performance and concert updates.

ROB EVAN

Rob Evan is an accomplished actor, singer and producer with 30 years of professional experience in the entertainment industry. During the span of his diverse career, he has performed in 10 leading roles on the New York Stage including the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde, playing the title roles for three years and over 1,000 performances worldwide. His rendition of “This Is the Moment” has been performed at numerous prestigious events including the 2001 Inaugural Gala for President George W. Bush, the Millennium Independence Day US Naval Revue aboard the USS JFK for President Clinton, the Millennium World Forum Conference with guest speaker Mikhail Gorbachev, the 1998 Goodwill Games, the New York City Mayor’s Inaugural Gala, the 1998 and 1999 NY Yankees World Series Celebration at City Hall, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Telecast, the Today Show, and Monday Night Football.

Most recently, Rob co-created, produced, directed and starred in his classical rock fusion project ROCKTOPIA, which he filmed for PBS in Budapest and brought to New York’s iconic Broadway Theatre in the spring of 2018. He also appeared on Broadway as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Kerchak in Disney’s Tarzan, “The Dentist” in Little Shop of Horrors, and Count von Krolock in Jim Steinman’s Dance of the Vampires. Off-Broadway, Rob created the roles of The Dancin’ Kid in Johnny Guitar and the hero Miles Hendon in Neil Berg’s The Prince and the Pauper.

As a vocalist and recording artist, Rob is a former member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He can be heard on TSO’s The Lost Christmas (Certified Double Platinum - Lava/Atlantic) and their latest release, Nightcastle, which debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Top 100 (currently certified Platinum - Atlantic Records).

He has played in arenas across the country for up to 20,000 people daily. Rob has toured Europe and the US with TSO as Beethoven in their rock opera, Beethoven’s Last Night. Rob has opened for and performed with Sir Elton John, Trisha Yearwood, Linda Eder, Phil Collins, REM, Bonnie Tyler, John Cougar Mellencamp, Joe Walsh, Usher and Michael Crawford, among others. He was also lead vocalist for Jim Steinman’s The Dream Engine and released the debut album for his new progressive rock band, Menrva Realm.

In concert, Rob has been a featured soloist for many leading symphonies across the nation, including recent appearances in San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Chicago, Alabama, and Indianapolis as well as recent and upcoming appearances in Bravo Broadway’s Broadway Rocks with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Cleveland, Minnesota, Utah, West Virginia, National, Houston, Dayton, Maryland, Taipei and New Jersey Symphonies. He conceived, co-created and starred The Rock Tenor, which garnered rave reviews in Philadelphia at The Wilma Theater and is currently booking around the US. Rob’s position as Creative Director at Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment enabled him to be the one of the first Broadway performers to play Havana, Cuba in the last 50 years with the concert entitled, Broadway Ambassadors. He also co-created (with Grammy winner and Broadway composer Jason Howland), directed and produced BROADWAY ROX, which continues to tour internationally for Nederlander WWE. Rob is also a founding member of Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway.

www.robevan-official.com

www.rocktopia.com

ABRAHAM SAENZ

BASSIST

An amazing bassist of Peruvian decent, Abraham Saenz began his career in NY’s specialized high school for the arts (LaGuardia H.S. for the Performing Arts). He furthered his studies in schools like Harlem School of the Arts for jazz and Harbor Conservatory for Latin music in which Abraham was awarded full scholarships for. He began playing with local salsa bands at the age of 16. Eventually, at 17, Abraham joined Juan Carlos Formell’s changui quartet where Abraham began extensive studies of Cuban music.

With only a couple of years experience under his belt, he managed to earn a spot in the premiere salsa record label band, the RMM orchestra under the direction of Isidro Infante. (The RMM orchestra was to the Latin scene as the Funk Brothers were to Motown.) Being the youngest member of this band gave him the opportunity to learn from the great Isidro Infante and travel the world. With the RMM orchestra he collaborated in the Latin Grammy award winning concert for Best Salsa Performance, “Celia and Friends: A Night Of Salsa.”

Abraham has graced the main stage at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre playing for Pablo Cabrera’s musical ‘’Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe?” and Carmen Rivera’s “La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny.” He has recorded, performed, and collaborated with musical figures such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Alvaro Torres, Tito Nieves, DLG, Lisette Melendez, Isidro Infante, and many more. He has also performed in various festivals in the United States, Peru, Australia, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, Italy, and in the Caribbean Islands, such as the Tri-C Jazz Festival, El Festival National del Callao, Kalalu Festival of St. Lucia, La Feria de Cali and the Bacardi Sydney Festival among others.

Currently, Abraham can be seen as a member of such musical groups and artists as Jimmy Sabater Jr. y Los Salseros del Hudson, Kevin Ceballo, Groupo Caribe, and the world’s best charranga band, Orquesta Broadway, in some of the most famous venues in New York City.

ROGER COHEN

DRUMS/PERCUSSION

Roger was the percussionist for ‘Rocktopia’ on Broadway. where he performed with Pat Monahan (Train), Dee Snyder (Twisted Sister) and Robin Zander (Cheap Trick).

Most recently, Roger was working on Sheryl Crow’s new Broadway-bound show, ‘Diner’. Other credits include Martin Short, Rita Moreno, Sally Struthers, Audra McDonald, Sir Cliff Richard, Kathy Lee Gifford and Dom DeLouise.

Roger is a founding member of the hard rock band Cruel Season. Their latest release is titled ‘Breathe’ (Dark Star/SONY Music).

Roger is married to performer Carter Calvert. Their CD, “Carter Calvert & The Roger Cohen Trio,” debuted at #13 on the CMJ National Jazz charts. It garnered rave reviews and received national radio play. The CD is available on CDBaby and iTunes.

Another role that is very important to him is his role as mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program (BBBS.org).

Modern Drummer Magazine: “Roger’s playing reveals an admirable combination of power, musical creativity and restraint.”

The Barbados Advocate: “It would be unforgivable to end this review without mentioning the disciplined drumming skills of Roger Cohen, whose range and rhythm not only bring out the best in vocals, but provide a richly satisfying percussion component.”

Danny Gottlieb (Pat Metheny): “... one of the most original and musical solos I’ve heard in years!”

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