Entertainment Magazine: Celebrities: Stephanie Block

Stephanie Block brings a beautiful marriage everywhere she performs

By: LynnMarie

Stephanie J. Block, the game leading lady who stepped into the tap shoes of Sutton Foster in Anything Goes in fall 2011, when Foster was filming a TV pilot, will permanently take over the role of Reno Sweeney on March 15th.  

Block played Reno - an evangelist-nightcub singer in the musical that won the Tony Award as Best Revival.  Anything Goes, the musical comedy set aboard a transatlantic cruise ship, is a revision of the 1934 Broadway musical that had music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

Besides returning to Broadway in Anything Goes this spring, Block is appearing in Do You Hear The People Sing (slated for a March 23rd date at American Airlines Center; Dallas, TX)  

Stephanie J. Block most recently starred as Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES. She is best known for her portrayal of Elphaba in the Broadway company of WICKED. She is also known for her roles in Lynn Nottages’s BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK at Second Stage, 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Drama Desk Nomination), THE PIRATE QUEEN and THE BOY FROM OZ. Regional credits include, FUNNY GIRL, CRAZY FOR YOU, OLIVER, James Joyce’s THE DEAD, TRIUMPH OF LOVE, THE GRASS HARP, SOUTH PACIFIC, and WILL ROGER’S FOLLIES. She has sung with numerous US symphony orchestras. Her voice can be heard on several recordings including her solo album, This Place I Know. She is thrilled to be a part of this incredible company and thanks them for welcoming her “aboard the SS American”. www.stephaniejblock.com

This event showcases music of two of the worlds most prolific writers of musical theatre, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schnberg, in an epic-size Broadway style concert seldom seen in an arena setting. The arena spectacular show is presented on the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables held at London's famous 02 arena.

The concert features mostly music from Les Miserables and Miss Saigon.  Block's relationship with the writers dates back to her early broadway days.  "It was such an opportunity to work with Alain and Claude-Michel on Pirate Queen (she portrayed Grace O'Malley) and that's how our relationship began, explains Block."  Unfortunately, Pirate Queen did not have the life we had hoped it would but through working on that piece I've become very close with them.  

As we grow up Les Miserables and Miss Saigon are two scores you can't get out of your head.  Those shows are still running universally because of the show's creators.  Alain and Claude-Michel created musical theater that is undeniable."

"This broadway event coming to Dallas is on a whole new level, Block tells Entertainment Magazine.   As a broadway artist we are used to a small intimate theater of 900 to say 1700  people, Block explains."  This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to see an event of this magnitude in an arena setting, it's really going to be dynamic and exciting."  

The headlining cast not only includes Block, but such broadway greats as Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Peter Lockyer and Marie Zamora.  Do You Hear the People Sing also features the Dallas POPS Orchestra, 100 plus person chorus led by members of the Turtle Creek Chorale.  

Block made her Broadway debut as Liza Minnelli opposite the Peter Allen of Hugh Jackman. I had to ask Block of her experience in working with Jackman.  "He's everything you expected, explains Block." 

It was a dream come true for me and I didn't expect my broadway debut to be "The Boy From Oz." Jackman is beautiful inside and out.  He's generous and his work ethic would set the tone for all of us.  Everyone in the cast wanted to make him proud.  We are very lucky to have a man like him in the broadway community."  

Block, who earned a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her most recent Broadway outing in 9 to 5:  The Musical, told Entertainment Magazine this week that she enjoyed performing in the musical 9 to 5 at the helm of Dolly Parton and although critics were harsh on the musical, it was fun and they weren't trying to change the world they just wanted to make you feel good when you left the theater, and that cast/musical accompolished that

If you are visiting the New York area visit telecharge.com/ag or roundabouttheatre.org for Anything Goes tickets and for the Dallas event visit  www.americanairlinescenter.com for the March 23rd event of Do You Hear the People Sing.  For more information on Stephanie J. Block visit her website at www.stephaniejblock.com.