Rita Gardner, who originated the role of The Girl in the long-running Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks, will salute the authors of that show in a concert titled Much More: The Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt Songbook on August 14 at the Cape May Playhouse in New Jersey.
Gardner, who introduced the songs “Soon it’s Gonna Rain,” “Much More,” and “They Were You,” went on to appear on Broadway in A Family Affair, Pal Joey, Ben Franklin In Paris, and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. She served as standby for Barbara Harris in the original run of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and created the role of Rosie in the 2006 musical The Wedding Singer.
Gardner’s most recent New York performance was in the Broadway Bound show at Feinsteins/54 Below in March 2017, performing a number by Tom Jones and Joe Thalken from their musical adaptation of Harold and Maude. Her most recent public appearance in New York was at the post-show recption for the 21,552nd and final performance of The Fantasticks in New York earlier this summer.
The Cape May Playhouse is located at 405 Lafayette Street in the resort community of Cape May, New Jersey. Tickets for the 8 PM Gardner concert cost $53 and can be ordered here.
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