The Golden Ticket Series
Join us for an unforgettable evening combining history and song. The Golden Ticket Series provides a unique insight into the private lives and working history of Broadway’s most famous composers and lyricists. Broadway legend Jack Viertel narrates the evening with a casual, yet profound combination of the personal and professional lives behind some of the greatest talents in music. A quartet of professional singers bring the narration to life, accompanied by an orchestra best suited for that particular composer.
The Golden Ticket Series has performed at various venues in the tri-state area and we look forward to bringing it to your organization soon!
Our performances honor composers such as:
Richard Rodgers with partners Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe
George and Ira Gershwin
Stephen Sondheim
The Music of Irving Berlin
The Golden Era of the American Musical: The 1960’s
Forthcoming:
Delightful and Delovely: The Music of Cole Porter
The Music of Jerome Kern
Narrated by Jamie Bernstein: The Music of Leonard Bernstein
“My husband and I look forward to every one of Rebecca’s productions. She and her team are nothing short of outstanding.”
“The voices. The history. This is a very special evening that you should never miss.”
“The Golden Ticket Series is exactly what the Jewish community needs today.”
“The voices are Broadway calibur. Who needs to go to New York City when you have the Golden Ticket Series?”
“Listening to Jack Viertel is like being in your own living room - his knowledge and demeanor are unparalleled”
“I loved hearing about the stories behind the music I grew up listening to- what a treat.”
Bios
Jack Viertel
Jack Viertel began his professional life playing bottleneck National steel guitar for Bonnie Raitt, Son House and the Pointer Sisters.
He began his writing career as the theater critic for the Los Angeles Reader and, subsequently, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner.
He served as the dramaturg of the Mark Taper Forum, and, from 1987-2021 he was Creative Director and Senior Vice-President of Jujamcyn Theaters, in charge of developing projects for the company's Broadway theaters, including five of August Wilson’s ten–play “Century Cycle”, M. BUTTERFLY, ANGELS IN AMERICA, GRAND HOTEL, CITY OF ANGELS, JELLY’S LAST JAM and many others.
He produced the Patti Lupone revival of GYPSY and conceived the long running SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, the critically acclaimed AFTER MIDNIGHT and served as the dramaturg for HAIRSPRAY, A CHRISTMAS STORY, DEAR EVAN HANSEN and THE OUTSIDERS.
The musical and movie THE PROM were developed from his original concept.
From 2000 to 2020 he served as Artistic Director of the Tony-honored ENCORES!series, presenting 65 Broadway musical revivals.
He is the author of the New York Times bestseller THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL and the novel BROADWAY MELODY.
He lives with his wife Linda in Tarrytown, New York, and Deer Isle, Maine.
Rebecca Cooper
Creator, Artistic Director
​
Rebecca's on-stage experience spans local, regional and national roles, including: Grace Farrell in Annie, Ilona Ritter in She Loves Me; Charity Barnum in Barnum; Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly!; Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie; Sarah in Guys and Dolls and Thea LaGuardia in Fiorello!
Upon seeing her performance in Fiorello!, Sheldon Harnick said he wished Rebecca was around when they cast the original production in 1959.
Her jazz album, “Out of This World,” (Arabesque Records), is available on Amazon.
Rebecca's education and training includes: Brandeis University, New York Law School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
She resides in Greenwich, Connecticut with her family.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel is thrilled to be returning to sing with Golden Ticket series, having performed in their productions since 2019.
He has starred in regional theatre companies in such roles as Jean Valjean (Les Miserables), Curly (Oklahoma!), Tony (West Side Story), and The Beast (Beauty and the Beast) to name a few.
Daniel graduated from Rhodes College in 2009 where he won several singing competitions and awards including the Louis Nicholas Award in Vocal music.
He was also recently inducted into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame for his golf accomplishments.
​
During his time at Rhodes, he was also trained by and performed for Opera Memphis.
Daniel has worked for the PGA, Metropolitan Section since 2010 and currently serves as their Director of Junior Golf, running one of the largest competitive junior golf programs in the country.
​
Daniel also sings the National Anthem at many large sporting events for the PGA and recently has begun singing for the New York Mets.
He is also a Cantorial Soloist for Temple Sholom in Greenwich, CT.
Daniel resides in Roslyn Heights, NY with his wife Nicole, identical twin daughters Lily and Aria, and son Evan.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​
​
Tyler Panek
Tyler Panek is a resident of Oxford who studied music and voice at UCONN.
​
Some of his recent productions include Children of Eden (Father), Annie (Oliver Warbucks), and White Christmas (Bob Wallace)
In addition to performing on stage, Mr. Panek has performed with ACDA National and International Honor Choirs in Chicago and London for the Pre-Olympic Ceremonies and has toured Europe with some of UCONN’s select ensembles.
Marissa Cortese
Marissa Cortese has been seen on stages all over the country.
She’s played roles that range from The Witch in Into the Woods and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun to Cosette in Les Miserables and Maria in West Side Story with roleslike Luisa in The Fantasticks and originating a track in Ring of Fire in between.
Zachary Kampler
Zachary Kampler (Music Director) serves as Music Director of the St. Catherine's Players, the Sound Beach Community Band, and the Kolot Sinai Chorus.
Recent engagements include work with The Town Players of New Canaan, ACT of CT, and The Downtown Bridgeport Cabaret.
A graduate of the Juilliard Pre-College Program, Kampler holds a B.A. in Music from New York University and an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting with a concentration in Opera from SUNY Binghamton.