Broadway Star in Spotlight Playhouse "Broadway on Essex" Cabaret

Spotlight Playhouse is thrilled to announce that Broadway performer and Spotlight Playhouse alumna Carly Gendell will perform during the first weekend of Spotlight’s Broadway on Essex dinner-theater cabaret. As an eight-year- old from Amesbury, MA, Carly portrayed Molly, the youngest orphan in Spotlight’s 2013 production of Annie, and also appeared in Broadway on Essex with Spotlight in 2014.

At age 10, Carly won the role of Marcy in the Development Lab for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock the Musical in New York City, and made her Broadway debut later that year in the original cast of School of Rock. She played Marcy and understudied Summer in School of Rock until November 2016. Since that time, she has performed the role of Annie professionally in multiple cities, most recently in December at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN. Carly is now 13 years old and lives with her family in New York City while she pursues her professional career.

Broadway on Essex is a celebration of 10 years of Spotlight Playhouse performances in the Merrimack Valley. The cast of more than 25 performers will present songs from Spotlight’s first decade as well as songs from shows the company may perform in the future. All shows take place at the Galleria at Maria’s Restaurant, 85 Essex St., Haverhill, MA, during the middle two weekends in March.

Carly Gendell and her older sister Haley will both perform during the shows on March 9 and 10. There will be two additional cabaret performances the following weekend on March 16 and 17. Doors will open for the March 17 th show at 5:00 PM; they will open at 6:00 PM for all other shows. Tickets for dinner and the show are $38 for adults, $35 for seniors and members, and $30 for children 12 and under.

For information about Broadway on Essex, please visit www.SpotlightPlayhouse.org, call 617-470- 2175, or send email to tickets@SpotlightPlayhouse.org.

Additional information:

While still living in Amesbury, MA, Carly performed with the Prescott Park Arts Festival, Boston Children’s Theatre, Neverland Theatre in Beverly, ACT Theatre Company in Andover, Hamilton-Wenham Community House, Acting Out Productions in Newburyport, and Amesbury Children’s Theatre. More information about Carly is available at facebook.com/carlygendell or @carlygendell on Instagram and @carlygendell1 on Twitter.