Lexington Native Susan Scannell Gilbert Featured in "Show Boat" at Reagle

Lexington native Susan Scannell Gilbert will appear as "Parthy Ann Hawks," the gruff yet endearing matriarch managing a troupe of actors on the Cotton Blossom show boat in Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s 1927 musical Show Boat, running from July 6-16 at Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston. With a sharp tongue and quick wit, Parthy oversees the company of performers alongside the boat’s genial proprietor, Cap’ Andy, played by Burlington’s Rick Sherburne.

Show Boat will also star Tony Nominee Michel Bell as "Joe" (Hal Prince's Broadway production of Show Boat); Broadway’s Ciarán Sheehan (Phantom of the Opera) as "Ravenal", and Sarah Oakes Muirhead (Sunday in the Park with George) as "Magnolia."

Tickets for Show Boat can be purchased at www.reaglemusictheatre.org, by calling 781-891-5600, or at the theater box office (617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA).

Lexington native Susan Scannell Gilbert’s storied career has spanned stage, TV, modeling, writing, teaching, singing and acting. After starting her career as a model with the Eileen Ford Modeling Agency in New York, she was cast in the syndicated soap opera Another Life and soon landed contract roles on shows such as Search For Tomorrow, Ryan’s Hope and others. Daytime soaps led to a contract on the prime time hit, Dynasty, and guest roles on episodes of The A-Team and Remington Steele. She also performed at nightclubs such as Maxims and The Silver Lining, in addition to a performance of original songs on The Merv Griffin Show. From 2001 – 2005 she served as the Founding Executive Director of the award winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (www.apacny.org) in Astoria, NY, where along with producing popular shows for the public, she was able to create musical theater programs for youth and seniors which are free to all participants. Recent roles include: Velma von Tussle in Hairspray, Elsa Schroeder in Sound of Music; Sister Aloysius in Doubt; Jean Horton in Quartet, Sarah in Table Manners. Scannell Gilbert is a member of ASCAP, AFTRA and SAG.

Show Boat is based on Edna Ferber’s bestselling novel, following three generations of the Hawks family on the Cotton Blossom river boat from 1887-1927. The story chronicles the fortunes of naïve Captain’s daughter Magnolia and her troubled husband Gaylord Ravenal, and the lives of the performers, stagehands, and dock workers whose lives are affected by the ever-changing social current along the Mississippi River. Show Boat was the first fully integrated “book musical”, tackling issues of unhappy marriage, miscegenation and racial prejudice. The musical’s classic songs, including “Ol’ Man River, “Only Make Believe,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” and “You Are Love,” have become mainstays of the Broadway canon.

Music by Jerome Kern. Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the novel “Show Boat” by Edna Ferber. Reagle will be performing the latest version of the musical, arranged and premiered by Goodspeed Opera House. Show Boat is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.