He was an accomplished theatrical pro when he was barely out of his teens — not just a legend in his native Monmouth County, but a Broadway veteran of such smash hits as A Chorus Line and 42nd Street.
Still, David J.V. Meenan didn’t stop at being an actor, a singer and a dancer — he was also a writer, a director, a producer and an impresario who operated his own playhouse in Red Bank. As an executive at the Count Basie Theatre, he presented the world premiere of his original musical Transatlantic — and in 1996, he hoofed his way into the Guinness Book of World Records as the global champion of long-distance tap dancing. In December of 2009, the legend emerged from self-imposed retirement and partnered with Monmouth University’s Center for the Arts to produce and direct his own large-scale adaptation of the Dickens chestnut A Christmas Carol..
Now after many more successful shows at the Pollak Theatre including Sing, Sing Sing! and Deck The Halls, David J.V. Meenan and Friends return on Saturday, March 24, with broadway, pop, and jazz favorites as The Royale Orchestra swings into action in On Broadway. The second of two Meenan musical productions staged at Monmouth University in the 2011-2012 season, On Broadway presents the dynamic star and a formidable troupe of friends (including the Royale Orchestra) in a revue that takes a fresh look at some timeless hits from Jersey Boys, Mama Mia, Hairspray, Les Misérables, and Phantom. The concert also includes incredible tap dancing numbers, like Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, and dance numbers from Chicago and Hairspray.
Presiding over the show will be Meenan the master entertainer — singing, emceeing, telling jokes and (of course) tapping in a way that suggests the word “retirement” might soon be retired from his vocabulary. When asked about the show Meenan explained, “The only way to describe these concerts is a total musical extravaganza. Always expect the absolute unexpected. One of the favorite features of our concerts has come to be our signature Ziegfeld number, which features women with gowns and hats like you have never seen. Some of the hats are seven feet high!” There will also be special 100th Anniversary tribute to the Titanic. With Karen Feeney and The Royale Orchestra of 35, 12 singers, 12 dancers, you will not want to miss this amazing musical song and dance extravaganza!
To purchase tickets for On Broadway, please contact the Monmouth University Performing Arts Box Office at 732-263-6889, or visit online at www.monmouth.edu/arts.
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Media contact: Petra Ludwig at 732-263-5507