Call Her Barbra!

Edwardyne Cowan is delighted to make her debut at Guild Hall with her longtime friends and colleagues, Valerie and Doreen.  Edwardyne first sang in concert with Valerie at The Mohonk Mountain House in 1998 and most recently in December in the NYC debut of the Martin Rabbett musical Unlikely Allies.  In college, she appeared with Doreen in Grease (which Steven Silverstein musical directed as well) so it’s a pleasure to reunite with both of them for this evening’s Salute to Streisand.  Edwardyne appeared as Eliza Doolittle on Broadway and in the European touring productions of My Fair Lady starring Richard Chamberlain, as Christine in Phantom (Germany) and in the US national tour of Ragtime, as both Mother and Emma Goldman. Edwardyne sang in the 15^th Anniversary Concert of Ragtime at Avery Fisher Hall, has sung at Carnegie Hall, and can be heard on numerous recordings including the original cast recording of Fermat’s Last Tango. Edwardyne lives in Manhattan with her twin teenage daughters, Kathryn and Violet.

Valerie diLorenzo, a native New Yorker and Sag Harbor resident, is always thrilled to return to Guild Hall; audiences may remember her from the Jerry Herman and Kander & Ebb revues.   She is especially thrilled to be reuniting with her longtime pals and colleagues tonight, who all know each other from Westchester theatre days.  Valerie most recently originated the role of Elizabeth and Madame Bertin in the reading of the new musical Unlikely Allies (by Martin Rabbett), alongside Mr. Richard Chamberlin and Ms. Cowan.  She also originated the roles of: Texas Guinan in Jenny & Me - The History of Sardi’s at the York Theatre/NYC; the role of Ginger in And I Always Will, a new play by Diana Canova at the Westport Playhouse and The Mother in the musical, ECO (by Jenna Mate) here at Guild Hall and NYMF. 

An award-winning vocalist, Valerie’s one-woman shows have been defined as “…a seamless venture of magic in the making.”  Her voice and showmanship have been critically acclaimed for presenting interesting and exciting musical events that have played many NYC and East Coast venues including at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, The Metropolitan Room, The Triad, Judy's, Tatou, Don't Tell Mama's, The Duplex, The Iridium, Mohonk Mountain House, Caramoor Center for the Arts, Odettes and Frangelica’s (PA), The Broward Theatre and Aventura Arts and Cultural Center (FL). 

Valerie is also a proud card-carrying remember of the Actors Equity Association - favorite theatrical credits include: Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Johnstone in Bloodbrothers, Sheila in A Chorus Line, Nancy in Oliver!, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Stella Deems in Follies, Marta in Company, Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sweet Sue in Sugar, and Bunny in The House of Blue Leaves.

No stranger to the stages of the East End, Valerie has brought the Great American Songbook to the stages of the Southampton Arts Center, The Suffolk Theatre, Westhampton Beach PAC, Westhampton Beach Gazebo, and Agawam Park, among others.

Doreen Montalvo has just returned from playing Gloria Fajardo on the 1st Nat'l tour of On Your Feet, and performing the role of Amalia in the world premiere of American Mariachi at The Old Globe and The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.  Broadway/off Broadway/tour credits include: On Your Feet (original Bway Cast), In The Heights (Original Bway Cast/Drama Desk Award winner), Off Bway: Curvey Widow (Heidi) Westside Theatre; Giant (Lupe) The Public Theatre; Flashdance the Musical (Louise); Mamma Mia (Tanya) La Lupe (Lupe) PRTT, In The Heights 37 Arts, Havana Under the Sea (Cecilia) Intar.

TV/Film: Law & Order, Elementary, Madam Secretary, Tale of Timmy Two Chins, Smash, All My Children, One Life to Live.   Doreen is a recording artist and has recently released her solo cd American Soul Latin Heart (pre grammy selection), is a voice over artist having sung on many recordings including Disney's Moana, and a cabaret performer having performed in NYC at 54 Below, Joe's Pub, The Metropolitan room, The Duplex, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and all over the US, the carribbean, South America, and along the Mississippi river.

Ellen Dolan has been a LUCKY working actress for 37 years, primarily in television. Her debut was as Maureen Bauer on Guiding Light, 1982- 1986. The next three years were full of several Made for TV movies (remember those?) and various guest spots on various series. In 1989 she accepted a role on As the World Turns and played Policewoman, Margo Hughes for the next 20 years, until the end of the show. 

Her stage credits include: Katrin in Mother Courage at Milwaukee Rep., Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Virginia Stage Co., May in How the Other Half Loves at Pennsylvania Stage Co., and Clelia in The Nerd at Capital Rep. She was a founding member of The Studio Three Group and a member of The Workshop Theater Group. With them, she has starred in Graceland, which went on to the New York Fringe Festival, Pineapple and Henry, Intellectuals and a premier production of Paul Weidner’s translation of Tartuffe. Off Broadway: Where the Truth Lies at The Irish Rep., Sophistry at Samuel Beckett Theater, and My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Ellen’s swan song to the stage was playing Truvy in Cape May Stages production of Steel Magnolias. Then she began to write.

Steven Silverstein has music directed and accompanied the famous and near famous on Broadway (Blood Brothers, Swinging on a Star, & the revival of Promises Promises); Off-Broadway, (When Pigs Fly, The Green Heart, & Annie Warbucks); Regional Theatre (Goodspeed Opera House, Papermill Playhouse, & Westport County Playhouse); and Specialty (54 Below & Noel Coward: The Women of His World at Lincoln Center with Dava Ivey, Dee Hoty & Cady Huffman).  In addition to his vast experience as a MAC nominated musical director and coach, he has accompanied Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally, Harry Connick Jr., Carole King, John Treacy Egan, Neva Small, Tony Award Winner Bill Irwin, and the Tony award winner Annaleigh Ashford and played at 54 Below, The Duplex, and Don’t Tell Mama in NYC.

Steven is also a prolific published composer and arranger, having published two children’s shows (Enchorage Press). Recently, Steven had an evening of his work performed at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in the Bruno Walter Auditorium.  With Forbidden Broadway’s Phillip George he has worked on Thrilling Pulp.  Steven's song Shoot Me received an honorable mention from the City Center's Lobby Project and had a reading of his musical Nothin But Love at the Ellington Room in NYC.

He shares his love and passion for music and musical theatre with students of all ages at American Music and Dramatic Academy, The Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School, Marymount Manhattan College, PACE University, SUNY Purchase and NYU. Steven’s students have appeared on Broadway in Annie, Newsies, The Producers, and 30 Rock among others. Steven holds a B.A. in Theatre/B.S. in Finance from the University of Bridgeport and an M.A. in Music Education.  Please check out Steven's podcast: Stay Awake with Silverstein - http://mrcomposer.podbean.com