PRESS | ‘ROMANCE ROMANCE’

Romance, Romance, with the Bogarts, Begins Paper Mill Run

By ANDREW GANS
Published: February 28, 2007
Matt and Jessica Bogart in Romance Romance at Paper Mill Playhouse
Husband and wife actors Matt Bogart and Jessica Bogart (née Boevers) head the cast of the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of the Tony-nominated musical Romance/Romance, which begins performances Feb. 28. Matt Bogart and Jessica Bogart play the dual roles of, respectively, Alfred/Sam and Josefine/Monica in the musical, which officially opens at the New Jersey theatre March 4. Directed and choreographed by Mark S. Hoebee, the production will run through April 1.

The cast also features Danette Holden as Her/Barb and Mark Ledbetter as Him/Lenny. The creative team also includes Wendy Seyb (assistant director and choreographer), John O’Neill (musical director), David Zinn (scenic and costume design), Jeff Croiter (lighting design), Chuck LaPointe (wig design) and Randy Hansen (sound design).

Romance/Romance features a score by Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann. The musical, according to press notes, “pairs two harmoniously distinctive one-acts to create a joyful musical that explores the highs and lows of love. The show begins in turn-of-the-century Vienna with The Little Comedy, based on the short story by Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler. Bored and cynical, two of society’s elite set out in search of meaningful relationships by posing as paupers. When their charade is revealed, they discover what they were looking for was right in front of them the whole time. The second act, Summer Share, is an updated take on Jules Renard’s play Pain de Menage. Summering in the Hamptons, two best friends contemplate marriage and monogamy, promising fidelity to their spouses even as they consider an affair with each other.” The original Broadway production co-starred Alison Fraser and Scott Bakula.

Jessica Bogart, Mark Ledbetter, Danette Holden and Matt Bogart in Romance Romance at Paper Mill Playhouse

Matt Bogart was seen as Paul in the Kennedy Center mounting of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, and his Broadway credits include Aida, The Civil War, Miss Saigon and Smokey Joe’s Cafe. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, Bogart has appeared in regional productions of Camelot, Carousel and Side Show, and his debut solo recording, “Simple Songs,” is available on the Jay Records label. He was also part of the premiere cast of Frank Wildhorn’s Camile Claudel at Goodspeed, and his recent theatrical credits include Himself and Nora (Old Globe), Phantom (Music Theatre of Wichita) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Kennedy Theatre).

On Broadway Jessica Boevers has been seen in In My Life, Oklahoma!, Les Misérables, Rent, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Beauty and the Beast. Her other theatrical credits include A Little Night Music, Way of the World, Private Fittings, Hamlet and Philadelphia Story. Boevers was also seen last summer opposite Patti LuPone in the Ravinia Festival’s mounting of Gypsy.