The One-Man, One-Piano Metaphorical Musical Tour De Force by Fred Barton

For information on the licensing of MISS GULCH RETURNS! for production, contact me.

January, 2006: The Company Of Fools outside of Boise, Idaho presents Miss Gulch Returns!, opening January 19, 2006, starring Robert Throckmorton, the standout "Miss Gulch" of the acclaimed Richmond Triangle Players' production. Click on www.companyoffools.com for more information and tickets.

October, 2005: 35below, a popular blackbox theatre in Asheville, North Carolina, presented a new production of Miss Gulch Returns! which played to sellout crowds and rave reviews: Asheville Citizen-Times: "The sold-out opening night audience for this one-man, over-the-top extravaganza was as chic, as cosmopolitan and as discerning as any Los Angeles or New York crowd who'd be drawn to the same show. And the antics in the performing space of the tight little area was exactly what was wanted. The seating area is peppered with small cabaret tables, each audience member plied with champagne on the way in, and the appearance of Michael Cheek in his minimalist tux and Ruth Sieber Johnson at the glossy baby grand piano launch this update on the recent life and times of Miss Gulch. The show opens with Michael Cheek dressed to the nines in a glitzy piano bar, with bold colors, and strong lighting on a bowl of red poppies and an orange (rather than pink) flamingo, all adding to the glamour of the setting. After only a couple of songs about Miss Gulch, Cheek quickly segues into Almira, herself. Then it's a drag diva divine. Cheek has massive quantities of chutzpah and a strong and secure vocal instrument to bring to the role..."

August, 2004: The Richmond Triangle Players revived their acclaimed production of Fred Barton's Miss Gulch Returns! and garnered yet more rave reviews.  The Richmond production, starring the incomparable Robert Throckmorton, was subsequently selected for presentation at the September 2004 National Gay & Lesbian Theatre Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Miss Gulch Returns! has enjoyed tremendous success in
independent productions at:

• The Actors' Playhouse of Nashville

• The Richmond Triangle Players

• Theatre-On-The-Square, Indianapolis

•Boston's First Night Celebration

• Kennedy's at Playhouse-On-The-Square, Cleveland

35below, Asheville, North Carolina

For information, photos, and reviews, press the buttons below.

In March, 2004, NICK VANNELLO starred in an all-new production of Miss Gulch Returns! at Kennedy's, the cabaret room at Playhouse Square, Cleveland.  LORA WORKMAN produced and directed, with CHARLES EVERSOLE as Musical Director.

Playhouse Square, the second-largest performing arts center in the country (after Lincoln Center), describes the space as follows:  "This 100-seat cabaret, located under the Ohio Theatre lobby at Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland, was formerly a workroom for the State Theatre. It contains an ashwood bar from the old Elegant Hog Saloon on Buckeye, and is decorated with Broadway 3-sheets. It is named for Kathleen Kennedy, author of "Conversations With an Irish Rascal," and an early supporter and staff member of the Playhouse Square Center project."

NICK VANNELLO (Miss Gulch) has enjoyed a varied performing arts career that has spanned over two decades. He served as the Company Manager for the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, and he helped orchestrate the 1,000th special performance of the show at the Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas.  Nick is a familiar face to Cleveland audiences, having appeared in the acclaimed When Pigs Fly at the Beck Center, Paradise (directed by Joe Garry), Smile, A Chorus Line, On The Twentieth Century, and Jesus Christ Superstar as well as having performed with the Cleveland Opera.

Fred Barton:  In Fall of 1990, long after I had retired the Miss Gulch show and moved to Los Angeles for a while, I was astounded to receive a letter from the Actors' Theatre of Nashville, expressing interest in mounting their own production of the show.

After a series of letters and phone calls, the details were worked out and the first independent production of the show took place in Spring 1991.  Thom Byrum played the role; and for the first time, the pianist-singer Miss Gulch was given her freedom with a separate pianist to handle the musical aspects.

I regret that never got to see this production, although I treasure a videotape sent to me by Mr. Byrum.  I toured with City Of Angels through Nashville later in 1991, and finally was able to meet Thom Byrum – two sole veterans of the Gulch Experience in a sit-down to compare notes.  Alas, the theatre company appears to be no more; and sadly, Mr. Byrum passed away not along after our new acquaintance began.