Nancy Hays (Judy Garland)
has played leading roles in Chicagoland musicals including Mame, Gypsy, How to Succeed in Business, Pirates of Penzance and Steel Magnolias. Nancy had returned to theatre to portray Judy Garland in The Boy from OZ, presented by Pride Films & Plays, after performing for years as an opening act in Las Vegas and elsewhere for Tommy Tune, Danny Thomas, Conway Twitty, Rita Rudner, the Smothers Brothers, George Burns and others. Her country song Come Dance with Me is an international hit, popular worldwide, and she was featured in the film The Minnesota Connection. Nancy has also made numerous TV appearances (including one on ABC dancing with Mario Lopez). Nancy has recorded five albums and toured the UK multiple times. www.NancyHays.com |
Robert Ollis
(Music Director, Arranger, Pianist) served as music director and orchestrator forThe Boy from OZ, an acclaimed Chicago premiere by Pride Films & Plays (PFP), plus the follow-up production of Judy & Liza: The London Palladium Concert - a Tribute." He has served as music director of such popular PFP shows as The Things I Could Never Tell Steven, A Man of No Importance, Southern Comfort, YANK - A World War II Love Story, The Nance, and The Book of Merman. He was music director of Underscore Theatre's historical musical Haymarket: A New Folk Musical. Robert was nominated for Jeff Awards for his music direction of Haymarket, plus PFP’s YANK!, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Songs from an Unmade Bed and Under A Rainbow Flag. Robert received a Jeff Award for his musical direction of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Other notable projects have included Violet, Elton John’s AIDA, Assassins, My Favorite Year, The Who’s Tommy and The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Dennis DeYoung. He has also music-directed several Casting Auction Players productions as well as countless local theatre-benefit concerts. Robert has accompanied performers such as Donna McKechnie, Andrea Marcovicci, Nick Adams, Capathia Jenkins, Nancy Hays and Alexandra Billings in various concert and cabaret venues, including Feinstein’s and the Metropolitan Room in New York City and Davenport’s, Stage 773, Uptown Underground and Le Piano in Chicago. www.Robert-Ollis.com |
Mary Heffernan (Liza Minnelli) has performed solo vocal numbers at Freedom Hall and as a featured vocalist accompanied by a full orchestra at Chicago's Summerdance. She has played leading roles in professional theatrical productions and was recently seen in Beauty and the Beast. Nancy and Mary appeared on stage together as mother and daughter in the critically acclaimed Glass Menagerie in 2017. In addition, Mary has made studio recordings and guest appearances on TV shows, including ABC News, WCIU and others. She has a Master's Degree in social work and spends her days assisting seniors coping with memory loss and dementia, stimulating their minds by recalling favorite songs and melodies from their younger years.
|