News Item
VOICE OF THE EAGLES NOW PLAYING AT THE PREP
PHILADELPHIA -- In the Pulitzer Prize winning musical comedy, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (H2$),” the voice of the narrator is a prominently featured role. This spring, those attending the Cape and Sword Drama Society’s production of the show will be surprised to hear whose voice it is.
On the original Broadway run, the voice was provided by famous newsman Walter Cronkite, and in the celebrated 1997 Prep production then-Principal Rev. Herb Keller, S.J. ’69 (who had been heard regularly on the PA during the school announcements for years), played the voice. This year, director Tony Braithwaite ’89 wanted to find a local celebrity with an instantly recognizable voice and settled on The Voice of the Eagles, Philadelphia's own Merrill Reese. Not only did Mr. Reese agree to voice the narration, he offered his services for free, and even donated his radio station in Bucks County for a recording session.
“Mr. Reese is a class act and a true gentleman; he couldn't have been nicer,” says Braithwaite. "And - often in one take - he nailed the narration sections while adding his own unique vocal flair that Philadelphia listeners have come to recognize - and love - for many years.”
Reese invited Braithwaite to bring some of the cast and crew to the recording session and, in between takes, Reese regaled them with stories about his career, the Eagles, and his life in broadcasting.
At the recording Anthony D'Angelo ’07, who plays the dual roles of Wally Womper and Mr. Twimble in H2$ asked Mr. Reese about a certain ring he was wearing. It was Reese's NFC Championship Ring.
During the session, Reese was even good enough to record an ad for the show - written by Prep Student Council President Steve Wood ’07 (who plays Bud Frump in H2$) and H2$'s Stage Manager Kevin Crenny ’07.
Reese’s voice will be the first one heard in the play, narrating the words to the book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which the main character J. Pierrepont Finch (Jake Braithwaite ’07) begins reading in order to rise up the corporate ladder.
As a thank you to Mr. Reese for his services, the Prep Drama students took up a collection and donated the monies to “Ashley's Fund,” a charity Mr. Reese has been working with recently. “Ashley's Fund” benefits Ashley Zauflick, a junior at Pennsbury High School who was severely injured in a January school bus accident.
H2$ runs May 10, 12-13, 16-20. Visit http://www.sjprep.org/capeandsword for tickets and information. The shows take place at the St. Joseph’s Prep Theatre, located in the school building at 1733 Girard Avenue in Philadelphia.
Contact:
Bill Avington
Director, Marketing/Communications
St. Joseph’s Prep
215-978-1962