Let Freedom Sing! A Tribute To Veterans Premieres Today
By Space Coast Daily // October 8, 2013
Cocoa VIllage Playhouse hosts production
ABOVE VIDEO: The Cocoa VIllage Playhouse has amazed and entertained Brevard County theater goers since the mid 1980’s. ‘Titanic’ was produced last year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Following up last season’s hit “I’ll Be Seeing You! A 1940’s Cabaret,” New York performer and Playhouse favorite Margaret Cross returns with an all new patriotic sensation.
“A Tribute To Veterans” is set For Nov. 8 at the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse located at 300 Brevard Avenue in Cocoa.
Let Freedom Sing! A Musical Tribute to Veterans’ is a variety show saluting all Americans who have served, with music by Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Johnny Cash and many more.
Join Margaret, her parents Don and Leeann, live musicians, and special guests Benjamin Cox and LeRoy Darby for an afternoon of songs, stories, dancing, and comedy that celebrate the American Spirit.
COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE UNDERWENT RENOVATION IN 2012
Built in 1924, the Cocoa Village Playhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, and underwent a major renovation in 2012.
As ownership changed through the years, so the theatre featured vaudeville acts, served as a station for the American Red Cross during wartime and then became the State Theatre featuring movies on the “big screen.”
The theatre has state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, nearly 600 spacious and comfortable new seats, 21 crystal chandeliers, and has earned the title “The showplace of the Indian River.”
Tickets are already selling, so call or go online for yours today.
‘LOVELY WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING’
“This is a lovely way to spend an evening’ is more than a song title: It’s also an emphatic recommendation to visit for an hour with Margaret Cross as she performs her show,” said Peter Haas from Cabaret Scenes.
“A young lady with striking beauty, charm, a delightful sense of fun, and one of the absolutely loveliest voices in all of cabaret, Margaret is a find.”
Margaret is a girl born in Ohio, and raised in Florida, who spent 7 years performing in New York City.
Locally, Cross appeared as Eliza, “My Fair Lady” at the Henegar Center, Sharon, “Finian’s Rainbow”, Kate Magowan, “Titanic” (Cocoa Village Playhouse), Mrs. Paroo, “The Music Man” with Space Coast Symphony, Agatha, “Guys & Dolls” with Orlando Philharmonic (starring Davis Gaines, Bob Carr Auditorium), and has written and presented four cabaret shows in Brevard.
While in NYC, she sang with jazz bands Mona’s Hot Four, The Big Swinging Dixies, and her own trio, co-conceived and directed “A Flanders & Swann House Party”, which appeared at The Snapple Center and York Theatres.
Favorite past roles: The Postman, “The Most Happy Fella”, Sarah Bradford, “The Life Of Harriet Tubman”, Polly, “Polly Princess & Tuckaberry Productions’.
Former staff writer for Music.com, The Orlando Weekly, and BroadwayWorld.com, Director of Music at Palmdale Presbyterian Church in Melbourne. Former member Actor’s Equity and Manhattan Assoc. of Cabaret Artists. B.A. Music, Florida State.
Peter Haas from Cabaret Scenes said, “Margaret is a young lady with striking beauty, charm, a delightful sense of fun, and one of the absolutely loveliest voices in all of cabaret, Margaret is a find.”
Diane has played for all of Ms. Cross’s cabaret shows. She is a piano teacher and organist/choir director at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, and keyboard for Titanic, Build Me Up Buttercup, Scrooge, A Grand Night for Singing, Forever Plaid, Chicago, Godspell, Hair, City of Angels ‘Surfside Playhouse’.
Sasha is a Melbourne-based musician and singer, has played percussion for numerous shows at the CVP, and can be seen with award-winning band Vintage. She performs Wednesday nights at Paddy Cassidys’ in Cocoa Beach.
BELOW MAP: Let Freedom Sing! A Tribute To Veterans Set For Nov. 8 is to be held at the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse located at 300 Brevard Avenue in Cocoa.
