Pearlman goes ‘Broadway our Way’

By Shari Goldstein Stern

June 9 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater Uptown Players (UP) promises to pull out all the stops as expected when the annual “Broadway Our Way” (BOW) returns for the weekend.

Dallas actor Randy Pearlman is excited to be in the UP cast again for one of his favorite shows. This is his second appearance in BOW after the 2020 production, which was, “Right before the world shut down,” he quipped. “The excitement of all of us in the production and the audience just being there, coming back to live theater, feeling the electricity and the energy from both sides of the stage is a glorious celebration of theater, and of life,” the actor said. 

He continued: “UP has done a wonderful job putting together situations where these songs make sense and tell a story. In this year’s BOW, the first act is set at a class reunion, which is so appropriate since in a way, we are having a reunion after being apart.”

One of Pearlman’s favorite numbers he does in the show with BJ Cleveland is “Class” from “Chicago.” “I always love working with BJ,” he said, adding that the number is set in a workout gym. Now that should be fun.

“There are so many incredibly talented people in this show, and each of us is given a chance to shine,” the busy actor added. He is particularly looking forward to Lee Walter’s BOW numbers from his upcoming UP hit, “Kinky Boots.” One of those opens the show.

With a life immersed in theater, Pearlman’s day job is at Dallas Children’s Theater. “I manage the house, working in the Box Office when needed, and I am the Store Coordinator. I love the people there, and I love being around theatre daily,” he shared. “It also is a job that allows me to go do my voiceover work at FUNimation and audition for commercials and broadcast,” he said.

Pearlman is one of the theater community’s most called-upon actors. His credits include performances at WaterTower Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Stage West and Circle Theatre. He has rounded out his credits with roles at Lyric Stage, Dallas Children’s Theater, Uptown Players and Garland Summer Musicals in addition to Theatre Three and Theatre Too. “I’ve had fulfilling experiences with each of these theaters and with many other smaller theatre groups,” he said.

Within the past few years, some of Pearlman’s credits have been “Last Stop on Market Street” at Dallas Children’s Theater; “Sweeney Todd” at Circle Theater; “Nuncrackers A-Men” at Uptown Players; and he played Santa in Casa Manãna’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” 

His role as Max Bialystock in Garland Summer Musical’s “The Producers” earned him one of his several Column Awards. Pearlman has taken home multiple Critics Forum awards and has several Leon Rabin Award nominations.

A few others of his roles have been in “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Titanic,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “1776” and “Into the Woods.” 

In addition to Pearlman, UP cast members in this year’s BOW include Michael Alonzo, Chimberly Byron, BJ Cleveland, Coy Covington, Peter DiCesare, Jennifer Kuenzer, Denise Lee, Linda Leonard, Gena Loe and David Lugo. Also featured are Thomas Renner, Sara Shelby-Martin, Amy Stevenson, Kylie Stewart and Sammy Swim. Rounding out the cast are Trey Tolleson, Emily Truelove, Lee Walter and Jodi Wright, with special guests Emerson Collins and Blake McIver. 

BJ Cleveland, one of Dallas’ hardest working actor, writer, director and educator, has written and directed the BOW productions for 10 years. Musical arranger Adam Wright creates new orchestrations, while music direction is by Kevin Gunter and Kelley Rodriguez. Andrew Coopman is choreographer. 

Pearlman is currently in rehearsal for “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” which will run July 20-31 at WaterTower Theatre. In the show, the multi-tasker is thrilled to play nine members of the same family. The musical won four Tony awards, including Best Musical during its 2013-2016 Broadway production.

“Broadway Our Way,” UP’s annual fundraiser, opens Thursday, June 9 and will run through June 11. Visit uptownplayers.org for information, and for tickets call 214-219-2718.