WOB Launches 'Famous in Frederick'

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre & Children's Theatre has launched www.famousinfrederick.com. The new site will include a collection of photographs of Way Off Broadway performers, associates, and guests as they travel the globe. Some on national tours, others simply visiting fun locations while on vacation. Making all of these people Famous in Frederick is their official "Famous in Frederick" branded shirt.

"Famous in Frederick is a fun new campaign Way Off Broadway has begun," says Justin M. Kiska, the theatre's President & Managing Director, "that has really taken off since being announced. Everyone wants to be Famous in Frederick."

The campaign became so popular and the shirts were in such demand, that following the initial release of the official Famous in Frederick T-shirts, two additional orders were placed months before originally scheduled. And a forth order to meet the demands of the theatre's guests who want their very own Famous in Frederick shirts is already in the works, as is talk of putting the Famous in Frederick brand on additional products.

The idea first arose when two of Way Off Broadway's performers, Leah Bebee and Jordan C. Allen -- who were staring in WOB's summer production of the mega-hit musical Hairspray as Amber Von Tussle and Seaweed, respectively -- kept being recognized and stopped around Frederick as they went about their days. As they talked to more of the cast members, others had the same stories. They would be at restaurants or grocery shopping and be recognized from appearances at Way Off Broadway. Every time this would happen to one of the actors, they would come in to the theatre and say, "I'm famous in Frederick!"

Finally, Genevieve Williams, Way Off Broadway's Audience Development Manager, and Kiska, began putting the Famous in Frederick program in place; designing the logo and shirts, and creating the website. After a few months of planning, Famous in Frederick and famousinfrederick.com were launched on August 13th to rave reviews.

The first photos posted were of the original Famous in Frederick actors, Allen and Bebee, on a tour around Downtown Frederick. Along with them were former cast members now performing around the world including Alex Pepper who recently concluded the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific and Kelly Nealon, who is performing the role of Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) in Hong Kong Disney. Additional photos have been added and will be continue to be added as more and more performers and guests are photographed on their travels wearing the black and white Famous in Frederick brand.

To learn more about Way Off Broadway, visit www.wayoffbroadway.com or www.famousinfrederick.com.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has been a leader in the region's performing arts community since it first opened in 1995. Under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, Way Off Broadway has produced such productions as A Funny Thing . . . Forum, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Oklahoma!, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, The Odd Couple, A Chorus Line, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Cats, The Full Monty, South Pacific, and Hairspray, as well as the regional and/or area premieres of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles, the musical comedy The Wedding Singer, Mel Brooks' The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Located along Route 40 West, the Golden Mile in Frederick, the theatre also produces a one-of-a-kind children's lunch theatre, as well as a number of special events throughout the year.

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