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Flambé Dreams is a unique theatrical experience that can be performed in a restaurant, cabaret or theater space.
Joseph Christiansen wants to be a great Maitre d' like his father who was tragically killed in a freak flaming Bananas Foster accident. Against the wishes and warnings of his pill-pushing psychiatrist mother, young Joe leaves the safety of his small hometown and journeys to New York City to pursue his dream. But nothing is easy in the big city and Joe struggles to work his way up in the competitive world of Food and Beverage service. Along the way he takes on several mentors, each wackier than the last, who help and hinder him on his quest. Joe must also navigate romantic entanglements with Gloria, his off-kilter pharmacist and Didi, a self serving temptress with a fetish for Maitre d's. Will Joe be a Maitre d'? Will he fall for his pharmacist? Or will he end up flambéd like his father? It's a quirky tale of drugs, dreams and flaming desserts!
Joseph Christiansen wants to be a great Maitre d' like his father who was tragically killed in a freak flaming Bananas Foster accident. Against the wishes and warnings of his pill-pushing psychiatrist mother, young Joe leaves the safety of his small hometown and journeys to New York City to pursue his dream. But nothing is easy in the big city and Joe struggles to work his way up in the competitive world of Food and Beverage service. Along the way he takes on several mentors, each wackier than the last, who help and hinder him on his quest. Joe must also navigate romantic entanglements with Gloria, his off-kilter pharmacist and Didi, a self serving temptress with a fetish for Maitre d's. Will Joe be a Maitre d'? Will he fall for his pharmacist? Or will he end up flambéd like his father? It's a quirky tale of drugs, dreams and flaming desserts!
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Flambé Dreams began in 2004 as a cabaret act called Songs for the Dysfunctional that played at Danny's Skylight Room and Judy's Chelsea. It then became a one man show, a four person show, and a six person show under the title The Thing About Joe. Readings of TTAJ were produced by BMI Musical Monday's at The Jerry Orbach Theater (Snapple Theatre Complex), Ground-Up Productions at The 14th St. Theatre Lab, Theatre Resources Unlimites and Apples and Oranges Productions at the Player's Theatre and The York Theatre Company at the Theatre at St. Peters produced a reading as part of their Developmental Reading series. In Nov & Dec of 2010 a successful developmental production of Flambé Dreams was produced at the Iguana Restaurant in which the show took place in the restaurant around the audience as they dined. In July of 2012Flambé Dreams had a sold out run at The New York Musical Theatre Festival that garnered raves from critics and theater goers alike. Songs from the show have been presented at many a BMI Smoker and Showcase and the song Everything You Long For is included on the BMI compilation CD No More Revivals sung by the inimitable Nancy Opel.
Awards
Recipient of 3 Honorable Mentions from the 2012 New York Musial Theatre Festival for Excellence in Music Writing (Randy Klein) Excellence in Lyric Writing (Matthew Hardy) and Excellence in Direction (West Hyler).
Flambé Dreams won 2 Oustanding Performance awards at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Flambé Dreams (The Thing About Joe) was one of three finalists for the 2009 BMI Jerry Bock Excellence in Musical Theatre Award.
Composer Randy Klein received the 2009 BMI Jerry Harrington award for his work on Flambé Dreams.
Flambé Dreams won 2 Oustanding Performance awards at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Flambé Dreams (The Thing About Joe) was one of three finalists for the 2009 BMI Jerry Bock Excellence in Musical Theatre Award.
Composer Randy Klein received the 2009 BMI Jerry Harrington award for his work on Flambé Dreams.