July 5 – July 10
ONE WEEK ONLY!
Nightly at 8 PM
Created by: Meredith Beck & Sarah J. Gafgen
Presented by Live On Stage Productions
“An evocative tribute to Ethel Merman & Mary Martin.”
~ The Philadelphia Inquirer ~
Together Off-Broadway: Merman & Martin in Concert celebrates the remarkable bond between Ethel Merman and Mary Martin — two of Broadway’s brightest stars. Performed by Sarah J. Gafgen and Meredith Beck, this elegant concert blends story and song to reveal the humor, heart, and friendship behind the fame. Featuring classics like “I Got Rhythm,” “The Sound of Music,” “A Cockeyed Optimist,” and “Hello, Dolly!”, audiences are invited to step behind the curtain and rediscover the women who helped define the American musical.
Performed by Sarah J. Gafgen and Meredith Beck, this intimate and elegant concert weaves story and song into a portrait of ambition, artistry, and enduring connection. Featuring beloved classics including “I Got Rhythm,” “The Sound of Music,” “A Cockeyed Optimist,” and “Hello, Dolly!”, the evening invites audiences to step behind the curtain and rediscover the women who helped define the American musical.
Developed with the support of the Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival and Act II Playhouse, this celebration of two theatrical icons is a joyful tribute to friendship, showbiz, and the golden age of Broadway.
This is a one week, limited engagement show at Cape May Stage.
This show is not included in our subscription packages.
Age Guide: 13+
Running Time: 75 minutes, No intermission.
* Critics have praised Together Off-Broadway: Merman & Martin for its powerhouse vocals, engaging storytelling, and affectionate tribute to two Broadway legends. Blending biography and song, the production captures the wit, glamour, and nostalgia of Broadway’s golden age. *
Thank you for joining us to celebrate theatre royalty, iconic personalities, and off-stage friends; Mary Martin & Ethel Merman! We (Meredith and Sarah) are such fans and continually in awe of how many pivotal characters were created by our favorite leading ladies of musical theater. Having both played roles created by Ethel and Mary, and as close friends ourselves, we sought to create a work that played to our strengths, and, frankly, allowed us to work together. We assumed a simple mission, but what we uncovered was so much deeper and even more exciting! What a glorious surprise to discover Ethel and Mary’s decades-long friendship, the support, the mutual respect, and the many concert performances the two of them shared. Though not an exact recreation- our show is deeply inspired by a particular evening in the theater vaults that is known as a “lost concert.” May 15th, 1977- Ethel and Mary took the stage for a one-night only concert fundraiser filled with their greatest songs, loads of storytelling, and an epic duet from the very first time they worked together as the headliners of Ford Motor Company’s 50th Anniversary Television Special.
This project has been a labor of love since our first stages of development in 2016. The material for our show seemed to write itself, but what couldn’t write itself was the music. It was of vital importance to us to recreate this infamous Fords Anniversary duet from 1953 if we were truly looking to honor Ethel and Mary’s performances “together.” We encountered a major stumbling block- the sheet music did not exist. Channeling the can-do spirit of Ethel and Mary, we decided to take on the challenge of creating it ourselves! Over the course of a few years, and with “a little help from our friends” this fabulous duet exists again, and we are honored to share it with audiences.
We hope our show will bring back joyful memories – Maybe the first time you saw Mary Martin fly as Peter Pan or heard that famous Ethel Merman belt, but we also hope you experience the delight of learning something new about these very real women as we share stories of who they were “off” the stage. Their work ethic, dedication to their fans, and trailblazing approach to their careers is truly inspiring. They understood that it really is a business of show, and chose friendship in an industry that would have much preferred a feud. With this piece, we aim to honor Ethel and Mary as people and performers, and we are thrilled to be a part of sharing their legacy.
~ Meredith and Sarah
MEREDITH BECK is a Philadelphia based theatre artist last seen in Cape May Stage’s production of Vanities! She has worked with The Walnut Street Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Act II Playhouse, The REV, & Media Theatre among others. Recent credits include Ann Margret (ELVIS), Lily St. Regis (Annie), Nellie Forbush (South Pacific), and, of course, representing the legendary Mary Martin alongside her real life Ethel Merman, Sarah Gafgen in Together Off-Broadway! Meredith is thrilled to continue to share the stories of women who were incredibly talented, wonderful friends, and radiant human beings. Love to John. BFA Ithaca College www.meredithbeck.com
SARAH J. GAFGEN is a Philadelphia based theatre artist who has worked with The Walnut Street Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Hedgerow Theatre, and Montgomery Theatre among others. In addition to creating this show and representing Ethel Merman alongside her longtime friends, Meredith and Michael, some favorite roles have been Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Emma Goldman (Ragtime), and Edith (Pirates of Penzance), among others. Sarah loves delivering joy with Classic Singing Telegram and The Live Entertainment Co. Proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Love to Carl, Anastasia and Oliver who make everyday a joy. www.sarahjgafgen.com
MICHAEL MEDVIDIK is a Philadelphia-area performer, composer/arranger, and music educator with over 20 years of experience. He has served as music director for numerous musical theater productions throughout the tri-state area. While living in Ohio, he was the Assistant Artistic Director of the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus. He thanks Meredith and Sarah for the opportunity to collaborate again, along with his family for their continued support and his husband Paul for being there every step of the way.
“Together Off-Broadway” is conceived and compiled by Meredith Beck & Sarah J. Gafgen.
Coming Soon
View our full 2026 season schedule to see what other memorable events we have lined up for you this year at Cape May Stage!