My 80-Year-Old Boyfriend

CHARISSA BERTELS (Charissa) is a Broadway actress and champion of new musicals. She recently toured the country in the first national tour of If/Then starring Idina Menzel, La Chanze, and Anthony Rapp. She made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Pasek & Paul's Tony-nominated musical A Christmas Story, and later reprised her role at Madison Square Garden. As part of the singing ensemble for New York City Center Encores' productions of Gentleman Prefer Blondes and Lady Be Good, her work can be heard on the subsequent cast recordings, featuring Megan Hilty and the legendary Tommy Tune. Charissa produced the new musical Academia Nuts at NYMF, garnering awards for Best New Musical, Best Director, and two Best Actors. She produced two concerts of new works with participants of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop at The Duplex: “Musical Speed Dating” and “Contemporary Christmas”. Film: Gingerbread House, It Is What It Is. She is humbled to be an artistic Patriot at MRT and to premiere this personal show with such a fabulous team. My deepest gratitude to my collaborators, Christian and Ed, for your beautiful work bringing this show to life, to Peilin for being a rockstar and making it happen all the way from Shanghai, and to Sean for taking a chance on this new musical and helping it grow. Many thanks to God, Robert, CTG, family, friends and my amazing husband, James. www.charissa.nyc