Leading stars from Broadway will join in a unique collaboration with the cream of local talent when "Broadway in Bermuda'' is staged in the spectacular open-air setting of Dockyard's Victualling Yard next Saturday.

In what promises to be one of the most ambitious productions ever mounted here, Bermuda audiences will be the first to hear some of the songs from "Big'', the new musical (based on the film) which is scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring.

The programme will embrace Broadway music from Gershwin, Rogers & Hammerstein, and "The Wiz'', to rock 'n' roll and Motown.

Co-producer Iva Peele, one of the driving forces behind the formation of Two Island Productions, says that the evening of new and old highlights from Broadway is to "introduce ourselves and to show Bermuda that we are seriously committed -- and to raise money for a scholarship to be awarded annually so that a young Bermudian can pursue a career in the performing arts. We are very excited about this show, which has a wonderful line-up of people who have had a great time rehearsing together. I'm hoping that everyone will turn out to support us. People can buy picnics or bring their own. Best of all, we can now confirm that Bermuda Island Cruises are putting on boats to take people from Albuoy's Point to Dockyard and back after the show so, altogether, it should be a wonderful evening.'' She adds the show's cast reflects the whole community and will provide entertainment that reaches out to the whole community.

Just three weeks ago, Two Island Productions, a non-profit organisation formed to establish an ongoing exchange between actors from the island of Manhattan and actors from Bermuda, acquired the public relations services of Mr. David Rothenberg, one of America's leading agents who has represented, among others, Elizabeth Taylor.

Explains Mrs. Peele, "Some time ago, he became involved with a play about convicts which led him to get involved with civil rights issues. Since then, he has made it a rule that he only represents projects which he personally believes in, so we are thrilled that he has agreed to take us on.'' She reveals that, a couple of weeks ago, one of New York's top casting directors asked, "Who put this cast together? Even for New York, it's an awesome cast!'' Local resident Mrs. Peele, herself a professional actress who will be remembered for her performance in Jabulani Repertory Company's production of "Vanities'' at the Pembroke Princess, joined forces recently with theatre director Sheryl Kaller and singer Beth Dunnington to make the New York ermuda collaboration a reality.

One of their chief aims is to provide hands-on training for Bermuda's brightest talents, culminating in a play that will be produced in New York.

"However talented you are, you need to be trained. There is a great deal of talent here and we are hoping that our project will encourage people to consider the theatre as a career. We are anxious to assure people that we are not forming yet another company -- you already have some wonderful theatre here and, hopefully, this will enhance it. I feel I am very fortunate to live in Bermuda, and this is my way of giving something back to the community. All we are planning is one really big night each year which we hope will raise money for the scholarship, and one month each year when we will hold our retreat orkshop, with New York and Bermuda artists working together with the aim of eventually presenting an original show in New York.'' The undoubted highlight of the evening will be Tony nominee Crista Moore and Dan Jenkins (taking on the Tom Hanks role), who will introduce some of their numbers from "Big'' which begins its previews in Detroit in January.

Other Broadway luminaries will include Nikki Rene who had major roles in the original cast of "Once On This Island'' and in the national company of "Cats''; Sal Viviano who had leading roles in "City of Angels'', "The Three Musketeers'' and as a regular on the TV soaps, "Ryan's Hope'' and "Search for Tomorrow''; Michael James, who won major roles in "The Wiz'', the revival of "Hair'' and "Little Shop of Horrors''; and the versatile Beth Dunnington, who is as ease in Mozart's "The Magic Flute'' as she is in "Carousel'' and "Oklahoma''. Finally, composer Rusty Magee, who wrote the score for American Repertory Theatre's "Ubu Rock'' will be the musical director, with Sheryl Kaller as the overall director.

Ms Kaller has been resident director for the famed Circle Repertory Theatre Lab, where she conceived and directed the prize-winning "Next, Please''.

Crista Moore's Tony nomination was for the title role in the revival of "Gypsy'' with Tyne Daly, she has appeared as Cinderella at the Lincoln Centre and recently played the lead in the national tour of "Crazy for You''.

Dan Jenkins is known to TV for his role on "Going to Extremes'' and was nominated for a Tony for his portrayal of Hick Finn in "Big River'', and for the Tony award-winning play, "Angels in America''.

The Bermuda contingent includes some of the Island's best known performers, including Beverley Crick (currently starring in "Me and My Girl'' at City Hall), Patricia Pogson, Ginea Edwards, Danjou Anderson, Colin Godwin (who, with Iva Peele, will emcee the show), Mark Hamilton, Wayne Holt and Misha Wade.

Paying tribute to Patricia Pogson, Mrs. Peele says, "Pat and I are so different, superficially, but we found that we both have the same dream about professional theatre in Bermuda. Pat is co-producing, and appearing as a special guest singer in the show because she is too busy to be a full member of the cast. Pat has been instrumental in making all this happen! She has purposefully kept a low profile because she wants this project to evolve on neutral ground -- but she is very involved in a low-key way.'' She also says that she would like to acknowledge the help received from the Dunbarton School of Music. "They lent us their school for the auditions, are lending instruments for the show, and have been really encouraging and supportive of the whole project.'' Commenting on the happy atmosphere which has prevailed during rehearsals for the big night, Iva Peele says, "I think it's interesting that one of the numbers from `Once Upon this Island' was originally sung by Nikki Rene who had one of the leads in the show on Broadway but, instead of her performing it, she is going to provide backing for a Bermudian to sing it. So the collaboration is great, and genuine -- New Yorkers are backing Bermudians in songs they have made their own on Broadway -- I think that's really exciting.'' "Broadway in Bermuda'' takes place on Saturday, October 21, in the Victualling Yard at Dockyard. Tickets at $35 are available from the City Hall Box Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from the Masterworks Gallery on Bermuda House Lane, Hamilton, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or from Frangipani on Water Street in St. George's, during store hours, Monday through Saturday. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. Bermuda ew York Picnic and Bay is served by the Hamilton Lions Club.

Bermuda Island Cruises will provide transportation to and from Dockyard. Round trip tickets are $10, and there is a cash bar on board. Boats will leave at 6 p.m. For reservations, telephone 292-8652.

A CHORUS LINE -- Some of the New York artists who will be appearing in `Broadway in Bermuda' include (from left): Michael Leslie, Sal Viviano, Beth Dunnington, Nikki Rene, Daniel Jenkins, Crista Moore and Rusty Magee.