She Loves Me at Paper Mill Oct 27-Dec 5

By: BWW News Desk Oct. 13, 2004

Here's a musical everyone can fall in love with! Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 2004-2005 season with the charming romantic musical "She Loves Me." Directed and choreographed by Paper Mill favorite James Brennan (who directed last season's "The Sound of Music"), "She Loves Me" begins performances October 27 and runs for six weeks through December 5, 2004 (Press Opening, Sunday, October 31 at 7:30pm). Tickets $31 - $68 are on sale now. Student rush tickets are $16 available day of performance with current ID. For tickets call 973-376-4343 or buy online at www.papermill.org.

"She Loves Me" boasts a book by Joe Masteroff ("Cabaret"), music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick ("Fiddler on the Roof"). The classic score includes such tunes as "Will He Like Me?" "Tonight at Eight," "Dear Friend," "Ice Cream" and "She Loves Me." It is the rare musical theatre aficionado who doesn't have a soft spot in his heart for this intimate show, considered by many the most charming musical ever written.

"She Loves Me" stars George Dvorsky ("The Scarlet Pimpernel"), Michele Ragusa ("Urinetown"), Nancy Anderson ("Wonderful Town"), David Hess ("Annie Get Your Gun"), Paul Schoeffler ("Nine"), Bradford Anderson, Bill Bateman ("Hello, Dolly!") and Tony Award-winner George S. Irving; with Richard Todd Adams, Leslie Becker, Ryan Dietz, Katherine Harber, Cecily Kate, Alisa Klein, Jean Marie, Mary Jo McConnell, Ed Romanoff, Todd Stern, and Branch Woodman. The production team for "She Loves Me" includes: Michael Anania (Sets), Gail Baldoni (Costumes), F. Mitchell Dana (Lights), and Duncan Robert Edwards (Sound). Tom Helm is Musical Director.

Georg (George Dvorsky) and Amalia (Michele Ragusa) are two feuding clerks at a European Parfumerie in the 1930s who secretly find comfort in their anonymous romantic pen pals, not realizing their respective correspondents are none other than each other. Funny, intelligent, honest and sentimental, "She Loves Me" is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old world elegance and nostalgia, yet as universal and relevant as ever in this age of internet romances.

"She Loves Me" is based on the play by Miklos Laszlo, whose own confection was entitled, "Parfumerie" when it premiered in Budapest in the 1930's. Subsequently, Ernst Lubitsch in 1940 spun the enchanting tale of love temporarily askew into "The Shop Around the Corner," starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. In 1949, a second motion picture, the musical version "In the Good Old Summertime," boasted Judy Garland, Van Johnson and the first screen appearance of Liza Minnelli. Most recently Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan starred in the 1998 film "You've Got Mail."

With a top ticket price of $9.60 "She Loves Me" opened at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre April 23, 1963, playing 302 performances. Directed by Harold Prince – with musical staging by Carol Haney – the cast included Barbara Baxley, Jack Cassidy (Tony Award-Best Featured Actor in a Musical), Barbara Cook, Daniel Massey, Ludwig Donath, Nathaniel Frey and Ralph Williams. The 1993 revival for the Roundabout Theatre Company began life at the Criterion Center/Stage Right before transferring to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Directed by Scott Ellis with musical staging by Rob Marshall, the cast included Jonathan Freeman, Boyd Gaines (Tony Award – Best Actor in a Musical), Brad Kane, Judy Kuhn, Sally Mayes, Howard McGillin, Lee Wilkof and Louis Zorich.

Making her Paper Mill debut is Michele Ragusa in the role of Amalia Balash. Michele's Broadway credits include Evelyn Nesbit in "Ragtime," "A Class Act," "Titanic," "Cyrano" and most recently, "Urinetown." Off-Broadway: "Bloomer Girl" at Encores! and "Tintypes." Regional: "Guys & Dolls" (Adelaide), "South Pacific" (Nellie), "Phantom" (Christine), "My Fair Lady" (Eliza), "West Side Story" (Maria), "Carousel" (Julie), "Me & My Girl" (Sally), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Narrator).

Paper Mill favorite George Dvorsky returns to Paper Mill for his sixth production after starring as Billy Crocker opposite Chita Rivera in "Anything Goes," Billy Buck Chandler in "My One and Only," Peter in "Jesus Christ, Superstar," Richard Henry Lee in "1776," and James in "Shenandoah." He has starred on Broadway in the title role of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and played Henry Spofford in the revival of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Other Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning "Passion," "Marilyn: An American Fable" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Off-Broadway credits include "Dames at Sea" and "'And the World Goes Round." George starred in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" as Prince Charming at Lincoln Center where he also played Tommy in "Brigadoon." Off-Broadway credits include Pete in "Pete 'N Keely," "Dames at Sea" and "'And the World Goes Round." For more information, go to www.georgedvorsky.com.

Making his 12th appearance on the Paper Mill stage is the beloved George S. Irving who plays the owner of the Parfumerie, Mr. Maraczek. George last appeared as Merlin/Pellinore in "Camelot" and counts Panisse in "Fanny" as his favorite role here. George's Broadway debut was in the original cast of "Oklahoma!" He's been called the quintessential musical comedy character men with roles in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Can-Can," "Bells Are Ringing," "Tovarich," "The Happy Time," "On Your Toes," and "Irene" (Tony Award). George was also the voice of Underdog and Heat Miser.

James Brennan (Director/Choreographer) a resident of Midland Park, NJ, is one of Broadway's premiere "song and dance" men, having starred as Bobby Child in "Crazy for You," Billy Lawlor in "42nd Street," Don Lockwood in "Singin' in the Rain" and Bill Snibson in "Me and My Girl." He recreated his role of Bill Snibson in "Me and My Girl" at Paper Mill, and starred as King Arthur in "Camelot." Brennan directed Paper Mill's "Noises Off," "Crazy For You" (which was televised for PBS) and last season's hit "The Sound of Music." This summer Jimmy directed "Call Me Madam" at Goodspeed Musicals, "On Your Toes" and "Noises Off" at the Cape Playhouse and starred opposite Sutton Foster in "Me and My Girl" at Pittsburgh CLO.

Jerry Bock (Music) was born in New Haven on November 23, 1928. Thirty years later he and Sheldon Harnick gave birth to "The Body Beautiful" in Philadelphia. In between was "Catch a Star" and "Mr. Wonderful" (starring Sammy Davis Jr.). Bock and Harnick's celebrated collaboration yielded five scores in seven years: "The Body Beautiful," "Fiorello!" (Winner of the B'way triple crown: Tony Award, NY Critics Circle Award, Pulitzer Prize for Drama), "Tenderloin," "She Loves Me," "Fiddler on the Roof" (nine Tonys, including Best Musical), "The Apple Tree" and "The Rothschilds." In addition to the silver anniversary production of Fiddler (from which a major excerpt was featured in Jerome Robbins' Broadway), a highly esteemed revival of "The Rothschilds" enjoyed a successful run Off-B'way. Since then, Bock and Harnick were inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and were awarded the Spirit of American Creativity Award.

Sheldon Harnick (Lyrics), musical theatre career began in the 1950s with songs (e.g. "The Boston Beguine," "Merry Little Minuet") in revues on and Off-B'way. In 1957 he teamed with Jerry Bock to create the scores for a number of memorable musicals including "Fiorello!" (Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize), "She Loves Me" (Grammy), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Tony), "The Rothschilds" and "The Apple Tree." Other musicals: "Rex" (Richard Rodgers), "A Wonderful Life" (Joe Raposo), "A Christmas Carol" (Michel Legrand), "The Phantom Tollbooth" (Arnold Black and co-librettist Norton Juster) and "Dragons" (for which he wrote book, lyrics and music). Mr. Harnick has won two Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, three gold records and a platinum record. He is a longtime member of the Dramatists Guild and Songwriters Guild.

Joe Masteroff (Book) wrote the librettos for Bock and Harnick's "She Loves Me" and Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret". He also wrote the play "The Warm Peninsula" which starred Julie Harris. In the near future his new musical collaboration with composer Howard Marren, "Paramour," based on Jean Anouilh's "The Waltz of the Toreadors," will be presented at San Diego's Globe Theatre.

Paper Mill Family Week – October 27 through 31, 2004: During Family Week for each of our shows, patrons may purchase one full price adult ticket and get one children's ticket (age 18 and under) for half price! This special offer is subject to restrictions and availability. Not to be combined with any other offer. Does not apply to previously purchased tickets. Not available for sale on our website.

Paper Mill Conversation series: FREE and open to the public!

Join members of Paper Mill's Education Department for a conversation on how this charming romantic tale has warmed the hearts of audiences for decades. Meet in the theater's mezzanine on the following Thursday evenings, October 28 and November 4, 11, 18 and December 2 at 7:00pm. Where audiences meet and ask questions with members of the cast and staff. The Conversation Series is free to all Thursday evening ticket holders, and is an educational way to further enjoy your Paper Mill experience.

Paper Mill Audio-Described Performances
(Sensory seminar 90 minutes prior to curtain)

Wednesday, November 24, 2004, 12:30pm seminar, 2:00pm curtain
Saturday, November 27, 2004, 1:00pm seminar, 2:30pm curtain
Sunday, November 28, 2004, 6:00pm seminar, 7:30pm curtain

Paper Mill Sign-Interpreted/Open-Captioned PerformancesSunday, November 28, 2004 at 7:30pm Friday, December 3, 2004 at 8:00pm

About the Theatre:
Paper Mill Playhouse, located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ, 07041, is easily accessible by car from both New York (40 min. from midtown) and New Jersey via the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike and I-78. From NYC: PATH trains to Hoboken change to NJ Transit Train to Dover and get off at Millburn. The theatre is a short walk from the train. NJ Transit's Midtown Direct offers nonstop service from Manhattan to Millburn on selected days and times, convenient for weekday matinees and Saturday/Sunday performances. For further information call NJ Transit at 800-772-2222. Paper Mill Playhouse is barrier-free and completely accessible to people with disabilities; TTY box office number: 973-376-2181 for patrons who are hearing impaired. For each production, Paper Mill offers audio-described performances for the visually impaired, as well as sign-interpreted and open captioned performances for the hearing impaired. Braille and large-print programs, as well as infrared listening systems are also available for selected performances.

Tickets/Information:
Tickets $31-$68. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. All tickets subject to a $1.25 preservation fee.

$16 student rush tickets available day of performance with current ID.
BOX OFFICE PHONE: 973-376-4343; Group Sales (20 or more): 973-379-3636 x2438 Children under the age of 4 are not permitted into mainstage shows

"She Loves Me" is produced in association with Gene R. Korf and is made possible by a grant from The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation

"She Loves Me" is made possible in part by funds from The New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, A partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, And by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts

Expect the Unexpected! DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS www.jerseyarts.com 1-800-THE-ARTS

For over 65 years as one of the country's leading regional theatres, Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is supported in part by grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, in addition to contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals. Paper Mill is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Music Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

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