Jacoby, Dvorsky, Marguiles, Minarik Join Signature's Kander

Mark Jacoby will join two-time Tony Award winning stars Chita Rivera and George Hearn in the Signature Theatre (Arlington, VA) production of The Visit.  Signature's four-month celebration of the works of John Kander and Fred Ebb will also include The Happy Time, to star George Dvorsky, David Margulies and Michael Minarik.

The Happy Time was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1968, in a production directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and starring Robert Goulet.  "The show tells the story of Jacques Bonnard, a world-traveling photographer, who returns home to the small French-Canadian town of St. Pierre in search of his happy youth.  Along the way, Bonnard fires up the romantic spirit of his hometown's inhabitants and tempts his godson with dreams of escape," explain press notes.

Featuring music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, The Happy Time includes a book by N. Richard Nash, based on a play by Samuel Taylor; to be directed by Michael Unger.

George Dvorsky (Philippe) has appeared on Broadway in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (revival), Passion and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (revival), and the New York City Opera productions of Brigadoon and Cinderella. 

David Margulies (Grandpere) Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, 45 Seconds from Broadway, A Thousand Clowns, Angels In America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, Conversations with my Father, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Comedians and The Iceman Cometh.

Michael Minarik (Jacques) has appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables.  National tours: Little Women (John Brooke), Urinetown. Regional credits include Urinetown (Bobby Strong; ACT San Francisco), The Rink (Dino; Cape Playhouse), Jekyll & Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde; West Va. Public) and Camelot (Squire Dap; Paper Mill Playhouse).

Happy Time performances will be Tuesday, April 1 – Sunday, June 1, officially opening performances are Sunday 6 at 7PM and Monday April 7 at 8PM.

Show times:  Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:30PM, Thursday & Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM & 8PM, and Sunday at 2PM & 7PM.  There is no 2PM matinee performance on Saturday, April 5, no 7:30PM performance on Tuesday, April 8, and no matinee and evening performances on May 17.

The Visit, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, features a book by Terrence McNally, based on the play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt; to be choreographed by Ann Reinking and directed by Frank Galati.

Two-time Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and George Hearn, star in this new musical based on one of the great plays of the 20th century. "Claire Zachanassian was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover. Several decades and seven husbands later, Zachanassian has become the richest woman in the world, yet her hometown has fallen on hard times. When Zachanassian returns with an offer to save the town, salvation comes with an outrageous price tag," explain press notes.

Mark Jacoby will play The Mayor in the production, which stars two-time Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and George Hearn.

Jacoby's Broadway credits include Sweet Charity (1986), The Phantom of the Opera, Grand Hotel, Ragtime, Man of La Mancha, and Sweeney Todd (2005).  He was nominated for a Tony Award for the role of Gaylord Ravenal in the 1994 revival of Show Boat.

Performances for The Visit are Tuesday, May 13 – Sunday, June 22, officially opening performances are Tuesday May 27 at 7:30PM and Wednesday May 28 at 7:30PM.

Show times:  Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:30PM, Thursday & Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM & 8PM, and Sunday at 2PM & 7PM. Exceptions:  There are no performances on Saturday, May 17.

Signature's Kander & Ebb Celebration also features the Tony-Award winning Kiss of the Spider Woman starring the previously announced Will Chase, Natascia Diaz, and Hunter Foster (March 11- April 20), in a production directed by Eric Schaeffer.

Signature Theatre is just 10 minutes from downtown Washington, DC in Arlington's Shirlington Village.  The new theater complex is located at 4200 Campbell Avenue (22206), just off I-395 at the Shirlington exit.  For directions visit www.signature-theatre.org.  Free parking is available in the adjacent public garage.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT (7328); or call Signature Box Office (703) 820-9771. Signature Theatre is located at 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA  22206. For more details, visit www.signature-theatre.org.  

Mark Jacoby (photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd)

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