SINGING IN THE RAIN Hits The Stage At Ogunquit Playhouse 8/12

Get ready for the perfect storm! Ogunquit Playhouse is mounting the biggest show in its 77 year history! Forget your troubles, come on get happy with Singin' in the Rain - live and raining on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage! Based on the joyous MGM film, it is touted by many as the best musical ever written; August 12th through September 12th. This glorious musical will be staged for The Playhouse by the multi-talented and highly acclaimed director and choreographer, Jayme McDaniel.

Mounting Singin' in the Rain brings more than the usual challenges; the set for the production is one of the largest and heaviest ever put on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage, rivaled only by the 2007 production of Crazy for You. According to Executive Artistic Director, Bradford Kenney, "To bring to life one of the most popular movie musicals ever, involves not only mounting a huge Broadway musical, but also incorporating the use of special effects, an actual rainstorm on our stage with choreography, and the interworking of multiple film sequences projected alongside live action!" Singin' in the Rain centers around the burgeoning era of "talkies" and the demise of silent films. As the characters in Singin' in the Rain take their journey, many scenes occur not only on stage, but also in silent and talking films.

True to the Ogunquit Playhouse's commitment to top quality productions, the silent and talking , black and white films used in the show were created on the Ogunquit stage, using local film producers, Lee Cote and Blake Baldwin of Video Creations, along with a film crew, actors, special scenery and props, period costumes (the films take place during the 1600 and 1700s) and wig and makeup artists "It is a dream come true for us to be a part of the Ogunquit Playhouse production team, and to be doing so on such a high level is an honor," exclaimed Blake. Video Creations is a new sponsor of The Playhouse and has been involved with the videotaping and archiving of all Playhouse productions this season.

In addition to creating these films, The Playhouse production team had to figure out the mechanics of making it rain on stage, and also, exclaimed Director of Production, Robert Levinstein, "we had to figure out how to keep the rain where we want it!" The challenge of controlling the water element of the show, the extra electricity needed to run the rain pipes, the heater and the reservoir took months of preparation. According to Bradford Kenney, "We are ready for the challenge!" The special effects of this show are unparalleled in the history of the Ogunquit Playhouse.

This beloved musical stars Joey Sorge as Don Lockwood. Sorge recently played the Fonz in the National Tour of Happy Days and starred on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone. Broadway actress, Amanda Lea LaVergne returns to the Ogunquit stage as Cathy Selden, after last being seen as Red Girl in the Ogunquit Playhouse production of Shout! The Mod Musical. Jon Peterson joins the cast as Cosmo, his many credits include the Broadway production of Cabaret and a recent Drama Desk Award nomination for his performance in George M. Peterson was last seen on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage wowing audiences in the critically acclaimed 2006 production of Cabaret. His bold, brash portrayal of the Kit Kat Klub's Emcee (alongside Andrea McArdle) earned glowing reviews. Also joining the cast is Broadway actress Amy Bodnar starring as Lina Lamont.

The season comes to a close when Elvis Presley's hits roar to life on The Playhouse stage in the new Broadway musical comedy All Shook Up, starring Sally Struthers. All Shook Up is guaranteed to knock your socks off! This mad-cap musical comedy, playing September 16th through October 11th, overflows with rock ‘n roll, gospel, romance and mistaken identities. All Shook Up is a story about a small town girl with big dreams and the motorcycle-riding roustabout she falls for. Among the many hits that will have you jumping out of your blue suede shoes are, "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," and "It's Now or Never." The King lives at The Playhouse this fall - shake, rattle or roll your way to the show that can't be missed!

The Ogunquit Playhouse is America's Foremost Summer Theatre producing the finest Broadway musicals each season, with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day Weekends. Main Stage ticket prices range from $41-$60 per show. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season, visit our website www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Tickets on-line or through the box office at 207-646-5511.

Photo Joey Sorge, Amanda Lea LaVergne, and Jon Peters