RESPECT: A Musical Journey Of Women Gets Extended Thru 6/28 At Act II Playhouse

Act II Playhouse has announced a full-month extension for its high-energy musical, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, thanks to strong early ticket sales. Respect-which opens for previews today-now runs through June 28. A four-week run had been scheduled.
Act II Producing Artistic Director Bud Martin directs this uplifting story of women's evolving roles and lives, captured through popular songs of the 20th century - songs about dreams found... love lost...men, women, and work. As they go from co-dependence to independence-from "Someone To Watch Over Me" to "I Will Survive" to "Hero"-the women of Respect will remind viewers of their sisters, mothers, daughters, wives, friends, and selves.

Martin has assembled a cast of four talented actresses: Lois Sach Binder (Menopause: The Musical at Society Hill Playhouse), Danielle G. Herbert (Caroline, or Change at Arden Theatre), Jennifer Lorae (Muny's Fiddler on the Roof), and Cheryl Williams (Hedda Gabler, Mauckingbird Theatre).
"When I first heard about Respect and did some research on the history of the show and its productions, I was amazed at how well it draws new audiences for the presenting theatres," said Martin. "It seems to make a connection to women that few shows do," said Martin.

Indeed, a four-week extension is unprecedented in Act II's history. Respect has been performed to sold-out crowds at several venues around the country, including the Cuillo Centre for the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL, the Stage Door's 26th Street Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Chicago Center for the Performing Arts.

The original version of Respect, inspired by Dr. Dorothy Marcic's book Respect: Women and Popular Music, began in 1999 as a series of one-woman presentations and then developed into a full-scale musical theatre piece, presented for the first time in 2004.

Collin Maier is Music Director of Act II Playhouse's production, and Carmela Guiteras Mayo is choreographer. The production team also includes lighting designer James Leitner and sound designer Mark Valenzuela.

Opening night-Friday, May 8-is sold out, as is many other May performances. Tickets are $30 for all Wednesday-Thursday performances and $35 for Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. Group sales packages are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.act2.org or call the Act II Box Office at (215) 654-0200.