Cygnet Theatre's MY FAIR LADY Begins Tonight

My Fair Lady has been called "One of the Best Musicals of the Century" by The New York Times and "The Greatest Musical of All Time" by the Daily Telegraph. For more than 60 years, audiences have been flocking to this unforgettable theater experience based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, which opened over a century ago. It is a celebration of the power of music to tell stories, illuminate characters and delight audiences. San Diego theatregoers will have a chance to enjoy this beloved classic musical when My Fair Lady returns to Cygnet Theatre from tonight, March 5 - April 26. Opening Night is March 14.

When Professor Henry Higgins wagers he can transform a Cockney flower girl into an aristocratic lady, he never guesses that Eliza Doolittle will in turn transform him. The Lerner and Loewe award-winning classic features such enduring favorites as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain," "On the Street Where You Live," and "Get Me to the Church on Time." Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe were responsible for creating some of Broadway's most successful musical shows, including My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon.

The first production of My Fair Lady was staged on Broadway by Moss Hart in 1956 with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. It garnered six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Lead Actor, Direction, Scenic Design, Costume and Musical Director. Due to its popularity, it has been revived numerous times in New York, Paris and London and was made into an Oscar-winning film in 1964 featuring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.

Cygnet Theatre Artistic Director Sean Murray will reprise his dual roles as Director and Actor, playing the role of Henry Higgins. The production was was staged in Rolando in 2006. "I've been inspired and influenced by the 1936 film Pygmalion and will be working with our actors to focus strongly on Shaw's storytelling," explained Murray. "Our intimate space will provide an opportunity to really get to know the characters and experience the personal side of the story. Combined with the glorious score performed live and the input of our talented creative team, audiences are sure to fall in love all over again with this show." Murray is setting the production in 1937, as inspired by the film.

My Fair Lady is both a dramatic masterpiece and a great musical theatre tradition. The themes of this spectacular musical are enduring and are as relevant today as they have always been - class distinctions, societal prejudice and the gender divide.

Making her Cygnet Theatre debut is multi-talented Allison Spratt Pearce. Recognized for her "luminous" portrayal of Doolittle in a previous production on the East Coast, reviewers noted, "Her progression from submissive flower girl to self-aware woman is genuine and endearing. She also has the most beautiful songs in the show and sings them as they are meant to be sung."

The 10-member cast features three actors who are returning from the 2006 production. In addition to Murray as Higgins, Tom Stephenson (A Christmas Carol, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ) returns as Colonel Pickering and Ron Choularton (Gem of the Ocean, St. Nicholas) will reprise his role as Alfred Doolittle. Also featured in multiple roles are married couple Bryan Banville (Assassins) and Katie Whalley Banville (Company, Man of La Mancha), along with Charles Evans, Jr., (Spring Awakening, A Christmas Carol), Ralph Johnson (Our Town), Linda Libby (Company, The Importance of Being Earnest) and Debra Wanger (Spring Awakening).

Music Direction will be provided by Patrick Marion while David Brannen will serve as Choreographer. The production team also features costume design by Jeanne Reith, set design by Andrew Hull, lighting design by Chris Rynne, wig and makeup design by Peter Herman, sound design by Matt Lescault-Wood, and properties design by Syd Stevens. Jennifer Kozumplik will stage manage.

Performances are March 5 through April 26. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.

For more information regarding tickets, please contact the box office at 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.com. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street. Discounts are available for students, active-duty military, seniors and groups of 10 or more.