42nd Street Moon Presents Tribute to Harburg

42nd Street Moon offers a glorious musical salute to lyrical whiz, E. Y. Yip Harburg, with the world premiere of Peddling Rainbows, a revue celebrating Harburg's poetry and songs. It previews May 15 and 16, opens May 17 and runs through May 25.   Season subscribers are offered a discount for this production, which is not part of the subscription series. 
 
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg (1896–1981) began writing lyrics during the 1930s, including standards like "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" the classic anthem of the Depression.  He went on to create the lyrics for The Wizard of Oz and such musicals as Finian's Rainbow, Bloomer Girl, Jamaica, and numerous other hits of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.  Altogether he wrote the lyrics to over 600 songs with a variety of composers, as well as two volumes of satiric light verse. He was dedicated to social justice, and was often referred to as "Broadway's social conscience," which landed him in trouble with the Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s.  
 
His noted composer-collaborators included luminaries like Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Jerome Kern, and Vernon Duke. Peddling Rainbows will includes his most beloved hits like "It's Only a Paper Moon," "April in Paris," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?," "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," "Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe," "Over the Rainbow," "Down with Love," and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," as well several lesser-known gems spotlighting Harburg's renowned wordplay including" Salome" and "Never Trust a Virgin."

Peddling Rainbows will be directed and choreographed by Tom Segal.   The small ensemble bringing Harburg's lyrics to life include Andrea Brembry, who has appeared in Crowns at the Marines Memorial and Blue, Dance on Widow's Row, Ain't Misbehavin', Seven Guitars, and Eubie at the Lorraine Hansbury Theatre.  Brembry is returning to the Moon stage for the first time since As Thousands Cheer in 1994. Other Moon veterans in Peddling Rainbows are Bill Fahrner, most recently seen in Oh, Lady! Lady!! and Mack & Mabel; multiple BATCC award-winner Susan Himes-Powers, whose Moon credits include Once Upon a Mattress, The Cabaret Girl, and Oh, Captain!, Maggie May (Flora the Red Menace), and Peter Sroka (Finian's Rainbow, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes).  New to 42nd Street Moon are Scarlett Hepworth and 16-year-old Alexander Nee.

Tickets ranging from  $22 - $38 are available through the 42nd Street Moon Box Office at 415/255-8207 (Open Tues. – Fri. from noon to 5 p.m.), or through the website www.42ndstmoon.org.  All performances are presented at San Francisco's intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St. in San Francisco.