42nd Street Moon To Present 'Irma La Douce' Starting 9/27

 42nd Street Moon, the company that celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, opens its 2008-09 Season in with one of the big hits of the 1960-61 season, the saucy Irma La Douce, the hit Parisian musical which was a sensation in London before its Tony-winning New York run.  The story of Irma, the big-hearted streetwalker who falls for a young law student, was later made into a hit movie starring Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon, but with the songs sadly relegated to background music.  The show previews on September 25 and 26, and opens on Saturday, September 27, running through October 12 at the Eureka Theatre.
 
One of the most successful musicals of the 1960s, Irma played simultaneously in France, the UK, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil, and Italy.  Disagreements between the various authors have kept the English-language version restricted for nearly thirty years; the last SF production was in 1978 for the old Civic Light Opera starring Priscilla Lopez and Larry Kert.
 
Marguerite Monnot, whose songs are intimately linked to France's best-loved singer, Edith Piaf, composed the score, with the book and original French lyrics by Alexandre Breffort. The English lyrics and book are by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman.  Hit songs from the production include "Our Language of Love," as well as "Dis-Donc," "There is Only One Paris for That," "Valse Milieu" and "From a Prison Cell."  
 
Alison Ewing makes her company debut in the title role of Irma.  Her Bay Area credits include the Marin Theatre Company's production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…,  and the role of the Baker's Wife in Into The Woods at Theatreworks, She also played several different roles in Cabaret, appearing on Broadway, in the national tour and the Paris production.
 
Steve Rhyne appears as Nestor Le Fripe, the law student so in love with Irma that he invents another persona in order to become her one-man provider, "M. Oscar." Rhyne has performed with numerous Bay Area theater companies, and has also enjoyed a long association with the 42nd Street Moon, appearing most recently in Out of This World last season.  

Others in the cast are Bill Fahrner as Bob, Rudy Guerrero as Polyte Le Mou, Victor-Alexander Tapia as Roberto, Michael Barrett Austin as Persil, Nick Nakashima as Frangipane, and Chris Uzelac as Jojo.  The police inspector is played by DC Scarpelli, with Robert J. Cowan and Kyle Payne playing multiple roles.
 
42nd Street Moon's Artistic Director Greg MacKellan will direct this production, with musical direction by G. Scott Lacy. Linda Posner choreographs. Posner has a history with the show - as the Tony-nominated Broadway star Leland Palmer, she toured in Irma La Douce in the late 1960s. The costumes will be designed by Louise Jarmilowicz, with set decoration by Tom Orr.

The season continues with the Gershwin hit Girl Crazy (Oct. 23 - Nov. 16); followed by the delightful gem Ben Franklin in Paris (Nov. 28 - Dec. 14); The Baker's Wife by the unbeatable team of Joseph Stein and Steven Schwartz (March 19 - April 5, 2009).  It concludes with the rip-roaring treat Wildcat (May 7 -24, 2009) starring Maureen McGovern. The company will also present, The Great Revues, celebrating a lost Broadway art, a non-subscription production from April 16 - 26.

Irma La Douce will preview on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 25 & 26 at 8 p.m., and open on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.  Subscriptions ranging from $96 to $162 with discounts for seniors and students, and single tickets ($24 - $42) 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.   A special $25 Childrens' Subscription Series is available for a 1 p.m. matinee on the 2nd Saturday of each production for those under 18 years-of-age.

2nd Street Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, contributing to its evolution and continuing vitality by presenting staged concert performances of classic and rarely performed musical works. Through productions, educational programs, and community outreach, the company is committed to increasing the awareness and appreciation of the rich heritage and cultural perspective of the musical theatre and its vast influence on the world stage. Since 1993 the company has staged more than 90 musicals, as well as several revues celebrating the dazzling legacy of the 20th Century's greatest musical theater composers and lyricists.