Woodminster Summer Musicals Presents SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Runs 8/7-16
Producers Associates, Inc. continues the 43rd Season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals with "Singin' In the Rain," a musical based on the 1952 MGM film of the same name. Often called the greatest movie musical, "Singin' in the Rain" was adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their own original award-winning screenplay. Music is by Nacio Herb Brown, lyrics by Arthur Freed. The show runs August 7-16, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the first weekend and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the second weekend. All performances are at 8 p.m.
The original Broadway production ran for 405 performances, and a London version with Tommy Steele was an even bigger hit, running for several years. A touring version ran a year, and the show has continued to be a favorite for regional theater companies brave enough to make it rain onstage. Hilarious comedy and great songs like "Good Morning," "Make 'Em Laugh," and "Broadway Melody" have come straight from screen to stage.
Woodminster's "Singin' In The Rain" will be directed by Joel Schlader, with musical direction by Richard Vetterli, vocal direction by Kim Vetterli, and set design by Gary Barten. Choreography is by Cynthia Ferrer, who originated the role of Kathy Seldon in the first national tour of the show. Cindy Ferrer has strong local roots, and in fact performed at Woodminster as a young teenager before going on to national and regional stage acting success in roles like The Unsinkable Mollie Brown, Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific," and Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes," in addition to numerous film and television credits.
The Woodminster Summer Musicals are performed under the stars at Woodminster Amphitheater, an open-air performance facility in Joaquin Miller Park high in the Oakland Hills. The park's spectacular views and serene woodsy environment made it the perfect setting for the amphitheater, cascades, reflecting pool, and paths that were originally built as a WPA project in 1939-40. For many East Bay families, it is a long-standing summer tradition to enjoy a picnic in the park and then see a musical at Woodminster.