Elder & Schoeffler Headline Revised Windy City in Philly

by BWW News Desk Aug. 14, 2006

Windy City, the 1982 musical version of the classic newsroom comedy The Front Page, will be seen at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in a revised version that will run from September 5th through October 22nd. Opening night is set for September 13th.

Starring David Elder as Hildy and Paul Schoeffler as Walter, Windy City will feature "three new songs in addition to original numbers that have been freshened up a bit," according to composer Tony Macaulay, whose music complements the book and lyrics of Dick Vosburgh (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine). Macaulay has written pop hits such as "Build Me Up Buttercup" and "Don't Give Up On Us Baby."

The musical is based on the play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. "Love is in the air in the Windy City, Chicago, 1929. Our story begins with reporter Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson. News on the street is that he's going to quit the business, marry the daughter of a movie mogul and take a job at the studios. He has one last story to write – and it's an interview with Earle Williams, a criminal who's scheduled to hang in the morning. There's an escape, a shooting and a scoop to be had," according to press notes on the show, which premiered in London in 1982. Marc Robin directs.

In addition to Elder (42nd Street, Kiss Me, Kate) and Schoeffler (Sweet Charity, Peter Pan), the show will feature Cristen Boyle as Natalie Lewis, Keith Gerchak as Earl Williams, Denise Whelan as Molly Malloy, as well as Bev Appleton, Maggie Anderson, Harold Barnard, Bill Bateman, Stephen Berger, David Brummel, Curt Dale Clark, Jeffrey Coon, Michael Daly, Kelley Faulkner, Lee Golden, William Hartery, Colleen Hazlett, Donna Ryan, Peter Schmitz, William Solo, Stuart Zagnit, John Callaghan, Manny Carrera, Joe O'Brien and Kelly Jean Graham.

Windy City will feature sets by Robert Kovach, costumes by Colleen Gready, lighting by Paul Wonsek and sound by Ryk Lewis, with musical direction by Douglass G. Lutz.

Visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org for tickets and more information.