Legacy Theatre Announces BABY for Spring Production, Opening 4/16

Tyrone, Georgia's Legacy Theatre recently announced it will close out its 2010 season with a production of Maltby and Shire's BABY. The production will begin its run April 16th and play through May 2nd.

Artistic Director, Mark Smith, calls BABY this year's "hidden gem", and says it will offer audiences something a little different. "This is by far most romantic show we've ever produced at the Legacy. If you loved movies like When Harry Met Sally and Love, Actually, you'll absolutely love this show." Premiering on Broadway in the early 80's, Baby is a musical comedy that tells the story of three different couples at different stages of their life who find out they are going to have a baby.

Smith is quick to add that the show is not about babies. "It's actually about the comical, endearing, dramatic, and life-changing events that occur in the nine months between these three couples' hearing of the news and the actual event." Smith also poinTs out that if you've never been a fan of musicals, this show will win you over. "The story is relatable to everyone: whether you've had a baby, are going to have a baby, or even thinking about babies. It's a great date night!"

The cast of Baby is made up of a combination of national and local talent. "This is one of the best casts we've ever assembled," says Smith. Playing the youngest couple are two of The Legacy's most endearing actors, Courtney Godwin and Brad Southards, both Atlanta actors who just recently starred together in The Legacy's High School Musical 2 as Sharpay and Troy and in The Atlanta Lyric Theatre's All Night Strut. The thirty-something couple is played by Matthew Helton and Christy Baggett. Matthew, a native of Illinois, was last seen in The Legacy's Song and Dance and has since been performing in regional theatres across the country. Christy comes to The Legacy straight from The Aurora Theatre's A Catered Affair and The Atlanta Lyric's Will Rogers' Follies. The oldest of the three couples is played by newcomer to The Legacy, Joe Swaney, and a familiar face to Legacy audiences, Amy Bridges. Joe has performed in most of the professional theatres in Atlanta, and owners Mark and Bethany Smith are proud and excited that he decided to make Baby his premier at The Legacy. Audiences will remember Amy from The Spitfire Grill as well as her hilarious turn as June Sanders in last year's Smoke on the Mountain. Rounding out the stellar cast are Peachtree City residents, Ed Richardson, Fracena Byrd, PatTy Richardson. Returning to the Legacy in Baby as well is Larry Cox, Jr., whom many of the ladies will remember as the young crooner in My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra.

"Everyone will identify with one if not all of these couples," says Smith. "It always makes the evening so much more enjoyable when you can relate to the events on stage. It's what theatre is all about. This is oNe You won't want to miss."

Mark Smith graduated from Abilene Christian University with a BA in theatre. He has performed with various professional theatres across the country. He toured internationally with California Theatre Center, an award-winning children's theatre. Regional directing credits include Driving Miss Daisy, The Tempest, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, the RSC's adaptation of Peter Pan, the Southeastern Premiere of Alan Menken and Tim Rice's King David, and the World Premiere of Going with Jenny by playwright Thomas Ward at Atlanta's Theatrical Outfit. Legacy directing credits include A Christmas Survival Guide, The Year Santa Almost Forgot Christmas, The Cay, Song and Dance, Miss Nelson Is Missing, Disney's High School Musical, Greater Tuna, It's A Wonderful Life, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Spitfire Grill, The Wizard of Oz, Plaid Tidings, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Alexander...Bad Day and the World Premiere of Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry, soon to be published by Playscripts Inc.

Baby runs weekends only, April 16 through May 2. Shows are Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 3PM and 8PM; and Sundays at 3PM. Tickets for BABY range in price from $15 to $25 and may be purchsed online at www.thelegacytheatre.org.

For more information, visit www.thelegacytheatre.org.