Photo Flash: First Look at Jay Armstrong Johnson, Alysha Umphress and More in Barrington Stage's ON THE TOWN

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and TriStan Wilson Managing Director, presents the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town now through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening is Sunday, June 16 at 5pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

On the Town will be directed by Tony Award-winner (Urinetown) John Rando and choreographed by Emmy Award-winner (TV's SMASH) Joshua Bergasse, with music direction by Darren R. Cohen. Rando, Bergasse and Cohen are all BSC Associate Artists.

On the Town marked the Broadway debuts of the music of Leonard Bernstein, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on the ballet "Fancy Free" by Jerome Robbins.

Barrington Stage Company's cast features Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) as Gabey; Deanna Doyle (Encores! On Your Toes) as Ivy Smith; Elizabeth Stanley (Million Dollar Quartet, Encores! Merrily We Roll Along) as Claire; Clyde Alves (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes) as Ozzie; Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hands on a Hard Body, Working) as Chip; Alysha Umphress(American Idiot, On A Clear Day...) as Hildy; Tony Award nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown, Hello, Dolly! at Ford's Theatre) as Madame Dilly, Tony Award-winner Michael Rupert (Sweet Charity, Falsettos, Legally Blonde) as Judge Pitkin, and an ensemble of 18 including Chip Abbott, Jane Bernhard, Chloe Campbell, Jenifer Dillow, Elizabeth Flanagan, Hannah Florence, Allison Guinn, Karen Hyland, Christopher Job, Michael Kushner, Jason Luks, Megan Mekjian, Harris Milgrim, Kyle Scanlon, Michael Scirrotto, Kelly Sheehan, Gordon Stanley, and Chloe Tiso.

Actors returning to BSC are Jay Armstrong-Johnson (Pool Boy) and Alysha Umphress (Funked Up Fairy Tales). Barrington Stage's 2013 Musical Theatre Apprentices are Jane Bernhard, Jenifer Dillow, Michael Kushner, Kyle Scanlon, and Chloe Tiso.

The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (sets), Jennifer Caprio (costumes), Jason Lyons (lighting), Ed Chapman (sound). Renee Lutz is production stage manager.

On the Town is the story of Three Sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York City in 1944. Squeezed for time, they all manage to find love and incredible adventures in the Big Apple. On the Town features the first Broadway score by Bernstein, Comden and Green with such gems as "New York, New York," "I Can Cook Too," "Lonely Town" and "Some Other Time."

Written in less than 8 months following the May 1944 premiere of the Jerome Robbins ballet "Fancy Free", the musical comedy On the Town opened December 28, 1944, at the Adelphi Theatre with Betty Comden, Adolph Green, John Battles, Sono Osato, Cris Alexander, and Nancy Walker. The show was revived Off-Broadway with Harold Lang, Joe Bova and Pat Carroll in 1959 and on Broadway in 1971 (with Phyllis Newman, Donna McKechnie and Bernadette Peters) and 1998 (with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lea DeLaria). The 2008 NY City Encores! revival starred Tony Yazbeck, Leslie Kritzer and Justin Bohon. The 1949 MGM film starred Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen.

On the Town will be presented on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding 6/12, 6/14 and 6/19), Sunday at 5pm. Please note Thursday, July 4 there is no 8pm evening performance; there will be a 2pm matinee. Press Opening: Sunday, June 16 at 5pm. Tickets start at $20. Tickets to the Low Priced Preview Performances June 12-14 are $15/$20. Seniors: $39 & $34 all matinees. Tickets for youth ages 6-18 are $15 all performances (subject to availability).

Photo Credit: Kevin Sprague

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