Musical Theatre West Presents MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS Runs Through Nov. 15

Musical Theatre West opens its 57th season with MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the stage adaptation of the beloved Judy Garland classic. Previews of this production began on October 30th and opened October 31, 2009 and runs through November 15, 2009 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is a rare treasure in musical theatre and is based on the heartwarming 1944 MGM film starring Judy Garland. This show harkens back to a simpler, sepia-tinted time as the story follows the Smith family at the 1904 World's Fair. We see how their love and respect for each other is tempered with the genuine humor that can only be generated by such a close family. According to MTW producers, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is "perfect for the entire family!" This production with lavish costumes and Victorian sets also includes classic musical numbers, "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Under the Bamboo Tree."

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS tells the story of four sisters living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904. The stage adaptation opened on Broadway at the George Gershwin Theatre on November 2, 1989 and closed on June 10, 1990 after 252 performances. The Broadway production starred Betty Garrett, George Hearn, Charlotte Moore and Milo O'Shea, with direction by Louis Burke and choreography by Joan Brickhill. The stage musical features additional songs that were not in the original film. It eventually earned four Tony® nominations: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Hugh Wheeler), Best Original Score (Music by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane; Lyrics by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane), and Best Choreography (Joan Brickhill).

The MGM film version of Meet Me in St. Louis stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart, and Joan Carroll. The movie was adapted by Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe from a series of short stories by Sally Benson, originally published in The New Yorker magazine and later in the novel 5135 Kensington. The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who met future wife Garland on the set. Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which became hits before the film was even released.

The cast includes Cassie Silva, Mary GorDon Murray, Sarah Bermudez, Robert Pieranunzi, Jason Evans, Kevin Cooney, Grace Kaufman, Alexa Freeman, Cathy Newman, Jeremy Bernard and Norman Large. Also featured is Andrew ames, Seth Belliston, Courtney Evans, Stephanie Gerson, Zane Gerson, Karla Gilbert, Danny Moreno, Linda Neel, Allison Paraiso, Tiffany Reid, Katie Schaar, John J. Todd, Daniel Smith and Karl Warden.

Remaining performances: Thursday, November 12 – 8:00 PM; Friday, November 13 – 8:00 PM; Saturday, November 14 – 2:00 PM; Saturday, November 14 – 8:00 PM; Sunday, November 15 – 2:00 PM.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, presented by Musical Theatre West, is directed by Richard Israel. Musical Direction is by Daniel Thomas. Choreography is by Lee Martino. Ticket prices range  from $30 and $60 with special premium seating available ranging in price from $60 to $80 (first twelve rows center, subject to availability). Group discounts for parties of 15 or more are available by calling the Group Sales Department. All tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 562-856-1999 x 224, or in person at the Box Office at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach (corner of Ximeno Avenue). Tickets are now available online at the MTW website, www.musical.org.
 
Performances are held at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 Atherton Street in Long Beach, on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The theater is just west of Palo Verde Avenue.

Under the direction of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, Musical Theatre West remains one of Southern California’s oldest and most respected theater production companies, and continues to be one of the fastest-growing arts organizations in the Long Beach area. The company is enjoying its 57th season and is currently celebrating eleven years since their inaugural production at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center. MTW has recently reached out to surrounding communities, performing at the Heritage Forum in Anaheim and the Curtis Theatre in Brea.

Visit www.musical.org for more information and showtimes.

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