The Great American Melodrama Presents SOUP DU JOUR, 4/28-6/12

Soup du Jour is not just an appetizer - it's the main course of fun at The Great American Melodrama! This terrific new musical, written by Todd Mueller and Hank Boland with music and lyrics by Gregg Opelka opens April 28 at the popular playhouse in Oceano.

It is the year 1939 and Pulitzer prize winning, ace reporter, Katherine Hawks (Melody Goodell), a writer for the New York Herald-Tribune, is looking forward to her new assignment in Paris. But before she leaves, her boss, JP Thompson (Shelby Nichols), assigns her one more story to try to boost circulation of his newspaper. Meanwhile, across town, Stewart Bailey (Christopher Boyd) has recently inherited his father's famous restaurant, Bailey's, known for its famous soup recipe. The restaurant, closed since the death of Mr. Bailey, is set to re-open for the wedding of Stewart and his high-society fiancee, Tiffany Vandervanden (Ali Keirn). Even famous food critic Shelly DeCoco (Leah Kolb) will be at the grand opening to critique the soup. But there's a fly in the soup... Stewart's father took the recipe to his grave, so now the plot really begins to simmer! In order to save the newspaper, Katherine goes undercover as a waitress to try to uncover the famous recipe and is hired by Stewart's faithful bartender, Franklin O'Shea (DJ Canaday). Antics ensue as everyone becomes interested in slurping up this secret family recipe. Winning songs, lightning-fast dialogue in the Tracy-Hepburn tradition, and a great plot are the delicious ingredients of this delightful tribute to 1930's comedies, directed by Melodrama favorite, George Walker.

This main course is followed by Please Stand By... The Tele-Vadueville Revue written by Jordan Richardson and Jim Shine, with direction by Shine, musical direction by Richardson and choreography by Michael Jenkinson. This song, dance and comedy revue pays tribute to 50 years of television from getting the set to work to arguments over the remote to parodies of sitcoms and game shows. Come salute the Boob Tube in this comedy filled tribute!

Soup du Jour opens April 28 and plays through June 12. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8pm, and Sundays at 6pm. (Regular Melodrama attendees should note the new, earlier showtimes for Saturday performances. On Thursday, May 12 a 2pm matinee will replace the 7pm performance.) The Melodrama's in-house snack bar features great food and drinks served before the show and during intermissions. Tickets are $18 to $22, with discounts available for groups, seniors, students, active military, and children. For more information or to make reservations call the Melodrama Box Office at 805-489-2499. The Great American Melodrama is located on Highway 1 in Oceano, just three miles south of Pismo Beach. The Melodrama has been providing professional family entertainment on the Central Coast since 1975. www.americanmelodrama.com

 

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