Photo Flash: First Look at SummerStage at Leonia's MY FAIR LADY

SummerStage at Leonia, opens their 17th season this weekend with the Lerner and Loewe classic, MY FAIR LADY, on the 60th anniversary of its Broadway debut in 1956. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Based on Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," it is a tale of an uppity phonetics professor, Henry Higgins, who wagers that he can take a lower class flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, and make her presentable in high society by teaching her how to speak proper English. Many of its songs have become familiar, stand-alone tunes: "I Could Have Danced All Night," "With a Little Bit of Luck," "Get me to the Church on Time," On the Street Where You Live," and many more.

As one of Bergen County's finest summer community theaters, SummerStage has been producing exhilarating, high quality shows for audiences around the New Jersey and New York region. The cast, crew and production staff are comprised of volunteers with a passion for the performing arts. From day-time lawyers to students, every individual brings talent and creativity to the stage.

This July, Executive Producer Dr. Frank Livelli has recruited New York and Los Angeles based lighting designer, Coby Chasman-Beck, who recently assisted on the Broadway production of She Loves Me; and Joey Ramon Mendoza, Professor of Scenic Design at Fordham-Lincoln Center. "We are thrilled to have such outstanding talent join our SummerStage family," Dr. Livelli stated. "It is a joy to collaborate with them to create an unforgettable experience for the audience."

Kerry Dunn will portray Henry Higgins opposite Erica Twiss as Eliza Doolittle in this intimate production. The cast will also feature James Lesko as Colonel Pickering, David Jones as Alfred Doolittle, Jeanmarie Garver-Gaydos as Mrs. Higgins, Joseph Nasta as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and Patricia Phillips as Mrs. Pearce. The cast is rounded out by Gabriel Borges, Daniel Giordano, Tony Martin, Joseph Riley, Steven P. Taylor, John Michael Villa, Thomas Vorsteg, Diane Arabella, Ashlei Carlson, Debora Davidson, Jennifer Holak, Isabella Martin, Elizabeth Porco, Caitlin Schiro, Samantha Silver, and Theresa Taylor.

MY FAIR LADY will be performed at the historic Civil War Drill Hall Theater (130 Grand Ave, Leonia, NJ) running July 14th through July 31st. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm, and Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors/students. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 201-944-4300, or at local Leonia businesses: Soloist Music, Pacicco Jewelers, and Pooch Parlor.

Photo Credit: Tim Larsen, Joey Mendoza