BELLS ARE RINGING Revival Begins at Musicals Tonight!
Bells Are Ringing has a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Jule Styne. It starred Judy Holliday was directed by Jerome Robbins and choreographed by Robbins and Bob Fosse. It opened in 1956 and ran for nearly three years. The 1960 movie starred Judy Holliday and Dean Martin.
Ella Peterson (Oakley Boycott) works at her cousin Sue's (Amie Bermowitz) company - Susanswerphone. But she does much more than take messages - she tries to help her clients. As the voice of Santa she convinces one client's son to eat his spinach. As the voice of his concerned mother she tries to convince playwright Jeffrey Moss (Brent Heuser) that more self-confidence will result in a script that will please producer Larry Hastings (Don Rey). As song-plugger, she helps her dentist - Dr. Kitchell (Will Porter) - get his song in Jeff's play. As agent she helps actor-wannabe, Blake Barton (Roger Reed), get a role in that play. Of course she falls for Jeff in the process. Sue also falls in love, with con man J. Sandor Prantz (Cooper Grodin), who really wants to use her service to take bets. But two Keystone cops - Inspector Barnes (Bill Bateman) and his side-kick Francis (Stephen Raymond) stumble in. They think the message service is being used to connect boys to girls not boys to fillies. Ella's girlfriend Gwynne (Samantha Gershman) tries to give her sound advice and delivery boy Carl (Pedro Rangel) tries to give her Cha-Cha lessons. Helping keep this theatrical soufflé from collapsing are ensemble members Kacie Burns, Ryan Fitzgerald, Jonathan Hoover, Tanner Rose, Alexandria Van Paris, Andrea Weinzierl, Caitlin Wilayto, and Chris Woods.
But will true love prevail? How could it not with songs like "Long Before I Knew You"; "Just in Time"; "It's a Perfect Relationship"; "I Met a Girl"; "I'm Going Back"; "The Party's Over"; and "Mu-Cha-Cha."
Directed and choreographed by Casey Colgan, the Bells Are Ringing creative team also features music director/vocal arranger Christopher Stephens.
Performances run tonight, October 17, through October 29. Four matinees at 2:00 Wed/FRI/Sat/Sun Four evenings at 7:30 Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat. All shows take place at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row Studios (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at the Box Office or from Telecharge at 212-239-6200.
