Musicals Tonight! Opens WHOOPEE Tonight at The Lion Theatre

Whoopee, Musicals Tonight!'s next production, has a book by William Anthony McGuire, music by Walter Donaldson, and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It opened on December 4, 1928 at the New Amsterdam Theater. It starred Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, and Buddy Ebsen. It was produced by Florenz Ziegfeld who closed the show after 407 performances even though it was a big hit, in order to rush it into production as a movie.

Sally (Katie Emerson), daughter of rancher Judson Morgan (Ronald L. Brown), has been promised in marriage to Sheriff Bob (Morgan McCann) but is in love with Dartmouth graduate and football hero, Wanenis (Lee Hollis Bussie) -- son of Black Eagle (Roger Rifkin). Sally jilts the Sheriff with the aid of Henry Williams (Blake Joseph), a hypochondriac who is visiting Arizona for his health, and is accompanied by his faithful nurse Mary (Amie Bermowitz). A chase ensues, and along the way they encounter the absentee owner of the Bar M Ranch, Jerome Underwood (Tony Triano), his weak-kneed son Chester (Brian Knoebel) and his man-hungry daughter Harriet (Elise Castle). Of course true love wins out in the end.

Cowgirls and cowboys in our show include Nicole Corris, Lauren Fijol, Chris Gleim, Jared Green, Jonathan Horvath, Matthew Ragas, Catie Shelley, Jeff Smith, and Nate Suggs.

Songs include: "Love Me or Leave Me", "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby", "My Baby Just Cares For Me" and "Makin' Whoopee".

Performances run tonight, March 3 - 15, 2015 at The Lion Theatre, part of the Theatre Row Studios complex at 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues). Tickets are $26.25 and can be purchased at the Box Office or from Telecharge at 212-239-6200.