Revival of 'Rock Hunter' to Play as Part of MITF, 7/18-8/2

Wildcat Theatricals will present a new production of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? by George Axelrod as part of the 8th Midtown International Theatre Festival.  Performances begin Wednesday, July 18 for a six-performance limited run through Thursday, August 2 at the WorkShop Theatre Mainstage (312 W 36th St., 4th floor, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

"A novice reporter gets more than he bargained for when he interviews silver screen sex goddess Rita Marlowe in this devilishly funny satire, directed by Holly-Anne Ruggiero (Jersey Boys)," state press materials.

The cast includes: Maria Teresa Creasey, Ed Crescimanni, Ryan Cross, Jennifer Danielle, Nick Mannix, Tuck Milligan (B'way: The Kentucky Cycle, The Herbal Bed, Equus), Eric Rubbe (Blue Man Group) and Morgan Sills (Forever Plaid - national company). Costume design is by Maria Zamansky. Set design and props are by Anne Goelz. Sound Design is by Jana Hoglund. Hair design is by Leah Loukas. The Production Stage Manager is Lauren Korba.

George Axelrod (author, 1922-2003) was a renowned playwright, screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist. For the Broadway stage, in addition to Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, he wrote The Seven Year Itch and Goodbye Charlie; produced Visit to a Small Planet; and directed …Rock Hunter, Once More with Feeling, and The Star-Spangled Girl. Axelrod's most famous screenplays include Bus Stop, The Manchurian Candidate, and his Academy Award nominated screenplay for Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? was originally produced on Broadway in 1955, where it ran for 444 performances. The original Broadway cast included Orson Bean, Jayne Mansfield, and Walter Matthau. Though 20th Century Fox bought the screen rights to the play, the film they made (starring Mansfield) only kept Axelrod's title--it had a completely different plot. This new Wildcat Theatricals production is a rare chance to see Axelrod's long-running original stage piece.

Show times are as follows: Wednesday, July 18 at 8:30 pm and Thursday, July 19 at 8:30 pm, Wednesday, July 25 at 8:30 pm and Thursday, July 26 at 8:30 pm, and Wednesday, August 1 at 8:30 pm and Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 pm.

To purchase tickets ($18.00): visit www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444. Visit www.willsuccessspoilrockhunter.com for more information.

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