42nd Street Moon News

Greg MacKellan, artistic director of 42nd Street Moon, and Stephanie Rhoads, producing director, today announced details of the upcoming 2009-10 season of uncommon musical theater. The offering has been called 'Forget Your Troubles' and as Rhoads explains: 'In this time of turmoil and uncertainly, we hope that 42nd Street Moon will be a place to experience the sweet joy that a visit to vintage Broadway musicals can offer.'

he sixth annual San Francisco Theater Festival, a free one-day extravaganza of 100 shows on 14 stages has been scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2009, from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Yerba Buena Gardens arts complex, including the new Contemporary Jewish Museum.

In collaboration with 42nd Street Moon, a workshop production of a dramatic new musical Shadows of Pompeii debuts at the Eureka Theatre, April 16 - 26.

42nd Street Moon takes pride in presenting 'Craig Jessup Sings Noel Coward,' a tribute to writer, actor, director, composer and bon vivant Noel Coward, for four performances only at 7 pm on April 5, 7, 8 and 12 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street. Jessup will be accompanied by acclaimed Bay Area pianist, Ken Muir.

42nd Street Moon?s 2008/09 season draws to a close with Maureen McVerry starring in Cy Coleman?s rip-roaring musical treat, Wildcat, book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Cy Coleman. The show previews on May 7 and 8, and opens on Saturday, May 9. It runs at the Eureka Theatre through May 24.

42nd Street Moon proudly presents High Spirits, the musical version of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, opening March 21 and running through April 12 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street in San Francisco. As previously announced, it replaces The Baker's Wife, which will be presented next season. High Spirits, with a book, lyrics and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, adheres closely to Coward's original text, which was about a man who is haunted by the mischievous spirit of his dead wife. The playwright was delighted with the adaptation, and agreed to direct the Broadway show, which starred Edward Woodward, Louise Troy, Tammy Grimes and Beatrice Lillie. The show garnered eight Tony nominations in 1964, and proved to be Ms. Lillie's final Broadway appearance.

Greg MacKellan, artistic director of 42nd Street Moon, today announced that the company would postpone the production of The Baker's Wife scheduled in early spring, and replace it with High Spirits, the musical version of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, opening March 21 and running through April 5, 2009.

Here are the Nominations for Outstanding Awards from the San Francisco Bay Theatre Area Critics Circle. Winners will from each catagory will be announced in approximately two weeks. A Gala Cocktail party will be held for the winners in each catagory at A.C.T. Columbia Room on May 4th. AEA Members are noted in * For 'Entire Production' and 'Best Ensemble' AEA Theatres are * THEATRES OVER 300 DRAMA

42nd Street Moon takes pride in presenting 'Craig Jessup Sings Noel Coward,' a tribute to writer, actor, director, composer and bon vivant Noel Coward, for four performances only at 7 pm on April 5, 7, 8 and 12 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street. Jessup will be accompanied by acclaimed Bay Area pianist, Ken Muir.

April is the cruelest - and most hilarious - month at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, when Les Waters lets loose with another shocking script from Martin McDonagh. In 2007, the Obie Award-winning director scored a direct hit with his extended run of The Pillowman; since then, the Academy Award-winning author released his first feature film, In Bruges. Now Berkeley Rep reenlists these seasoned artists for another vicious comedy: The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this edgy farce begins previews on April 17, opens April 22, and closes May 17. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producers for this show are Marjorie Randolph, Betty and Jack Schafer, and Philip and Shirley Schild.

42nd Street Moon proudly presents High Spirits, the musical version of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, opening March 21 and running through April 12 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street in San Francisco. As previously announced, it replaces The Baker's Wife, which will be presented next season. High Spirits, with a book, lyrics and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, adheres closely to Coward's original text, which was about a man who is haunted by the mischievous spirit of his dead wife. The playwright was delighted with the adaptation, and agreed to direct the Broadway show, which starred Edward Woodward, Louise Troy, Tammy Grimes and Beatrice Lillie. The show garnered eight Tony nominations in 1964, and proved to be Ms. Lillie's final Broadway appearance.

42nd Street Moon today announced that the previously scheduled non-subscription program The Great Revues has been replaced with the dramatic new musical Shadows of Pompeii to run April 16 - 26, 2009. The show will be submitted in 2010 to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals. A saga of Romans living in the seaside village of Pompeii in AD 79 at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Shadows of Pompeii was written by Bay Area playwright R.C. Staab, with music and lyrics by Keith Herrmann, the Tony-nominated composer of Romance, Romance, Onward Victoria (also featured on Broadway) and Prom Queens Unchained, an off-Broadway hit.

As the season of romance is upon us, Ray of Light Theatre continues its astronomical 2008/2009 season with I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. A laugh-inducing, award-winning musical comedy about love in the suburbs, this stage sensation has been described as 'Seinfeld set to music'. It's a hilarious look at love and relationships that is touching, insightful and humorous. With six actors playing over forty roles scaling the dizzying spectrum of male/female relationships, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change reveals the difficulties and joys of connecting with another person. Featuring amazing local talent (with many familiar faces) and live musicians, Ray of Light Theatre is bringing I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change to the San Francisco stage at Off-Market Theatres - 965 Mission St (between 5th/6th). Running February 5 - 28, 2009, this 4-week limited engagement makes for the perfect Valentine's treat. The show plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. For tickets ($18-$30) and information, please visit www.roltheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at TIX Bay Area (Booth in Union Square) or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Student/senior discounts available. The Cast Sarah Kathleen Farrell Holly Nugent Amy Penney Alex Kirschner Justin Taylor Nixon Justin Torres Director/Choreographer: Ellyn Marie Marsh Ellyn Marie Marsh is very happy to be back in the Bay Area, where she was raised. She was last seen in the bay in Steve Silvers Beach Blanket Babylon, where she received rave reviews for her spot-on impressions of Barbara Streisand, Britney Spears, Hillary Clinton and the legendary Pineapple Princess. Other performing credits include Lincoln Center's My Fair Lady (Mrs. Hopkins) where she shared the stage with Kelsey Grammar, Brian Denehey and Kelli O'Hara, European and National Tours and Regional Credits of Broadway Dancin', West Side Story (Anita), Grease (Rizzo), Chorus Line (Diana), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Xmas Carol-Madison Square Garden Version (Xmas past), blah blah blah. Her directing and choreographing credits include, Once on this Island, Grease, Annie and High School Musical. She directed Ray of Light Theatre's 2006 production of Seussical. www.ellynmarsh.com. Love and thanks to Shane and the ROLT family, and to her husband, Travas, who supports all she does.

The Custom Made Theatre Company (www.customstage.org) today announced the appointment of Gabriel Grilli as Artistic Associate. Gabriel will appear in the company's upcoming spring production of Noah Haidle's Mr. Marmalade (Actor's Equity approval pending) and will have an ongoing company role as a director, teacher, performer and administrator.

As the season of romance is upon us, Ray of Light Theatre continues its astronomical 2008/2009 season with I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. A laugh-inducing, award-winning musical comedy about love in the suburbs, this stage sensation has been described as 'Seinfeld set to music'. It's a hilarious look at love and relationships that is touching, insightful and humorous. With six actors playing over forty roles scaling the dizzying spectrum of male/female relationships, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change reveals the difficulties and joys of connecting with another person. Featuring amazing local talent (with many familiar faces) and live musicians, Ray of Light Theatre is bringing I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change to the San Francisco stage at Off-Market Theatres - 965 Mission St (between 5th/6th). Running February 5 - 28, 2009, this 4-week limited engagement makes for the perfect Valentine's treat. The show plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. For tickets ($18-$30) and information, please visit www.roltheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at TIX Bay Area (Booth in Union Square) or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Student/senior discounts available. The Cast Sarah Kathleen Farrell Holly Nugent Amy Penney Alex Kirschner Justin Taylor Nixon Justin Torres Director/Choreographer: Ellyn Marie Marsh Ellyn Marie Marsh is very happy to be back in the Bay Area, where she was raised. She was last seen in the bay in Steve Silvers Beach Blanket Babylon, where she received rave reviews for her spot-on impressions of Barbara Streisand, Britney Spears, Hillary Clinton and the legendary Pineapple Princess. Other performing credits include Lincoln Center's My Fair Lady (Mrs. Hopkins) where she shared the stage with Kelsey Grammar, Brian Denehey and Kelli O'Hara, European and National Tours and Regional Credits of Broadway Dancin', West Side Story (Anita), Grease (Rizzo), Chorus Line (Diana), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Xmas Carol-Madison Square Garden Version (Xmas past), blah blah blah. Her directing and choreographing credits include, Once on this Island, Grease, Annie and High School Musical. She directed Ray of Light Theatre's 2006 production of Seussical. www.ellynmarsh.com. Love and thanks to Shane and the ROLT family, and to her husband, Travas, who supports all she does.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, is proud to present the World Premiere of a new musical comedy cabaret, Three Joisey Tenors, on Thursday, January 29, at 2 p.m. Performances continue Thursdays at 2 p.m. on February 12, March 12, March 19 and March 26. Moving from the waiting room at the NJ Dept. of Motor Vehicles to the grand concert stage of the Suds & Studs Launderama & Chop Suey Parlor, these Garden State guys prove they're willing to 'let it all hang out' as they hilariously entertain with the best of Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Engelbert Humperdinck, and showstoppers from Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Anything Goes, Pippin, Man of La Mancha, and much more. Three Joisey Tenors opens the Bickford Theatre's 2009 A La Carte Series and stars Christopher Budinich, David Scott Miller, and Michael St. John. All performers are NJ residents with major National Tour and Regional Theatre credits.

Greg MacKellan, artistic director of 42nd Street Moon, today announced that the company would postpone the production of The Baker's Wife scheduled in early spring, and replace it with High Spirits, the musical version of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, opening March 21 and running through April 5, 2009.

42nd Street Moon concludes the year with the delightful musical Ben Franklin in Paris, a forgotten gem from the richly prolific 1965-66 Broadway season.

42nd Street Moon gears up for its second production of the season: George and Ira Gershwin's great musical romp of 1930, Girl Crazy, the slam-bang hit that boasts one of the greatest Broadway scores including the songs 'I Got Rhythm,' 'Embraceable You,' 'But Not for Me,' and 'Sam and Delilah.' The show previews on October 23 and 24, and opens on Saturday, October 25 and runs through November 16.

42nd Street Moon gears up for its second production of the season: George and Ira Gershwin's great musical romp of 1930, Girl Crazy, the slam-bang hit that boasts one of the greatest Broadway scores including the songs 'I Got Rhythm,' 'Embraceable You,' 'But Not for Me,' and 'Sam and Delilah.' The show previews on October 23 and 24, and opens on Saturday, October 25 and runs through November 16.