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. It chronicles Franklin’s efforts to get King Louis of France to recognize the United States as a sovereign nation, and starred Robert Preston in the original cast. Ben Franklin in Paris previews at the Eureka Theatre on Friday, Nov. 28, and opens on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 6 pm. It runs through December 14.
The story is a somewhat fictionalized account of Franklin’s adventures in the French capital, where he seeks support for the Colonies’ war against England and recognition of the country as an independent nation. To this end he enlists the aid of an old friend Madame La Comtesse Diane de Vobrillac, a confidante to King Louis XVI.
The tuneful songs by
Sidney Michaels and
Mark Sandrich Jr., included “Half the Battle,” “I Invented Myself,” “We Sail the Seas,” and two additional songs by
Jerry Herman: “Too Charming” and “To Be Alone with You.”
Sidney Michaels was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Author of a Musical.
Jackson Davis, who was most recently seen in Aurora Theater's fall production of The Best Man, and has appeared regular with TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, plays the title role. He was last seen with the company in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Pipe Dream. Founding Artistic Director Stephanie Rhoads appears as La Comtesse, with Tony Panighetti as Beaumarchais, Andrew Willis-Woodward as Temple Franklin and Benjamin Knoll as the King. Other cast members include Jennifer Eckman, David Kahawaii,
Rob Hatzenbeller,
Michael Cassidy, Tom Orr, Victor-Alexander Tapia, Buzz Halsing. Christopher Nelson, Gianna DeGeiso, and Chelsea Nenni.
Todd Nielsen who recently directed Out of This World and Seesaw for LA's acclaimed Musical Theatre Guild concert evenings, and was the resident director for
The Lion King during its San Francisco run, joins the company for his first Moon outing. Dave Dobrusky serves as Musical Director, with costumes designed by Louise Jarmilowicz, sets by Tom Orr, and lighting by Gerald “rover” Spotts.
Tickets ranging in price from $24 - $42 are available through the
42nd Street Moon Box Office at 415/255-8207 (Open Tues. – Fri. from noon to 5 p.m.), or through the website
www.42ndstmoon.org. All performances are presented at San Francisco’s intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St.
42nd Street Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, contributing to its evolution and continuing vitality by presenting staged concert performances of classic and rarely performed musical works. Through productions, educational programs, and community outreach, the company is committed to increasing the awareness and appreciation of the rich heritage and cultural perspective of the musical theatre and its vast influence on the world stage. Since 1993 the company has staged more than 90 musicals, as well as several revues celebrating the dazzling legacy of the 20th Century’s greatest musical theater composers and lyricists.
