42nd Street Moon Kicks Off Its 2009/10 Season With Its Annual Fundraiser, We're In The Money! To Take Place 6/22

42nd Street Moon kicks off its upcoming 2009-10 Season with its annual fundraiser, this year titled We’re In The Money!  -- Hollywood Sings Away the Depression Blues.  A one-night-only event at the Alcazar Theatre on Monday, June 22, the evening salutes the whimsical, eccentric, and often, enchanted world of 1930s movie musicals – the talking picture era.
 
Hollywood helped the United States get through the Depression with a healthy dose of song-and-dance relief every week.  These were tough, sophisticated, bizarre and persistently cheerful films, which both mocked, or dismissed, the Depression, but also reflected it in achingly beautiful ballads.

San Francisco’s own “Movie Lady,” KRON critic Jan Wahl, will be the special guest for the evening, along with The Jesters and The Decobelles.  The era of “All Talking! All Singing!  All Dancing!” films is celebrated with songs by Cole Porter, Harry Warren, Jerome Kern, Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin, Harry Revel, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, and the Gershwins. Songs include Thanks for the Memory (with the original lyric), Jeepers Creepers, Hooray for Hollywood!, Sing You Sinners, Some Like It Hot, Remember My Forgotten Man, The Way You Look Tonight, Isn’t It Romantic?.  The “Forbidden Hollywood” era of pre-code musicals is featured in novelties like Marahuana, I’m One of the Boys, I’m in Love With a Tune, and Breakfast Table Love.

Artistic Director Greg MacKellan helms the show, with musical direction by Dave Dobrusky. Joining MacKellan and Producing Director Stephanie Rhoads, the featured artists will be Moon favorites Caroline Altman, Derek Travis Collard, Robbie Cowan, Bill Fahrner, Sarah Kathleen Farrell, Rob Hatzenbeller, Nina Josephs, Alexandra Kaprielian, Darlene Popovic and Justin Torres. Reed player Nick DiScala joins Dobrusky in accompanying the show.
 
The Gala kicks off at 5:30 pm. with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction, with the performance following at 7 pm.  The Alcazar is located at 650 Geary Street, 3 blocks west of Union Square. Tickets at $100 ($75. tax deductible) may be purchased through the Box Office at 415/255-8207 or online at www.42ndstmoon.org.

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