42nd Street Moon Presents STRIKE UP THE BAND, 4/9-24

42nd Street Moon's Ira Gershwin celebration continues in April with STRIKE UP THE BAND, to be presented at the Eureka Theatre in low-priced previews on April 6, 7 and 8, opening on Saturday, April 9, and running through April 24.  Heading the cast will be Carson Church as Horace Fletcher with Michael Scott Wells as Jim Townsend, Samantha Bruce as Joan Fletcher and Moon's Producing Director Stephanie Rhoads as Mrs. Draper.
 
A madcap treatise on the follies of love, war and business, STRIKE UP THE BAND has an unusual history.   Originally was written in 1927, by George S. Kaufman and George and Ira Gershwin, the show closed on the road  (giving rise to Kaufman's comment that "satire is what closes on Saturday night").  The team resurrected it in a watered-down version in 1930, and this one was successful.  42nd Street Moon will be presenting the original 1927 version of the show.
 
STRIKE UP THE BAND received rave reviews when revived by New York's Encores! series in 1998 - the NY Times declared it "a show that remains remarkably vital, with a score as sweet and varied as a chocolate sampler.  It reminds us that Broadway musicals once had sass, wit and sex appeal."   The score includes Gershwin classics like the title song, "The Man I Love," "I've Got a Crush on You," "Soon" and "Meadow Serenade."
 
"STRIKE UP THE BAND is actually rather surprising," said Moon's Artistic Director Greg MacKellan.  "It's quite sharp in its satire of war and especially war profiteers.  Of course, the show is sublimely silly -  Kaufman wrote for the Marx Brothers, and this is very much like a Marx Brothers musical without the Marx Brothers.  But what it  has to say feels very pointed, very timely to today.  And of course, the score is outstanding - one of the Gershwins' best. " 
The unlikely tale revolves around Horace J. Fletcher, proud owner of the Fletcher American Cheese Co. Outraged when Switzerland protests a tariff on imported cheese, he convinces the U.S. government to declare a war, financed by himself and dubbed "The Horace J. Fletcher Memorial War." When his daughter announces her love for Jim Townsend, a newspaperman who has publicly criticized both the war and the quality of milk going into his cheese, Fletcher drafts Townsend and sends him off to war. 

Carson Church, (Horace Fletcher) has appeared both on Broadway (Inherit the Wind, Wonderful Town) and Off-Broadway (Pirates of Penzance).  His other credits include South Pacific with Reba McEntire at Carnegie Hall and They're Playing Our Song opposite Andrea McArdle.  Former bass for the vocal harmony group "The Diamonds," Church has also written and appeared in a cappella spots for numerous TV shows.

Stephanie Rhoads, who plays the socialite Mrs. Draper, most recently appeared in 42nd Street Moon's And All That Jazz: A John Kander Salon.  Her many leading roles with the company include Helen Vance in Out of This World, Adriana in Boys from Syracuse, and Diane in Ben Franklin in Paris.

R Michael Scott Wells, made his Moon debut in Once in a Million Moons: A Jerome Kern Salon with Rebecca Luker, and returns as the troublemaking reporter Townsend.  He last appeared in Moon's recent production of Babes in Arms.  He has played leading roles with several local companies, and was part of the national touring company of Strega Nona: The Musical.

Timothy Harper, foreman of the Horace J. Fletcher American Cheese Factory, is played by Luke Chapman, who appeared in Moon's production of A Funny Thing Happened ... and Very Warm for May. Gabriel Grilli, returning for his fourth show with 42nd Street Moon, portrays the manager of the factory, C. Edgar Sloane.

Samantha Bruce makes her company debut as Horace Fletcher's daughter Joan; Eric Wenborg appears as Colonel Holmes, the confidential adviser to the president; and Sharon Rietkirk plays Mrs. Draper's daughter Anne, and Benjamin Knoll is the mysterious Mr. Spelvin.  Others in the cast are Benjamin Pither, Jack Sale, Samantha Bartholomew, Megan Amanda Hopp, and Amie Shapiro.

The creative team for STRIKE UP THE BAND is headed by Director, Zach Thomas Wilde, with music direction by Dave Dobrusky.  Sarah Phykitt provides the set design, with costumes by Scarlett Kellum and lighting by Robert Ted Anderson. 

42nd Street Moon's 2010-11 season concludes with Cole Porter's final Broadway musical SILK STOCKINGS (1955), a sly and sophisticated version of the classic film Ninotchka.   Porter's legendary wit is in top form in a dazzling collection of comic songs ("Stereophonic Sound," "Satin and Silk," "Josephine," "Siberia") and beautiful ballads (the classic "All of You," "Paris Loves Lovers," "As On Through the Seasons We Sail.")    SILK STOCKINGS will run from May 4 - 22.
 
42nd Street Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, presenting intimate productions of "Uncommon Musicals" -- classic and rarely performed shows by the great 20th century songwriters. 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 95 musicals, as well as several revues celebrating the dazzling legacy of the 20th Century's greatest musical theater composers and lyricists.

Tickets from $24 - $44 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 http://www.42ndstmoon.org .  All performances are presented at San Francisco's intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St.