42nd Street Moon to Present 'Girl Crazy' Starting 10/23
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.
Girl Crazy opened in October, 1930 – and was one of the most sensational hits of the decade. The outstanding Gershwin score was to be one of the greatest written during the “Golden Age” of Broadway musical theatre.
Two stars on the rise appeared in the show. Ethel Merman created a sensation in her New York musical comedy debut; it was the launch of one of the brightest careers in Broadway history. And Ginger Rogers – nineteen years old and with one Broadway supporting role already under her belt – was the actress who got to introduce the two big ballads.
The orchestra pit itself was star-studded: George Gershwin himself conducted the opening performance, and the orchestra members included Benny Goodman on clarinet, Jimmy Dorsey on saxophone, Glenn Miller and Jack Teagarden on trombone, and Gene Krupa on drums.
The story revolves around New York playboy Danny Churchill, who relocates to an Arizona dude ranch where he meets a wild band of characters. Jeff Horst makes his 42nd Street Moon debut in the leading role of Danny. Meghann Reynolds, last seen in Oh, Lady! Lady!! plays Molly Gray, the role played by Ginger Rogers in her second Broadway appearance. Cami Thompson appears as Kate, the role in which Ethel Merman made her auspicious Broadway debut.
Taxi driver turned sheriff, Glieber Goldfarb, is played by 42nd Street Moon regular Kalon Thibodeaux, with Peter Sroka as Slick Fotherington. Others in the cast are Gabriel Grilli, Lisa Hensley, Peter Budinger, Andrew Willis-Woodward, Benjamin Pither, Nicholas Yenson, Jessica Payne and Justin Torres.
Tickets to all performances 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. A special $25 Childrens’ Subscription Series is available for a 1 p.m. matinee on the 2nd Saturday of each production for those under 18 years-of-age. All performances are presented at San Francisco’s intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St. 2nd 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.
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