San Francisco Arts Education Project Presents BELLS ARE RINGING, 2/16-3/3

Emily Keeler, San Francisco Arts Education's Artistic Director, announced today that the San Francisco Arts Education Project's 2013 musical is Bells Are Ringing, the 1956 Broadway musical featuring music by Jule Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Bells Are Ringing runs for eight performances beginning Saturday, February 16 through Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Eureka Theatre (215 Jackson Street, San Francisco). Tickets for The Players' Family Benefit Reception and Closing Day Party on Sunday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. are $40 for general admission and $20 for student and senior admission. Ticket price includes drinks, hors d'oeuvres and dessert and benefits the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Tickets ($15 for students and seniors; $22 general admission) are available by calling City Box Office at 415.392.4400 or online at www.cityboxoffice.com.

The Players have performed everything from musical theater classics (The Music Man, Fiorello!) to original revues (Everything Goes! The Music of Cole Porter) and original musicals (Yellow Wood). Now they are telling the story of a big-hearted answering service employee who is supposed to take messages without meddling but just cannot help herself. The Bells Are Ringing score includes songs that have become standards, including "Just in Time," The Party's Over" and "Long Before I Knew You."

"This classic musical will be performed with amazing skill and joy by this year's Players," Keeler says. "They are singing the jazzy and challenging songs and playing the sophisticated comedy beautifully. This show, like all the shows we choose, is chock full of musical numbers so that the ensemble has ample opportunity to hone their skills as triple-threat performers - singers, actors and dancers - during five months of rehearsals."

Danny Duncan, a Master Artist with the San Francisco Arts Education Project since 1991, is once again directing The Players' show. Bells Are Ringing is one of his favorite musicals and has been since he heard the original cast album as a kid. "When I was young, listening to that record, I could see the show in what I call my 'spirit eye,'" Duncan says. "I could visualize the choreography and the blocking. There was enough dialogue on the album to get a real sense of the show."

Duncan is working with SFArtsED musical director Sean Forte and choreographers Natalie Greene, Erin Hewitt as well as Keeler. The set is designed by Paul Kwapy, co-director of Technical Theater at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA); Tiersa Nureyev is creating the fashionable '50s costumes, and Jim Pohl is designing the lights. Cassie Grilley, an alumna of The Players, is the stage manager, and SFArtsED's apprentice program with SOTA provides opportunities for high school students to build the set with the designer and to run the light and sound boards for the shows at the Eureka Theatre.

Bells Are Ringing runs Saturday, February 16 to Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Eureka Theatre (215 Jackson Street, San Francisco). Show times are Saturdays and Sundays February 16 through March 2 at 2 p.m.; Fridays, February 22 and March 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets for The Players' Family Benefit Reception and Closing Day Party on Sunday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. are $40 for general admission and $20 for student and senior admission. Ticket price includes drinks, hors d'oeuvres and dessert and benefits the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Tickets ($15 for students and seniors; $22 general admission) are available by calling City Box Office at 415.392.4400 or online at www.cityboxoffice.com.