Sharon Rietkerk Leads 42nd Street Moon's NYMPH ERRANT, Previews Begin

42nd Street Moon's  first production of 2011-12, its nineteenth season begins tonight. The journey begins with NYMPH ERRANT (1933), Cole Porter's madcap tour of 1930s Europe (and his personal favorite of his scores), in which a newly graduatEd English schoolgirl sets off to travel the continent in search of adventure, romance and sex. The show will be presented at the Eureka Theatre in previews from Oct. 5 - 7 with an opening at 6 pm on Saturday, October 8. It runs through October 23.

"I call NYMPH ERRANT a ‘pre-code musical,' because it reminds me of those pre-code Hollywood films of the early 1930s," said Artistic Director Greg MacKellan. "It's got a script that is quite frank and a bit racy, even by today's standards. It's easy to see why Cole Porter loved the show, because it's smart, naughty and terribly, terribly funny." Moon is presenting the original London version of NYMPH ERRANT, which starred Gertrude Lawrence in 1933. MacKellan directs, Dave Dobrusky musical directs and Lee Ann Payne choreographs the show with music and lyrics by Porter and a book by Romney Brent based on James Laver's novel. The Porter songs include "The Physician," "Experiment," "How Could We Be Wrong?," and "It's Bad for Me."

Evangeline Edwards is a young woman, newly graduated from a Swiss finishing school. She sets off to experiment with life, and travels the Continent. Her escapades are zany, bizarre and outrageous, but even in the most exotic locales, a torrid affair seems to elude her.

Starring as Evangeline will be Sharon Rietkerk, last seen as Anne Draper in Moon's highly-acclaimed Strike Up the Band. Her other credits include Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone, Judy Haynes (White Christmas) and Niki Harris (Curtains), all for Diablo Theatre Company, She Loves Me (CenterREP), Marian Paroo (The Music Man, South Coast Symphony), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), and Gertrude McFuzz (Seussical).

All other cast members will play multiple roles with a variety of exotic backgrounds ranging from Russian and French, to Italian, Turkish, Spanish and Hungarian! Two veterans of Moon's 1998 concert staging of Nymph Errant return for the new production. Caroline Altman, Evangeline in 1998, appears this time as Miss Pratt (the teacher who sends Evangeline on her quest), and Steve Rhyne returns as Alexei, a Russian musician infatuated with the young woman.

Evangeline's close friends -- who are much more successful in finding romance than she is -- are played by Alexandra Kaprielian (Henrietta) Lauren Parker (Madeleine St. Maure), Eliza Leoni (Joyce) and Leanne Borghesi (Bertha).

Michael Cassidy, another Moon veteran, appears as a sassy Eunuch named Ali. Saif Eddin appears as Count Mantalini and Erin-Kate Whitcomb plays Edith Sanford, with long-time Bay Area actress Nancy Sale as Aunt Ermyntrude. Ray Renati is French producer André de Croissant, and Kelly Sanchez is the young man with the apple who finally ends Evangeline's quest.

In addition to the directors, the creative team includes set designer Jon Wai-keung Lowe and costumer Louise Jarmilowicz, both of whom also designed last year's production of Forum, lighting designer Maxx Kurzunski, and props designer Erica Kimble.

The 2011-12 Season will continue with OH, KAY!, THREE SISTERS, SUGAR, and ZORBA. The season also continues the multi-year celebration of the musicals of composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Ira Gershwin, as well as the special series of Salon Evenings at the Alcazar Theatre, this time focusing on Cole Porter and Jerry Herman.

Tickets for NYMPH ERRANT ranging in price from $20 - $50 may be purchased through the Box Office at 415/255-8207 (Tues. - Fri. from noon to 5 pm), or through the website (no order fees) www.42ndstmoon.org <http://www.42ndstmoon.org> . The Eureka Theatre is located at 215 Jackson Street.

42nd Street Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, contributing to its evolution and continuing vitality by presenting intimate productions of "Uncommon Musicals" -- classic and rarely performed shows by the great 20th century composers and lyricists. 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 107 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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