She Loves Me Comes To Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma 9/9-25

Cinnabar Theater presents the "She Loves Me," the charming musical adaptation from the Hungarian 1936 play "Parfumerie," by Miklos Laszlo. Directed by Elly Lichenstein, with musical direction by Mary Chun, the production opens Sept. 9 and continues with performances through Sept. 25, 2011.

A funny and intelligent romantic comedy, with a touch of old world elegance and nostalgia, this story of two feuding clerks who secretly find solace in their anonymous, romantic pen pals is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago. This irresistible, tangled story of two lonely hearts and unrequited love has served as the inspiration for plays, musicals, motion pictures and television.

"Parfumerie" was adapted as a film script by Samson Raphaelson for the 1940 Ernst Lubitsch MGM motion picture "The Shop Around the Corner," starring James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan and Frank Morgan.

The story was re-adapted again with music in 1949 for the MGM motion picture "In the Good Old Summertime" which starred Judy Garland and Van Johnson.

In 1963, the play was produced as a full Broadway musical titled "She Loves Me," with book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Featuring Daniel Massey and Barbara Cook as the feuding shop clerks, "She Loves Me," is sometimes referred to as the "Ice Cream Musical" because of Cook's rendition of the tune entitled "Ice Cream."

In 1993, "She Loves Me" was revived on Broadway by Roundabout Theatre Company and ran for 354 performances.

The play was also the inspiration for a screenplay by Nora Ephron in 1998. Updated for the Internet generation, "You've Got Mail," starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, retold the story with the two characters communicating and eventually falling in love using email correspondence.

In 2001, a faithful adaptation of the 1940 MGM movie script "The Shop Around the Corner" was produced in France as the play "La Boutique au Coin de la Rue" ("The Shop at the Corner of the Street"). The production ran for the 2002 season in Paris at the Théâtre Montparnasse and received critical acclaim and was awarded top honors including five Moliere Awards for Best New Play, Best Adaptation of a Foreign Work, Best Director, Best Set Design and Best Lighting.

"Parfumerie" was produced for the first time in the United States as an English-language play in 2009. With a new adaptation, the production took the play back to its original roots featuring the storyline of the young lovers as well as the troubled marriage of the shop owner. The play premiered as "The Perfume Shop" at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.

During the same period, a separate Canadian production, translated, adapted and produced by the Soulpepper Theatre Company premiered in Toronto.

"She Loves Me" performances are Sept. 9 to Sept. 25, 2011 at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 at Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma, Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA. Tickets are $25 to $35.

For tickets or more information call 707-763-8920 or visit www.cinnabartheater.org

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