The Melodrama Closes the Curtain on LUMBERJACKS IN LOVE, 4/25

On April 25, The Great American Melodrama will end its run of "Lumberjacks in Love," a hilarious musical with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan.

This rollicking and robust musical, set in a lumber camp deep in the woods, tells the story of four burly lumberjacks: Minnesota Slim (George Walker), Muskrat (Chuck McLane), Moonlight (John Keating), and Dirty Bob (Billy Breed). These four bachelors enjoy a life where you can spit when and where you like, and bath time is once a month. But after two of the guys get tipsy one night and respond to an advertisement for a mail order bride, their "man's only" world is threatened by the arrival of not one, but two women answering the ad (Bree Murphy and Katie Worley). Written in 1996 for the American Folklore Theatre in Door County, Wisconsin, and revived by them three times since, this slaphappy show finally makes its way to California with this production. Eric Hoit directs, with JorDan Richardson providing musical direction for the wonderful folk and bluegrass-colored score. Full of belly laughs and comic songs as well as beautiful ballads, this is a show sure to please the whole family!

Following "Lumberjacks in Love" at each performance, the Melodrama's famous vaudeville revue goes to Vegas, baby - specifically, the Las Vegas of the 1970's, a town filled with swinging cats and dizzy dames! High-energy songs like "Viva Las Vegas," "Don't Stop Me Now," and "Together Wherever We Go" are sure to start your toes tappin' and your fingers snappin'! Come see what happens when stars like Dean Martin, Elvis, Cher and Bette Midler show up in this unique vacation spot for good music and good times. Directed by Andrew Beck, with musical direction by JorDan Richardson and choreography by Michael Jenkinson and John Keating, this is fun-filled revue you won't want to miss!

PHOTOS by Gary Adams

LumberjacksA: (clockwise from top left) George Walker, Chuck McLane, Billy Breed, and John Keating.