WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING!
‘SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’
MAKES A SPLASH AT
NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE
~ Special 4 week engagement starts July 5 and plays thru July 30 ~
This summer there will be cheers and applause when it rains for four consecutive weeks on the North Shore. The excitement will be coming form audiences enjoying the splashy new production of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN at the award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT). NSMT’s technical artists will work their magic to create all the romance, glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s golden age, including a nightly rainstorm live on stage. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN plays from July 5 – 30, 2006. Press Night is scheduled for July 6, 2006 at 7:30pm. Comcast is the presenting sponsor of the 2006 Musical Series.
‘What I love about Singin’ in the Rain is that it captures the extravagance of classic movie musicals and successfully combines it with the excitement that only live theatre can deliver,’ said Jon Kimbell, NSMT’s Artistic Director and Executive Producer. ‘When you add to that the creativity of director and choreographer Richard Stafford and the incredible talent of our high energy cast, you can not help but have a happy ‘Hollywood’ ending.’
1920s Hollywood is the setting for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, a zany, light-hearted romantic comedy about the early days of sound film, when many a movie studio found itself scrambling to salvage the career of its chipmunk-voiced silent picture star. The MGM classic has been faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their original award-winning screenplay. The score is packed with brilliant dance numbers and superb tunes including ‘Make ’em Laugh,’ ‘Moses Supposes,’ ‘Good Mornin’,’ ‘You Are My Lucky Star’ and the title song.
The cast of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN will be lead by Matt Loehr (Don Lockwood), Kelly D. Felthous (Kathy Selden) and Mark Ledbetter (Cosmo Brown) in the roles made famous in the film by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, respectively. Also featured in the cast is Boston’s own Leigh Barrett (Miss Dinsmore and Dora Bialy), Beth Beyer (Lina Lamont), NSMT audience favorite David Coffee (Roscoe Dexter) and Martin Van Treuren (R.F. Simpson).
The ensemble includes Gordon Baird, Sae La Chin, Keith Coughlin, Michael Brian Dunn, Sara Edwards, Jenny Florkowski, Garett Hawe, Regan Kays, Julie Kotarides, Leah Landau, Jeff Metzler, Josh Scheer, Nathan Scherich, Jonathan Stahl, Zephyrus White, Neka Zang.
Local young actors involved in the production are: Beverly resident Bethani Boccia; Burlington resident Peter Romagna; North Andover resident Russell Perry; Peabody residents Bernard Baldassaro II, Brooke Nathanson and Justin Sacramone; Salem resident Austin Parker; Winthrop resident Stephanie Moskal.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN marks the return of Richard Stafford. Mr. Stafford was the Director and Choreographer of NSMT’s smash hit productions of Fame, Swing! and Cats. His work has been seen around the country and around the world directing and/or choreographing productions of Cats along with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Full Monty, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver!, The Who’s Tommy, Phantom, Evita, Oklahoma!, On the Town, Camelot, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me, Grand Hotel and The Goodbye Girl.
The creative team for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN also includes Rick Hip-Flores (Musical Director), Jonathan Stahl (Associate Director/Choreographer), Howard C. Jones (Scenic Designer), Randall Klein (Costume Designer), Martin E Vreeland (Lighting Designer), John A. Stone (Sound Design), Gerard Kelly (Hair and Wig Design), Michael Goudzwaard (Assistant Video Director), Bethany Ford (Production Stage Manager), Alicia D. Reece (Assistant Stage Manager), and Alison Franck & Matt Schreiber (Casting).
Tickets for SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN are priced from $70 to $35: Senior & Youth Discounts and Rush Tickets are Available. Performances are July 5 – 30, 2006 (no performance on July 26 or 27): Tue ‘ Thurs at 7:30pm, Fri & Sat at 8pm, matinees Wed at 1:30pm, Sat and Sun at 2pm. For tickets: www.nsmt.org, (978) 232-7200, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly, MA 01915. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is sponsored by WBUR 90.9 FM.
Free Audience Enrichment events: 7/11: Meet the Theatre, post show audience discussion with the artists; 7/16: Spotlight on History, a free pre-show discussion focusing on historical issues related to the performance; 7/20: Out at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post show reception; 7/22: Meet the Theatre after the 2pm performance, post-show audience discussion with the artists.
Operating since 1955, NSMT has evolved into the largest non-profit producing theater in New England, with approximately 350,000 patrons annually. NSMT has gained a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, specifically in the areas of developing new works and providing outstanding theater arts and education programs. NSMT has received numerous industry awards including IRNE Awards, the Elliot Norton Award, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors’ Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT annually produces a six musical subscription series, a production of A Christmas Carol and an acclaimed concert series. With its celebrated Theater for Young Audiences program, a school touring program, and year-round classes for children, NSMT has become one of the region’s leading providers of theater arts and education.