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Ticket Info
CLOSES TONIGHT!
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Company
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Bobby Fonacier Patsi Forrester Laura Franzini Pat Gage Kenny Gray Crystal Lewis Theo Martinez Heather MacLeod Ryan Murphy Donna O'Bryant |
Laura Patterson Meghan Ross Stephanie Ross-Sauri Jessica Scalese Shaina Schwartz Brittney-Lynne Stanley Stephanie Stetson Heather Tinkham Kirsten White |
Cast and crew: Use the stage 
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We have a wonderful directorial team lined up for our Fall 2005 show, 42nd STREET. Scroll down on this page to read more about them.
Director Dana Bissett
Music Director Kathy Redman
Choreographer Martha Daniels Holland
About the Show
OVERVIEW
This is the story of hard work, being in the right place at the right time, talent and love. 42nd STREET is a celebration of Broadway and the people involved in shows. It focuses on aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, and takes us along her journey. Musical hits include You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me, Dames, I Know Now, We're In the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off to Buffalo and Forty-Second Street. Every audience enjoys watching the underdog succeed!
SYNOPSIS
42nd STREET is a big, bold musical set in 1933, that celebrates the stuff that dreams are made of. The curtain rises on Andy Lee, the dance director who is auditioning kids for the chorus of Pretty Lady (Audition). The show's writers, Bert and Maggie, are pleased with what they see on stage, but they warn the dancers that at $4.40 per seat, the audience will demand some spectacular dancing. While gathering up her courage for an hour at the stage door, young Peggy Sawyer has missed the audition. Billy, the romantic lead, tries to help her see the producer (Young and Healthy).
The producer, Julian Marsh, has no patience for latecomers and Peggy rushes off the stage. Meanwhile, Bert and Maggie try to encourage Julian about the show's prospects of success. He is worried about some of the cast, especially Dorothy Brock, the leading lady. Her last hit was ten years earlier, but her sugar daddy, Abner Dillon, is backing the show.
Just then, Dorothy and Abner arrive. Dorothy gushes to Julian that she has "dreamed of the day when I might work with the King of Broadway." Nevertheless, the "king" will not be pushed around, and Julian suggests that Dorothy audition. Mac, the Stage Manager, sets up for the audition while Abner defends Dorothy and reminds Julian that Dorothy does not have to try out for anyone (Shadow Waltz).
Realizing that she has forgotten her purse, Peggy returns to the stage. Maggie invites her to lunch with three of the girls (Annie, Lorraine, Phyllis). The five dance off stage. As they settle in at the Gypsy Tea Kettle, the girls are amused by Peggy's naïvete. They follow with an amusing account of the Broadway facts of life, and dance back to the theater (Go into Your Dance). This number evolves into an audition for Peggy. When Julian walks in, he's angry to see Peggy disrupting things again, but he is struck by her remarkable talent. He orders everyone back to work and tells Andy to hire Peggy for the chorus.
Dorothy and Billy begin their rehearsals. The love scene they are rushing through comes under the scrutiny of Abner. He objects to it and handshakes are substituted for kisses (You're Getting to be a Habit With Me).
Peggy, weak and overcome by an exciting day, faints on stage. She is carried to Dorothy's dressing room where Pat Denning, Dorothy's real boyfriend, is waiting. Dorothy walks in, and misreading what she sees, thinks that Pat is two-timing her. Julian suggests that Pat leave town. Dorothy reveals her true love for Pat in I Know Now.
Word arrives that the Atlantic City run of the show has been cancelled and that Philadelphia has been substituted. The company packs up for the Arch Street Theatre (Getting Out of Town).
Dress rehearsals begin in Philadelphia (Dames). Julian congratulates the kids on a number well done and sends the cast off to relax.
The cast is throwing a party and Peggy asks Julian if he is coming. Captivated by her charm, Julian decides to go. Dorothy, who misses Pat, has drunk a bit too much, and tells Abner to take his money and leave. Abner is ready to close the show, but the kids are able to talk him out of it.
Pretty Lady opens spectacularly with We're In the Money. Then Dorothy rushes onstage to lead the Act I finale. She is accidentally knocked down by Peggy and can't get up. A furious Julian fires Peggy and cancels the rest of the performance.
Act II opens with a doctor telling Julian that Dorothy's ankle is broken. Fear and panic spread through the cast. Julian says he will close Pretty Lady for good, but the cast won't give up (Sunny Side to Every Situation). The cast thinks that Peggy can save the day. Julian finally agrees that Peggy might be able to take over for Dorothy. Peggy has already left for the train station and Julian rushes after her. Julian convinces Peggy to return (Lullabye of Broadway).
Peggy has exactly 36 hours to learn 25 pages, 6 songs and 10 dance numbers. As Julian says, by the next evening, he'll have either a live leading lady or a dead chorus girl!
At long last the Broadway curtain opens on Pretty Lady—Shuffle Off to Buffalo. The show is a fabulous hit and Peggy Sawyer is a sudden sensation. Julian reprises the glory of "42ND STREET."
About the Directors
Dear audience members, performers, crew, and friends,
We're very lucky to have a wonderful, dynamic directorial team for this show!
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Dana Bissett is new to Actorsingers, but brings a very full resume of work in Andover, Lowell, Reading, and other towns in Massachusetts. Since my wife is on the Actorsingers Board, I had the opportunity to intercept a confidential e-mail from someone who worked with Dana south of the border. This person wrote that Dana "... is an extremely nice, friendly, encouraging, supportive woman and has a lot of experience in theater, has directed many things... She has a good vision of what she wants, plus understands a lot about all the other pieces (technical, music, etc). She typically has very large casts and is quite comfortable in working with [large groups]". The buzz from the Annual Meeting of 13 June, when most of us met Dana for the first time, is very enthusiastic. A hearty "welcome" to Dana Bissett! |
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Kathy Redman has been in Actorsingers orchestra pits for years—decades, actually. We're delighted that she has returned to us after a few years living in Michigan. Apart from playing in our orchestra for countless productions, Kathy has directed the music for many of our productions including (to name a few) Godspell, The Best Little Wh---house in Texas, The King and I, The Sound of Music (twice!) and the beautiful 1999 production of Phantom. Our casts and audiences alike have appreciated Kathy's attention to musical detail, and the casts have enjoyed her pleasant personality in rehearsals. |
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And completing the team, Martha Daniels Holland (my wife!) is a Life Member of the Actorsingers, current Vice President of the group, a longtime onstage performer in the adult shows and choreographer for the kids' shows, and just in the last few years, choreographer for grown-ups too. Her high-energy dance moves were seen in our latest production, Jesus Christ Superstar. It's not just me but everyone who says... "When Martha's the choreographer, the show will be FUN!" |
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Dana will be assisted by Mike Ryder who will run the 42ND STREET "Insiders Area" (here). That area will hold rehearsal schedules, information from the directors, and so on.