George S. Irving to Star in Musicals Tonight!'s Happy Time

MEL MILLER, Producer and Artistic Director of MUSICALS TONIGHT! has announced casting for THE HAPPY TIME, running March 6th through March 18th. 

"THE HAPPY TIME," with lyrics and music by Fred Ebb and John Kander and a book by N. Richard Nash, opened on Broadway in 1968 starring Robert Goulet as the returning prodigal son (a role for which he won a Tony) and future Tony-winner, George S. Irving as his older brother, Phillipe.  Thirty-nine years later, George S. Irving will be Grandpere, the Bonnard family patriarch and TIMOTHY WARMEN will be Jacques.  LARRY DAGGETT, who will be the eldest brother, Louis, was in a production of the show decades ago when he played the role of the 15-year old, Bibi.  Now Bibi will be DAVID GEINOSKY, and Philippe, his father, is MICHAEL MASTERS.  Bibi's mother, Suzanne, is LAUREN MUFSON and her sister-in law, Felice, Louis' long-suffering wife, is ANNIE EDGERTON.  Their three daughters, who, thanks to the magic of theatre are also the vaudeville dancers, Sylvie, Monique, Lizette are RACHEL ALEXA NORMAN, MERIDETH KAYE CLARK, and Charly Seamon.  The girl Jacques left behind five years ago, Laurie, is Sarah Solie.  Bibi's schoolmates, Ganache and Foufie are ANDY JOBE and MICHAEL WOLLAND.

The 1968 production was revised by the creators in 1983 and presented at The Goodspeed Opera House.  Another revisal was presented at the Niagara University Theatre in 2002.  This Musicals Tonight production will contain five songs cut from the Broadway show.

George S. Irving made his Broadway debut at the St. James Theatre on March 31, 1943 in the chorus of OKLAHOMA!  He also appeared in the chorus of LADY IN THE DARK, 1943 , the Broadway revue Call Me Mister (1946) with Dody Goodman.  He has won a Tony for his role in IRENE (opposite Debbie Reynolds), and has appeared on stage with Kitty Carlisle Hart, Dina Merrill, Alfred Drake, Bette Davis, Vivian Leigh, Carol Channing, Sally Ann Howes, Jose Ferrer, Bobby Morse, Robert Goulet, Lillian Gish, and many, many more.

THOMAS MILLS (Director & Choreographer) is in his seventh season with Musicals Tonight. Recently he choreographed the National Tour of IN THE MOOD, a 1940s revue with a 15-piece big band. Other projects include directing and choreographing industrials and choreographing WRONG WAY UP, a new musical. He directed A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for the Utah Opera. Other credits: Director - Back-stage Bistro Awards (three years) working with Faith Prince, Sally Mayes, Cleo Lane and Donna McKecknie. Regionally: Director - 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY (Helen Hayes); director/choreographer - COMFORTABLY NUMB (Bristol Riverside); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (choreographer) - Hampton Shakespeare; resident director/ choreographer for The Smithsonian - "American Song Series".

JAMES STENBORG (Music Director, Vocal Arranger) Broadway: SIDE BY SIDE, WEST SIDE STORY, SWEENEY TODD, GRAND HOTEL, NINE, and ALICE AND WONDERLAND.  Off-Broadway: YOURS: ANNIE and PACIFIC OVERTURES, several productions for  Musicals Tonight. TV: The Making of West Side Story (PBS) and CD. Musical Director for Musicals-in-Concert (THE HIGH LIFE and MUSIC IN THE AIR). CDs: Lost in Boston (I & II). Restored score of ST. LOUIS WOMAN for Encores! and scores of I MARRIED AN ANGEL, TOO MANY GIRLS, AMERICA'S SWEETHEART, TIP TOES and CHEE-CHEE.

The production runs two weeks playing Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm.   All tickets are $20.00. For reservations, call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com. MUSICALS TONIGHT! performs at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street in Manhattan.

Coming Up at Musicals Tonight

March 20th through April 1st.
ERNEST IN LOVE (1960) is based upon Oscar Wilde's classic The Importance of Being Earnest with the same beloved characters - Jack Worthing, Gwendolen Fairfax, Algernon Moncrieff, Cecily Cardew and of course Lady Bracknell. Songs: Mr. Bunbury; Metaphorically Speaking; A Handbag is Not a Proper Mother. 

April 17th through April 29th.
IRENE (1973) ran for 670 performances originally (in 1919) and featured the song Alice Blue Gown. The revisal starred Debbie Reynolds (her Broadway debut) and ran for over 600 more. It includes You Made Me Love You, and I'm Always Chasing Rainbows.

Additional MUSICALS TONIGHT! events include AT THIS PERFORMANCE where Broadway standbys and understudies are featured in solo performances March 11, 12, 25, 26, April 22, 23 at 8:00 pm.  Tickets are $20.00.  BMI MUSICAL MONDAY presents new works from the BMI Theatre Workshop March 12, 26 and April 23 at 6:15 pm.  Tickets are $15.00.

The OBIE award-winning MUSICALS TONIGHT! founded by MEL MILLER in 1998 has revived 37 classic musicals staged concert form.  Nearly 50,000 people have seen these neglected representatives of America's most famous art form.   For more information visit www.musicalstonight.org.  For reservations, call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.  All events performed at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street in Manhattan.

Photo of George S. Irving by Linda Lenzi