Broadway stars Norm Lewis and Faith Prince will headline Lyric Opera of Chicago's premiere of Harry Warren and Al Dubin's song-and-dance spectacular 42nd Street, presented from May 29 - June 21, 2020 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago (press opening May 30, 2020).
Norm Lewis and
Faith Prince take on the roles of famed Broadway director Julian Marsh and Dorothy Brock, the seasoned diva who sees her star status eclipsed by a rising newcomer. Lewis recently appeared in the NBC television special Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert! alongside
John Legend and
Sara Bareilles. He received Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle award nominations as Porgy in The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess. In 2014, Lewis made history as the first African American to play the title role in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Other recent credits include the Broadway revival of Once on This Island and the title role in Sweeney Todd Off-Broadway, for which he received an AUDELCO Award. He is starring in
Spike Lee's upcoming Netflix film Da 5 Bloods.
Prince is a Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winner for her performance as Miss Adelaide in the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls. She most recently starred on Broadway in Disaster! the musical and as Miss Hannigan in the Broadway revival of Annie. She was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for both A Catered Affair and Bells Are Ringing, and was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for
Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Prince recurs on ABC's Modern Family, and previously reurred on ABC's Melissa & Joey and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva. Prince appeared in Chicago in the new musical version of the hit movie First Wives Club in 2015.
Single tickets for 42nd Street start at $37 and are on sale now at
lyricopera.org/42ndstreet, in person at the Lyric Opera House box office, or by calling 312-827-5600.
Stephen Mear directs and choreographs this high-energy production featuring members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by
Gareth Valentine. Set and costume designs are by
Peter McKintosh, with lighting designed by
Chris Davey and sound designed by
Mark Grey.
Tony Award-winning song-and-dance spectacular 42nd Street centers on a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to audition for the new Broadway show Pretty Lady, staged by notorious director Julian Marsh. When leading lady Dorothy Brock breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and rises from chorus girl to star status overnight. 42nd Street is filled with sensational tap numbers and memorable melodies like "Lullaby of Broadway," "We're in the Money," "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me," "Sunny Side to Every Situation," "Young and Healthy," and the famed title song. With music by
Harry Warren, lyrics by
Al Dubin and
Johnny Mercer, and a book by
Michael Stewart and
Mark Bramble, the stage musical is based on the novel by
Bradford Ropes and
Busby Berkeley's 1933 movie.
