Vaudeville Salute, 'Voices of the Town,' to Play 3/24

The Marx Brothers, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, Bert Williams, Florence Mills, and Eva Tanguay are among the legends featured as part of "Voices of the Town -- A Vaudeville Salute!," which will soon invade the South Street Seaport.  Two special appearances have been organized by Montauk Theatre Productions/Shooting Star Theatre and the show's creators NY Artists Unlimited.  The matinees, geared for all ages, are at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 18, and 3 p.m., Saturday, March 24, at the Seaport District Cultural Assoc. Performing Space (former Liz Claiborne store) on the SW corner of Beekman and Front Street (entrance on Front; just one block above Fulton).  Come one, come all for this great family event!

"Voices of the Town," according to press materials, "covers the entire history of vaudeville in America 1875-1935 and shows the breakthroughs made for African-Americans, women and immigrants.  It has 25 period songs, dance, comedy routines, and brings to life numerous stars of Yesteryear.  The forerunner of the TV variety show and Broadway musicals, it opened the way for countless luminaries.  The opening and closing number 'There's No Business Like Show Business' is also a testament to the tenacity of Americans everywhere, concluding with:  'Let's go on with the show.'"

Writer-director Melba LaRose leads a cast including: Carmela Davis, Nate Steinwachs, Lucia Manzella, Katrin Hier, and Joyce Pena.  Anita Brown from Shooting Star Theatre makes a special guest appearance as Molly Picon, singing in both Yiddish and English.  Choreography is by Francis J. Roach.  

"There are portrayals of forgotten but important African-Americans:  Bert Williams, the highest paid star in the Ziegfeld Follies, and Florence Mills, great star of the Harlem Renaissance and Broadway (both played by Carmela Davis).  Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle wrote the first Broadway musical to contain a love duet with black performers that was accepted by white viewers.  Black audiences were also allowed to sit in boxes reserved for whites only.  Information is uncovered about the T.O.B.A. Circuit (black performers only) and use of blackface.  Powerful female figures are portrayed:  Marie Dressler, Eva Tanguay, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, who were not only great businesswomen and crusaders for women's rights, but also changed the way the world viewed women.  There are women playing male roles, as well as a portrayal of Kitty Doner, vaudeville's famous male impersonator.  At a time when women had little options except work in sweatshops, women headliners in vaudeville could make well over $1,000 a week.  Immigrants who spoke little or no English at all could earn a decent living in vaudeville.  There were the renowned Dolly Sisters from Poland, as well as Chinese plate twirlers, Hungarian acrobats, jugglers from all countries, and acts that sang in their own languages.

Spanning the late 1800s to the mid-1930s in America, this piece shows how performers survived two Depressions, war, oppression, segregation, discrimination of all sorts, struggles for human/ workers'/ women's rights, and the like.  It also reveals that vaudeville was "family entertainment" and the starting point for major stars:  Burns and Allen, Abbott and Costello, the Marx Brothers, Gallagher & Shean ("Sunshine Boys"), Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, Fanny Brice, Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, and so many more…"

Montauk Theatre Productions, founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization focusing on the development of new talent and new works in the theatre arts.  Its main operating venue is Shooting Star Theatre in South Street Seaport.  NY Artists Unlimited is an award-winning, 24 year old multicultural company that tours professional theatre to under-served audiences throughout NYC and the Northeast, with a focus on works that evoke dignity of the individual and sanctity of the human spirit          

For reservations and information, call 212-242-6036 or e-mail Nyartunltd@aol.com.  The show is $10 for adults, and $5 for children.

Photo - L-R:  Melba LaRose, Nate Steinwachs, Jules Hartley - The Dolly Sisters fight over Harry Fox (Bronx Library Center)