The Downtown Cabaret Theater will end their production of the East Coast premiere of 'Fandance... the Legend of Sally Rand' on April 25.
A captivating true story of the famed burlesque queen who started out on a Quaker farm and ran way with the circus to grow up in the days of Vaudeville and be discovered by Cecil B. DeMille, only to lose her film career when "sound" came in, due to a lisp. Down and out on the streets of Chicago during the Great Depression, Sally saw an ad for exotic acts at the Paramount Club and bartered for two big ostrich fans at the pawn shop, and the most infamous of fan dances was born.
Arrested four times in one day for indecent exposure at the Chicago World's Fair, she was released for "want of equity," meaning you couldn't see anything no matter how much you tried. A young girl named Rosie, denied the right to buy a ticket because of her age, snuck into the World's Fair to see the famous dancer and never forgot the grace and beauty she saw. The two women's paths would cross once more at the end of their lives. The story takes place all the years in-between.
One an infamous fan dancer who would open a nude dude ranch and be known as "America's Treasure;" the other an ordinary woman who would iron clothes in exchange for dance lessons for her daughter and go to garage sales to find bargains.
Fate takes a twist and Rosie finds an old woman at a garage sale selling
Sally Rand's mementos. Memories are shared. The old woman asks for the name of Rosie's daughter, takes a playbill and signs it, "To Misty from
Sally Rand."
Written and directed by Misty Rowe, the show takes the audience through 81 years of dance history with a musical story that will tear at your heartstrings. Misty is remembered for the box office hit, Always, Patsy Cline, along with her 19 years on Hee Haw that won her TV Land's Entertainer's Award. A professional director for S.D.C., Ms. Rowe spent 8 years in Fairfield County, Connecticut, writing Fandance with the guidance of local historians. She also portrays the older Sally with her favorite co-stars.
Broadway actress
Joy Franz, whose exceptional voice has put her in more hits on Broadway than most performers could ever dream about. From the original production of Pippin and
Stephen Sondheim's Company, Ms. Franz also went on to be the Wicked Stepmother for years in Into the Woods, including the national tour and its production on PBS. Her comedic talents shined in Guys & Dolls and her unforgettable voice and elegance graced the world premiere of
Leonard Bernstein's Mass at the Kennedy Center. A personal friend of the author of Fandance for 20 years and having just worked with
Steve Rossi, she decided not to miss out on all the fun and joined the cast.
Funny and talented
Steve Rossi was the tall, handsome half of the famous Allen & Rossi comedy team. Starting his career at age six in the
Bing Crosby film Going My Way, Steve would later record the hit song More and sing it at the Academy Awards in 1974. His legendary career includes over 800 TV shows. His favorite? Appearing on the
Ed Sullivan Show with the Beatles in 1965. Never one to talk about age,
Mr. Rossi, however, does admit to opening for
Mae West.
Fandance introduces Miss Amber Carpenter as the young
Sally Rand. Petite and blonde, Amber not only looks like the real Sally, but is classically trained in voice and dance and has performed onstage since she was three.
Joining her are talented actors
Robin Field and Steve Cassling with a bevy of beauties who sing, dance and act and are known as "The Uli Uli Girls."
The days of Vaudeville and Burlesque are brought to life through the music of Broadway conductor, Michael Sansonia, and the multi-media design of Emmy-honored Paul Mitton.
Presented by New York Theatrical Productions And The Downtown Cabaret Theater, located at 263 Golden Hill St. in Bridgeport, CT.
Written and directed by Misty Rowe
For tickets and information, please click here.
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