Sharon Playhouse to Present MY FAIR LADY, 6/18-7/5

Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, presents one of the American musical theatre's most beloved works, My Fair Lady, from June 18 through July 5.

Based on George Bernard Shaw's comedy, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady features an award-winning book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and score by Frederick Loewe. The Sharon Playhouse production is directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford (Broadway: In My Life).

The production is led by Rufus Collins (Broadway: The Royal Family) as Henry Higgins, Lee Harrington (Roundabout's Into the Woods) as Eliza Doolittle, Peter Cormican (The Phantom of the Opera - Toronto) as Alfred P. Doolittle, Michael Douglass (Col. Pickering), Matt Schmeidel (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Emily Soell (Mrs. Higgins), and Ginny Rickard (Mrs. Pearce). The company also includes Dave Cadwell, Emma Camp, Mac Cherny, Lisa Delia, David Fanning, Jack Flatley, Elena Juliano, Naree Ketudat, Jessica Kelly, Alyssa LeClair, Alyssa Lundberg, Mac Myles, Stephanie Meadowcroft, Megan Mistretta, Thomas Prast, Owen Russell, and Thomas Schindler.

When Professor Henry Higgins wagers he can transform a Cockney flower girl into an aristocratic lady, he never guesses that Eliza Doolittle will in turn transform him. Lerner and Loewe's sparkling score includes such enduring favorites as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain," "On the Street Where You Live" and "Get Me to the Church on Time." My Fair Lady is a joyful, crowd-pleasing celebration for the entire family.

The creative team includes Fiona Santos (music director), Lauren Mills (scenic design), Michelle Eden Humphrey (costume design), Chris Dallos (lighting design), and Brad Berridge (sound design). Kat Rother is production stage manager. Geoff Josselson is casting director.

Following a troubled tryout at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, My Fair Lady opened at Broadway's Mark Hellinger Theatre in March 1956 and starred Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle opposite Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins. The production won 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical and enjoyed a run of 2,717 performances. The 1964 Warner Brothers film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and starred Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.