Review: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT at The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre At CM Performing Arts Center

It is truly a pleasure seeing Nice Work If You Can Get It at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre. It has a humorous and charming story, a beautiful Gershwin score, and the cast is excellent. Directed by Patrick Grossman, who also serves as Set Designer, this showing runs through August 10th at the Oakdale venue.

Tony winner Joe DiPietro pens the tale, set in the 1920s, centering on Jimmy Winter and Billie Bendix. Indeed, they are from different worlds. Jimmy, Matthew Broderick's role from the 2012 Broadway production, is a millionaire playboy. Billie, Kelli O'Hara's character from Broadway, is a bootlegger. To hide her stash, she uses Jimmy's the basement in a house he doesn't utilize to store the stolen goods. Or to say, he's not supposed to be using it. Indeed, lots of laughter ensues, and we meet several zany characters throughout the two-act musical.

Superbly leading the cast are Bailey Whitney and Steve Cottonaro as Billie and Jimmy, respectively. Both Long Island stage vets are top-notch in their respective roles and make a great team. Also, a highlight of the stellar cast is Emily Nadler, another Long Island theatre vet, who portrays fervent prohibitionist Duchess Estonia Dulworth. Ms. Nadler is thrilling in the role, particularly in the hilarious luncheon scene in act two. Everyone in the cast is remarkable. They sing the Gershwin score that includes classics like "'S Wonderful" and "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" with panache.

On the talented creative team, Mr. Grossman's set is gorgeous and special kudos to Ashley Nicastro on the fun choreography. The big tap numbers, a dying art, are superb. Moreover, it is always delightful to see a terrific live band, per usual at this theatre, led by Musical Director Matthew W. Surico.

Closing out their spectacular 44th season, Nice Work If You Can Get It is undoubtedly another hit for The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre. It's fun, screwy, and full of laughs; everything a show should have.

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The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center presents Nice Work If You Can Get It through August 10th. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 631-218-2810 or visit www.cmpac.com

Music & Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, Book by Joe DePietro, Direction and Set Design by Patrick Grossman, Music Direction by Matthew W. Surico, Lighting Design by Alison Weinberger, Choreography by Ashley Nicastro, Stage Management by Amanda Wenchel, Sound Design by Nicolette Carosi, Costume Design by Ronald Green III

Starring Steven Cottonaro, Bailey Whitney, Andrew J Beck, Emily Edwards, Briggs G. Houston, Barry Johnson, Emily Nadler, Adriana Michelle Scheer, Jeff Pangburn, Linda Pentz, David DiMarzo, John Mazzarella, Steven Press, Luke Ferrari, Mike Shapiro, Christian Kalinowski, Katie Perpall, Morgan Zweibel, Maggie Overbaugh, Jennifer Trezza, Juliana Jagielo, Katie Johnson, Megan Fives, Kristi Kahen, Megan Monaghan, and Katy Snair

Photo by Xavier Yondvale

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