42nd STREET Opens Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season Of Musicals 7/15

The grand curtain of Moonlight Amphitheatre's new stage house is set to rise on "42nd Street," the ultimate Broadway musical which opens Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season of musicals under the stars on July 15. Performances of the show run July 15 through August 1, Wednesdays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m.; with no performance on July 29, at the Amphitheatre, located in Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Tickets are $22 to $44 and are on sale at the VisTix Ticket Office, located at 600 Eucalyptus Avenue in Vista. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (760) 724-2110 or online at www.vistixonline.com.

"42nd Street" is an unforgettable tap-dancing extravaganza with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical as did the 2001 Broadway revival for Best Revival. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 film adaptation, "42nd Street" is the classic story of the young dancer, Peggy Sawyer, who arrives in New York to audition for a Broadway show with 40 cents in her pocket and a big dream.

Director and choreographer Jon Engstrom returns to the show which has a special place in his heart, since he was a featured dancer and dance captain in Gower Champion's 1980 Broadway premiere of this quintessential backstage musical. He has helmed many productions of it since then, including this past spring at Cabrillo Music Theatre. For the Moonlight production, he is joined by musical director Elan McMahan and conductor Kenneth Gammie.

Starring in the role of Peggy Sawyer is Cassie Silva of Woodland Hills, who also starred in the production at Cabrillo Music Theatre. Playing the part of Broadway producer Julian Marsh is David Kirk Grant of Duarte, who played the role for the national tour of "42nd Street." As aging diva Dorothy Brock, Amy Biedel of Sherman Oaks will take the stage. Her most recent shows include "Suds" at the Welk Resort Theatre and "Threepenny Opera" for San Diego Repertory Theatre. Jeffrey Scott Parsons of North Hollywood plays brash performer Billy Lawlor, Justin Robertson of North Hollywood plays Bert Barry and Jennifer Wilcove of Upland is in the role of Maggie Jones.

The design team for the show consists of Christina Munich for lighting designer; Roslyn Lehman, Renetta Loyd and Carlotta Malone are the costume coordinators; and Peter Hashagen is sound designer. Stanley D. Cohen is the stage manager, assisted by Timothy Jones, who is also the properties coordinator.

The remaining shows of the 2009 Summer Season include Kopit & Yeston's "Phantom," August 12 through 29, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats," September 9 through 26. The 2009 Summer Season is produced by Moonlight Stage Productions, a program of the City of Vista. Additional funding is made possible by the Moonlight Cultural Foundation, a non-profit organization that benefits the performing arts in North County. For more information about the Foundation, call (760) 630-7650.

 

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