Frank Loesser's MOST HAPPY FELLA to Close Musical Theatre West Reiner's Staged Reading Series

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series (RRS) returns with Frank Loesser's (Guys and Dolls) touching, dramatic and intensely personal love story Most Happy Fella, Sunday, August 19, 7pm at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Tickets are now on sale at the MTW Ticket Office, by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4, online at www.musical.org, or at the Musical Theatre West Ticket Office. Advance tickets are $40, and $53 at the door. Seating is general admission, with priority access for Reiner Staged Reading Subscribers.

The Reiner Staged Readings are presented concert style, a bit like radio theatre. Using minimal sets and costumes, but featuring the full script and score with live 23 piece orchestra from Los Angeles Musicians Collective, RRS performances are the perfect way to celebrate the entire spectrum of musical theatre, while discovering some new favorite songs and shows. David Lamourex serves as Director/Musical Director, Julie Lamoureux as Vocal Director and Daniel Smith as Choreograher.

Most Happy Fella is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard. A heart-warming story of a May-to-December romance, the love story shares the tale of a city bride who is wooed by an aging Italian grape farmer who nearly botches everything... until his true goodness shines through. Filled with sweeping ballads, intense dramatic arias and tuneful, splashy Broadway-style numbers, this ambitious "Broadway opera" is a simple and touching love story that makes for an extraordinary night of theatre.

Tony, a middle-aged vintner, makes a mail order marriage proposal, which is accepted under the girl's mistaken assumption that a photo of his young, handsome foreman is her intended husband. Her hurt and humiliation when she learns the truth, as well as a terrible accident that nearly kills Tony as he hurries to meet her, almost ends the relationship before it begins, but a loving understanding blossoms between them during Tony's long convalescence.

Most Happy Fella debut on Broadway in 1956 and earned six Tony nominations, including "Best Musical" and earned the coveted award for "Best Conductor and Musical Direction." Revival productions earned a dozen Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations.

The Reiner Staged Reading Series is produced by Michael Betts and Gabriel Kalomas and is made possible by a generous donation from Ken & Dottie Reiner with additional funding provided by The Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundations, Kathy Baker Campbell, Pat & Janice DeRouen, and Ken & Cheryl Simpson.

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