International City Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with a tour de force musical drama about the final days of Judy Garland. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter opens tonight, Feb. 20, directed by John Henry Davis (ICT's Trying) and starring Gigi Bermingham (Ovation Award-winner for her performance as Maria Callas in ICT's Master Class) in the role of the legendary singer.
In
Peter Quilter's savagely funny play, it's Christmas 1968, and Judy is shacked up in London's Ritz Hotel with fiancé number five, Mickey Deans (
Michael Rubenstone), and her loyal friend and pianist, Anthony (
Brent Schindele, who also musical directs). A whirlwind success in her youth, the years have been unkind, and Garland is clutching at the straw she thinks will save her career and bring in some much-needed cash: a six-week run of cabaret shows at London's Talk of the Town nightclub. Featuring some of Garland's most memorable songs including "The Man That Got Away," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "The Trolley Song" and, of course, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," End of the Rainbow paints a warts-and-all picture of the beloved but tortured musical icon, her strained relationships with men, her struggle to stay in the spotlight and the pill habit that would claim her life.
"End of the Rainbow is not a traditional stage biography," wrote Quilter in an article. "It's not full of facts and flashbacks, it's not the story and minute detail of an entire life. Instead, we focus on just one short period of six weeks. A snapshot of a life, a look at what was happening to this remarkable woman during a fascinating, dangerous, compelling time when her career, money troubles, search for love, addictions and hopes all seemed to come crashing together."
End of the Rainbow premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2005. Subsequent productions in London's West End and on Broadway were the recipients of four Olivier and three Tony Award nominations respectively. The New York Times called End of the Rainbow "electrifying" and "revealing in a way that tell-all bio-drama seldom is."
Also in the cast, playing multiple roles, is Wallace Angus Bruce. Set design for End of the Rainbow is by Aaron Jackson; lighting design is by
Donna Ruzika; costume design is by Kim DeShazo; sound design is by Paul Fabre; props are by Patty and Gordon Briles; wigs are by Anthony Gagliardi; casting is by
Michael Donovan Casting; and the production stage manager is Henry "Heno" Fernandez. caryn desai [sic] produces for International City Theatre.
Peter Quilter's other plays include Respecting Your Peers, a musical adaptation of
Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost, BoyBand and Glorious! Born in England, where he began his working career as a television presenter for the BBC, Peter currently lives in the Canary Islands. His work has been translated into 13 languages and presented in 21 countries.
International City Theatre was born in 1985 when Shashin Desai opened a 99-seat black box theater on the campus of Long Beach City College where he was chairman of the drama department. From the beginning, the fledgling company attracted critical acclaim and multiple awards - including the Los Angeles Drama Circle's prestigious Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Excellence in Theater." Determined to build a high quality professional, mid-size theater company in the City of Long Beach, Desai was delighted to receive encouragement from the Mayor and City Council to move International City Theatre downtown to the Center Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. In 1999, the Long Beach City Council proclaimed International City Theater the "Professional Resident Theater Company" at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. A year later, ICT made the choice to invest entirely in the downtown, mid-size theater with an annual five-play season. When Desai retired in 2011, ICT's board of directors unanimously approved caryn desai, ICT's general manager since 1990, to take the reins as producing artistic director. The 2015 season marks the fifth under the leadership of caryn desai.
End of the Rainbow runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., Feb. 20 through March 15. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $46 on Thursdays and Fridays, and $48 on Saturdays and Sundays, except opening night (Feb. 20), for which tickets are $54 and include a post-performance reception with the actors, and previews which are $34. International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, CA 90802. For reservations and information, call the ICT Box Office at 562-436-4610 or
www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.
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