Santa Monica Playhouse Presents Return Engagement Of BACKSTREET, Opens 5/15

Santa Monica Playhouse presents Actor's Repertory Theatre (ART) in the return engagement of the "dazzling" (Daily Bruin) original Jewish musical, BACKSTREET, a passionate and whimsical portrait of life, love, and loyalty played out by a family of Backstreet Ladies in a house of Jewish "working girls" in the New York ghetto, circa 1905. This gem from The Playhouse Jewish Heritage Program by the creators of the immensely popular Sholom Aleichem quartet of plays - Author! Author!, Because of You, The Clown Prince and The Great Fair - and part of the ongoing Santa Monica Playhouse (SMP) 50th Anniversary Celebration of Theatre, opens May 15, 2010.

"Delightful! Don't miss this Jewish Musical!" JEWISH TIMES

BACKSTREET, which had its world premiere at The Playhouse in 1998, is a "Powerful" (Showtime) and "Compelling!" (BackStage West) musical that portrays a little discussed aspect of the Jewish immigrant women's experience set against the backdrop of the women's movement at the turn of the (last) century; the flight from persecution that sent so many European immigrants knocking on America's doors; and the endless quest of the underclass for self-worth and respectability. It strikes chords that resound deeply not only in Jewish identity, but in all human hearts. The LA Weekly called it "Tuneful and enticing! A simple love story deftly told!" and Drama-Logue dubbed it "A musical spellbinder!"

This Anniversary year production is directed by Chris DeCarlo, with book, music and lyrics by DeCarlo, Evelyn Rudie and Matthew Wrather, and features original cast members DeCarlo and Rudie joined by Vanessa Cate, Carolyn Freeman Champ, James Hassett, Jake Levy, Lauren Marr and Serena Dolinsky as "Rivkele." The authentically detailed and "breathtaking period costuming (FAB hats!)" (The Tolucan Times) were painstakingly recreated by award-winning designers Ashley Hayes and Cheryl Jennings, and are one of the highlights of this rich musical production.

" ‘Sholom Aleichem' means ‘Hello, peace be with you.' For the Santa Monica Playhouse it means ‘richness in Jewish theatre for the community to enjoy.' " THE MESSENGER

Since it opened its doors in 1960, Santa Monica Playhouse has been the standard bearer for Jewish theatre in Los Angeles . Its Jewish Heritage Program is on the cutting edge of Jewish theatre and education, touching the lives of over a million people with such critically-acclaimed premieres as" Author! Author!-an evening with Sholom Aleichem" (the longest-running Jewish musical in L.A. theatre), Rose Leiman Goldemberg's "Picon Pie: the Molly Picon Story," and the Rae-Waldman-Wyse musical "Funny, You Don't Look Like A Grandmother" (based on Lois Wyse's New York Times best-selling novel). Over 200 renowned artists have participated in Jewish Heritage events, including Annie Reiner, Brenda Krantz, Barbara Minkus, Connie Stevens Jerry Mayer, Milton Berle, Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna, Sammy Shore ,and Harpo and Bill Marx.

BACKSTREET previews April 17- May 2 and plays Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 6:00 pm through June 20. Admission to all previews (April 17 - May 1) is $17.50, regular prices are $25.00, with discounts available for students, teachers, seniors and groups of 8 or more. Ticket price includes a complimentary coffee and dessert buffet at intermission. Reservations are required. For tickets and group sales, please call The Playhouse Box Office at (310) 394-9779 ext. 1.

Santa Monica Playhouse (http://SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com), currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary of continuous education and entertainment to the community, is located at 1211 4th Street (between Wilshire & Arizona) one block east of the Third Street Promenade. Convenient parking is located across the street in city lot #1. By public transportation take LA Metro Rapid 720 or The Santa Monica Blue Bus, exit 4th and Wilshire.

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