World Premiere Musical BABY IT'S YOU! Begins 7/18 At The Coast Playhouse

Baby It's You!, a new musical, will have its world premiere at The Coast Playhouse (8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood) with performances from July 18 – August 30.  American Pop Anthology (co-producers of the musical Million Dollar Quartet, still running in Chicago after nine months, and heading for Broadway) will present the new musical written by Colin Escott (Million Dollar Quartet) and Floyd Mutrux (Million Dollar Quartet and the award-winning film American Hot Wax).  Directed by Mutrux, Baby It's You! is about the passion and determination of New Jersey housewife Florence Greenberg, who in the 1960’s built one of the most successful-ever independent record companies with such discoveries like The Shirelles and found forbidden love.

Baby It's You! is the second stage production of the newly formed Los Angeles based company American Pop Anthology.

Overflowing with the greatest songs of the pre-British Invasion era, Baby It's You! tells the story of Florence Greenberg and Scepter Records, the label Florence started when she signed The Shirelles.  With the help of African-American songwriter, producer Luther Dixon, who became her lover, Florence took on the male music establishment and revolutionized pop music. Scepter Records influenced the most important movements in music to come – The Beatles, Motown, even folk-rock.  Baby It's You! is the intriguing story of how classic records like “Baby, It’s You,” “Soldier Boy,” “He’s So Fine,” “Dedicated to the One I Love,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “Twist and Shout,” and many others came to be made, and is the story of one woman’s triumph in a male-dominated world.

The cast of Baby It's You! is led by Meeghan Holaway as Florence Greenberg and Leon Robinson as Luther Dixon, and features Erica Ash as Micki (Shirelle),  Berlando Drake as Shirley (Shirelle), Geno Henderson as Jocko/Chuck Jackson, Adam Irizarry as Stanley Greenberg, Paulette Ivory as Beverly (Shirelle)/ Dionne Warwick, Crystal Starr Knighton as Doris (Shirelle), Shannon Mills as Mary Jane Greenberg, and Jay Brian Winnick as Bernie Greenberg/Milt Gabler/Marvin Schlacter.

Joining the creative team with Escott and Mutrux are Birgitte Mutrux (choreography), Richard Perry (music director), Joan Stein (general manager), Kis Knekt (set design), Charles Lee (original set design), Lizz Wolf (costume design), Kristie Roldan (lighting design), Martin Carrillo (sound design), Jason H. Thompson (projection design), Carol Doran (wig and hair design), Adam Irizarry (associate music director), Caitlin Moon (assistant director), Michael Donovan (casting), Jeremiah Thies (production manager), Jolie Baretta Keyser (original casting), and Ronn Goswick (production stage manager).

American Pop Anthology presents Baby It's You!.  Jonathan Sanger produces and Jerry Katell executive produces on behalf of American Pop Anthology.

The producers of Baby It's You!  have partnered with LA’s BEST – Better Educated Students For Tomorrow to help fundraise for the esteemed after-school enrichment program.  For each $75.00 ticket sold this summer, LA’s BEST will receive a $25.00 tax-deductible donation to help support visual and performing arts programs for 28,000 low-income elementary school kids.

“Floyd and I both care a lot about connecting kids to visual and performing arts,” said producer Jonathan Sanger.  “We’ve seen first-hand the success of LA’s BEST in bringing the arts to young children and are proud to support the program with this partnership.”

Carla Sanger, wife of Jonathan Sanger and President and CEO of LA’s BEST for 21 years, noted, “Often theatrical productions offer benefit performances, but the partnership between LA’s BEST and Baby It's You! is unique.  Members of the production have volunteered time and financial support for LA’s BEST arts programs in addition to the generous benefit opportunity from every performance.  This partnership means so much to preserving the after school arts program for LA’s BEST at a time when 27,000 kids enrolled would otherwise have little connection to creative experiences in the arts.”

LA's BEST - Better Educated Students for Tomorrow - is a nationally recognized after school education, enrichment and recreation program serving children with the greatest needs and fewest resources throughout the City of Los Angeles. LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program provides a safe haven for children ages 5 to 12 at 180 elementary school sites each day during the critical hours after school - at no cost to parents. Established in 1988, LA's BEST is a partnership including the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the private sector. For more information, please visit www.lasbest.org.

Baby It's You! plays at The Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood from July 18 – August 30.  Performance schedule is Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Schedule notes:  There will be no performance on Saturday, July 18 at 4:00 p.m. There are a limited amount of $50.00 tickets available. Tickets to help support LA’s BEST are $75.00, and includes a $25.00 tax-deductible donation.  Tickets are available by calling 800-595-4TIX (4849) or for online purchase at www.tix.com.  For Group Sales (10 tickets or more), email LA_TheatreBoxOffice@yahoo.com.  Visit www.BabyItsYouTheMusical.com for additional information.

To post a comment, you must register and login.