Pandora Productions to Open 2016-17 Season with SWINGTIME CANTEEN

Pandora Productions begins the 2016-2017 season with Swingtime Canteen with book by Charles Busch, William Repicci and Linda Thorsen Bond.

Get ready for a memorable night as the all woman cast and band entertain you with 30+ classic songs from the war years including: Bugle Call Rag, Accentuate the Positive, Sentimental Journey, Daddy, Love Isn't Born and a rambunctious medley of Andrews Sisters numbers that has to be heard and seen to be believed. Pandora celebrates women during the war effort as well as our serving military and veterans.

MGM star Marian Ames and her all-girl band from the Hollywood Canteen are set to give the rip-roaringest canteen show of them all. After 17 years with MGM, still-glamorous movie legend Marian has endured four flop films in a row and is being put out to pasture. But there's no time for self pity as she gathers up her singing and instrument playing gal pals from the Hollywood Canteen and heads for London to entertain the troops. Joining her are Jo, (her stand-in on 17 pictures), her skittish niece Katie, solid as a rock, band conducting riveter Topeka and leggy chorine Lilly. Laughs, tears, emotional fireworks, air raids and a celebration of women during the war punctuate this hilarious and heart-warming story.

Swingtime Canteen is being directed by the company's Artistic Director, Michael J. Drury; Musical Direction by Gayle King and special staging by Frank Goodloe. The show stars: Shannan Speicher (Marian), Laura Ellis (Jo), Courtney Glenny (Katie), Marianne Zickuhr (Topeka) and Carrie Cooke Ketterman (Lilly). The ladies of the band include: Megan Massie (Trumpet), Veronica Palensky (Bass), Fiona Palensky (Drums) with Ms. King on the keyboard.

The production will run September 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 p and September 18 and 25 at5:30 p with one matinee set for September 24 at 2:00 p. The play will be performed at the Henry Clay Theatre, 604 South Third Street, 3rd Floor, Louisville. Single tickets are available for $20 in advance and $22 day of show for this production and are available online at www.PandoraProds.org, or via phone at 502.216.5502. Group rates available and Veterans Groups are particularly encouraged to attend as Pandora salutes and celebrates their service. 2016-2017 Season Subscriptions ($90/$80) are available through the run of Swingtime Canteen.

Pandora Productions was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1995 and represents the transformational power of theatre. Its mission is to entertain, engage and inspire its audiences, the community, and the greater human communities by presenting bold, cutting-edge theatrical productions that reveal the commonality of all people while investigating the diversity of human nature, particularly the nature of sexual orientation, through artistic expression. Pandora Productions is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization that benefits largely from the generosity of the community. Donations are encouraged and welcomed, in any amount.

Michael J. Drury, Pandora Productions Producing Artistic Director,has worked as a professional actor for 30+ years throughout the Midwest and is no stranger to Louisville area audiences having appeared with Stage One: Louisville's Children's Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Music Theatre Louisville, CenterStage, Theatre [502] and the Stephen Foster Drama Association, with whom he also toured Japan and was chosen to remake the official cast recording. He has directed numerous productions at Derby Dinner, Louisville Repertory Company, Clarksville Little Theatre and the Shelby County Community Theatre, in addition to adjudicating at theatre festivals including The Kentucky Theatre Association and The Southeastern Theatre Conference.

Pictured: Marianne Zickuhr as Topeka, Courtney Glenny as Katie, Shannan Speicher as Marian, Carrie Cooke Ketterman as Lilly & Laura Ellis as Jo.

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