THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL!) Returns to Theatre Memphis, Now thru 1/19

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), by Eric Rockwell and JoAnne Bogart, makes a return engagement today, January 10 - 19, 2014 at Theatre Memphis on the Next Stage. The November production sold out and this encore presentation will feature the same cast .

A tongue-in-cheek, perfect take on popular musicals, this five act, sometimes over-the-top production parodies popular Broadway shows and is a hilarious send-up of all the inside jokes we know and tunes we love about and from renowned Broadway composers and lyricists including Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jerry Herman.

Retuning in the cast are Kent Fleshman, Jude Knight, Amy Polumbo Nabors and Brennen Villines who will re-enact their respective characters. Each performer handles a range of well-known situations from shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma, Cabaret, Mame and Into the Woods, to name a few. The entire show is structured to be performed "in the style of" the creators while paying homage to their body of work.

Theatre Memphis Executive Director Debbie Litch says there is merit to bringing back popular shows. "The one thing we like about bringing shows like this back is that we know we are going to be giving our patrons something that they will really enjoy. This isn't a guessing game when a production has already proven itself. This show is even fun for people who don't like musicals because it makes fun of itself and its genre." As reviewed in The Commercial Appeal in November, "If you love musical theatre, or even if you love to hate it, this is a treat."

Photo Credit: Skip Hooper