The Dio - Dining & Entertainment, Livingston County's professional, award winning dinner theatre, is excited to present the Michigan regional premiere production of Daddy Long Legs, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and book by John Caird, directed by Steve DeBruyne with musical direction by Brian Rose.
Based on the classic novel which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire, Daddy Long Legs is a beloved tale in the spirit of "Downton Abbey," filled with soaring musical melodies that The New York Times calls "A great treat!"
Set in 1908 America, Jerusha Abbott is the "Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home" until a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college to be educated as a writer. Required to write him a letter once a month, she is never to know the benefactor's identity - so she invents one for him: Daddy Long Legs. Although she knows that he will never respond to her letters, she grows more and more fond of this elusive and kindly old gentleman. But another relationship soon begins to develop in Jerusha's life when she meets Jervis, the "youngish" uncle of one of Jerusha's roommates, who introduces her to a world of literature, travel and adventure. Through her correspondence with Daddy Long Legs, Jerusha's letters chronicle her emergence as a delightfully independent "New American Woman." Yet, there is one startling fact that Jerusha has yet to uncover - a fact that will change her life forever.
Director Steve DeBruyne says, "Chances are good that you're going to have a new favorite musical when you leave the theater. This heartfelt and simple human story will leave you with goosebumps. You're going to want to see it again!"
Daddy Long Legs features performances by Emily Hadick as Jerusha and Alexander Benoit as Jervis.
Performances take place at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney Michigan, 48169 from April 6 through May 20, 2018, Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. There will be two weeknight performances, Thursday, April 5 and Thursday, May 17.
All tickets include dinner, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages. The menu for Daddy Long Legs includes garden salad with choice of dressing, our buttery garlic breadsticks, garden rice and quinoa pilaf with fresh vegetables, four cheese au gratin potatoes with a parmesan cheddar crust, braised beef in burgundy wine, and The Dio's signature fried boneless chicken, plus a decadent bread pudding for dessert!
Tickets for all performances are available now and may be purchased by visiting diotheatre.com or by calling (517) 672-6009. Seating is limited. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Photo credit: Emily Hadick and Alexander Benoit in Daddy Long Legs at The Dio. Photo courtesy of The Dio.
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