MCCC's Kelsey Theatre Presents MY FAIR LADY, Opens 5/7

The tale of the Cockney girl-turned-aristocrat comes to life at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Pierrot Productions presents the celebrated Broadway musical, "My Fair Lady," Fridays, May 7 and 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, May 8 and 15 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays, May 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on Mercer's West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on May 7.

Based on George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion," with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Lerner, "My Fair Lady" is set in London's Covent Garden, where a dirty, disheveled Eliza Doolittle first meets noted linguist Henry Higgins. The class-conscious Higgins makes a bet with his friend, Colonel Pickering, that he can transform the unrefined Eliza into a lady simply by teaching her proper English. As her transformation takes hold, complications arise. Young aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill falls for this enchanting mystery lady, while Higgins infuriates Eliza by claiming all the credit for her miraculous makeover. Will she marry Freddy? Will confirmed bachelor Higgins admit his own growing feelings for her? Where does this street urchin belong now that she is a proper lady?

The musical score includes such memorable numbers as "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?," "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." First performed on Broadway in 1956, the show won multiple awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and became one of the longest running shows in Broadway history. A popular 1964 film version starred Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
"My Fair Lady" stars Bill King of Interlaken, N.J., as Henry Higgins; Mariel Rosati of Ivyland, Pa., as Eliza Doolittle; and Steve Decker of Morrisville, Pa., as Pickering. Also featured are Kelly Allen of Allentown as Mrs. Hopkins; Chris E. Arena of Ewing as Alfred Doolittle; Lisa Flanagan of East Windsor as Mrs. Eynsford-Hill; Michael Gearty of Langhorne, Pa., as Freddy; Ruth Rittmann of Ewing as Mrs. Pearce; and Gina Vitolo-Stevens of Newtown, Pa., as Mrs. Higgins.

Ensemble members include Haley Ackermann of Moorestown, Jaci D'Ulisse of Hamilton, Cathryn Dodge of North Brunswick, Isabelle Elden of Hopewell, Joe Kraher of Doylestown, Pa., Alison McMullen of Ewing, Jack Petzko of Cranbury, Johnny Ragazzo of East Windsor, Eric Wishnie of Morrisville, Pa., and George Vesa of Marlton, and dancers Dominick Sanelli of Levittown, Pa., and Kate Skelly of Bordentown.

Production team members are director Ruth Markoe of Lawrence, musical director Buzz Herman of Hamilton Square, choreographer Kat Ross of Langhorne, Pa., assistant choreographer Haley Ackermann of Moorestown, and producer/designer Pete LaBriola of Pennington.

Tickets are $16 for adults; $14 for seniors, and $12 for students and children. Free parking is available next to the theater. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure.

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