Musicals Tonight! to Present FOR GOODNESS SAKE, 3/18-30

Musicals Tonight!, the Obie-winning company dedicated to the revival of neglected musicals, under the leadership of Mel Miller, presents George and Ira Gershwin's musical comedy For Goodness Sake, with performances March 18 through 30 at the Lion Theatre (410 W 42nd Street) on Theatre Row.

The original Broadway production of For Goodness Sake starred Fred and Adele Astaire and played 122 performances at the Lyric Theatre. The show marked a pivotal achievement for both Gershwin's and led to a long-standing working relationship between them and the Astaire siblings. The show later debuted in London under the name Stop Flirting.

It's 1923 at a weekend party at Bourne Estate near Maidenhead, England. Teddy (Sean Bell) and Suzanne (Sarah Rolleston) are American guests who became friends on the Mauritania en route to England. Upon arrival, Teddy is immediately smitten by Vivi (Amber Guest) whose reputation as a flirt is legendary and who is engaged to Perry (Brandon Andrus). Marjory (Natalie Beck), Perry's ward, has her sights set on Geoff (Nathan Freeman) and Count Spinagio (Jason Simon) - the gigolo of the piece - will gladly walk off with any available heiress. Perry seeks to ensure Vivi's faithfulness by faking his own death on a flight to America piloted by friend Jack (Matt DuMont). Vivi figures all this out and ratchets up her flirting knowing Perry is watching. The other male guests (Marc Bitler, Daniel Drewes, RJ Magee, John Wascavage) help the other lady guests (Andrea Dotto, Michelle Foard, Lauren Frankovich, Britte Steele) avoid Count Spinagio. Joseph (Mark Hawbecker), the butler, tolerates the shenanigans.

Directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by David Bishop, the cast also includes

The Gershwin score includes "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise"; "Oh, Gee, Oh, Gosh"; "The Whichness of Whatness".

The season concludes with Rodgers & Hart's America's Sweetheart (April 1 - 13) directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by James Stenborg.

Performances of For Goodness Sake are Tuesday through Sunday at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row Studios, 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $25 (plus $1.25 facility fee) and available through Telecharge at 212-560-2186 or www.telecharge.com.

Musicals Tonight! also hosts the popular At This Performance! concert series designed to showcase talented Broadway standbys and understudies to sing their shows' current musical hits. The 2013-24 series dates of At This Performance! are March 10, 23, and April 7 at 7pm at the Lion Theatre. Tickets are $25.

For more information on the season, tickets and subscriptions visit www.musicalstonight.org.

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