Bliss and Davis Join Philly's Menopause The Musical

Two new cast members have joined the production of Menopause The Musical, "the hilarious celebration of Women and The Change," which re-opened in Philadelphia for its third season at the Society Hill Playhouse on Wednesday, September 13.

Gail Bliss (in the role of Soap Star), who most recently performed in Broadway's Ring of Fire, and experienced performer and producer Brooke Davis (Earth Mother) have just been added to the cast in Philadelphia. More than 100 cities and 10 countries after the first show, Menopause the Musical is celebrating its sixth year with this latest opening.

"The production phenomenon, which celebrates the women's movement and life over 40, features a collection of 26 baby boomer songs from the 60's and 70's.  Lyrics that take on everything from night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings to food binges, memory loss, wrinkles and more have women laughing, cheering and dancing in the aisles," according to press notes.

Menopause The Musical was directed and choreographed by Patty Bender with local musical direction by Jim Ryan.  In addition to Bliss and Davis, the show features film and TV actress Peggy Bayer-Waldron (Iowa Housewife), and singer, actress and Birt's Repertory Theatre founder CeCeLia Ann Birt (Power Woman).  "The four characters – an aging soap star, a lost-in-the-60's hippie, a power executive and an Iowa housewife in the city with a conventioneer husband – meet fighting over a black lace bra at a Bloomingdale's lingerie sale."

Now enjoying its fifth year in production, Menopause The Musical debuted in a 76-seat perfume-shop-turned-theatre in Orlando, Florida.  It subsequently opened off-Broadway where it is still playing, and can now also be seen in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Orlando, Des Moines, Ft. Lauderdale and Philadelphia.  It has played in Malaysia, The Philippines and Mexico.  The musical will be translated to Hebrew and Korean for a run in Israel and Korea, and will soon open in Australia.   The original Orlando cast spent three weeks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, performing as guests of the American Embassy.  The show's production company, TOC Productions, Inc., has offices in Winter Park, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona.

Show times for Menopause The Musical at Society Hill Playhouse are Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are $45.00 and are on sale by phone at 215-923-0210, online at www.ticketweb.com and at the Society Hill Playhouse Box Office at 507 S. 8th Street (near South Street).  Group rates, including special Girls' Night Out groups of 10 or more, are available.  Visit www.menopausethemusical.com for more information.

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