Musical Theatre West's Reiner Reader's Series Presents LI'L ABNER

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series (RRS) continues its 2015-16 season with Li'l Abner, Sunday, August 28, 7pm at the University Theatre at Cal State University, Long Beach. Tickets are now on sale at the Musical Theatre West Ticket Office, by calling (562) 856-1999 ext. 4. Advance general admission tickets for this one-night-only performance are $27 in advance or $32 on the day of the performance. Seating is general admission. For tickets or more information, call Musical Theatre West at (562) 856-1999, ext. 4 or go to www.musical.org.

The Reiner's Reading Series productions are performed concert style, a bit like radio theatre. Using no sets and costumes, but featuring the full scripts and scores, the performances are the perfect way to celebrate the spectrum of musical theatre, while discovering some new favorite songs and shows. The shows will be performed in their entirety with the scores performed by a live orchestra, provided by Los Angeles Musicians Collective.

Li'l Abner is a fun-filled, foot-stompin' musical taken directly from the Al Capp's much beloved comic strip. Join Daisy Mae, Mammy and Pappy Yokum, Moonbeam McSwine and, of course, the title character in a show laced with gentle satire, rib-tickling humor, and a host of brash, catchy tunes. The score for this upbeat musical extravaganza includes such memorable tunes as "If I Had My Druthers," the rousing "Jubilation T. Cornpone," "Namely You,"and "Progress Is the Root of All Evil." It's pure entertainment; a side-splitting extravaganza for the sophisticated theatregoer as well as the child within us all. Featuring music by Gene de Paul, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, book by Norman Panama & Melvin Frank, and based on Al Capp's comic strip "Li'l Abner," the show became a Broadway favorite in 1957, earning two Tony Awards for "Best Choreography" and "Best Supporting Actress," two Theatre World Awards and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

Li'l Abner is Directed & Choreographed by Daniel Smith and with Musical Direction by David Lamouruex, The Reiner's Staged Readers Series is produced by Michael Betts and David Lamoureux and is made possible by a generous donation from Ken & Dottie Reiner with additional funding provided by The Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundations, Kathy Baker Campbell, Joe P. Moore, Jr. & Edna Moore, Marian Pincombe, and Pat & Janice DeRouen.

Tickets for the final two shows of the Reiner Staged Reading Series, Rodgers & Hart's The Boys From Syracuse (November 13, 2016 at 7pm) and She Loves Me (December 3, 2016 at 7pm will go on sale Tuesday, August 30th. Both shows will be the first Reiner Staged Reading shows to be performed at the newly renamed and renovated Beverly O'Neill Theater in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Downtown Long Beach.

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