San Diego Musical Theatre's 42ND STREET Begins Today

San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) continues their 2016 season with the musical comedy classic 42ND STREET today, May 27. This Tony Award-winning musical features music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, book by Michael Stewart (Hello Dolly, Bye Bye Birdie) and Mark Bramble (Barnum), directed by James Vasquez. Performances run through June 12, 2016 at the historic Spreckels Theatre. Press opening is Saturday, May 28th at 8:00PM.

Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley's 1933 film adaptation, 42ND STREET celebrates show business at its best. Fresh-faced Peggy Sawyer arrives in the Big Apple with her sites set on Broadway. After catching the eye of famous director Julian Marsh, she lands herself a role in the chorus. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, Peggy is thrust into the spotlight. With some gumption and determination, this starry-eyed girl might be the next Broadway star.

42ND STREET features an unforgettable score boasting such musical classics as Getting To Be A Habit With Me, I Only Have Eyes for You, We're in the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off to Buffalo, and of course, 42ND STREET.

"I think I was born wearing tap shoes," said 42ND STREET Director James Vasquez. "My feet seem to never want to sit still. So, getting to put my spin on this classic musical, with some of the best tap numbers seen on stage, was an opportunity I jumped at. And, I do feel a connection with that old Hollywood idea of 'Hey kids, let's put on a show.' I've always loved how, in 42ND STREET, we see the behind-the-scenes workings and birth of a Broadway show within our show."

"We are thrilled to welcome back director James Vasquez (Cats, West Side Story) resident musical director, Don LeMaster, and choreographer, Jill Gorrie (Singing in the Rain - SDCCA nominee) as they bring a fresh approach to a classic piece of musical theatre," states SDMT Artistic Director, Jill Townsend. "The historic, Spreckels Theatre provides the perfect backdrop for 42ND STREET, allowing audiences to feel as though they have stepped back into the Golden Age of Broadway."

The cast features Ashley Ruth Jones (La Cage Aux Folles) as Peggy Sawyer, Robert J. Townsend (La Cage Aux Folles, Next to Normal, Chicago) as Julian Marsh, Laura Dickinson (White Christmas, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Footloose) as Dorothy Brock, Gabriel Navarro (Singing in the Rain, White Christmas) as Billy Lawlor, Todd Nielsen (Director SDMT's Singin' In The Rain, White Christmas) as Bert Barry, Bets Malone (Next to Normal) as Maggie Jones, Jill Townsend (SDMT Artistic Director, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, White Christmas) as Anytime Annie, Katie Whalley Banville (Ragtime, White Christmas, Singin' in the Rain, Chicago) as Andi Lee, Ryan Fahey as Pat Denning, and Lance Carter (Singin' In The Rain) as Abner Dillon.

Additional cast includes: Michael Van Allen, Danielle Airey, Amy Beth Batchelor, Jenny Henkel, Jenny Hoffman, Katey Konderik, Tara Kostmayer, Missy Marion, Joy Newbegin, Janissa Saracino, Tara Shoemaker, John Paul Batista, Donny Gersonde, Noah Hartwell, Lane Palhegyi, Dallas Perry, Kaleb Scott, Ala Tiatia, Drew Bradford, and Chris Lopez.

The creative team includes Don LeMaster (Music Director), Jill Gorrie (Choreographer), Michael Von Hoffman (Lighting Design), Beth Connelly (Costume Coordinator), Kevin Anthenill (Sound Design), David Medina (Properties Design and Set Dressing), Bret Young (Production Manager), and Craig Campbell (Stage Manager).

JAMES VASQUEZ (Director) is happy to return to San Diego Musical Theatre, this time back in the director's chair after playing Jacob in their production of La Cage aux Folles last year. He has directed Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre for the last 5 years, while restaging the original choreography for the last 12 years. Also at the Globe, he directed Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, served as Associate Director of Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy, and provided musical staging for Boeing-Boeing and the 2013 Shakespeare Festival production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He received San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for the world premiere of Harmony, Kansas and the West Coast premiere of [title of show] (Diversionary Theatre) and won the award in 2010 for Sweeney Todd (Cygnet Theatre Company). His other recent directing/choreography credits include Marry Me a Little, Birds of a Feather, Pippin, and Next Fall (Diversionary), and Pageant, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Little Shop of Horrors (Cygnet), as well as developmental workshops at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodspeed Musicals. Mr. Vásquez is co-founder of Daisy 3 Pictures. His film, Ready? OK!, won the Best Film award at Seattle, North Carolina, and San Diego film festivals. Daisy 3's latest feature film, That's What She Said, made its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School of Drama.

Performances run May 27 - June 12, 2016 at the Spreckels Theatre. Show times are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. For more information on 42ND STREET and upcoming SDMT productions, call the box office at (858) 560-5740 or visit www.sdmt.org.

Founded in 2006, San Diego Musical Theatre is dedicated to passionately producing and providing musical theatre that ignites the human spirit.

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