CALL ME MADAM Opens 9/26 At 42nd Street Moon

Who's the hostess with the mostes' in San Francisco? On September 26, the answer will be belted out when San Francisco's only professional musical theatre company, 42nd Street Moon (www.42ndstreetmoon.org) opens its much-anticipated 2009 / 2010 season with Irving Berlin's classic take on the Washington, DC political-and-social set, Call Me Madam starring international cabaret and concert star Klea Blackhurst in the role made famous by Ethel Merman. Previews begin September 23 at the Company's home venue in San Francisco's Financial District/Embarcadero, The Eureka Theatre (215 Jackson Street). The show closes October 18.

"I suppose I am genetically predisposed to celebrating the work of Ethel Merman and Call Me Madam is one of her greatest roles," said Blackhurst, who portrays ‘Mrs. Sally Adams - U.S Ambassador to tiny Lichtenburg.' As Washington's most vivacious and unconventional party-giver, Adams and Blackhurst dole out humor and high notes with equal aplomb. "Call Me Madam's script is extremely funny and its political humor is surprisingly up to date. It turns out the Republicans and Democrats have been at each other forever. And Irving Berlin wrote a score that sings. You just can't go wrong."

Ambassador Sally's down-to-earth and decidedly offbeat manner surprises - then charms - the local citizenry. The handsome Foreign Minister, a trio of U.S. congressmen, an errant princess, a devious protocol director, and a young press attaché complicate the new ambassador's incumbency. The classic Berlin score features such hummable classics as You're Just in Love, It's a Lovely Day Today, Something to Dance About, The Ocarina, The Hostess With the Mostes', and The Best Thing for You. Music and Lyrics are by Irving Berlin with Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The 42nd Street Moon production is directed by Dyan McBride

Over the last few years, San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon has earned a reputation and critical acclaim for the high quality of its musical values and approachable character of its work. 42nd Street Moon, based in San Francisco, is one of a handful of companies in the United States whose mission is to present rarely-seen musicals from the classic Broadway era of the 1910s - 1970s. Since 1993, the organization has mounted five productions every year, and serves a loyal constituency who participate with both regular audience attendance and a solid base of contributed income.

42nd Street Moon contributes to the preservation and evolution of American musical theatre by presenting these classic Broadway shows in intimate productions. The shows do not have elaborate sets but are fully costumed and staged. 42nd Street Moon does not present its work through digitally engineered sound systems. The material itself is the star. This format allows the audience to hear the work with remarkable clarity, and to use their imaginations.

"We allow our audience to participate in the here and now," said Greg MacKellan, 42nd Street Moon Artistic Director. "42nd Street Moon is the very essence of LIVE theatre."

On Friday, September 25, 42nd Street Moon will salute the fictional "Lichtenburg" of Call Me Madam with a "Luxembourg Night" hosted by that country's authentic Consul General, the Honorable Georges Faber - an admitted Call Me Madam fan -- complete with a "Luxembourg Fair" in the lobby featuring Luxembourg cheese and wine. Interestingly, Blackhurst got to sing selections from Call Me Madam in a concert in Luxembourg two years ago, but this performance in San Francisco will be the first time she will actually get to play the role on stage.

"It's always been an obvious secret that little Lichtenburg is a fictional combo of severAl Small European countries, notably lovely Luxembourg," said MacKellan. "So, we decided to honor the humor and invite the Consulate to participate. We look forward to raising a glass to bilateral relations and international hilarity and all others who share a love for great music and theatre."

Tickets for the special "Luxembourg Night" are $28 and benefit 42nd Street Moon's Educational Programs.

Klea Blackhurst (www.kleablackhurst.com) is best known for her award-winning solo shows: Everything The Traffic Will Allow, her acclaimed tribute to Ethel Merman; and, Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke's Broadway. Her most recent show teaming with Billy Stritch, Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, received a 2009 MAC Award. Klea's concert appearances include the London Palladium, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, ten Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Conventions, Carnegie Hall with Michael Feinstein, Oklahoma! at London's Royal Albert Hall, and New York's 92nd Street Y Lyrics & Lyricists (Leo Robin & Cole Porter). Klea's theatre credits include: In New York - Bingo, By Jupiter, Radio Gals, Oil City Symphony; Regional - Chicago, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Red Hot and Blue, Anything Goes. TV and radio: "Law and Order: SVU," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "Sesame Street," "A Prairie Home Companion." CD recordings: "Everything The Traffic Will Allow" and "Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke's Broadway" and the recently released "Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael" (Ghostlight Records).

The other cast members are: Rob Hatzenbeller (Cosmo Constantine), Charlie Levy (Kenneth Gibson), Giana DeGeiso (Princess Maria), Scarlett Hepworth, John-Elliott Kirk and DC Scarpelli as the trio of American congress people who sing "They Like Ike," Gabriel Grilli as Maxwell, the protocol director, Peter Budinger (Sebastian Sebastian), and Lillian Askew, Sarah Kathleen Farrell, Benjamin Knoll, and Allison Rich. The character played by Scarpelli, Senator Brockbank, is based on Tallulah Bankhead's father, Senator William Brockman Bankhead.

Call Me Madam will play at 42nd Street Moon's popular downtown venue, the Eureka Theatre: 215 Jackson Street, between Battery & Front. Performances are Wednesdays at 7pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 6pm (with some select matinees at 1pm); Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $34 & $44 and may be purchased online or by calling (415) 255-8207. Call Me Madam closes on October 18.

 

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