Based on Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, “42nd Street” tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a starry-eyed young dancer who leaves her quiet Allentown home for New York City to audition for a glitzy new Broadway musical. She joins the chorus and when the legendary leading lady breaks her ankle, newcomer Peggy is given a one in a million chance to take over the role, and against all odds, becomes a star. A hit from the start, the original production of “42nd Street” opened on Broadway in 1980, where it ran for nearly nine years. The show won 1981 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography, and the long-running Broadway revival, which opened in 2001, earned two Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
42nd Street
Reviews
Broadway's 42nd Street may be edging towards its 40th birthday (and the movie that inspired it now celebrating its 85th), but you'd never know it at Palos Verdes Performing Arts. Fresher than ever, it's the most taptastic show in town.
All of the production numbers are flashy, joyous and fill the stage with such high energy, and even though the tempos are bright, their tapping is very clean and precise. There are delightful songs and dances, such as the "Shadow Waltz," "Go Into Your Dance," "Dames," "You're In the Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," and the title song, belted out and delivered by our fabulous Julian Marsh, the Dream of a Show Producer, wrapping it up neatly, with a bang!
The Norris production features a wonderfully talented 16-piece orchestra, directed and conducted by Ryan O'Connell, with direction and choreography by Broadway tour veteran Christine Negherbon, produced by Christopher Gilbert. The production stars Equity actors Ashley Ruth Jones as the talented, tap-dancing newcomer Peggy Sawyer; Austin Miller as the “Pretty Lady” lead actor/dancer Billy Lawlor who falls for Peggy; sophisticated Kevin Bailey as Broadway producer/director Julian Marsh; and Sandy Bainum as the aging leading lady Dorothy Brock who must step aside to let Peggy shine in the spotlight she was to occupy. Each time these four actors take the stage, the production soars. With a cast of 26 talented triple-threat performers, there are several whose enthusiasm and stage presence light up the stage every time they take the stage. Among them are Ann Myers as Maggie Jones, Bernadette Bentley as Anytime Annie, Melanie Mockobey as Phyllis Dale, Keenon Hooks as Andy Lee, Cole Cuomo as Bert Barry, Timothy Joshua Hearl as Pat Denning, Deborah Fauerbach as Lorraine Flemming, Jessica Marie Taylor as Gladys, and Greg Nicholas as Abner Dillon.
Broadway's 42nd Street may be edging towards its 40th birthday (and the movie that inspired it now celebrating its 85th), but you'd never know it at Palos Verdes Performing Arts. Fresher than ever, it's the most taptastic show in town.
All of the production numbers are flashy, joyous and fill the stage with such high energy, and even though the tempos are bright, their tapping is very clean and precise. There are delightful songs and dances, such as the "Shadow Waltz," "Go Into Your Dance," "Dames," "You're In the Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," and the title song, belted out and delivered by our fabulous Julian Marsh, the Dream of a Show Producer, wrapping it up neatly, with a bang!
The Norris production features a wonderfully talented 16-piece orchestra, directed and conducted by Ryan O'Connell, with direction and choreography by Broadway tour veteran Christine Negherbon, produced by Christopher Gilbert. The production stars Equity actors Ashley Ruth Jones as the talented, tap-dancing newcomer Peggy Sawyer; Austin Miller as the “Pretty Lady” lead actor/dancer Billy Lawlor who falls for Peggy; sophisticated Kevin Bailey as Broadway producer/director Julian Marsh; and Sandy Bainum as the aging leading lady Dorothy Brock who must step aside to let Peggy shine in the spotlight she was to occupy. Each time these four actors take the stage, the production soars. With a cast of 26 talented triple-threat performers, there are several whose enthusiasm and stage presence light up the stage every time they take the stage. Among them are Ann Myers as Maggie Jones, Bernadette Bentley as Anytime Annie, Melanie Mockobey as Phyllis Dale, Keenon Hooks as Andy Lee, Cole Cuomo as Bert Barry, Timothy Joshua Hearl as Pat Denning, Deborah Fauerbach as Lorraine Flemming, Jessica Marie Taylor as Gladys, and Greg Nicholas as Abner Dillon.