16-Week National Tour of 42nd Street Begins December 26 | Playbill

News 16-Week National Tour of 42nd Street Begins December 26 The non-Equity tour launches in Naples, FL.
Matthew Taylor
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Clara Cox
The 16-week national tour of the backstage musical comedy 42nd Street begins December 26 at the Philharmonic Centre for the Arts in Naples, FL, before playing more than 50 cities across the country.

The cast of the non-Equity tour is headed by Clara Cox as the fresh-faced Peggy Sawyer, with Matthew Taylor as exacting director Julian Marsh, and Kara Gibson Slocum as the long-time leading lady, Dorothy Brock. The tour also features Gerrianne Genga as Maggie Jones, Steven Bidwell as Bert Barry, Connor Coughlin as Billy Lawler, and Todd Fenstermaker as Pat Denning. David Scott Curtis portrays Abner Dillon, with Chris Carsten taking over the role mid-January.

Rounding out the company are Allison Blanchard, Brittany Cattaruzza, Katy Corbus, Beatrice Crosbie, Kahlia Davis, Mallory Davis, Tricia DeSario, Tim Fuchs, Dejah Gibbs, Kiley Hinkle, Devin Holloway, Isaac Jankowski, Alex Johnson, Tommy Joscelyn, Elise Kowalick, Yui Matsuzaki, Megan McLaughlin, Georgina Moore, Carlos Morales, Mallory Nolting, Rob Ouellette, Joshua Schwartz, Christina Slaton, and Andrew Winans.

With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren, and lyrics by Al Dubin, this new production utilizes direction by Mark Bramble and choreography by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival. The direction is restaged for the tour by Adam Kidd, and the Tony-nominated choreography is reset by Stephanie Brooks.

Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, 42nd Street, according to press notes, “tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a starry-eyed young dancer who leaves her quiet Allentown home for New York City to audition for the new Broadway musical, Pretty Lady. Getting her first big break, she joins the chorus and when the legendary leading lady breaks her ankle, newcomer Peggy is given a one in a million chance and, against all odds, becomes a star.” Musically, it includes such standards as “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” and the title tune.

The original production of 42nd Street was produced in 1980 on Broadway by David Merrick and featured direction and dances by Gower Champion. It played on Broadway for 3,486 performances, winning 1981 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography. The Broadway revival, which opened in 2001, played for 1,524 performances and earned two Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

The sets for the 2016-17 tour are designed by Kacie Hultgren in combination with original set designer Beowulf Boritt. Costume design is by Roger Kirk, and lighting design is by Tony Award winner Ken Billington. Music supervision and new orchestrations are by Andrew Graham, and casting is by Alison Franck, CSA.

42nd Street is produced by Big League Productions, Inc.

Click here for the complete tour route.


(Updated December 26, 2016)

 
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