42nd Street
by Georgetown Palace Theatre
Aug. 26 - Sep. 25, 2016
Fridays-Sundays
Georgetown’s Historic Palace Theatre opens 42nd Street – an icon among American musicals – on Friday, August 26, for a 5-weekend run, closing on Sunday, September 25, 2016. What a way to complete the 2015-2016 Season of plays on the Palace stage! Our Palace ‘troupers’ will tap their way into your heart before you have time to settle into your seat! 42nd Street, with book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren, was first produced on Broadway by the inimitable David Merrick in 1980. That 1980 production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit. The show was produced in London in 1984 (winning the Olivier Award for Best Musical); and its 2001 Broadway revival won the Tony for Best Revival.
Based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 Hollywood film adaptation, 42nd Street focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial ‘Great White Way’ director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza during the dreary days of the Great Depression. The opinion is widely noted that Producer David Merrick "took a huge gamble with his (1980) $3 million production based on the 1933 Warner Brothers film musical"; but he seemed to feel that audiences once again were ready to embrace the nostalgia craze started by several other successful revivals a few years earlier.
Director of 42nd Street is the Palace’s own Ron Watson, whose directorial fame precedes him with Palace shows like Disney’s Beauty & The Beast (2015), Tarzan (2015), and Damn Yankees (2014) – plus too many to be listed through his long tenure as Technical Director for the Palace! Jesee Smart, another of our Palace own, is Choreographer for 42nd Street, bringing her A-game for this dance-intensive show! Jesee can be seen onstage and off around the Palace. She has performed in and choreographed several shows this season, teaches for the Palace Education Program, choreographs for the current Production Workshops, and intermittently works with the Pre-Professional Program. Megan Pritchett is Music Director for 42nd Street. Her first job as musical director for the Palace was Xanadu, after which she played keyboard for Tarzan and Legally Blonde: The Musical.
The Palace happily welcomes Michelle Cheney back to play the iconic role of Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street. Michelle has performed in theaters in and around Austin, focusing on musical theater and comedy. She is the recipient of several B-Iden Payne nominations and awards and named Austin Entertainment Weekly’s “Best Actress in A Musical” for 2015. The role of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street brings newcomer Alicia L. Cornwell, a Junior BFA Theatre major at TSU to the Palace. Another returning Palace veteran is Rick Felkins, playing the role of Julian Marsh. Rick last appeared as King Arthur in Spamalot and was a favorite in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, among others! Jim Lindsay also returns to the Palace to play the role of Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street. His role as Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain and as Peron in Evita were particular Palace favorites.
“Thank you” to our generous 42nd Street sponsors Mike and Patty Ricker, longtime supporters of the Palace. And “Thank you” also to our non-profit partner, Habitat for Humanity of Georgetown, for their enduring support.
Production dates for 42nd Street are 5 weekends from August 26 to September 25, 2016. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows are at 2:00 p.m. See our website for actual dates and seating availability.
The Historic Palace Theatre is located at 810 South Austin Avenue in downtown Georgetown and is part of the most beautiful Town Square in Texas!
| Principals | |
| Dorothy Brock | |
| Michelle Cheney | |
| Julian Marsh | |
| Rick Felkins | |
| Peggy Sawyer | |
| Alicia Cornwell | |
| Billy Lawlor | |
| Jim Lindsay | |
| Bert Barry | |
| Justin Dam | |
| Maggie Jones | |
| BJ Ortwein | |
| "Anytime" Ann Reilly | |
| Samantha Watson | |
| Featured | |
| Diane Lorimer | Andy Lee |
| Lariena Brown | Chris Barfield |
| Ethel | Mac |
| Stefanie Salyers | Robert Cross |
| Phyllis Dale | Oscar (Violet) |
| Jill Schneider | Jenn Tucker |
| Gladys | Pat Denning |
| Jesee Smart | Pete Munoz |
| Lorraine Flemming | Abner Dillon |
| Sarah Anne Hoagland | Erik Freisinger |
| Featured Ensemble | |
| Shannon Bray | Sean Denton |
| Cara Chesney | Connor Denton |
| Emma Simms | Erik Freisinger |
| Grace Denton | Ethen Heeter |
| Martha Hurley | James Frazier |
| Sabrina Mari Uregas | Joshua Cookingham |
| Joshua Cookingham | Keoni Ramo |
| Jenn Tucker | Pete Munoz |
| Chris Barfield | |
| Robert Cross | |
42nd Street
by Harry Warren, Al Dubin, Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Georgetown Palace Theatre
August 26 - September 25, 2016
Weekends August 26 - September 25. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Music by HARRY WARREN Lyrics by AL DUBIN
Book by MICHAEL STEWART & MARK BRAMBLE
Based on the Novel by BRADFORD ROPES
Tickets on sale July 1, 2016. .
Prices: General: $28*
Senior(55+): $26*
Student(10-22)/Active Duty Military (with ID): $15*
Children(9 or younger): $11*
*All individual ticket prices include a $1.00 Historic Preservation Fee.
Content: (click for descriptions)
