#42ndstreetmoon

[itsjamesodomuniverse]

The February 27th preview production of 42nd Street Moon’s Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder was a hilarious romp. I love this production for its witty dialogue and songs. Oh did I mention that this was a musical? The on-target scene design and overall production value truly enhanced my experience.

The story of a man who is forced to murder his competition to preserve his birthright ‘Earlship.’ Of course, love interferes and complicates things thanks to two women who heightens the murdering spree.

I was charmed by this production which was evident through my constant chuckling. If you are in San Francisco and enjoys sophisticated songs with great dialogue and murder, please go see this production. It ends this weekend March 15th. Murder has never been so grand...

[brothermarc7theatre]

“Perfect Hermany: A Musical Tribute to Jerry Herman”

42nd Street Moon, in collaboration with Musical Theatre West, has brought Jason Graae’s vocals and charm to the stage in tribute of the legendary composer-lyricist, Jerry Herman. Accompanied by talented pianist John Boswell, the evening of Herman music is in sturdy hands with Graae and Boswell. Whether you’re a basic connoisseur of Herman’s catalog or a dedicated fan, everyone will find joy and entertainment in this well-produced tribute.

Graae not only brings his dependable tenor and charm, but also some oboe playing and an almost-tap solo. Songs from such treasures as Hello, Dolly, Mame, Mack and Mabel, and La Cage Aux Folles, but also from Herman’s lesser-known works such as Dear World and The Grand Tour comprise the evening. It is with The Grand Tour where Graae’s voice and acting are in legit form, especially in his turn at the romantically stirring ballad, Marianne. Graae’s passion and appreciation for The Grand Tour serves as a highlight medley among a wonderful revue of Herman’s best. In addition to the tunes, Graae’s anecdotes of touring with Herman are engaging, told with comedic genuineness, and serve up a healthy dose of self-deprecating commentary. Intertwined with the anecdotes and songs are video clips of Graae’s performances with and for Herman from days gone by. 

Perfect Hermany...is a welcome escape back to the Golden Age, a time where songs could be complex in tune and touching in emotion. Herman was a master of this balance, one of many reasons why his songs and shows have stood the test of time. Graae, Boswell, and the teams at 42nd Street Moon and Musical Theatre West have done audiences a service in presenting this production, and I encourage musical theatre fans of all interests to get your ticket now. Go see this show!

[ewhightower]

FUCK YEAH, #TEQUILA! My #secretsanta is the absolute best ever, hands down!!!!!!!!!! . . . #scroogeinlove #42ndstreetmoon #christmasmusical (at Gateway Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ZQUchpXUC/?igshid=o0g9u5vy8npl

[juanieboii]

☀️💧💦🏜🌵 One last chance to experience the heat of #110InTheShade tomorrow at 3pm! Love this #Shady cast and show so much. Don’t miss this moving show. #42ndStreetMoon #SF #ITSGONRAIN #Deluge (at 42nd Street Moon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxWL1JVh8Hp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ir9j5sx9nshg

[infamisparrhesiastes]

#onthelighterside #darkcabaret #thecity #sf @42ndstreetmoon #theGatewayTheatre #bayarea #cali #westcoast @badmagician #sterlingjohnson #bubbles #magic #illusion #liveperformance #nightlife #thankyou 🖤💯🥳 https://www.instagram.com/p/B5N5cqGns_O/?igshid=mfk6b400q4o6

[ewhightower]

NOUUUUUUGAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!! My #SecretSanta is the best ever. . . . #scroogeinlove #42ndstreetmoon #nougat (at Gateway Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6WeIUIJ8cE/?igshid=1bha9k4qsqd8b

[brothermarc7theatre]

Season Announcement Wednesday

One of San Francisco’s theatrical gems, 42nd Street Moon provides audiences with rarely-done shows while still staging some of Broadway’s biggest titles. This upcoming season is one that incorporates a concert, as well as a back-to-back title, one in musical and one in straight play form. Enjoy!

Shows/Dates: Titanic, the Musical: in Concert (September 7th - 8th); Hot Mikado (September 25th - October 13th); Scrooge in Love! (December 4th - 23rd); A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (February 26th, 2020 - March 15th, 2020); The Pajama Game (April 15th - May 3rd); Merrily We Roll Along [the musical]  (May 13th - June 14th); Merrily We Roll Along [the play] (May 20th - June 23rd)

Venue/Address: The Gateway Theater @ 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco 94111 

Website: www.42ndstmoon.org

Facebook: “Like” them at- “42nd Street Moon”

Twitter: “Follow” them at- @42ndstmoon

Description: 42nd Street Moon has been one of my favorite companies to see shows at ever since I moved back to the Bay Area. Over the past four years I have seen their productions and concerts of Follies: in Concert, Me and My Girl, The Most Happy Fella, and Scrooge in Love! This upcoming season is a diverse collective of titles, sure to entertain and dazzle. See you at the Moon! 

[juanieboii]

Week 2 of #NoNoNanette begins tonight! Come join us at #42ndStreetMoon before May 14! 🎭🎹🎶👯‍♂️💕#Roaring20s #HotDiggity (at 42nd Street Moon)

[juanieboii]

You better Charleston...for your life!! One weekend left!! #YasYasNanette #ServingFace #42ndStreetMoon (at The Eureka Theatre)

[brothermarc7theatre]

Season Announcement Wednesday

It has been quite the length of time since highlighting theatre companies’ new seasons; however, there are now a plethora of 2020 and 2020-2021 season being announced, so it’s back in full swing on the blog. This week, a company which has one of the bets lineup of shows I have seen one company produce in quite some time. Let’s take a gander at all the goodies 42nd Street Moon will be offering San Francisco audiences!

Shows/Dates: A Little Night Music (September 24th - October 11th); Ragtime: in Concert (October 24th - 25th); Mame (December 3rd - 20th); The Scottsboro Boys (February 11th, 2021 - February 29th, 2021); A Grand Night for Singing (April 15th - May 2nd); Wonderful Town (May 13th - June 13th); My Sister Eileen (May 20th - June 5th).

Venue/Address: The Gateway Theatre @ 215 Jackson St., San Francisco 94111

Website: www.42ndstmoon.org

Facebook: “Like” them at- 42nd Street Moon

Twitter: “Follow” them at- @42ndStMoon

Description: The few shows I have been fortunate enough to catch at 42nd St. Moon have always provided this enthused audience member quite the entertaining experience. Their productions of Scrooge in Love!,  The Most Happy Fella, and Me and My Girl were incredibly produced and performed. This coming season for the Moon is certain to be one that will entertain, challenge, and grow its audiences who have the opportunity to see these incredible titles. And until then, find a way to support them by donating or purchasing tickets in advance; our theatre companies need as much support as possible. And when the time is right we can all go see a show at the Moon! 

[brothermarc7theatre]

"Me and My Girl" show #726

There is something to be said about a professional cast and professional team simply doing their job. Me and My Girl, the 1930’s British musical retooled in the 1980’s as a gender-swapped, near-spoof of My Fair Lady, is running at 42nd Street Moon in a remarkable, entertaining fashion. I say remarkable because it is quite apparent in seeing how well this production is done that it is easy to the miss the mark on nailing the comedic and dance demands this show needs in order to succeed. However, fear not! Director/Choreographer Mindy Cooper has helmed this charming musical with superb intelligence, enlisting a clear knack for physical comedy, and knowing when to slow the moment down for romantic emphasis, and when to enlist the slapstick, Vaudevillian-style which pack a punch into Stephen Fry’s revised book. With tons of tongue-in-cheek (and for Act Two, hand-on-cheek) humor and toe-tapping tunes, Me and My Girl is a can’t-miss romp of a musical!

(Melissa Wolfklain (Sally) and Keith Pinto (Bill); Photo credit: Ben Krantz Studio)

Keith Pinto leads the way as Bill Snibson, a Cockney-dialect resident of Lambeth who has just found out he is actually an Earl by birthright. Milisa Carey, as his aunt Maria, Duchess of Dene, vows to make Bill into an acceptable member of the highest of classes in order to earn the Earl title. However, Bill has an equally-classed girl, Sally, played by Melissa Wolfklain. Lady Jaqueline, played by Elise Youssef, is a woman after a man with money, which leads Gerald, played by Daniel Thomas, on a rose-thorned path of enthusiastic, if not frustrating, proving-of-love journey towards Lady Jaqueline. On the inside of the knowledgeable-yet-objective perspectives are Sir John, played by Michael Patrick Gaffney, and Sir Jasper Tring, trusted confidant of the family in the spotlight, played by Scott Hayes. This production makes no mess of the plot, but in fact, delivers an animated enthusiasm in its execution of the song and dances, the scenes and jokes; leaving the audience with smiles, an earnestness to applaud, and hearty laughs that are sure to cure any sad-day blues.

(Keith Pinto (Bill); Photo credit: Ben Krantz Studio)

Mr. Pinto delivers the triple-threat gravitas of Bill with ease and flawless consistency. His charisma is an embodiment of the aforementioned charm this musical has (originally written by Noel Gray (Music), Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose (Book and Lyrics)) without an ounce of selfish mugging. He does precisely what the role asks for, and does it with a flare that is unfair to watch since he makes it look so easy. “Me and My Girl” is a song-and-tap dance delight opposite Ms. Wolfklain’s extremely personable Sally. The two look and flow well together in Ms. Cooper’s dazzling choreography, a true tribute to an almost lost generation of Broadway-style dance. Mr. Pinto’s Act Two true solo, “Leaning on a Lamppost” is flourishing in the execution, a heartwarming culmination of his dedication towards keeping Sally as his girl no matter what the cost. Ms. Wolfklain is stunning in her solo turns, “Once You Lose Your Heart” and “Take it on the Chin;” both exuding emotionally-appropriate acting and a purely great voice. The two nail the one-two punch scene in the Library when all sorts of historical misunderstandings are delivered in gut-busting fashion.

(Keith Pinto (Bill) and Michael Patrick Gaffney (Sir John); Photo credit: Ben Krantz Studio)

Ms. Carey and Mr. Gaffney offer an equally entertaining one-two punch as the upper-class Duchess and Sir. Ms. Carey’s sprinkled solos are sung with poise, grandeur, and sterling vibrato. Her physical posture and gravitas is well-impressioned as she deals with Mr. Pinto’s properly-slouchy presence, adding many moments of visual comedy between the two. Mr. Gaffney is a diverse Sir John, allowing for a scene-stealing performance in his intoxicated conversation leading up to and including Act Two’s “Love Makes the World Go Round.” Supporting standouts come from Mr. Hayes’ well-animated Sir Jasper, Colin Thomson’s hilariously-cadenced and physicalized Charles Heathersett, and Lee Ann Payne’s fully-committed, pleasantly-jarring Mrs. Brown.

(The Cast of Me and My Girl; Photo credit: Ben Krantz Studio)

The ensemble is just as dynamite as the principals. Ms. Cooper leaves no eight-count un-danced, and the tight-knit voices rock the score, punctuated by Dave Dobrusky’s awesome three-piece band. Each appearing in featured roles, the six-member ensemble is used extremely well, and never once falls flat, nor lets the comedic air out of a scene. A fully-realized group of actor-singer-dancers is what Ms. Cooper’s ensemble is comprised of, and there’s no topping that! Scenically, Brian Watson’s functional design is detailed when needs to be, and broad when called for. With the amount of high-class rooms and such, Mr. Watson has outdone himself in balancing wealthy expectation with song-and-dance musical reality. It is refreshing to see a group deliver a confident, fully-entertaining comedy without any signs of showiness or ego. Everybody in this cast does their job, they do it extremely well, and their work is deserving of your dollars and applause.

Details:

Me and My Girl runs through May 20th

42nd Street Moon at The Gateway Theater in San Francisco

www.42ndstreetmoon.org

[brothermarc7theatre]

Season Announcement Wednesday...err....Friday

With my impending opening night exactly one week away, my week has been abuzz with rehearsals, working out, work, and more working out. Thus explains this delayed Season announcement, but fear not, for it is my pleasure to post this up in the mere hour of freedom I have before jetting off to work! I am absolutely stoked to highlight the 2018/2019 season at 42nd Street Moon!

Shows/Dates: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (October 3rd - 21st); Dames at Sea (November 28th - December 16th); Fiorello! (February 27th, 2019 - March 17th, 2019); 110 in the Shade (April 24th - May 12th); Once (June 12th - 30th)

Venue/Address: Gateway Theatre @ 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco 94111

Website: www.42ndstreetmoon.org

Facebook: "Like" them at- 42nd Street Moon

Twitter: "Follow" them at- @42ndstmoon

Description: Ever since my move back to the Bay Area, I have enjoyed several of 42nd Street Moon's productions, including Scrooge in Love! and The Most Happy Fella. This upcoming season is comprised of titles I DO NOT want to miss, and I suggest you don't miss them either. Here's to hoping I see you at the Moon! Go see a show!

[brothermarc7theatre]

Season Announcement Wednesday

Welcome to another installment of Season Announcement Wednesday! What better way to celebrate Hump Day than to feature a local theatre company's upcoming season? This week we are headed into the main city by the Bay, San Francisco. This is a company I have recently been introduced to and am now a proud fan of! Below is the 2016/2017 season of 42nd Street Moon!

Shows/Dates: Baker Street (November 2nd - 20th); Scrooge in Love (TBA); New Girl in Town (March 29th, 2017 - April 16th, 2017); No, No, Nanette (April 26th - May 21st)

Venue/Address: Eureka Theatre @ 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco 94111

                           Alcazar Theatre @ 650 Geary Street, San Francisco 94102

                           ***Consult their website for specific venue location per show***

Website: www.42ndstreetmoon.org

Facebook: "Like" them at- 42nd Street Moon

Twitter: "Follow" them at- @42ndstmoon

Description: 42nd Street Moon has been entertaining San Francisco audiences for a couple decades now. They began as a concert-style theatre group that presented rarely-produced titles to its audiences. Since 2008 they have continued to produce the rarely-done titles, but now they do so in as fully-staged musical. This year, they will reprise last year's world premiere production of Scrooge in Love, a show that was one of my top holiday musical experiences of 2015. Head over to their website to check out all the information for subscriptions, show descriptions, and surrounding eateries to help you plan a fabulous night of theatre in the city. Go see a show!

[brothermarc7theatre]

"The Most Happy Fella" show #550

42nd Street Moon is getting ready to close their very charming production of Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella. Though Loesser's book is a little farfetched, his sweeping score carries all the gravitas needed to make …Fella an enjoyable evening at the theatre. In this instance, Cindy Goldfield has assembled a remarkable cast to perform this Napa Valley-set love story that strengthens Loesser’s script and score.

The play begins with a snooty restaurant cashier and two loveable leading waitresses, Amy/Rosabella (Amanda Johnson) and Cleo (Nicole Frydman). While exuding the unhappiness and exhaustion of waiting tables, a love note on a menu catches the interest and heart of Amy. The man, Tony, does not know her real name so he calls her Rosabella, sparking a love letter campaign for some time. When Tony (Martin Rojas Dietrich) sends her a picture of chief ranch hand, Joe (Noel Anthony) instead of his own (it’s an aesthetic thing), Amy’s arrival in Napa, for an intended wedding, is emotionally halted when she realizes Joe’s face does not match Tony’s words. This ignites a dramatic love plot, a side plot of infatuation between Cleo and ranch hand, Herman (Robbie Rescigno), and lots of little community antics. The musicality reaches its peaks through the stellar vocals provided by every single performer, and some tender moments of acting that showcase Goldfield’s eye for intimacy on the stage, and discernment in playing out the worthy comedic bits.

(Nicole Frydman (Cleo), Martin Rojas Dietrich (Tony), Amanda Johnson (Amy/Rosabella); Photo Credit: David Allen)

Dietrich is a powerhouse as Tony, our title character. His aria-like solos and duets are filled with vibrant vibrato, passion, and eloquent diction amidst his precise Italian dialect. His chemistry opposite the wonderful Johnson creates a pair of lovers worthy of watching. Loesser sets them up with a drawn out path of meeting, awkward interactions, genuine love, and forgiveness, but the two actors effectively sing and act their way through the twists and turns of the plot. They genuinely show the depth of love each develops for one another, especially in their turns at “Happy to Make Your Acquaintance,” “Like a Woman Loves a Man,” and individually in Dietrich’s tender “Mamma, Mamma,” booming “Rosabella,” and Johnson’s beautiful “Warm All Over.”

Anthony’s smooth vocals are on fine display in his delivery of “Joey, Joey, Joey,” and “Don’t Cry.” He teams up with Dietrich, Johnson, and Caroline Altman (Marie) for a superb “How Beautiful the Days.” Frydman is a scene-stealer from the get-go in her opening lament, “Ooh! My Feet!” and continues the comedic warpath opposite an adorable Rescigno in their song-and-dance duet “Big D,” and in an endearing “I Like Ev’rybody.” In the world of legit musical scores, you can’t really beat having a solid trio and quartet on stage. Daniel Olson, Scott Maraj, and Tim Wagner nail the comedy and harmonies in the culinary romp, “Abbondanza.” Anthony, Rescigno, Michael Monagle, and Maraj team up to deliver the best rendition of “Standing on the Corner” I have ever heard, with effectively-eloquent blocking to boot!

(Amanda Johnson (Amy/Rosabella) and Noel Anthony (Joe); Photo Credit: David Allen)

Though the Eureka Theater stage is small, it doesn’t limit Kevin Landesman from designing a nicely functioning set, (a beautiful Napa Valley-esque backdrop) and stellar lighting design to illuminate every loving moment Goldfield has so creatively staged. Goldfield doubles as choreographer, which succeeds at elevating the excitement in “Fresno Beauties” and “Big D.” Stephen Smith’s costume design is a stunning array of classic garbs and colors, complementing Landesman’s lighting design, and the laidback mood of the Valley ranch. Rounding out the triumphant production team is Dave Dobrusky’s top-notch musical direction, including his three-piece bands’ performance of Loesser’s intoxicating score. The Most Happy Fella will be closing this coming Sunday, May 15th so head on over to www.42ndstreetmoon.org to seek out a ticket. Believe me, seeing this show will make you one happy fella!