Olivier winner Lesli Margherita, who played diva Mona Kent in the 2015 Broadway debut of Dames at Sea, reprises her performance in the Bucks County Playhouse production of the 1968 musical beginning August 12.
Randy Skinner, who directed and choreographed the Broadway production, earning a Tony nomination for his choreography, again handles both duties for the musical comedy, which will officially open August 13. Performances continue at the Pennsylvania theatre through September 11.
Also re-creating their work from the Broadway production, albeit in a more intimate venue, are scenic designer Anna Louizos and costume designer David C. Woolard.
Daisy Wright plays Ruby with Julie Kavanaugh (Paper Mill Playhouse’s Holiday Inn) as Joan, Byron St. Cyr (My Fair Lady national tour) as Captain/Hennessy, Daniel Plimpton (The Book of Mormon national tour) as Dick, and Drew King (Tootsie) as Lucky.
The production also has lighting design by Kirk Bookman, sound design by Joanna Lynne Staub, hair, wig, and makeup design by Earon Chew Nealey, casting by Paul Hardt, and musical direction by Jeffrey Campos. The production stage manager is Pamela Edington.
With music by Jim Wise and a book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, Dames at Sea spoofs the high-spirited movie musicals of the 1930s.
Dames at Sea opened to enthusiastic reviews Off-Broadway at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre December 20, 1968, and quickly transferred to the Theater de Lys April 22, 1969, where it went on to run for 575 performances. The production starred a young Bernadette Peters as Ruby.
“Since Robyn [Goodman], Josh [Fiedler], and I arrived at the Playhouse eight years ago, we have encouraged the Broadway creative community—especially those we have previously worked with—to come to New Hope and use the Playhouse to produce work that is no longer possible on Broadway,” said Producing Director and CEO Alexander Fraser in an earlier statement. “It is a special thrill that the creative team of the Broadway revival of Dames at Sea has agreed to rethink their production for a more intimate space. We believe that this upbeat show is the perfect tonic for the times, and we are excited to bring it to Playhouse audiences.”
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