Musings on musical theatre from 42nd Street Moon, a San Francisco company that celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre in intimate productions, cabaret evenings, and recordings. More performance information can be found at http://42ndstmoon.org.
When I first started looking up information on the Greek Community and culture for Zorba, I came across a series of commercials by Kraft for their Athenos line of food products. This was truly the first commercial series that made me laugh out loud.
I thought, wouldn't it be fun to create some Yiayia videos of our own for Zorba? So I did.
Chris Macomber, Gayle Dawn Hill, Bill Olson, and Dave Dobrusky were amazing sports. I hope you enjoy our version of Yiayia!
Zorba is playing through May 20, 2012 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street between Front and Battery.
It all started in 1935, when Richard Pottier made the French film Fanfare D'Amour. It has a strickingly similar story, two out of work musicians can't get work because of the popularity of all girl bands. What is there to do, but pretend to be women. A gimmick? Maybe! But it's been a popular one ever since.
Repeated in the 1951 German film Fanfare Der Liebe, the same idea would continue to include out of work musicians dressing as women and falling in love with their fellow band mates. Another plot device, a man falling in love with one of the lads in drag, was also introduced in these original films.
It wasn't until 1959, that Billy Wilder would introduce the "on the lam" element with the men disguising themselves in drag, not for work, but to escape the mob. It also introduced the central female protaganist Sugar Kane, famously portrayed by Marilyn Monroe.
When Merrick was finally able to secure the rights to Wilder's film, Herman & Stewart were more interested in continuing their own version based on Liebe. Merrick turned to Jule Styne, Bob Merrill and Peter Stone to reintroduce the Some Like it Hot elements. As familiar as the name of the movie was, they also decided to change the title (alternatively "Doin' it for Sugar" and finally just "Sugar") to entice Ann-Margret into starring. She declined, but the name stayed.
And there it would stay until 1993 when Tommy Steele brought it to London for the first time, with Some Like it Hot back in the title.
That wouldn't be the end of Fanfare, or Some Like it Hot. In 2004, Nia Vardalos (famous for My Big Fat Greek Wedding) wanted to put her own spin on the tail with Connie and Carla. The mobsters stayed, the men in drag went. This time it was two ladies (Vardalos and Tony and Academy Award nominee Toni Collette) escape from the mob by pretending to be men.. pretending to be women.
Forty years after Sugar first appeared on Broadway, 42nd Street Moon has brought her back to San Francisco. Regardless of the name, the show is still sweet as Sugar.
Now playing through April 22, 2012 at the Eureka Theatre, for tickets call (415) 255-8207 or click here.
Bowl-A-Thon Come support MoonSchool at our super FUN raiser! Bring your friends and family to SouthShore Lanes in beautiful Alameda for our 2nd annual Bowl-A-Thon. It promises to be a great afternoon of enjoyment. There's no catch. 20 dollars per bowler gets you 2 hours of bowling (shoes included) and you will even get a tax write-off! However, you could win TWO subscriptions for our 20th Anniversary Season! 1) Bowl a perfect game, receive one entry to win. 2) Ask friends and family to sponsor you. Remember the good old days when you received pledges like 25¢ per pin? For each $100 in pledges/sponsorship you will receive one entry to win the subscriptions Email Education Director Dyan McBride at dmcbride@42ndstmoon.org to rsvp OR just show up! Ask for Dyan at the front desk and they will page her. Here's the details. When: Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 3:30pm-5:30pm Where: SouthShore Lanes. 300 Park Street, Alameda, Ca 94502 Why: To benefit MoonSchool. What: It is $20 per person. Funds go directly to MoonSchool! Cash and checks accepted. Please make out checks to 42nd Street Moon. Who: ANYONE can come bowl! Bring your friends, family and neighbors! We hope to see you there!
101 Dalmatians MoonLight jr. returns for its second summer session with Disney's 101 Dalmatians! What could be cuter that 25 kids dressed as Dalmatians, a couple of bumbling henchmen and the world's greatest villain? Online registration is now available! This fun summer program has everything! We rehearse in the morning, take an awesome lunch at a playground and build sets, costumes and props all afternoon. Kids will learn to sing, dance, act, do basic sewing by hand and machine, stagecraft, painting and much more!
Here's the details: Who: Kids from ages 8-18 What: MoonLight jr. presents '"101 Dalmatians." Full Day camp is $700, Half Day is $350. Some scholarships are available. Camp is capped at 30 students. When: July 16th-28th. 9am-4pm Monday-Friday. 2 performances on Saturday the 28th. Where: MoonSchool. 246 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Ca, 94102 Why: Because theatre is your life. Email Education Director Dyan McBride at dmcbride@42ndstmoon.org with any questions!
