“42nd Street” is the song and dance, American dream fable of Broadway, featuring the West End’s biggest cast on Theatreland’s oldest stage, Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The Oregon Coast Council for the Arts is proud to present this live-in-HD screening at the Newport Performing Arts Center in the Alice Silverman Theatre.
Featuring the iconic songs “42nd Street,” “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” “Dames” and “I Only Have Eyes For You,” this is a musical unlike any other.
42nd Street follows young Peggy Sawyer, fresh off the bus from small-town America and just another face in the chorus line on Broadway’s newest show. But when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy might just have the shot at stardom she’s always dreamed of…
Based on the 1933 film of the same name, “42nd Street” is one of the few great films to translate successfully to the stage. The show opened on Broadway in 1980, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Choreography and in London’s West End in 1984, when it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The 2001 Broadway revival then won the Tony for Best Revival.
In a remarkable cast of life imitating art, the 1984 London production featured a young Catherine Zeta-Jones. When both the lead actress and her understudy were unable to go on, Zeta-Jones filled in, and was so impressive that shortly afterwards she was cast in the role permanently.
Following in the footsteps of Sheena Easton and Lulu, national treasure Bonnie Langford has taken on the role of Dorothy Brock. The casting marks a return to the scene of Langford’s theatrical debut; she first performed on-stage in “Gone With The Wind” at Theatre Royal Drury Lane at the tender age of seven.
“42nd Street” also stars Tom Lister stars as the big shot director Julian Marsh and Clare Halse as overnight sensation Peggy Sawyer. Mark Bramble, co-author of the book for the original Broadway and West End productions of 42nd Street and director of the 2001 Tony Award-winning revival, directs.
A night at the theatre doesn’t get larger-scale than 42nd Street, so come and meet those dancing feet!