42nd Street

Lancaster Red Rose Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

42ND STREET

Lyrics by Al Dubin, Music by Harry Warren, Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on a novel by Bradford Ropes. Direction and Dance by Gower Champion. Originally Produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

These amateur performances are given by arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York.

Julian Marsh, the Broadway producer, is rehearsing his new show, Pretty Lady. One of the hopefuls, Peggy Sawyer, is direct from Allentown and late for auditions. Billy introduces himself and she sings a number but is sent away jobless, leaving her purse on the piano. We learn that Marsh was badly hurt by the Wall Street crash and Dorothy Brock, his aging star, is there simply because her sugar daddy, Abner, is putting up the money. Peggy returns looking for her purse and Maggie, one of the show's writers, invites her out to lunch with three of the chorus girls. They try to help the new girl in town by putting her through a number. The dance director sees her and hires her as the extra girl. The rehearsals continue, and Peggy faints from starvation. She is carried to the star's dressing room where Pat, Dorothy's lover, tries to help, a gesture mistaken as a pass by Dorothy. Pat has to leave so Abner does not see him. Without Pat, Dorothy is lonely and bad tempered, and the girls have to ensure Abner does not realise the true situation and take out his investment.

The show is out-of-town and going well until Dorothy comes on stage for the Act I finale and Peggy accidentally knocks her down. She can't move and the curtain comes down. Backstage, it is found she has broken an ankle and the show either has to close or a replacement be found. The girls suggest Peggy, but she has gone to the station to catch the train home, believing show business is not for her. The whole company turn up and talk her into staying on.

In New York, Peggy has thirty-six hours to learn the part and Julian keeps pushing her to the limits in order to get a performance out of her. Dorothy is wheeled into Peggy's room, wishes her luck and tells her she has married Pat. Peggy goes on stage and becomes a star overnight - Julian Marsh has a hit.

The score is packed with hits: 42nd Street, Go Into Your Dance, You're Getting to be a Habit With Me, Dames, We're in the Money, Lullaby of Broadway and Shuffle Off to Buffalo.

Performances will be given by at the Grand Theatre, Lancaster between the 9th and 14th March 2009. Click here to enquire about tickets.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUNG, TRAINED TAP DANCERS, ESPECIALLY MALES, TO APPEAR IN THIS PRODUCTION.

CALL VAL GOULDING ON 07719 335 206 FOR FURTHER DETAILS.