Enjoy a divine night 'On the Town' at Marriott Theatre

FOUR STARS!

Get ready for a trip back to New York City in 1944, where three sailors on leave in search of romance try to whoop it up with the ladies. It's a glorious romp through a 1940's musical with a hilarious story by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein. Come along as Sailors Gabey, Ozzie and Chip embark on an 24-hour whirlwind adventure with an explosion of music and dance that will leave you breathless. Numbers like "New York, New York, it’s a helluva town" shows you why everyone loves New York!

The story behind the musical is almost as fascinating. It began as a 1944 ballet, Fancy Free, written by Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins, then unknowns. It became so popular that the two teamed up with Comden and Green and turned it into a Broadway musical.
The three female leads, Marya Grandy as “Hildy”, Alison Jantzie as “Ivy”, and Johanna McKenzie Miller as “Claire” are stellar, a true triple threat. They can sing, they can dance and they can act ! With their amazing voices and well-played antics, they are a joy to watch. Barbara Robertson as Madame Dilly, Alex Goodrich as Pitkin W. Bridgework and Brandi Wooten as Lucy Schmeeler are hysterical in every scene.

As with every Marriott production, the colorful costumes and hair styles create an authentic 1940s era look, making the show even more fun to experience. My favorite scene takes place in the museum, where you would expect to see a traditional exhibit, instead played with humor by the ensemble. But you have to look at the character's names as well as the show's adventures to appreciate the brilliant humor of Comden and Green.

Eleven time Jeff Award winner David H. Bell directs, with choreography by Alex Sanchez and Music Direction by Ryan T. Nelson. The production team is led by the Marriott Theatre’s Lead Artistic Director Andy Hite. Set Design is by Tom Ryan, Costume Design by Nancy Missimi, Lighting Design by Jesse Klug, Sound Design by Bob Gilmartin and Properties Design by Sally Weiss. The Marriott Theatre orchestra is conducted by Musical Supervisor Patti Garwood.