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West Virginia Public Theatre continues season with ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’

By Frances Borsodi Zajac 4 min read

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A young Midwestern girl starts a new life in New York City in the 1920s as West Virginia Public Theatre continues its 2006 season with “Thoroughly Modern Millie.’ The show that won six Tony Awards in 2002, including Best Musical, will play WVPT today through Sunday.

Filled with jazz, it includes such songs as “Not for the Life of Me,’ “Only in New York’ and the title track “Thoroughly Modern Millie.’

“Ever since I saw it, I wanted to do this musical,’ said Ron Iannone, founder and executive producer of WVPT.

“It’s the story of a young girl searching for a new life,” he continued. “It’s got great jazz and great musical numbers. And it’s a great story.’

Officials selected Kristen Bracken from more than 1,000 actresses, including those in New York and across the country, to play the title role.

“She won the role in Pittsburgh,’ Iannone said.

“All the directors were so impressed, they stood up and applauded,” he continued.

Bracken previously played the role of Babette in “Beauty and the Beast’ last year and repeated the role this year as WVPT revived the show in unprecedented back-to-back seasons.

“I never brought a show back the following year,’ Iannone said. “But because it was so popular and so many people said they couldn’t get it because it sold out, we brought it back with much of the same people who were in the cast last year.’

“Beauty and the Beast,’ based on the Disney film that told the story of a young girl who ended an enchantment that trapped a young prince in the body of a beast, opened WVPT’s 22nd season June 27-July 2.

“Pump boys and Dinettes,’ a country musical tribute, followed July 4-9.

The legendary musical “Hello Dolly’ runs July 18-23, telling the story of widowed matchmaker Dolly Levi who has been hired to arrange a marriage for the widowed, half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder in early 20th century New York City. The show opened on Broadway in 1964, winning 10 Tony awards.

“This is a classic that everyone loves,’ Iannone said.

Tracy Rosten, who is in her fourth production for WVPT, plays Dolly while Broadway star Ray Demattis, who has played in “Little Shop of Horrors’ and the original “Grease,’ is Horace Vandergelder.

“Tracy’s been with us before, and she’s done the national tour of this. If you listen to her, you’d think you were listening to Carol Channing,’ Iannone said.

The show includes such songs as “I Put My Hand In,’ “It Takes a Woman’ and the title song, “Hello Dolly.’

WVPT switches gears with a dramatic presentation July 25-30 of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.’

The Pulitzer Prize-winning classic by Tennessee Williams is the story of a Southern family in crisis, focusing on the relationship of Maggie, “The Cat,’ and her husband, Brick.

WVPT’s production features Edwin Owens, who has appeared on Broadway several times. He recently played the character of Frank Rashman in “The Right Kind of People’ by Charles Grodin at the Primary Stage in New York City.

The season finishes with a couple of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best-known works: “Evita,’ which plays Aug. 1-6, and “Cats,’ which runs Aug. 8-13.

“Evita,’ with lyrics by Tim Rice, first opened on Broadway in 1979 and tells the story of Eva Peron, a poor girl who became the wife of Juan Peron, the president of Argentina.

The show includes such songs as “Another Suitcase in Another Fall,’ “On This Night of a Thousand Stars’ and “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.’

Ann Brummel plays Eva Perone and Greg Mills from the National Tour of “Evita’ plays Che.

Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T.S. Eliot, “Cats’ made its Broadway debut in 1982 and played until 2000.

Songs include “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats,’ “Grizabella the Glamour Cat’ and “Memory.’

The majority of the WVPT cast is either from the Broadway show or the national tour. Director Stephanie Lang has three years experience with “Cats,’ portraying the role of Cassandra on Broadway and in the national tour. Performances are in the Creative Arts Center at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

For tickets or more information, call the West Virginia Public Theatre box office at 304-291-4122 or toll-free at 1-877-999-WVPT or visit the Web site at www.wvpublictheatre.com.

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