Braodway Palm West Dinner Theatre Presents Show Boat
Mark S.P. Turvin
mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Received 12/10/03

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE PRESENTS SHOW BOAT

From its, first 1927 production on down through the years, Show Boat has attracted a large following who claim that its combination of bittersweet romance poignancy, recollections of picturesque Mississippi show-boating days and powerful melodies seem to express American life perfectly and are always irresistible in operetta. Show Boat will play on the Broadway Palm stage from January 8 February 28.

The show was destined to become immortal as it opened on Broadway in 1927, ran for 572 performances until 1929 and then for 8 months on a nation-wide tour. Jerome Kern developed his concept from a novel written by Edna Ferber by the same title. With Kern and Hammerstein writing the lyrics and music, and Florenz Ziegfeld producing it, Show Boat became an enduring stage classic with over 11 revivals in New York, three London productions and three feature films.

Spanning the years from 1880 to 1927, Show Boat traces the life of the talented young daughter of a show boat captain who ignores the advice of her parents as well as the warning of the show,s tragic and lovely leading lady by marrying a river-boat gambler. The plot develops musically against the background of the post-bellum South, the glitter of the stage and the excitement of Chicago at the turn of the century. Running counter to the elegance and glamour of this opulent life is the plight of the black people who "work while the white folks play.

Prior to the opening of the landmark 1994 Broadway revival, legendary Producer/Director Hal Prince addressed the concerns of a minority within the black community regarding the play,s alleged racism. Hal Prince was quoted to say, "I was committed to eliminating any inadvertent stereotype in the original material, dialogue which may seem "Uncle Tom today. However, I was determined not to rewrite history. The fact that during the period depicted in our musical there were lynchings, imprisonment and forced labor of the blacks in the United States is irrefutable. Indeed, the United States still cannot hold its head high with regard to racism. The creators of Show Boat were men and women of moral stature, particularly Oscar Hammerstein who time and again took fierce aim at prejudice in our society.

Broadway Palm,s production of Show Boat will be an elaborate production with a brand new set designed by Rob McKercher and beautiful costumes designed by Maureen Smith.

Sharing the spotlight on stage are two very talented actors, Jason Fleck, as Ravenal and Jeannie Shubitz as Magnolia. Jason is a native of Phoenix and an ASU graduate, who now lives in New York and performs around the world. Jason was seen in the London revival of Show Boat directed by Hal Prince and he has toured with productions of Show Boat, Tommy and Evita. Jeannie Shubitz is currently a student at ASU, studying to complete her Master,s Degree in Opera. A native of Tucson, she now calls Mesa home. Jeannie has been seen locally with Arizona Opera and ASU,s Lyric Opera Theatre. Other cast members of Show Boat include new and familiar faces. Daniel Plisz, who was seen recently on our stage in Honk!, West Side Story and Holidazzle, will play the show boat,s leading lady, Julie. Phil Hope returns to play Captain Andy and newcomer Andre McRae will be seen in the role of Joe. The ensemble cast of Show Boat is made up of many Broadway Palm veterans, including; Phillip Seth Butts, Jillian Nyhan, Chuck Caruso, Joey Morales, Jackson Fisher, Steve Badgett, Seth Wyatt Kinney, Traci McCormick, Amanda Morgan, Tori Hicks and Andrea Louwerens.

An American classic that will never grow old, Show Boat will run January 8 February 28, 2004 with performances Tuesday through Saturday with selected matinees and Sunday Twilight shows. Audiences will hear some of their favorite Broadway tunes including Ol, Man River, Can,t Help Lovin, that Man and Only Make Believe. Tickets prices range from $18 - $45. For show information or reservations, call 480-325-6700, visit the website about www.broadwaypalmwest.com or stop by the box office at 5247 E. Brown Rd. Mesa, AZ 85205.