Audiences at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts' premiere of Douglas Carter Beane's Me and the Girls got an award-winning surprise when Tony winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret) appeared in a performance of the new work written and directed by Beane.
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts website reports that Cumming rehearsed the lead role of George Banks, a part specifically written for him, with the cast for seven days. The stage and screen star performed the role at the invited dress rehearsal and at one performance. Connor Delves then stepped into the part for the rest of the run.
The new musical made its world premiere October 26-29 at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. It is based on a before-its-time short story of the same title by British author and songwriter Noël Coward, about a gay song-and-dance man on his deathbed, who flashes back on his life in show business, and his lover who was tragically killed.
Me and the Girls was adapted as a TV movie in 1985 with Tom Courtenay and Maria Friedman.
Beane’s new musical uses Coward’s own songs as its score. Beane wrote or co-wrote librettos to the Broadway musicals Lysistrata Jones, Sister Act, Xanadu, and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, and wrote the Broadway plays The Nance and The Little Dog Laughed. All except The Nance were nominated for Tony Awards.
The AADA cast also featured 2016-17 New York Academy company members Liam Armstrong, Julia Boström, Brett Bullard, and Zania Cummings.
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is located at 120 Madison Avenue.
