A madcap musical set on a luxurious passenger train traveling between Chicago and New York during the Roaring '20s, On the Twentieth Century features music by Cy Coleman and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and the late Adolph Green. David Lee directs the Reprise! mounting, which runs through Feb. 2. The remainder of the creative team comprises Bradley Kaye (scenic design), Randy Gardell (costume design), Tom Ruzika (lighting design), Philip G. Allen (sound design), Gerald Sternbach (music direction) and Kay Cole (choreography).
The musical concerns the corrupt and broke producer Oscar Jaffee (Gunton), who is willing to go to any lengths to secure the services of one of his former actresses (and former lover) Lily Garland (Carmello), now a great movie star. Songs in the score include "Five Zeros," "I Have Written a Play," "I Rise Again," "I've Got it All," "The Legacy," "Life Is Like a Train (entr'acte)," "Lily," "Oscar," "Mine," "Never," "On the Twentieth Century," "Our Private World," "Repent," "Sextet," "She's A Nut," "Stranded Again," "Together" and "Veronique."
Carole Carmello earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Parade. Her other Broadway credits include roles in Kiss Me, Kate; The Scarlet Pimpernel; City of Angels; and Falsettos. Bob Gunton garnered Tony nominations for his work as Juan Peron in the original cast of Evita and for his Sweeney in the revival of Sweeney Todd. His other Broadway credits include Happy End, Working and King of Hearts. Completing the casting are two "Frasier" players: Dan Butler, who plays the press agent Owen O'Malley, and Mimi Hines, who plays the very rich, very religious Letitia Primrose. "Star Trek: Voyager"'s Robert Picardo is business agent Oliver Webb and Damon Kirsche (of the Reprise! run of The Most Happy Fella) is movie star and Lily Garland's current boyfriend Bruce Granit.
The 1977 musical comedy ran 460 performances at the St. James Theatre and netted two Tony Awards for its stars, John Cullum and Kevin Kline. It also won Tonys for Best Book, written by Comden and Green, and Best Score by Coleman, Comden and Green.
Tickets are available by calling (310) 825-2101. The Freud Playhouse is located within Macgowan Hall at UCLA. Reprise! is on the web at http://www.reprise.org.
