In celebration of Gershwin's Centennial, New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse will revive the 1992 Tony Award winner Crazy For You April 14-May 30. Reprising their Broadway roles are Jane Connell and Tony Award nominee Bruce Adler. James Brennan, who starred as Crazy for You lead Bobby Child on Broadway, directs.
Crazy For You, which features the music of George Gershwin and the lyrics of brother Ira, tells the story of banking heir and song-and-dance man Bobby Child who is sent by his mother to foreclose the Gaiety Theatre in Deadrock, Nevada. Instead he falls in love with the theatre owner's daughter Polly and plots to save the theatre by staging a show while impersonating theatre impresario Bela Zangler.
Adler and Connell reprise their roles as Zangler and Mother, respectively. Adler's credits include Those Were the Days (for which he won a Drama Desk Award and was Tony nominated), Rumors, Sunday in the Park With George and the 1979 revival of Oklahoma!. Connell, Tony nominated for Me and My Girl, appeared on Broadway in Lend Me a Tenor and as the original Agnes Gooch in Mame, a role she reprised in the film with Lucille Ball.
Jim Walton takes the lead Bobby Child with Stacey Logan as Polly. Walton starred as Bobby in Australian and Toronto productions of Crazy for You as well as performing in And the World Goes 'Round, 42nd Street, Closer Than Ever and originating the role of Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along. Logan appeared on Broadway in High Society, Candide, Big and the original casts of Crazy For You and Beauty and the Beast.
Also in the cast are Lori Alexander, Jeb Brown, Jennifer Clippinger, Jennifer Lee Crowl, Debra Denys Smith, Sandy Edgerton, Juliet Fischer, Jerry Gallagher, Alan Gilbert, Stacey Todd Holt, Mylinda Hull, Jean Marie, Temple Kane, Matt Lashey, Gair Morris, Mia Price, Stephen Reed, Kitty Reidy, Scott Taylor, Adriene Thorne, Geoffrey Wade, Amelia White, Scott Willis and James Young. Angelique Ilo will recreate Susan Stroman's original choreography. Tom Helm is the musical director.
Designing Crazy For You are Robin Wagner (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes) and Craig Cassidy (sound).
Tickets are $55-$25 and available by calling (973) 376-4343. The Paper Mill Playhouse
-- By Christine Ehren
