Originally produced on Broadway in 1925, the musical features a score by Vincent Youmans with Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach contributing lyrics. The Encores! production of Nanette utilizes the 1971 revision, with a book adapted by Burt Shevelove.
According to press notes, the show tells the "light-hearted tale of millionaires, misunderstood wives, bathing beauties, wanton women and flappers. Nanette, a young Manhattan heiress, tries to experience life by running away to the big, bad and bawdy town of Atlantic City, only to be followed by her straight-laced, tap-dancing fiancé, her cook/chaperone, her lawyer and his wife and her legal guardians, who just want everyone to 'be happy.'"
A star-studded cast — featuring Mara Davi (A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone) in the title role — boasts the talents of Emmy winner Rosie O'Donnell as Pauline, Tony winner Beth Leavel as Lucille Early, Sandy Duncan as Sue Smith, Shonn Wiley as Tom, Charles Kimbrough as Jimmy Smith, Michael Berresse as Billy Early, Angel Reda as Flora Latham, Jennifer Cody as Betty Brown and Nancy Anderson as Winnie Winslow.
Rounding out the ensemble are David Baum, Brandon Davidson, Leah Edwards, Sara Edwards, Zak Edwards, Mary Giattino, Luke Hawkins, Matthew J. Kilgore, Cara Kjellman, Todd Lattimore, Deborah Lew, Ryan Malyar, Brent McBeth, Alessa Neeck, Carolann M. Sanita, Kiira Schmidt, Chad Seib, Kelly Sheehan, Anna Aimee White and Jacob Ben Widmar.
Show times are May 8 at 8 PM, May 9 at 8 PM, May 10 at 2 and 8 PM, May 11 at 6:30 PM and a gala performance May 12 at 7 PM. City Center is located in Manhattan at West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Tickets are available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org.
Here is a look at the production:
Photos by Joan Marcus