RACHEL YORK (Dorothy Brock) is a dynamic and versatile actress most recently seen on Broadway in the musical Head Over Heels. She is best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Miserables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Jonathan Pryce, and Disaster! The Musical. She also turned heads on television with her courageous portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie, Lucy. National Tours: Anything Goes (Helen Hayes Award), Camelot (Carbonell Award), Kiss Me, Kate (also West End and PBS); Off-Broadway: Putting It Together also with Julie Andrews (MTC), Dessa Rose (Lincoln Center), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Little Me (City Center Encores!); Regional: Grey Gardens with Betty Buckley (Ahmanson), Turn of the Century opposite Jeff Daniels (Goodman); Spamalot with Charles Shaughnessy (Ogunquit Playhouse); TV: The Mick, Elementary, Power, Hannah Montana, Frasier, and more. In Concert: Ms. York has been a soloist worldwide including appearances with the New York Pops; the National Symphony w/ Marvin Hamlisch; the Los Angeles Philharmonic; The Philly Pops; the San Francisco Symphony; the Jerusalem Philharmonic; and Carnegie Hall w/Michael Feinstein among many others. Upcoming in 2019: Pre-Broadway production of the musical Ever After and excited to be a part of the new FOX Television series Filthy Rich starring Kim Cattrall. www.rachelyork.com @TheRachelYork.

STEVE BLANCHARD (Julian Marsh) Broadway: Beauty and The Beast (Beast), The Three Musketeers (Aramis u/s), A Christmas Carol (Fred), and Camelot (Lancelot) with Robert Goulet. Off-Broadway: Johnny Guitar (Johnny), Frankenstein (The Creature), and Treasure Island (Captain Smollett); National Tours: The Little Mermaid (King Triton), Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Miles Gloriosus) with Mickey Rooney, Newsies (Pulitzer), and Little House on the Prairie (Pa) with Melissa Gilbert. TV: The Enemy Within, House of Cards, Madam Secretary, The Good Fight, Law and Order, Third Watch, Ed, Sunset Beat, Police Story, and The Tap. Film: Newsies: The Broadway Musical, Those Who Wander, When The Moon Was Twice As Big, The Ill-Made Knight, Cover Me, Sloane, and Bastion. Original Recordings: Johnny Guitar (Johnny), Sundown (Doc Holiday), Frankenstein (The Creature), and his own CD, Northbound Train.

JESSICA WOCKENFUSS (Peggy Sawyer) is delighted to be reacquainted with Peggy after performing the role at North Shore Music Theatre in 2017! Off Broadway: Hey, Look Me Over! (Encores! City Center), Me and My Gal (Encores! City Center); National Tour: Jersey Boys, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, The Little Mermaid, Monty Python's Spamalot; Regional: Theatre By the Sea (Roxie Hart, Chicago), Paper Mill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, TUTS, Dallas Summer Musicals, PCLO, KC Starlight, Capital Repertory Theatre; Other: Hair (Choreographer, Enlightened Theatrics). BFA Elon. Love to Randy, ATB, Pod, Wockenfi, np, and my incredible tribe.

CLIFF BEMIS (Abner Dillon) began his professional career in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, as a cast member in Jacques BrelÖ which ran for over 2 years on Playhouse Square, virtually saving those historic theatres which were scheduled to be demolished. On Broadway, he originated the role of Ezekiel Foster in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and yearly joins its First National Tour. He has worked Off-Broadway, First National Tour of The Drowsy Chaperone, and regional theatres including Bucks County Playhouse, LaJolla Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, and Pasadena Playhouse; Films: Billy, Nancy Drew, World Trade Center, Au Pair II; TV appearances include Younger, The Blacklist, White Collar, Law and Order: SVU, One Life To Live, Dallas, and Cheers. He established the Cliff Bemis Music Theatre Scholarship at his alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio. He is proud to be celebrating his 50th year as a member in Actor's Equity. www.cliffbemis.com.

CON O’SHEA-CREAL (Billy Lawlor) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Side Show; National Tours: Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins (Bert), Something Rotten!, Irving Berlin's White Christmas; Regional: Oklahoma! (Will Parker, Stages St. Louis), Kiss Me Kate (Gremio, 5th Avenue Theatre), Side Show (Kennedy Center), The Drowsy Chaperone (George, Stages St. Louis), Funny Girl (North Shore Music Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (Gremio, Shakespeare Theatre Company), 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma), Annie Get Your Gun (Goodspeed Opera House), A Christmas Carol (Casa Manana); Film: Rebel In The Rye; TV: Royal Pains. BFA University of Oklahoma. Much thanks to Paige, Randy and everyone at MSA.

KILTY REIDY (Bert Barry) is pleased to return to Ogunquit Playhouse. OP: Carousel (Enoch Snow Jr.); Broadway: The Drowsy Chaperone and In My Life; Tours: Billy Elliot (Mr. Braithwaite), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Original Cast, Mike Nulty); Regional: The Last Ship (Billy Thompson, Pioneer Theatre), The Producers (Roger DeBris, KC Starlight/Music Theatre Wichita), A Christmas Story (Jean Shepard, Capital Repertory), Crazy For You (Junior, PaperMill/PBS), A Man of No Importance (Alfie Byrne, B-Side Theatricals); TV: The Blacklist, Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women. Proud Actors' Equity Member.

www.kiltyreidy.com For my mom, Mary Butterfield Reidy.

RYAN K. BAILER (Pat Denning) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Ryan recently played Juan Peron in an award winning production of Evita (ACT of CT). Previous shows: Les Miserables (Javert U/S, 3rd National Tour), Evita (Peron U/S, 1st National Tour), Evita (Peron U/S, Marriott Lincolnshire), Forever Plaid (Smudge, Royal George) and A Wonderful Life (Candlelight Theatre). Ryan’s introduction to 42nd Street was in college, when he played both Julian Marsh and Pat Denning. Ryan has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. He sends thanks to his agents at ATB, his manager at Terrific Talent, and love to his friends, his amazing mother Penny, his adorable 9 month old son Aiden, and his love, Tatiana. He dedicates his performance to his late father, Kermit Gamaliel Bailer, and mostly, is thankful to God for all things. Job 38-41

MEGAN MCLAUGHLIN (Annie/Ensemble) is so excited to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. National Tours: Elf the Musical, 42nd Street. Favorite Regional: 42nd Street (Lorraine Fleming, Lexington Theatre Company,) Holiday Inn, Oklahoma! Crazy for You (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), Singin’ in the Rain (Engeman Theater), The Will Rogers Follies (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma). TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Tap Dancer). Megan is a proud OCU grad. She sends many thanks to Randy, the creative team, and her family.

JAKE WEINSTEIN (Andy Lee/Ensemble) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Tour: A Chorus Line (Mark); Regional: Chasing the Song (Beats, La Jolla Playhouse); New York: Peter and the Wolf (Peter, BAM), Gershwin: Got Rhythm (Gershwin, Kaye Playhouse), AcousticaElectronica (Conductor, House of Yes/Oberon), Javanka: Back in New York (Jared Kushner, 54 Below). Jake served as Co-Director/Choreographer, Composer and Performer in the short film "Ode to the Singing Butler," for which his score won 1st Place at the Golden Key Composition Festival in Vienna, Austria. B.A. NYU Gallatin. Thanks to Randy, Craig, and everyone who made this possible! @jakeweinstein1

SALLY STRUTHERS (Maggie Jones) is a two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner for her performance in the groundbreaking TV series All in the Family. She starred in the Fox television series 9 to 5 and her own CBS series Gloria. She also recurred on the CBS comedy Still Standing and the CW network’s highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls. She joined the Gilmore cast for Netflix’s four movie limited revival, which premiered in the fall of 2016. She recently guest starred in the acclaimed IFC comedy series Maron. Sally’s television movies include: A Gun in the House, And Your Name is Jonah, The Great Houdinis, Hey… I’m Alive, In The Best Interest of the Children, Deadly Silence, My Husband is Missing, and Intimate Strangers. Sally co-starred in two legendary motion pictures in the 70’s: Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson and The Getaway with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. Sally’s first two Broadway forays were in Wally’s Cafe with Rita Moreno and Jimmy Coco and Neil Simon’s female version of the Odd Couple with Brenda Vaccaro. For three years she starred as ‘Miss Mamie Lynch’ on Broadway and on tour in the Tommy Tune production of Grease. In the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Annie, Sally played the coveted role of ‘Miss Hannigan’. Sally was named Best Actress by the Los Angeles Artistic Director Theatre Awards for her role as ‘Louise Seger’ in the musical, Always, Patsy Cline, a true story based on the relationship between Seger and Cline. She won the Ovation Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as ‘Agnes Gooch’ in the Los Angeles production of Mame, and won a second Ovation Award for Cinderella. She also won a plaque for ‘Best Actress’ in her 7th Grade Class Play. Additional starring theatre roles include regional productions of Hello, Dolly!, Anything Goes, The Fifth of July, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, All Shook Up, Drowsy Chaperone, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 9 To 5, Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Witches of Eastwick and Nice Work if You Can Get It, and Grumpy Old Men the Musical. For thirty years, Sally Struthers worked to help the hungry and uneducated children everywhere. She visited these children in many developing countries, and filmed numerous public service announcements and documentaries on their behalf.

DANIELLE ALIOTTA (Ensemble) is thrilled to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Regional: Singin’ In the Rain (Ensemble, u/s Zelda, John W. Engeman Theater), Wizard of Oz (Dorothy Gale, John W. Engeman Theater). She would like to thank Randy, Sara, and all the staff at the Ogunquit Playhouse for this opportunity. Much love to her family, friends, and mentors for their support.

EMILY APPLEBAUM (Ensemble) is elated to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut in 42nd Street! National Tours: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Female Ensemble and u/s Marie); Regional: Bye Bye Birdie (Nancy, Goodspeed Opera House). Many thanks to the creative team, OP, and the cast and crew for putting together such a spectacular production. Love and thanks to her teachers, friends, and family, especially to her mom and dad for their endless love and support. Come and meet those dancing feet and enjoy the show!

WILLIE BEATON II (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his debut at Ogunquit Playhouse. Regional: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Chief Berry), Jesus Christ Superstar (Peter), The Wedding Singer, and Saturday Night Fever (Surflight Theatre); Other Credits: Radioactive (Becquerel, directed by Sammi Cannold), The World Goes Round (Directed/Choreographed by Alex Sanchez), Spring Awakening (Adult Man, Directed by Chloe Treat, Manhattan School of Music), Memphis (Wailin’ Joe), and Aida (Mereb, Players by the Sea). Proud expected graduate of Manhattan School of Music’s Inaugural Musical Theatre Class (BM). He is thankful for the continued support from family and mentors.

ALLISON BLANCHARD (Ensemble) is beyond excited to be making her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. National Tours: 42nd Street (Ensemble, u/s Maggie); Regional: Mary Poppins (Ensemble, Arizona Broadway Theatre), The Producers (Ensemble, Stage Door Theatre); Many thanks to Randy and the creative team. Love to Mom and Dad. Glory to God!

QUINTEN PATRICK BUSEY (Ensemble) is pumped to be making his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Evita (Brother), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Dupin, u/s Clopin), Singin’ In The Rain (Rod), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Caleb), White Christmas (Scooter), Showtune (Man 2), 9 to 5, Crazy For You (Moose), Anything Goes, The Addams Family (Caveman, u/s Fester), and The Producers. Wagner College Grad and founder of Pullback Productions (@pullbackproductions). Thanks to Bob and everyone at ATB!

www.quintenpatrickbusey.com @qbusey

BRITTANY CATTARUZZA (Ensemble) is delighted to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! OP at the Music Hall: White Christmas 2015 & 2017 (Ensemble); Select Regional/Tour: White Christmas (Jenny Wiley Theatre), 42nd Street (National Tour, North Shore Music Theatre, Allenberry Playhouse, Woodstock Playhouse), Will Rogers Follies (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Much love and gratitude to family, friends, and Tommy.

ALEX DROST (Ensemble) is extremely excited to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! NYC: Errol and Fidel (NYMF); Cruise line entertainment: Mamma Mia! (Eddie, Royal Caribbean Productions); Regional: Cabaret (Music Theatre of Connecticut), Chicago, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot (Fulton Theatre), A Grand Night For Singing, Fiddler on the Roof, Mamma Mia! (Maine State Music Theatre), La Cage aux Folles (Jean-Michel, Forestburgh Playhouse). Western Carolina University BFA. Special thanks to my family, friends, and the Daniel Hoff Agency! For my Nini. @heyitsalexdrost

LIZ FRIEDMANN (Ensemble) is ecstatic to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Credits: The Music Man (Dance Captain/Swing, Asolo Repertory Theatre), Mamma Mia! (STAGES St. Louis, Ensemble), Oklahoma! (STAGES St. Louis, Ensemble), Carousel (Union Avenue Opera, Dancer), DanceBreak NYC (Assistant Choreographer). She is a proud alum of Oklahoma City University. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support and the team here at Ogunquit for this incredible opportunity.

PATRICK HEFFERNAN (Ensemble) is happy to return to Ogunquit Playhouse in the summer, after performing in White Christmas at the Music Hall two years ago! National Tours: Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik), Anything Goes, and 42nd Street; Regional: Goodspeed Opera House (The Will Rogers Follies) Arts Center of Coastal Carolina (H2$), The John W. Engeman (Gypsy) and Mac-Haydn Theater. Patrick is originally from southern CA and went Wagner College in NYC. While not performing he enjoys practicing/teaching yoga, tap dancing and eating chocolate chip cookies.

ALEX JOHN JOHNSON (Ensemble) is ecstatic to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! National Tour: 42nd Street (Ensemble); Regional: Hairspray (Sketch, Paramount Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (Ensemble, The Fireside Theatre), Spamalot (Ensemble u/s Historian, The Palace Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Ensemble u/s Young Scrooge, Westchester Broadway Theatre). Alex is a proud graduate from Oklahoma City University with a degree in dance performance. Alex would like to thank Randy and the Ogunquit team for this incredible opportunity and his family, friends, and Nick for their immense love and constant support.

TOMMY JOSCELYN (Ensemble) is excited to make his Ogunquit Playhouse debut! 42nd Street (Ensemble, National Tour), 42nd Street (Andy Lee, Woodstock Playhouse), Mary Poppins (Bert, Woodstock Playhouse), Anything Goes (Sailor, The Palace Theatre), Oklahoma! (Dream Curly, The Wick Theatre), Damn Yankees (Smokey, Allenberry Playhouse), Hot Mikado (Nanki-Poo, HSRT). Love to family, friends, and Brittany for your support. For Mr. Bramble.

TRENT KIDD (Ensemble) is thrilled and honored to be making both his American and Ogunquit Playhouse debut in 42nd Street. Hailing from Sydney, Australia. Australian Credits: Summer Rain (Director/Choreographer, New Theatre), Me And My Girl (Choreographer, Hayes Theatre), Heathers The Musical (Resident Director, Sydney Opera House), Turandot (Associate Director & Dance/Movement Associate, Opera Australia. Sydney Opera House), La Traviata (Dance/Movement Associate, Opera Australia, Sydney Opera House), Carmen (Associate Director, Opera Australia, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour), La Boheme (Associate Director, Opera Australia, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour), Sweeney Todd (Choreographer, New Theatre), Privates on Parade (Choreographer, New Theatre). Thank you Mum and Dad for your endless support!

RYAN KOERBER (Ensemble) is overjoyed to make his Ogunquit Playhouse debut in his dream show! Tour: A Chorus Line (Bobby, u/s Paul- National Tour, Japan Tour, and China’s original company at the Shanghai Culture Square); NYC/Regional: Christmas on Broadway (Beacon Theatre), A Chorus Line (Paul- Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), The Producers (Argyle Theatre, Theatre By The Sea), On The Town (Gateway Playhouse), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Engeman Theatre), and concerts at 54 Below, Green Room 42, Lincoln Center, and Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. BFA Montclair State and Jimmy Awards alum. Endless thanks to Randy, Sara, and the Ogunquit team! For Ricky. @ryan_koerber

BRIANNA LATRASH (Ensemble) is thrilled to be joining the cast of 42nd Street at the Ogunquit Playhouse! National Tour: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Ensemble); Regional: 42nd Street (Bucks County Playhouse, The Lexington Theatre Company), Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham, The Lexington Theatre Company), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount, NOLA Lyric Theatre), The Music Man (Cincinnati Pop Orchestra); BFA CCM Musical Theatre. All thanks to Randy! For Sara Hart and Mom & Dad. Henderson Hogan Agency. @briannalatrash

LILY LEWIS (Phyllis/Ensemble) is pleased to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse. OP: Elf The Musical (Ensemble); Regional: 42nd Street (Diane Lorimer, Interlakes Summer Theatre), Anything Goes (Chastity, Westchester Broadway Theatre), Crazy For You (Tess, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre), Singing In The Rain (Ensemble, John W. Engeman Theatre), Singing In The Rain (Ensemble, The Wick Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Ensemble, WBT). So much gratitude to the Ogunquit Playhouse for having me back to perform in my dream show with this incredible cast. Much love to my family, friends, and mentors for their unending support and love. www.lilyclewis.com @lillianclaire123

ELIZABETH MCGUIRE (Ensemble) is excited to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Regional: A Chorus Line (Kristine, The Lexington Theatre Co.), The Music Man, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, 42nd Street (Ensemble, The Lexington Theatre Co.); Concert: Christmas on Broadway (Featured Dancer, The Beacon Theatre), Theatre of Dreams (Ensemble, BCEFA/SAKS 5th Ave.), Concert with the Stars (Ensemble, The Lexington Theatre Co.). Thank you to Mom, Dad, Lyndy, and Jeromy.

ANDREW MUYLLE (Ensemble) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Regional: A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge, Meadow Brook Theatre), Newsies (Henry, Porthouse Theatre); Live Entertainment: Performer, Idlewild Park. BFA Musical Theatre, Oakland University. Many thanks to the amazing music, theatre, and dance faculty at Oakland University, and much love and appreciation to his mother and father.

MELISSA SCHOTT (Lorraine/Ensemble) is thrilled to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! National: Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel (Magic Girl/Ensemble), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Ensemble, Judy u/s), U.S./Canada touring Symphony Pops Concert Classic FM (Solo Vocalist); Regional: 42nd Street (Ensemble/Peggy u/s, North Shore Music Theatre), 42nd Street (Peggy, Footlite Musicals), AlwaysÖ Patsy Cline (Patsy, American Cabaret Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie, Indianapolis Civic Theatre); MTI’s Broadway Jr. Recordings: Pirates of Penzance (Ruth), Willy Wonka (Violet and Mrs. Gloop), Into the Woods (Witch); TV: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Diner Waitress). She happily resides in NYC with her husband, Aaron, and their Yorkies! www.melissaschott.com

KRISTEN WELSH (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. NYC: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette), The New York Pops: Spring Gala at Carnegie Hall (Ensemble); Off-Broadway: Anything Goes (Ensemble, Musicals Tonight!); Regional: Mamma Mia! (Ensemble, u/s Sophie, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Theater By The Sea), A Music Box Christmas (Ensemble, Hershey Park); TV: The 92nd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Rockette). Thank you to the entire Ogunquit Playhouse team and Randy Skinner for the chance to dance in this historic show. Love to my parents and Nick, my greatest supporters. To Bonnie, this one's for you.

HARRY WARREN & AL DUBIN (Composer and Lyricist) were legendary tunesmiths both as a team and as individuals. Between the two, their prodigious careers spanned six decades. They wrote Broadway shows and revues and were pioneer songwriters for sound pictures. Their combined output of songs can only be described as astonishing. Al Dubin, born in Switzerland in 1891, died in NY in 1945. Harry Warren was born in Brooklyn in 1893 and passed away in 1981. His first hit song was written in 1922, and he scored his last movie in 1962. His other collaborators included Ira Gershwin, Billy Rose, Joe Young, Gus Kahn, Arthur Freed, Johnny Mercer, Mack Gordon, Mort Dixon, Bud Green and Ralph Blane.

MICHAEL STEWART (Book) scored on Broadway the first time when he won a Tony for his Bye, Bye, Birdie libretto. He was the librettist for Carnival (Drama Critics Circle Award) and Hello, Dolly! which won him both a Tony and Drama Critics prize. He also wrote the books for George M! (with Francine and John Pascal), Mack & Mabel, The Grand Tour, and 42nd Street (with Mark Bramble), Harrigan And Hart, I Love My Wife, and the lyrics for Barnum. Mr. Stewart died in 1987.

MARK BRAMBLE (Co-Author) was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award for his work on 42nd Street. He began his theatrical career working for David Merrick. He directed 42nd Street in London, Tokyo, Sydney and Amsterdam and is the author of Barnum (Tony Award nomination for Best Book and Best Musical) and The Three Musketeers and co-author (with Michael Stewart) of The Grand Tour; Treasure Island, Elizabeth and Essex, and 42nd Street (Tony Award Best Musical, Laurence Olivier Award for Musical of the Year). He directed the rock and roll extravaganza Fat Pig for the Leicester Haymarket Theatre in England, Notre Dame, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, at Saddler’s Wells in London; and created the radio musical In With the Old for the BBC. He is a member of the society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers and the Dramatists Guild. Mr. Bramble passed away on February 19, 2019.

GOWER CHAMPION (Director and Choreographer of original 42nd Street) was awarded the Tony Award for Best Choreography for 42nd Street and also won the Dramatists Desk Award in the same category. His name is synonymous with some of the greatest musicals in Broadway history. He was the director and choreographer for Lend an Ear, Bye, Bye Birdie (for which he won Tony Awards as Director and Choreographer), Carnival (Tony nomination for Direction), Hello, Dolly! (two more Tony Awards for direction and choreography), I Do! I Do!, The Happy Time (two more Tony awards), Sugar, Irene, and Mack and Mabel. He died in 1980.

DONALD JOHNSTON (Musical Adaptation and Arrangements/Additional Orchestrations) arranged dance music for the original production of 42nd Street and conducted its last two years on Broadway. He also arranged and conducted numerous Broadway and other shows. He toured and recorded as a jazz pianist/arranger, orchestrating CD recordings including the award-winning The Night of the Hunter. Donald passed away in 2002.

RANDY SKINNER (Director/Choreographer) Broadway shows include: 42nd Street (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire nominations), Ain’t Broadway Grand (Tony, Outer Critics nominations), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Dames At Sea (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire nominations), State Fair (Outer Critics nomination), After The Night And The Music (MTC/Friedman Theatre); For City Center Encores: Do Re Mi, Of Thee I Sing, Face The Music, No No Nanette, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Lady Be Good, On Your Toes; Off-Broadway: Lone Star Love (Lucille Lortel nomination); Kennedy Center: Broadway: Three Generations; West End: Lend Me A Tenor The Musical, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, 42nd Street (Olivier nomination); Los Angeles: Stormy Weather (with Leslie Uggams/Pasadena Playhouse), Garry Marshall’s Happy Days, Hello, Dolly! (with Nell Carter), Pal Joey (with Dixie Carter and Elaine Stritch), Strike Up The Band (with Tom Bosley); Goodspeed Opera: Babes In Arms, George M, Lucky In The Rain; Lincoln Center/PBS: Show Boat with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra; Mr. Skinner’s ‘taps’ can be heard on the recordings of Sondheim At The Movies, 110 In The Shade, Strike Up The Band, Lucky In The Rain. He has received the LA Drama Critics, LA Drama-logue, Bay Area Theatre Critics, Connecticut Critics Circle, and Cleveland Times Theatre Awards. Columbus native and graduate of Ohio State University.

SARA BRIANS (Associate Choreographer) is an award-winning director, choreographer and educator based in NYC. She made her Broadway debut in the 2000 revival of 42nd Street and is honored to be working alongside Mr. Skinner on this production at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Sara’s choreography credits include Spring Awakening, Follies (NYIT Award), Rock Of Ages, Man of La Mancha, The Full Monty, Big Fish, Chicago, Ring of Fire, Merrily We Roll Along, Anyone Can Whistle, Pippin, The Gondoliers, The Trouble With Doug, and Newton’s Cradle. She has directed and choreographed Godspell and City of Angels. Sara’s other Broadway credits include The Terms Of My Surrender, Matilda, Billy Elliot, White Christmas, and After the Night and the Music. She has worked at City Center, Encores!, The Kennedy Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Alley Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Joe’s Pub, The Duke, The 92nd Street Y, Town Hall, and Merkin Hall.

JEFFREY CAMPOS (Music Director) is pleased to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse! OP: Grumpy Old Men the Musical, Oklahoma!, White Christmas, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Saturday Night Fever, Victor/Victoria, The Witches of Eastwick, Grease, Thoroughly Modern Mille, Joseph… Dreamcoat, 9 to 5, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Legally Blonde, Sunset Boulevard; National Tours: Jekyll & Hyde, A Chorus Line, The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma, Annie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Regional: Arvada Center, Gateway Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre, Cortland Rep., Cohoes Music Hall; NYC: A Stoop on Orchard Street (Off-Broadway); NYC Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture; Astoria Performing Arts Center, Gallery Players, NYMF, NYC Fringe, The Producer’s Club. Orchestrations: Broadway Backwards (American Airlines Theatre). He is also on the music staff for Royal Caribbean International.

DOUGLAS SCHMIDT (Original Scenic Design) Mr. Schmidt’s work has been seen extensively on and Broadway, regional theatres, American and international opera houses, arenas, theme parks and on television and film in over 250 productions in the last 50 years. His many Broadway credits include the original NY production of Grease that went on to play a record breaking 3,388 performances. Three time nominee for the Tony Award, he has been honored with the United States Institute for Theatre Technology Award for Distinguished Achievement in Scene Design and The Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design. This spring he designed the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons for The Roundabout Theatre Company in New York.

RICHARD LATTA (Lighting Design) designed last season’s Oklahoma!, An American in Paris (IRNE Award Nomination), Grumpy Old Men the Musical and Jersey Boys. He is currently the longest serving employee of the Ogunquit Playhouse; beginning as a crew member in 1985 and as a Lighting Designer since 1987. In that time he's designed hundreds of shows and watched in amazement as the Playhouse evolved from its humble Summer Stock beginnings to a producing entity that presents musical classics, re-inventions of more recent musicals and gives life to brand new shows. For that he thanks the many Electricians, Programmers, Associates and Follow Spot Operators who participated in making the Playhouse great, with an extra shout out to Travis Maynard.

ED CHAPMAN (Sound Design) is pleased to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Broadway: Ink (2019 Tony Award Nomination, Associate Sound Designer, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre), Travesties (2018 Tony Award Nomination, Associate Sound Designer, American Airlines Theatre); National Tour Sound Designs: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2015-2016), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2013-2017), A Christmas Story (2014-2017), The Producers (2015), Guys and Dolls (2014-2015); Off-Broadway Sound Designs: Jasper in Deadland (West End Theatre), Bedbugs (Chernuchin Theatre); Regional Sound Designs: Over 20 productions at Weston Playhouse, notably Mamma Mia! (2016 Berkshire Theatre Award Nomination), Holiday Inn (2018 Syracuse Area Live Theatre Award Nomination, Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival), Georgia McBride and Next to Normal (TheatreWorks Hartford), Pirates of Penzance (Barrington Stage Company), Shrek (Walnut Street Theatre); International Tour: The Joker’s Game (World Premiere in China). Mr. Chapman sends much love and thanks to parents, John and Gayle, and family Kate, Mary Ann, Johnny, and Eddie.

ROXANNE DE LUNA (Wig Design) is pleased to make her second design at the Ogunquit Playhouse. OP: Elf the Musical (Wig Designer, 2018 Christmas Season), 2018 Season (Wig & Makeup Shop Supervisor), 2017 Season (Wig & Makeup Shop Supervisor); LORT-D: My Fair Lady (Wig Designer, PlayMakers Repertory Company), Intimate Apparel (Wig Master, PlayMakers Repertory Company). Wig & Makeup Assistant- Glimmerglass Festival Seasons 2013-2015, Central City Opera Season 2016, Kansas City Lyric Opera: Marriage of Figaro (2016), Sarasota Opera House Winter Seasons 2016-2019. She was born and raised in El Paso, TX. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts at New Mexico State University and moved to Ohio to graduate with her Master of Arts from University of Cincinnati- Conservatory of Music in Wig & Makeup Design, 2015.

ANTHONY C. DANIEL (Casting Director) Casting: Ogunquit Playhouse's productions of Anything Goes, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Disneyís Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, Victor/Victoria, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Million Dollar Quartet, Saturday Night Fever, White Christmas, Grease, Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, Witches of Eastwick, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and The Addams Family. He has also served as Associate Director on the Playhouse’s productions of Victor/Victoria, Mary Poppins and Witches of Eastwick. Anthony is a faculty member at The Growing Studio in NYC, where he serves as the Director of Musical Theatre Showcase. As an Associate Director, Anthony has worked alongside Matt Lenz on the National Tour of Cheers: Live On Stage! and the upcoming production of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz. www.anthonycdaniel.com

KAREN PARLATO (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be doing her third production of one of her favorite shows, 42nd Street. Credits at the Playhouse include the IRNE-winning An American in Paris, last season's Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Ragtime, From Here to Eternity, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Million Dollar Quartet, and Sister Act, as well as all the Playhouse holiday shows at The Music Hall: Mary Poppins, White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast, and Elf. Off-Broadway productions include Silence! The Musical, Triassic Parq, The Fantasticks, Revolution in the Elbow..., Bingo: The Musical, Frankenstein, Charles Busch's Cleopatra, and others. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera. She is also the stage manager for Denman Theatre & Dance Company. Twitter: @headsetchatter.

DANIEL EVERETT (Assistant Stage Manager) saw his first production at the Ogunquit Playhouse at the age of eleven. Ogunquit Playhouse: Elf, An American in Paris, White Christmas, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story; Off-Broadway: Culture Project, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Manhattan Ensemble Theatre; Regional: North Carolina Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, West Virginia Public Theatre. Special thanks to his family for all their support.

JASON LIEBSON (Associate Music Director) is thrilled to make his debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse. New York: A Chorus Line (The Gallery Players), Evelyn: A New Musical (Dixon Place); Regional: James and the Giant Peach (Chance Theater), Celebrate You! (Musical Theatre West); Director: Sweeney Todd (5 National Youth Arts Awards, Chapman University); Various projects with East West Players, Dancers Responding to AIDS, Theatre Now New York, Don't Tell Mama, and Pacific Symphony. Alumni of The Young Americans. Love to the family and friends!

AMANDA WOODWARD (Production Manager) is elated to be joining the Ogunquit Playhouse family after ending her touring career with FELD Entertainment. Amanda has worked over 20 years in the industry wearing many hats, but most recently spent 6 years with Norwegian Cruise Line as Entertainment Production Manager/ Project Manager overseeing new shows and installing entertainment on new ships and new shows during operations on older ships; all while she was a freelance TD for Boone High School (Orlando, FL) and lived/worked in NYC for 13 years as a PSM, LD, Programmer, Entertainer, and had her own organization business. Other Companies Amanda has worked with include The Imagination House (Double Dare Live!) American Family Theater (8 Tours), The Santa Fe Opera, The Cumberland County Playhouse, The Brick Theater, Orlando Reparatory Theater and various Off-Broadway theaters.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is returning for his 13th season as the Technical Director and Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit, he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows. He is also the Technical Supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. For five years, he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now stays with the Playhouse year-round. His wife Cheryl (Scenic Charge Artist at the Playhouse for 12 seasons) has designed award-winning parade floats and designs many of the Children’s Theatre shows. Their daughter Ash is an aspiring writer and artist.

CHERYL DOLAN (Resident Scenic Charge) has returned to the Ogunquit Playhouse for her 12th season. After taking over as Resident Scenic Charge nine years ago, she has designed several Children's Theatre sets, as well as adding her artistic eye to many of the main stage productions. Since falling in love with the Ogunquit Playhouse, Cheryl, her husband Geof Dolan (the Ogunquit Playhouse Technical Director) and their daughter Ash, who is a budding writer, have made the Seacoast their home year-round. Cheryl considers the staff at OP her family and hopes that her love and passion for theater is translated through the productions to all of you.

KENT BRIDGES (Managing Director) is a seasoned business leader with 30 years of experience in business administration, finance and strategic planning both in the private sector and as an independent consultant. He joined Ogunquit Playhouse in the fall of 2017. Working with the Board of Directors, the Executive Artistic Director, dedicated managers and staff, the community, and the organization’s business partners, Kent’s focus is to strengthen the theatre’s financial position, guide its long-term future, and ensure its rich and well-respected legacy is firmly secured. A native of Presque Isle, Maine, Kent returned to the state in late 2014 after a successful career in the Washington, D.C. metro area. He is excited to be back in Maine and to call Ogunquit his home.

BRIAN J. SWASEY (Associate Producer) Originally from South Portland, ME and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. After moving to NYC in 1995 and focusing on pursuing a career as an actor, he changed focus and became the Founding Artistic Director of The Astoria Performing Arts Center, followed by the Associate Producer position at Queens Theatre in the Park in Flushing, NY. There he was involved in producing the 20th Anniversary Revival of Closer Than Ever starring Sally Mayes and Lynne Winterstellar. Prior to coming to Ogunquit, he was the Managing Director for The New York Theatre Barn. NYC developmental projects have included: the rock musical The 12 and a new holiday musical entitled Tim and Scrooge. As a Director/Choreographer, Brian has had the pleasure of directing such shows as Pump Boys and Dinettes, Hairspray, Chicago, A New Brain, and Altar Boyz. He was the Assistant Director for the NYC Revival of Die, Mommie, Die! starring Charles Busch. At the Playhouse, Brian directed the TYA productions of The Berenstain Bears and The Cat In The Hat. In addition, Brian has been involved with booking cabaret entertainment at The Triad in NYC, as well as bringing such artists as Christina Bianco and Bruce Vilanch to MaineStreet in Ogunquit, ME.

BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is an artistic director, producer, stage and film director, and artist. Since joining the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has tripled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the America's pre-eminent regional theatres with a three-season performance schedule and year round operation. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Trophy, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE Awards and a number of BroadwayWorld Awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis. Mr. Kenney’s film work includes the upcoming movie musical ‘Buttons’ starring Dick Van Dyke, Jane Seymour, and Charles Shaughnessy. In New England, Mr. Kenney has been proud to be associated with a number of different theatre companies. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis and at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art.

Tap Dancing Extravaganza, 42nd Street to Open at the Ogunquit Playhouse

Ogunquit, Maine – Come and meet those dancing feet! The ultimate tap-dancing, show-biz musical sensation, 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square, and the people who make magical musical theatre hits the Ogunquit Playhouse stage June 19 through July 13. The Ogunquit production is staged by Tony Award-nominee Randy Skinner, the creator of the Broadway revival and recent West End production of 42nd Street. The tap-dancing extravaganza stars Broadway’s Rachel York as Dorothy Brock, Steve Blanchard as Julian Marsh, Jessica Wockenfuss as Peggy Sawyer, Con O’Shea-Creal as Billy Lawlor, and features Emmy-Award-Winner Sally Struthers as Maggie Jones. The Ogunquit production of 42nd Street also features the Lawrence Olivier-nominated and Tony-nominated costumes by Roger Kirk along with Douglas Schmidt’s Tony-nominated sets.

The delightful and dazzling show tells the story of aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer who leaves her small town for the big city and soon lands her first job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. Mayhem and mirth ensue when just before opening night the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? The musical 42nd Street is based on the novel by Bradford Ropes with book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. The score by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics), is chock-full of Broadway standards, including “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Dames,” “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle off to Buffalo” and “Forty-Second Street.”

Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances start at $36 and economy seats start at $51 each. To learn more about becoming a Playhouse member, or to purchase tickets and gift cards, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org or call the Ogunquit Playhouse Box Office at 207-646-5511

Rachel York returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse as Dorothy Brock, the quintessential Broadway diva. Ms. York last dazzled Playhouse audiences as the Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot. She was most recently seen on Broadway in the musical Head Over Heels, and is best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, and for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS TV movie, Lucy. Ms. York has stunned audiences of the stage, screen, and concert halls across the country through her numerous National Tours, regional theatre appearances, concert performances, and TV guest-starring roles.

Two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Sally Struthers joins the cast as Maggie Jones. Ms. Struthers is best known for her role as Gloria in the groundbreaking TV series, All in the Family as well as reprising that role in the series spin-off, Gloria. She also appeared on Fox television series 9 to 5, and in recurring roles on the CBS’s Still Standing and the CW network’s Gilmore Girls. Sally Struthers has performed many roles at Ogunquit Playhouse including Punky Olander in Grumpy Old Men the Musical, Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes, Duchess Estonia Dalworth in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Mama Morton in Chicago, and Paulette in Legally Blonde.

Broadway veteran, Steve Blanchard stars as the notorious Broadway director Julian Marsh. He is probably best known for his portrayal of Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in both the Broadway production and First National Tour. Other credits include Fred in A Christmas Carol, Lancelot in Camelot with Robert Goulet, Pulitzer in Disney’s Newsies, and Pa in Little House on the Prairie. Joining the cast as the starry-eyed chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer is Jessica Wockenfuss who also performed the role in the North Shore Music Theatre’s 2017 production. Off-Broadway, she has been seen in Hey, Look Me Over!, and Me and My Gal. Her National Tour credits include Jersey Boys, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, The Little Mermaid, and Monty Python's Spamalot. Con O’Shea-Creal will make his Ogunquit Playhouse debut as Billy Lawlor. His Broadway credits include Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Side Show, and he has performed in many­­­ National Tours including Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins as Bert, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas with Randy Skinner, and Something Rotten.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production of 42nd Street includes one of the largest casts to ever hit the theatre’s stage. It features Ryan K. Bailer as Pat Denning, Cliff Bemis as Abner Dillon, Megan McLaughlin as Annie, Kilty Reidy as Bert Barry, and Jake Weinstein as Andy Lee. The ensemble includes Danielle Aliotta, Emily Applebaum, Willie Beaton II, Allison Blanchard, Quinten Patrick Busey, Brittany Cattaruzza, Alex Drost, Liz Friedmann, Patrick Heffernan, Alex John Johnson, Tommy Joscelyn, Trent Kidd, Ryan Koerber, Brianna Latrash, Lily Lewis, Elizabeth McGuire, Andrew Muylle, Melissa Schott, and Kristen Welsh.

Helming the Playhouse production of 42nd Street as Director and Choreographer is Randy Skinner. Mr. Skinner was part of the creative team with the original Broadway and West End productions. Alongside book writer and director, Mark Bramble, he also choreographed the 2001 Broadway revival, 2015 West End revival, and the 2015 National Tour of the show. His choreography of 42nd Street earned him numerous allocades and nominations including an Olivier Award nomination and a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Choreography, a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding Choreography. Additionally, Mr. Skinner has received many award nominations over his extensive career including a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nomination for Best Choreography for Dames at Sea, a Tony and Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Choreography for Lone Star Love. Award-winning director, choreographer and educator Sara Brians joins Mr. Skinner and the creative team as Associate Choreographer. She made her Broadway debut in the 2000 revival of 42nd Street.

Music Director and Conductor of 42nd Street is Jeffrey Campos who has worked on the National Tours of Bullets over Broadway, Anything Goes, Elf, Shrek, and Damn Yankees. He has worked on numerous shows at the Ogunquit Playhouse including 2018’s Oklahoma!, and 2017’s Mamma Mia! and Ragtime, for which he was nominated for an IRNE Award for Music Direction.

Original set designs by Douglas Schmidt (Tony nomination) and costume design by Roger Kirk (Lawrence Olivier and Tony nomination) for the 2001 Broadway revival and recent West End production will be showcased on the Playhouse stage. Mr. Schmidt’s scenic design work has been seen extensively on Broadway, as well as in regional theatres, American and international opera houses, arenas, theme parks and television and film in over 250 productions in the last 50 years. His many Broadway credits include the original production of Grease that went on to play a record-breaking 3,388 performances. Mr. Kirk has designed costumes for numerous Broadway and West End shows including King Kong, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The King and I, for which he won multiple prestigious awards including a Tony Award for Best Costume Design.

Lighting Design for 42nd Street is by Richard Latta. Mr. Latta is the resident lighting designer for Ogunquit Playhouse and recently was nominated for an IRNE Award for Best Lighting Design for his work on the 2018 production of An American in Paris. Ed Chapman joins the creative team for 42nd Street as Sound Designer. His credits include the Tony-nominated productions of Ink and Travesties, as well as several National Tours including Disney’s The Little Mermaid, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, The Producer, and Guys and Dolls. Wig Designer for 42nd Street is Roxanne De Luna. This marks her second wig design for the Ogunquit Playhouse. Her previous creations were seen in Elf the Musical on stage at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, in 2018. Casting for the Ogunquit Playhouse production of 42nd Street is by Anthony C. Daniel. Production Stage Manager is Karen Parlato.

I am so pleased to be able to bring the classic backstage musical 42nd Street to the Ogunquit Playhouse. I have a long history with this show, beginning as Gower Champion’s assistant on the original production.

The show opened in 1980 on Broadway and played over eight years. That production went on to have numerous National Tours and International productions and I traveled to many cities and countries to bring the show to world-wide audiences. In 2001, 42nd Street was revived on Broadway and I choreographed a new production which played for nearly four years. It was exciting to look at this iconic musical through a different lens and bring new and fresh elements to the show, while maintaining some of the famous images from 1980. This revival production also went on to various National and International Tours and most recently played the West End for two years. How thrilling it was for me to once again view the show in London through new eyes, and to continue to experiment with creative rhythms and steps. This opportunity to revisit a musical does not present itself very often in one’s career, certainly not to the degree that 42nd Street has for me.

I feel fortunate to have the same situation with another show, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which has played Ogunquit Playhouse twice. I am heading into my sixteenth year with that wonderful production and every year I find new things to explore with my casts. The great longevity of these two titles makes one realize that both have all the elements which comprise a classic musical: an endearing, hopeful story that connects to audiences, a score filled with some of the best-known and beloved songs of the American songbook, and production numbers that allow many moments for the ensemble to shine with their dancing.

The stage version of 42nd Street is based on the celebrated 1933 Warner Brothers’ film of the same name. It starred Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers, Una Merkel, Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels. It was the first in a series of “depression era” movie musicals produced by the Warner Brothers Studio. These movies were immensely popular and allowed audiences to escape their troubles for a few hours. Seeing the beautiful images on screen, hearing the melodic songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, and watching all of those tapping feet lifted the spirits and served the public at a time when much joy was needed. I don’t think that need ever disappears in our lives and I’m very thankful for shows like 42nd Street!Item description

Breadlines, broken ankles, and Broadway: the critical components to one of the most beloved musicals of all time. 42nd Street tells the tale of a young girl who moves from her small town in Pennsylvania to New York City in the hopes of finding fame and fortune in the chorus of a Broadway show. When tragedy strikes the leading lady, this chorus girl is given minimal time to prepare herself for the role of a lifetime. Based on the 1933 film of the same name, 42nd Street debuted on Broadway in 1980 and featured unparalleled spectacle and copious amounts of tap dancing.

42nd Street takes place in Manhattan during the Great Depression. While the impacts of the Depression were evidenced across the country, New York City felt this turmoil acutely. Already an epicenter of poverty, breadlines were extensive as each day saw more businesses closed, and more people living on the streets. People were in need of relief and escape.

The era, considered to be a part of “Hollywood’s Golden Age” saw the advent of the “talkie.” Thus emerged the movie musical. This new genre took current stage shows and new stories in the style of Broadway Musicals and adapted them for the silver screen. Movie houses popped up across the country (some of which were in old vaudeville theatres). One of the most popular films of the Era was the 1933 film 42nd Street which starred film icons of the 1920s and ‘30s including Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Bebe Daniels, Dick Powell, and Ginger Rogers. Busby Berkeley, the iconic musical director and choreographer was beginning his career in film. 42nd Street catapulted him to fame with his kaleidoscopic stage pictures and meticulously precise choreography. This film and the dance elements it featured became the basis for the stage show which would debut in 1980 then be revised again in 2001.

The rise of movie musicals reflected massive problems for the American theater, which was, and remains based in New York. In this city full of impoverished people, very few people could afford the cost of a ticket to see a Broadway show. Movie musicals gave audiences an evening of entertainment and an escape from their troubles in the style of their beloved Broadway productions for less than a quarter. Though Broadway saw a decline in attendance, the work featured on the stage was far better than it had ever been before. The world around may have seemed bleak, but performers worked tirelessly to entertain audiences who could afford to attend.

42nd Street was adapted for the Broadway stage in the early ‘80s during the rebirth of Broadway and the onset of the era of “Mega musicals.” Spearheaded by writers like Andrew Lloyd Webber, this period rejuvenated interest in the Broadway musical; highlighting and emphasizing the spectacle that is inherent to this art form. The original film, 42nd Street, proved the perfect source material. It had a solid storyline, the beginnings of a joyous score, fabulous tap numbers, and spectacle beyond anything that had been seen thus far onstage. It soon became the second movie musical ever to be adapted to a full-length Broadway show, and the first to find success. After a nine-year run and nearly 3,500 performances, it sealed its place as the 14th longest-running Broadway show to date. The original production was nominated for eight Tony awards and won two for “Best Musical” and “Best Choreography” in 1981.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production is directed by Randy Skinner, who was part of the creative team with the original Broadway and West End productions. He, alongside book writer and director, Mark Bramble, also choreographed the 2001 Broadway revival, 2015 West End revival, and the 2015 National Tour of the show. He has received multiple award nominations for the remarkable work that he puts on stage. This production reunites Skinner and his vast knowledge of all things 42nd Street with the spectacular costumes and props from the most recent West End production.

Mr. Skinner is not the only 42nd Street alum whose work connects to the Ogunquit Playhouse. Tammy Grimes, the original Broadway Dorothy Brock, made her Playhouse debut in the 1983 cast of Outward Bound. Her co-star Lee Roy Reams also appeared on the stage in 1996’s farewell tribute, Thank You, John Lane. Original Broadway cast member and the U.S. National Tour’s original Dorothy Brock, Millicent Martin, made her Ogunquit Playhouse debut in the 1993 production of Noises Off and returned to the stage the following season in Moon over Buffalo. The legacy of 42nd Street and the superb work of the multitalented artist, Randy Skinner, connect past and present stars of the Ogunquit Playhouse.Item description