APPAUSE! Musicals In Concert returns… “Greek gods wreak havoc on earth”
APPLAUSE! Musicals in Concert returns, celebrating their 26th year, with another rare, shelved and forgotten musical - OUT OF THIS WORLD a rare Cole Porter gem that opened on Broadway in 1950, shortly after the incredibly successful Kiss Me Kate (1948). A concert presentation of this musical will run at the PAL Theatre in Coal Harbour, August 25/26/27.
OUT OF THIS WORLD is comical adaptation of the Greek comedy Amphitryon by Plautus. The story revolves around the god Jupiter who descends from Olympus to woo a mortal woman in modern Greece. He involves his son Mercury (messenger of the gods), which in turn alerts his wife Juno who follows him hoping to catch Jupiter in the act. Instead, she gets tangled up with a gangster running from the law who she believes is her husband in disguise. This madcap plot mixes nicely with Porter’s witty lyrics, and singable melodies.
Cole Porter (1891 – 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Possibly best known for writing the scores for Anything Goes (1934) and Kiss Me Kate (1948) Cole Porter actually wrote 25 musicals. Two of his rare shows have already been presented by APPLAUSE! Fifty Million Frenchmen (1929), and Jubilee (1935).
The OUT OF THIS WORLD cast includes: Kaden Chad, Kathleen Doerkson, Cecilia Federizon, Wilson Fowlie, Janet Glassford*, Christopher Hall, Dakota Hutchins, Isaac Johnson, Irene Karas Loeper*, Brenda Katzeff, Taylor Marples, Timothy Marron, Annika Meekel, Ken Overbey*, Rebecca Paulding, James Penco, Gordon Roberts*, Amanda Russell, Ashlyn Shaw, and Cathy Wilmot*. Leading this cast of players is music director Kate McColl, and director Scott Ashton Swan (founder of APPLAUSE!). * Appearing by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. [Headshots & bios available upon request].
APPPLAUSE! Musicals in Concert remains the only company in Canada dedicated to presenting rare, shelved and forgotten musical by popular musical theatre composers. They have presented 47 of these which in some cases were BC and Canadian premiers. Unique to their work is a very short one-week rehearsal and performance period. Also, each musical is performed in its entirety – music and libretto – “in concert” with “books in hand”. The focus remains on the original story and music versus costumes, lights, and scenery. Care is taken to try to present these works in their original form versus trying to modernize, or update them.
Out of this World, Cole Porter’s rare musical of 1950, will run four performances August 25 (8PM), 26 (2PM & 8PM), 27 (2PM) at PAL Theatre (581 Cardero Street, Vancouver).
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.ca.
Further information www.applausemusicals.com or email applausemusicals@yahoo.ca
