42nd Street: A Toe Tapping Extravaganza

Theatre By The Sea proudly closes out their summer season with the Tony Award-winning celebration of Broadway, 42nd Street. To say this production is great fun would be a total understatement! From the minute the show starts at half curtain, you’re already beaming ear to ear and tapping your foot! This family-friendly classic features a hit parade of familiar songs you may not have known premiered in it, including “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re in the Money,” and of course the title song. With one show-stopping tune after another, arresting tap dance sequences and lavish costumes, 42nd Street is Broadway razzle-dazzle at its finest! This glamorous 1930’s musical is as well-known as the street it is named for. The cluster of New York theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square, had been aptly dubbed the theater district (as well as the red-light district). Based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 Hollywood film adaptation, this backstage musical follows the rehearsal process of a Broadway show staged during the height of the Great Depression. As quoted in the playbill, “The stakes are high when a young chorus girl, fresh from Allentown, PA, is given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a star in a new Broadway show, which recalls both the classic days of Broadway and the Golden Age of Hollywood movie musicals.”

Director Jessica Wockenfuss has brilliantly recreated the Broadway revival choreography originally created by Randy Skinner. “It was an honor to make my directorial debut at the same theater where I was an intern 16 years ago!” she says. “I am so grateful for this company of wonderfully talented actors and dedicated crew members for putting up this immense show. It’s a show about what we do here in the theater, so it’s very meta! I am very lucky to be surrounded by such supportive and compassionate people here at TBTS.” 

In the role of leading lady Peggy Sawyer is New York’s Laura Guley, and Billy Lawlor is portrayed by Houston’s Ashton Lambert. These two are pure joy to watch as they make their spectacular dancing look as effortless as does Oz’s limber Scarecrow! As if that isn’t enough, their beautifully melodic voices take center stage.

“This production was an absolute dream to work on,” says Guley. “To me, there is nothing more gratifying than spending long hours in the studio, surrounded by a group of people as loving and as passionate about the show as you are. It makes the hard work and the sweat so worth it when you’re all in it together. This show is nothing without the ensemble, and our ensemble is one of the most talented and hard working groups of people I’ve ever met and I feel so lucky to be surrounded and uplifted by them every day.” She goes on to say, “I know the work it takes to run around for two and a half hours, effortlessly quick changing from one ten-minute dance number to the next, creating beautiful pictures for the leads around you so they look good, losing your body weight in sweat, but at the end of the day, just being so thrilled to be a part of it all.”

Oftentimes, an actor or three will shine above the rest, garnering a standout shout-out from this reviewer. However, the talent here is so remarkable, it’s impossible to say anyone outshined the rest! Kat Gold and Rendell DeBose portray the musical comedy writing team of Maggie Jones and Bert Barry. Not only does this duo add intoxicating comedic substance, their spot-on vocals blow the roof off. Joining them in the roles of Dorothy Brock and Director Julian Marsh are TBTS audience favorite Merrill Peiffer, and Broadway veteran Patrick Ryan Sullivan. While portraying the director of the show, Sullivan adroitly makes us feel the highs and lows of his character’s theater career.

Kevin Patrick Martin portrays choreographer Andy Lee, and Broadway’s Beau Allen takes on the role of Abner Dillon. Mallory Davis serves as associate choreographer/ dance captain and appears in the role of Lorraine, which she portrayed on the national tour. Completing the cast are Kalista Curbelo, Glenn Girón, Benji Godley-Fisher, Rosie Granito, Taavon Gamble, Bailey Reese Greemon, Ciara Hargrove, Miya Heulitt, Haley Holcomb, Elizabeth McGuire, Henry H. Miller, Meag O’Meara, Rob Oulette, Rafa Pepén, John Reed, Mario Rizzi, and Maggie Mae Roach.

Broadway pianist/conductor and Music Director Milton Granger gives us a feast for the ears with this amazing score. The creative team includes resident Scenic Designer Kyle Dixon, who gives us sheer curtains featuring stylish ads of the era. He uses these for incredible shadow dancing scenes you’ll absolutely love, especially during the song Shadow Waltz! Wig designer Liz Printz, along with gorgeous costumes and props provided by 3-D Theatricals give audiences a magical feast for the eyes that totally captures the glitz of the era. Lighting designer Weston Wilkerson and sound designer Ben Scheff complete the magic circuit. You won’t be sorry closing out your summer with this breathtakingly dazzling, sensational treat!

42nd Street will be presented through September 15. For more information, visit www.theatrebythesea.com or call 401-782-TKTS (8587).

Photo: The cast of “42nd STREET” at Theatre By The Sea thru September 15, 2024. Photo by Mark Turek.