TOOT! TOOT! TOOTSIE!!

In celebration of 91 years of Theatre By The Sea, owner/producer Bill Hanney is presenting the

Tony Award-winning musical Tootsie. Making his Theatre By The Sea debut as director and

choreographer is NYC/London-based Richard J. Hinds, who served as the associate director on the Broadway productions. He will be joined by Tommy Iafrate, who brings flawless musical direction to the performance.

This laugh-out-loud love letter to the theater has been called “musical comedy heaven” (Rolling Stone) and “the most uproarious new musical in years!” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the 1982 award-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. Featuring the hilarious book by Robert Horn and a dazzling score by David Yazbek, Tootsie is a joyful delight packed with so many punchlines that it should be called a jokebox musical!

“When I saw Tootsie on Broadway, I found myself laughing much more than I had at a show in quite some time!” said Hanney. “It was easy to understand why the book won the Tony Award. It was also one of the best examples of drawing inspiration from source material I had ever seen. They didn’t just put the movie on stage. They created an all-new stage show which felt very fresh yet comfortably familiar. I am looking forward to feeling the barn shake with non-stop laughter throughout the run!”

This spectacular 22-member cast features incredible talent that leaves you wondering when they will make a mistake or hit a sour note, but it never happens! The brilliance of Kyle Nicholas Anderson in the dual roles of Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels is simply incredible. There’s not one second of downtime in his acting and singing during this fast-paced, uproariously funny take on the story you know and love. Joann Gilliam absolutely wows as Julie Nichols, Michael’s love interest. Brooke Jacob masterfully portrays the quirky Sandy. Jeff Brooks plays the antagonist we love to hate, as show director Ron Carlisle. You know whenever Dean Marino appears, you’re going to laugh, as he is spot-on with the well-timed spoken and physical comedy of Jeff Slater. Crystal Sha’nae is a force as Rita Marshall and Jadon Webster, as simpleton Max Van Horn can show us his chest any time!

Returning to the Theatre By The Sea stage after a 30-year absence is local favorite Fred Sullivan, Jr., who expertly portrays the evil agent, Stan Fields. Completing the cast are Connor Barton, Zoe Gillis, Bailey Reese Greemon, Marcus Henson, Chase Call, Henry H. Miller, Zachary Nieman-Macak, Elle May Patterson, Erica Peréz-Gotay, John Reed, Mario Rizzi, Kimmy Sessions, Taryn Smithson, and Emma Stricker.

Together, this cast and crew give a flawless performance. It is a must-see! Resident scenic designer Kyle Dixon has once again outdone himself. He never ceases to amaze with his clever set designs that move flawlessly from one to the next, and there are many in this production! The creative team also includes costume designer Dana Pinkston, lighting designer Weston Wilkerson, and wig/hairdesign by Rachel Padula-Shufelt.

Audiences can enhance their theater experience before the show by dining at the on-site restaurant Bistro By The Sea. It recently reopened under new management by Mark and Alicia Bryson of Duck Press in Wakefield. Reservations (recommended) can be made online at theatrebythesea.com or by emailing bistrobythesea4@gmail.com. Theatergoers can enjoy a glass of wine by the lush seaside gardens, which contain over 300 varieties of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and climbing plants, offering a magical environment to relax in.

Tootsie will be presented through July 20. Run time is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, including

intermission. Contains strong language. For more information, visit www.theatrebythesea.com or call (401) 782-TKTS (8587).