Tapping into the 1941 Hit Parade: “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” ” Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “The White Cliffs of Dover,” Dawn Derow‘s My Ship explores the emotional climate of America as it entered WWII and opens minds and hearts to the women of that era, whether they were ‘Rosie the Riveter’ workers, a mom raising children alone or entertainers in nightclubs or the USO. Derow revisits the music that comforted and uplifted a nation until there was peace “At Last.”
The matinee on Saturday, November 4 (at 2 PM) is a benefit, to help with medical bills left behind for his family when its original music director/co-creator, Barry Levitt, passed away. Another performance is scheduled for November 29 at 7 PM. Excerpts from reviews are below:
“Occasionally I have the pleasure of attending a really good cabaret show. More rare than these are evenings whose components hum like Swiss clockwork. Dawn Derow’s current piece is one of the latter, an auspicious collaboration where everything contributes to top-notch entertainment. — Alix Cohen, Theater Pizzazz.com
“The show is a wonderfully crafted work—more like a solo theatrical outing than cabaret, including sweet bits of business. The piece was conceived and developed by Derow with her music director, the late Barry Levitt, and director Jeff Harnar, whose smart staging works very effectively to keep the pace lively.” —Marilyn Lester, Cabaret Scenes
When Patricia Fitzpatrick asked Dawn and Barry to do a show for CabaretFest 2017 in Provincetown, she started to research “My Ship” (Kurt Weill & Ira Gershwin) and other material written/published that year.
What it was like to be a woman in 1941? Come back to an era where the songs being played defined a generation.
Music Director: Ian Herman
Bass: Tom Hubbard
Drums: Ray Marchica
Director: Jeff Harnar
For more information and tickets please click here
The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at 407 West 42 Street, New York, NY 10036 Tel: (212) 695-6909
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