New musical When Garbo Talks! about screen legend Greta Garbo will have its world premiere at International City Theatre opening Friday, October 15. With book and lyrics by the late Buddy Kaye (A-Your Adorable, the I Dream Of Jeannie television theme) and music by the late Mort Garson (Our Day Will Come), When Garbo Talks! is directed by Jules Aaron with music direction by Brent Crayon and choreography by Kay Cole.
The eight-person ensemble features Jessica Burrows in the title role; Michael Stone Forrest as Swedish film director Mauritz Stiller; Matthew Henerson as MGM studio mogul Louis B. Mayer; Christopher Carothers as silent film star John Gilbert; Alexandra Ackerman as Swedish acting coach Signe Enwall; Teya Patt as Mayer's longtime assistant, Ida Koverman; Nick Rogers as MGM exec Eddie Mannix; and Scott Kruse in a variety of roles.
Additional book writer Richard D. Kaye has worked closely with director Aaron to develop When Garbo Talks!, his father's final project, for the ICT stage.
“Greta Garbo's beautiful, glamorous, Sphinx-like image - carefully cultivated by MGM - captivated American and European viewers of both the silent screen of the '20s and sound films of the '30s. Garbo's personal decision to leave her film career in 1941 and maintain a notoriously private, reclusive lifestyle has only further enhanced her mystique.”
"This new play shows us a Garbo that many of her fans may not recognize - the young actress just starting out," explains Aaron. "It shows the humor and the passions of the woman who would later develop into an iconic figure. Garbo was really the first modern woman in film. She demanded - and received - treatment and pay equal to that of her male counterparts."
"The script was sitting on my father's desk when he passed away suddenly in 2002," says Kaye. "I looked at it and thought, 'I'm going to make this happen.' As a music publisher, my mission was to complete his work and introduce 20 new songs to the American songbook. This would not have happened without my friend and mentor Jules Aaron, who has a PhD in Theater from NYU, and was so instrumental in the development of this show."
International City Theatre is the Resident Professional Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and the recipient of the Margaret Harford Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle for "Sustained Excellence in Theater."
When Garbo Talks! previews 8 p.m.Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 12-14, opens 8 p.m.Friday, October 15 and performs 8 p.m.Thursday, Friday and Saturday at and 2 p.m.Sunday through November 7. Tickets are $35 and $40 on Thursdays, and $40 and $45 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except opening night which is $50 and $60 and includes a reception with the actors following the performance. Preview tickets are $32. Call 526-536-4610 or visit www.InternationalCityTheatre.com.
International City Theatreis located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Boulevardin Long Beach.
Send questions, comments and suggestions to columbuscommunications@yahoo.com.
For more information: www.InternationalCityTheatre.com.
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