"Pal Joey" Opens Stoneham Season

Stoneham Theatre’s 2005-2006 season will kick off with love affairs, scandals and blackmail via the classic Rodgers and Hart musical, “Pal Joey,” playing Thursday, September 15, through Sunday, October 2. This classic musical looks at a cheap nightclub emcee who ditches his naive girlfriend to romance a rich older woman. A blackmail scheme ultimately threatens to ruin them all. The production will be directed by Stoneham Theatre Artistic Director Weylin Symes and Artistic Associate, Caitlin Lowans.

Long considered a breakthrough in musical theater, “Pal Joey” features a book by John O’Hara based on stories he wrote for The New Yorker, a soaring score by Richard Rodgers, and the daring lyrics of Lorenz Hart.

The original Broadway production of “Pal Joey,” was directed by the legendary George Abbott and starred Gene Kelly, Vivienne Segal and June Havoc. Opening on Christmas Day, 1940, it ran for 374 performances and introduced such popular standards as “I Could Write a Book” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

For its time, it was a bold story -- clearly an adult musical far from the traditional moon-June-spoon show. Critics were divided, with some loving it and others condemning it. By the time it was revived in 1952, the very same show was enthusiastically embraced by critics and the public alike. When it was revived again in the 60s, Bob Fosse starred as Joey. It finally came to the big screen in 1957, with Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak starring.

The Stoneham cast, led by Brad Bass as the young, ambitious Joey Evans, includes Leigh Barrett as the flamboyant Vera; Robyn Lee as Linda; Dale Place as Mike Spears; Ceit McCaleb as Gladys; Scott Marshall as Ludlow; Alisa Miles as Melba; Christine Pardilla-Reeds as Valerie; Michelle Petrucci as Agnes; and Stoneham Theatre’s Young Company members Andrew Barbato, Allison Russell and Rosie Valles.

Tickets for “Pal Joey” are available at the Stoneham Theatre Box Office, 395 Main Street in Stoneham, by calling 781-279-2200 or visiting www.stonehamtheatre.org.

			"Pal Joey" Comes To Stoneham Theatre September 15 - October 2 Stoneham Theatre’s 2005-2006 season will kick off with love affairs, scandals and blackmail via the classic Rodgers and Hart musical, “Pal Joey,” playing Thursday, September 15, through Sunday, October 2. This classic musical looks at a cheap nightclub emcee who ditches his naive girlfriend to romance a rich older woman. A blackmail scheme ultimately threatens to ruin them all. The production will be directed by Stoneham Theatre Artistic Director Weylin Symes and Artistic Associate, Caitlin Lowans. Long considered a breakthrough in musical theater, “Pal Joey” features a book by John O’Hara based on stories he wrote for The New Yorker, a soaring score by Richard Rodgers, and the daring lyrics of Lorenz Hart. The original Broadway production of “Pal Joey,” was directed by the legendary George Abbott and starred Gene Kelly, Vivienne Segal and June Havoc. Opening on Christmas Day, 1940, it ran for 374 performances and introduced such popular standards as “I Could Write a Book” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” For its time, it was a bold story -- clearly an adult musical far from the traditional moon-June-spoon show. Critics were divided, with some loving it and others condemning it. By the time it was revived in 1952, the very same show was enthusiastically embraced by critics and the public alike. When it was revived again in the 60s, Bob Fosse starred as Joey. It finally came to the big screen in 1957, with Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak starring. The Stoneham cast, led by Brad Bass as the young, ambitious Joey Evans, includes Leigh Barrett as the flamboyant Vera; Robyn Lee as Linda; Dale Place as Mike Spears; Ceit McCaleb as Gladys; Scott Marshall as Ludlow; Alisa Miles as Melba; Christine Pardilla-Reeds as Valerie; Michelle Petrucci as Agnes; and Stoneham Theatre’s Young Company members Andrew Barbato, Allison Russell and Rosie Valles. Tickets for “Pal Joey” are available at the Stoneham Theatre Box Office, 395 Main Street in Stoneham, by calling 781-279-2200 or visiting www.stonehamtheatre.org. -- OnStage Boston 08/13/05

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