"One Touch Of Venus"
At Boston Conservatory Theatre
March 3 - 6

The Boston Conservatory Theater Ensemble will present Kurt Weill’s "One Touch of Venus," from March 3 - 6 at the newly renovated Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway Street in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. With music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash and a book by S.J. Perelman and Ogden Nash, the production is directed by Stacey Stephens.

"One Touch of Venus" is the story of a department store window dresser who feels a strange attraction to a statue in a New York art museum. One night, while drunk, he impulsively kisses her and she comes to life, revealing herself to be Venus, the goddess of love. He falls in love with her, and takes her to the the display house in the store where he works. There, his boss falls in love with her, too.

In an interesting note, Marlene Dietrich was cast in the original 1943 production, but she withdrew during rehearsals, feeling it was “too sexy and profane.” This cleared the path for Mary Martin to take the role and establish herself as a major Broadway star.

Though known for the stinging satire he created in the 30s in Germany with Berthold Brecht, Weill embraced American popular music of the time and became a respected and admired Broadway composer. "One Touch of Venus" features one of his best-known songs, “Speak Low.”

Stephens commented, “The show is about transformation, not only that of Venus coming to life but the effect she has on the city and those she encounters. The design of the show will reflect that transformation as well. The stage will be set with the skyline of drab, wartime New York City. The costumes will have that same ‘colorless’ feel. As Venus affects change, the city and inhabitants will come to life in full color. It is the drabness of suburban life that sends Venus back to original state, leaving the city and those she encountered forever changed.”

This performance is funded in part by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, Inc., New York, NY.

For tickets, call 617-912-9222 or visit bostonconservatory.ticketforce.com/.