This post was originally published on this site
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
A ROOF-RAISING MUSICAL TO START THE NEW YEAR!
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
Music by Thomas “Fats” Waller
Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz
Musical Direction by Abdul Hamid Royal
Choreography by Roxane Carrasco
Directed by Yvette Freeman Hartley
THE JOINT STARTS JUMPIN’ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
AT THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE!
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents the first show of the new year with the roof-raising musical revue, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, music by Thomas “Fats” Waller, conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz, musical direction by Abdul Hamid Royal, choreography by Roxane Carrasco and directed by Yvette Freeman Hartley. AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ will begin previews on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (with a press opening on Sunday, January 28 at 5:30pm) and run through Sunday, February 11, 2024 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.
It’s 1930’s Harlem, and the joint is jumpin’! Nightclubs like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom are the playgrounds of high society, and dive bars on Lenox Avenue pulse with piano players banging out new tunes that are a wild mix of raucous, rowdy, and mournful. Featuring the intoxicating music of Thomas “Fats” Waller – the big-hearted, bigger-than-life impresario and international jazz pianist who helped create and define American swing, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is a roof-raising musical tribute to the era and winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards, featuring a song list that includes “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” and dozens more.
The cast of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ will feature Dedrick Bonner (Ragtime at Pasadena Playhouse; Something Rotten at Musical Theatre West), Summer Nicole Greer (44 at the Bourbon Room; Parade at the Chance Theatre), Jenelle Lynn Randall (All Shook Up on Broadway; Carrie the Musical at La Mirada Theatre), James Tolbert (Clue at La Mirada Theatre; Anything Goes at Goodspeed Opera House), and Amber Diane Wright (Aida at Candlelight Pavillion; Dreamgirls at Moonlight Amphitheatre). The understudies for AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ are T.J. Wilkins, Jodi Marks and Samantha M. Lawrence.
The Design Team for AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is as follows: Scenic design by Edward E. Haynes, Jr.; lighting design by Jared A. Sayeg; sound design by Ian Scot; costume, hair and wig design by Wendell Carmichael; props design by Kevin Williams. Casting is by Michael Donovan Casting, Michael Donovan, CSA and Richie Ferris, CSA. The Production Stage Manager is Natalie Figaredo.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ will preview on Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30pm; Thursday, January 25 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Friday, January 26 at 7:30pm; Saturday, January 27 at 7:30pm (with a press opening on Sunday, January 28 at 5:30pm) and run through Sunday, February 11, 2024 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.
Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be added performances on Thursday, February 1 at 2:00pm and Tuesday, February 6 at 7:30pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, February 11 at 5:30pm.
Tickets range from $55 – $94 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. Prices subject to change.
The box office is open Tuesdays – Sundays: 12pm to 4pm; Mondays open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain. Open until showtime on all performance days.
For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse (David Ellenstein, Artistic Director/Bill Kerlin, Managing Director) is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 80,000 patrons each season.
Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum.
Laguna Playhouse has been recognized in for the past five years as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Peter Strauss, Jobeth Williams, Joely Fisher, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis.
Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
