The world premiere at 8 PM both nights at Atlanta Symphony Hall in Georgia is the first half of two performances that include a separate pops concert by Hollywood star Debbie Reynolds, singing with ASO.
Could It Be — with a cast that includes Broadway vets Nancy Anderson, Bob Gaynor, Jill Nicklaus and Eric Jordan Young — is conceived and directed by Dani Davis, a producer of Little Women.
"It's a story that sings and dances in our memory, the staple of the great movie musicals of the 1940s: chorus girl gets her big chance, meets a boy backstage and falls in love, hearts are broken, love conquers all, and the show goes on!" according to production notes. "Throw in a dash of intrigue, disguised identities, and the happy chaos of constructing a show, and you've got a recipe for romantic comedy that's time-tested."
It's billed as "a new singing, dancing concert musical."
* Peter & Sheila Primont, Cherry Lane Music Publishing, Inc. present Could It Be: Dreams of a Movie Musical. Music is by Howland, lyrics are by Baird Jarman.
Production stage manager is Melanie T. Morgan, props are by Mark York, costumes are by Elizabeth Pangburn, choreography is by Tiger Martina (a Twyla Tharpe protégé), orchestrations are by Kim Scharnberg (who was Drama Desk-nominated for Little Women's orchestrations).
For more information about Howland and Davis' other projects, visit www.halfpintstudios.com. For more information about Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, visit www.atlantasymphony.org.
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The 2005 Broadway musical Little Women, with music by Howland, book by Allan Knee and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, had 130 licensed productions in North America in 2007, and about 150 are scheduled for 2008, the composer told Playbill.com.
The musical is based on the beloved book by Louisa May Alcott. A national tour starring Maureen McGovern followed a 137-performance Broadway run. A cast album preserves the score.
