SEATTLE -- Realizing that there are a lot of musicals not well suited to its ornate and cavernous namesake theatre, The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre has announced the first of a new series of intimate musicals. First up, A Day In Hollywood/A Night In The Ukraine, which wall play at Seattle Repertory Theatre's mainstage theatre The Bagley Wright Aug. 4-28. The Broadway version was directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune, and was Tony-nominated for Best Musical and won for Best Choreography by Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh. It features a book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh, music by Frank Lazarus, with additional music and lyrics by Jerry (Hello, Dolly!, Mame) Herman. The show is part revue (A Day In Hollywood), set in Grauman's Chinese and warmly spoofing and saluting vintage Hollywood; and part Marx Bros. spoof (A Night In The Ukraine) adapted from Chekov.

Tune's fellow Texan, acclaimed Seattle director/choreographer Stephen Terrell, will be at the helm of the 5th Avenue production and looks forward to working with on a locally cast production. "I knew I could cast this show here as well as I could anywhere" says Terrell. "I want to showcase local actors and really show off the talent in this community. And we want to broaden the selection of musicals available to patrons and prove that musicals are not just for your parents anymore."

-- By David-Edward Hughes
Seattle Correspondent