Davidson will be slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the Surflight's production of the award-winning John Kander-Fred Ebb musical Chicago, which will play the Long Beach Island venue July 1-20. Davidson's daughter, Ashleigh Davidson, will be Roxie Hart with Susie Spiedel as Matron "Mama" Morton. Andrew Glant Linden directs.
Davidson will also star in the title role of The Will Rogers Follies, which will be presented Aug. 12-30. Directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan, the Peter Stone-Betty Comden-Adolph Green-Cy Coleman musical will also feature Margaret Shafer as Betty Blake.
The Surflight is currently presenting the Tony-winning Mel Brooks musical The Producers through June 29. The cast features Robert Lydiard as Max. David Edwards directs with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan.
The summer season will also include a July 22-Aug. 10 production of All Shook Up directed and choreographed by Karen Babcock with scenic design by Ted LeFevre. Shaun Parry will star as Chad, the role created on Broadway by Xanadu's Cheyenne Jackson.
In the fall expect productions of Swingtime Canteen (Sept. 3-14), Barnum (Sept. 17-28), A Few Good Men (Oct. 1-5), Ken Ludwig's Leading Ladies (Oct. 8-12), Harvey (Oct. 15-19) and Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Dec. 5-21). John Davidson starred as Abel Frake in the 1996 Broadway production of State Fair, which marked his return to the Broadway stage 30 years after making his debut in Foxy with Bert Lahr. Perhaps best known to TV viewers from many variety and game shows, Davidson began his career starring in such musicals as Oklahoma! Camelot, Li'l Abner, Paint Your Wagon, The Fantasticks, I Do! I Do! and The Music Man. His film credits include "The Happiest Millionaire," "The One and Only Original Family Band," "The Squeeze," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Airport '80."
The Surflight Theatre is located on Engleside and Beach Avenues in Beach Haven, New Jersey. Tickets are available by calling (609) 492-9477. Visit www.surflight.org for more information.
