The entertainment, musical directed by Lawrence Yurman, is part of the ongoing Perform! Series curated by director Michael Montel, a veteran stage director in Manhattan and beyond. (He'll stage Frank Loesser's Greenwillow in the coming season for The York Theatre Company.) "Taking a Chance focuses on those aspects of the exhibit that feature the innovators of Broadway shows and people that took a chance and shook things up and pushed things forward," Montel told Playbill On-Line. "There's a section of the show devoted to Rent, Show Boat the Gershwins' political satires — Strike Up the Band and Of Thee I Sing, and more."
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There's even a salute to the little-known 1932 musical, Take a Chance, a DeSylva-Brown-Whiting Youmans show that was a road flop known as Humpty Dumpty, but came into New York reworked with a new title, new songs and a new plot (about the making of a musical called Humpty Dumpty).
Taking a Chance at the MCNY is about "innovation and risk — and the courage of those Broadway composers, writers, directors, and producers who have dared to create some of the most memorable moments on Broadway."
Also expect songs from Cabaret and Sweeney Todd.
The performances play 3 PM Oct. 2-3 at the Museum of the City of New York. Admission is $10 for Museum members, seniors, and students; $15 for non members.
Make a reservation on line at www.mcny.org/tickets.htm or by phone at (212) 534-1672 ext. 3393. Museum of the City of New York is at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. For more information, visit www.mcny.org.