Fresh from his latest "Encores!" triumph, St. Louis Woman -- and while several interested record companies are still circling over it -- music director and conductor Rob Fisher smoothly moved on to his next musical resurrection -- the first New York revival in 19 years of George and Ira Gershwin's 1925, Tip-Toes -- at Weill Recital Hall.
"We rehearse this week and perform the following [for six performances from May 13 to May 17]," said Fisher, "then I go to Australia to do Chicago in Australia. That starts rehearsal a week from today, and I'll miss the first week and a half of rehearsals."
Emily Loesser from Titanic has the title role of Tip-Toes, who, with the help of her two vaudevillian uncles (Lewis J. Stadlen and Lee Wilkof, both from Mizlansky/Zilinsky or "Schmucks"), sets out to snag a Palm Beach millionaire. A knock on the head, followed by amnesia, further complicates the course of true love.
Co-starred are Mark Baker from Candide and Andy Taylor from Moon Over Buffalo. Cynthia Sophiea, Alet Oury and Rachel Coloff have featured roles.
"That Certain Feeling," "Sweet and Low-Down" and "These Charming People" are Tip-Toes' best-known tunes. When the show opened in December of 1925, it was considered the true successor to the Gershwin brothers' Lady Be Good. It was last presented by Goodspeed Opera House at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1979-80. Tip-Toes is presented as part of Carnegie Hall's 22-month Gershwin Centennial Project, which is made possible in part through the generous support of The Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trusts and The Alice Tully Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Eleanor Naylor Dana Charitable Trust, The George Gershwin Family Trust, The DuBose and Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.
The show's six performances will take place Wednesday, May 13 at 7 PM; Thursday, May 14 at 8; Friday, May 15 at 8; Saturday, May 16 at 8; and Sunday, May 17 at 3 and 8.
Remaining tickets, at $45, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (154 W. 57th) or may be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800.
-- By Harry Haun
