Cody, Hanes, Harris, Shepard and Sullivan Go On the Town at Paper Mill

By Adam Hetrick
11 Nov 2009

Harriet Harris
Harriet Harris

War-time New York City is conjured in the Leonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green valentine, On the Town, which begins performances at the Paper Mill Playhouse Nov. 11.

Bill Berry directs the beloved 1944 musical, which features Jennifer Cody (Hildy Esterhazy), Tyler Hanes (Gabey), Jeffrey Schecter (Ozzie), Brian Shepard (Chip), Kelly Sullivan (Claire DeLoone), Yvette Tucker (Ivy) and Bill Nolte (Judge Pitkin) and Tony Award-winning actress Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cry-Baby) as Scotch-loving singing instructor Madame Dilly.

On the Town will officially open Nov. 15 and run through Dec. 6 in Millburn, NJ. Tom Helm will serves musical director with Patti Colombo as choreographer.

The ensemble includes Steven Ted Beckler, Paige Faure, Tyler Foy, Cameron Henderson, Tari Kelly, Logan Keslar, Dana Maddox, Lindsay Moore, Casey Muha, Caitlin Mundth, Philip Northington, James A. Pierce III, Catherine Ricafort, Rod Roberts, Ryan Sandberg, Michael Scirrotto, Molly Tynes, Kyle Vaughn, Jacob Widman and Paige Williams.

Designing the production are scenic designer Walt Spangler, costume designer David C. Woolard, lighting designer Tom Sturge, sound designer Randy Hansen and hair and wig designer Mark Adam Rampmeyer.

On the Town has music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Under the direction of George Abbott and featuring choreography by Jerome Robbins, the musical made its Broadway debut in 1944. In addition to the well-known 1949 film, On the Town has made two Broadway returns, one in 1971 and 1998. On the Town also launched the City Center Encores! season last year as part of the city-wide celebration of Bernstein's 90th birthday.

Songs in the production include "New York, New York," "I Feel Like I'm Not Out of Bed Yet," "I Can Cook, Too," "Some Other Time," "Carried Away" and "Lonely Town."

For tickets visit PaperMill.