White, Bauer and Lee Cast in Backwards in High Heels in Long Beach

By Adam Hetrick
28 Jan 2010

Anna Aimee White and Matt Bauer
Anna Aimee White and Matt Bauer

Anna Aimee White and Matt Bauer will head the cast of the Los Angeles premiere of Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical for the International City Theatre in February.

Conceived and developed by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern, the musical based on the life of Ginger Rogers will launch ICT's 25th season from Feb. 26-March 21. caryn desai [sic] will direct.

Co-creator McGovern penned the book, original songs and arrangements for the musical. Darryl Archibald will musical direct with choreography by Melissa Giattino.

White (Happy Days tour, Grease on Broadway) will star as Rogers with Bauer (2003 Gypsy, Thrill Me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Fred Astaire and Ginger's third husband, Jack Briggs.

The cast also features Heather Lee (2003 Gypsy, Guys and Dolls) as Lela Rogers; Christopher Carothers (Five Course Love, Grease) as Ginger's father and second husband Lew Ayres; Jeff Payton (Radio City Christmas Spectacular; The Picture of Dorian Gray) as Hermes Pan, Jimmy Stewart, and first husband Jack Culpepper; and Robin De Lano (Cesar y Ruben) as Ethel Merman, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Deitrich.

"Combining original songs by Christopher McGovern with vintage movie musical numbers like 'Fascinatin' Rhythm,' 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off,' 'Embraceable You,' and 'A Fine Romance,' the musical is a toe-tapping account of the public and private life of the actress best known as Fred Astaire's dance partner," according to press notes. "What many don't know is that Ginger Rogers walked away from her partnership with Astaire at the peak of its success, going on to become an acclaimed actress as well as one of the industry's first women to demand equal pay. The story follows Rogers from the time she arrived in Hollywood as a 14-year old aspiring starlet through 1940, when the 37-year-old actress won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film 'Kitty Foyle.'"

Backwards in High Heels will have set design by Stephen Gifford, lighting design by Jared A. Sayeg, costume design by Kim DeShazo and sound design by Paul Fabre.

The musical premiered at Florida Stage in 2007, where it sold out its entire run.

For tickets phone (562) 436-4610 or visit InternationalCityTheatre. ICT is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.