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Musical Johnny Guitar Rides Into Coral Gables for Florida Premiere
By Kenneth Jones
30 Nov 2005
Johnny Guitar, the Musical gets its Florida premiere Nov. 30 in a staging by Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.
Based on the 1954 film that starred Joan Crawford, the stage musical comedy was winner of the 2004 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical Off-Broadway.
"Johnny Guitar has a rousing original score with the sounds of doo-wop, lounge, southwest Mexicali, rockabilly, and even 1950s calypso," according to production notes.
"Set in a small town in the New Mexico Mountains in the late 1800s, the musical centers on Vienna, a sultry saloonkeeper who built a booming business on her back. Though Vienna is the ultimate 'bad girl gone good,' her nemesis, the pent-up Emma, sees things differently. A domineering cattle baroness, Emma controls the town with an iron fist but loses her grip when she falls for the dangerously hotheaded Dancin' Kid. By the time Johnny Guitar, a tall stranger with a secret past, rolls into town, the stage is set for a showdown, unlike anything the Old West or the Miracle Theatre has ever seen."
The score is by Martin Silvestri and Joel Higgins, and book by Nicholas van Hoogstraten.
Director David Arisco has assembled a cast featuring Carbonell Award winner Rachel Jones as Vienna, newcomer David Kelley as Johnny Guitar, Carbonell Award winners Stacy Schwartz (Emma) and Ken Clement (McIvers), Shane Tanner (Dancin' Kid), Francisco "Pancho" Padura (Eddie/Jenks/Hank/Bill) and Henry Gainza (Sam/Ned). Other cast members are John Bixler (Turkey/Western Singer) and Terry Cain (Bart/Tom/Carl).
Musical direction is by David Nagy, and the costumes are designed by Mary Lynne Izzo. Patrick Tennent designs the lighting and Gene Seyffer is the scenic designer. Nathan Rausch, is the sound designer.
Johnny Guitar's preview performances are Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The gala opening night performance is Dec. 2. Performances continue to Dec. 18.
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Actors' Playhouse is affiliated with Actors' Equity Association and produces year round musicals, comedies and children theatre productions. It also offers a full range of classes for all experience levels. Actors' Playhouse has received nearly 50 Carbonell Awards, the South Florida theatre honors.
For further information call (305) 444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org.
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From Left: Rachel Jones, David Kelley, Stacy Schwartz and Shane R. Tanner in Johnny Guitar.
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| photo by Roland Joynes |
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