Off to Dallas: Off-Broadway's Debbie Does Dallas Closing Feb. 15

By Ernio Hernandez
February 11, 2003

The Off-Broadway production of Debbie Does Dallas — based on its infamous adult film namesake — will close Feb. 15 according to a production spokesperson.

The show will have played 22 previews and 126 performances by the end of its run. There are plans in the works for the show to play in other large cities (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and London), but no details are firm as of yet.

The downtown favorite opened at the Jane Street Theatre, Oct. 29 following previews which began Oct. 8. The production recently released their original cast recording, Jan. 14 on Sh-K-Boom Records. (The CD is available on their website at www.sh-k-boom.com.)

Original stars Sherie Renι Scott (Debbie) and Paul Fitzgerald (various male roles) left the show Jan. 4 and understudies Jamie Day — who portrayed Debbie in the show's workshop stages — and Jeff Skowron took over.

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The dimly-lit Jane Street Theatre is given a strip joint feel — with a fully-stocked bar in the rear and a set that includes two go-go poles — for Debbie Does Dallas by adapter director Erica Schmidt. The production, which lasts approximately 90 minutes (with no intermission), takes major liberties with the film, adding original contemporary music by Andrew Sherman.

Debbie Does Dallas still, however, revolves around the smalltown girl and her unstoppable quest to become a Dallas cheerleader. With the help of her friends, Debbie starts up a company to raise funds for the trip.

Scott, as Debbie, belted out most of the show's rock-infused songs — by Andrew Sherman, Erica Schmidt, Tom Kitt and Jonathan Callicutt — along with the help of her ensemble cast. The original cast included Mary Catherine Garrison, Caitlin Miller, Tricia Paoluccio, Jama Williamson, Del Pentecost, Paul Fitzgerald and Jon Patrick Walker.

Tom Kitt is musical supervisor. The artistic team features Jennifer Cody (choreography), Juman Malouf (costumes), Christine Jones (sets), Shelly Sabel (lighting) and Laura Grace Brown (sound).

The Off-Broadway production (produced by special arrangement with VCX Limited) is produced by The Araca Group (Urinetown, the Musical, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune), Jam Theatricals and Waxman-Williams Entertainment.

For tickets to Debbie Does Dallas, at the Jane Street,113 Jane Street, (between the West Side Highway and Washington St.) call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.

For more information, visit the show's website — complete with pulsating music, a cowboy themed cast page and yes, bananas — at www.debbiedoesdallas-live.com.