A Saint She Ain't, the musical by lyricist-librettist Dick Vosburgh and composer Denis King, will open at the Westport Country Playhouse on Aug. 30. The show recently concluded a stay at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. It will run at WCP through Sept. 14.
Patricia McNaughton, the London-based representative of Vosburgh, told Playbill On-Line that the Westport production would be watched closely. If all goes well, an Off-Broadway berth is a distinct possibility.
Christina Marie Norrup, PJ Benjamin, Alison Briner, Lovette George and Joel Blum starred in the Berkshire Theatre Festival's US premiere of A Saint She Ain't.
Also in the cast are Jay Russell, Roland Rusinek and Jason Gilman.
Norrup replaces the previously announced Kate Levering of 42nd Street and Thou Shalt Not fame. Levering has re-joined Broadway's 42nd Street. Blum is well remembered from his nimble-footed turns in Steel Pier and Show Boat. PJ Benjamin played Amos in Broadway's Chicago.
Writer Dick Vosburgh penned much of the book and lyrics for the Broadway musical concoction, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.
Eric Hill directs the "Hollywood-inspired musical" in which each character is based on renowned Tinseltown figures, such as Mae West and W.C. Fields. The play, roughly based on Moliere's Le Cocu Imaginaire, concerns a couple of young lovers who mistakenly believe the other is being untrue.
A Saint She Ain't debuted at the UK's King's Head Theatre a couple seasons back and then transferred to the West End.
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If Saint travels to Manhattan, it will be the second Westport production this season to transfer to New York, after the Paul Newman staging of Our Town (expected for a limited run on Broadway in 2003).
For tickets and information, call (203) 227-4177.
—By Robert Simonson