Signature Theatre is producing a revised version of the show, "restoring four numbers from the Broadway production that had been cut following the Broadway run." The show's development was mentioned in William Goldman's famous non-fiction chronicle, "The Season," a theatre book many fans of Broadway find essential.
In addition to the already-announced Michael Minarik as Jacques, David Margulies as his cantankerous father, George Dvorsky as his brother, the stern father of an impressionable young boy, Bibi, played by young newcomer Jace Casey, the cast (under the direction of Michael Unger) will include Tracy Lynn Olivera as Suzanne, Rob McQuay as Louis, Carrie A. Johnson as Laurie, Amy McWilliams as Felice, and Kate Arnold, Emily Levey, Lauren Williams, Rachel Zampelli, William Beech, Rafael Hernandez-Roulet, Jordan Moral, Matthew Nee and Jordan Silver.
The revival is part of Signature's Kander and Ebb Celebration that includes full productions of Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Happy Time and The Visit. The Happy Time plays Signature's intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre.
Kiss of the Spider Woman continues in The MAX Theatre through April 20), followed by The Visit (May 13-June 22).
The Happy Time, with a book by N. Richard Nash, based on a play by Samuel Taylor, concerns a worldly photographer's return to his French-Canadian hometown in the 1920s. The Happy Time's creative team includes music director David Holcenberg, choreographer Karma Camp, costume designer Kathleen Geldard, scenic and projection designer Todd Edward Ivins, lighting designer Mark Lanks, sound designer Matt Rowe, and production stage manager Katherine C. Mielke. The Happy Time was Kander and Ebb's post Cabaret musical. It was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and starred Robert Goulet (they both won Tony Awards for it).
According to Signature, "The show tells the story of Jacques Bonnard, a world-traveling photographer, who returns home to the small French-Canadian town of St. Pierre in search of his happy youth. Along the way, Bonnard fires up the romantic spirit of his hometown’s inhabitants — including his old flame Laurie — and tempts his godson with dreams of escape."
Tickets to The Happy Time are $45 - $69 and are now on sale at Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT (7328) or by visiting www.signature-theatre.org.
