When Robert Cuccioli sings for Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) July 18-23, don't call him Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde; it's just plain "Sid."
The former star of Broadway's Jekyll & Hyde and Off-Broadway's Enter the Guardsman represents management as factory superintendent Sid Sorokin opposite Beth Leavel as Babe (representing the workers) in The Pajama Game, the musical comedy set in a midwestern pajama factory.
The 1954 Broadway smash by songwriters Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (Damn Yankees) launched at least one hit tune ("Hey There") and is known for giving a spotlight to young Shirley MacLaine, who stepped in for an ailing Carol Haney. A young Bob Fosse was the choreographer.
Jane Lanier, who sang and danced Pajama Game's "Steam Heat" in Broadway's Fosse retrospective will sing and dance the same number in the Haney role in Pittsburgh. Liza Gennaro (the 1997 Once Upon a Mattress revival) is choreographer.
Richard Sabellico (Off-Broadway's A Majority of One, Home of the Brave) stages the CLO production, with Georgia Engel ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show") as Mabel, Ray DeMattis as Hines, Patricia Phillips as Mae, Jeff Howell as Prez, Gene A. Saraceni as Hasler, and Paul Palmer, Ted Brunetti Sr., Lisa McMillan, Daniel Krell, Alan Bennett, Justin Brill, Daniel Cochran, Beth Crosby, Nikki Renee Daniels, Kurt Domoney, Zachary Halley, Steven Hogle, Natalie King, Courtney Mazza, Bobby Pestka, Lyn Philistine, Stephanie Riso, Melissa Rouse, Danet A. Sciarra,Trina Simon, Laura Solito, Dana Steer, Sarah Strimel and Will Taylor. Tickets are $11-$42. Performances are at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA. For information, call (412) 456-6666.
-- By Kenneth Jones
