According to sources in the theatre community, the show is expected to be one of the first productions staged at the Off-Broadway complex being built by the Dodgers at the former movie complex at 50th Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues. The movie source of the show would make for a natural thematic marketing tie-in for the re-use of the space, if the Dodgers theatre ends up housing the project.
No official announcement has been made about where the The IT Girl will play, or about the timeline for lighting the still-developing Dodgers venue (formerly a multi-cinema operation, underground at Worldwide Plaza, which spans 49th and 50th streets). A production spokesperson confirmed what was first seen in Theatrical Index: Previews begin in September, followed by an October opening.
The IT Girl, by Michael Small, B.T. McNicholl and composer Paul McKibbins, had a prior, enthusiastically reviewed Manhattan staging as The Theatre at St. Peter's in 2001, as part of the York Theatre Company season. A cast album was produced featuring the York cast, which was headed by Jean Louisa Kelly (TV's "Yes, Dear" and the film of "The Fantasticks") in the title role.
Producers of this new staging are Jonathan C. Herzog & James Simon, You've Got IT All Productions. Casting for the production has been ongoing. Robert Bianca is choreographer.
McNicholl, who co-wrote book with Small and penned the lyrics, will direct the cast of seven. McNicholl was a directorial associate of Jerry Zaks, James Lapine and Sam Mendes. Zaks is listed as "production supervisor." The York Theatre Company run of The IT Girl played May 3-27, 2001, with a cast that included Kelly, Danette Holden, Stephen DeRosa, Jessica Boevers, Jonathan Dokuchitz, Monte Wheeler and Susan M. Haefner. McNicholl directed. Designers were Mark Nayden (sets), Robin L. McGee (costumes) and Jeff Nellis (lighting). Musical director was Albin Konopka.
The show can be played by a cast of seven, which includes doubling, or can be expanded for larger troupe and orchestra. The show is licensed by Samuel French.
The lead character is Betty Lou Spence, "an irresistible lingerie clerk at Waltham's, the world's largest department store," according to plot notes on the property's website. At the top of the show, a young woman in drawning into a "Black and White World" of movies, and plays out the tale of Betty Lou, who "confides to the other girls that she just spotted the man of her dreams — the store's dashing new boss."
No casting or design team has been announced.
For more information visit www.itgirlmusical.com .
