Sherri L. Edelen joined a long line of illustrious actresses who have starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tell Me on a Sunday when she opened in the solo musical March 22 at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA.
When Sunday ends Sunday, April 25, the show will have played about 95 percent of capacity, according to a spokesman, despite a chorus of DC area critics who dismissed the Lloyd Webber score.
Some tickets are still available for the final weekend.
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The one-woman, one-act musical about an Englishwoman in America and facing personal, professional and romantic challenges, has been sung by Marti Webb, Sarah Brightman, Bernadette Peters (who earned a Tony Award for it) and Betty Buckley. Tell Me on a Sunday is one-half of a larger evening known as Song & Dance, which features (in an all-dance Act II) the world of the Englishwoman's Nebraska boyfriend (Christopher d'Amboise, on Broadway). Song & Dance played London in 1982 and Broadway in 1985. "Unexpected Song" is one of the standout hits from Tell Me on a Sunday, which is to be presented at the Signature without the dance part of the fuller evening. Lyrics are by Don Black and Richard Maltby Jr. Previews began March 16.
Songs include "Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad," "Take That Look Off Your Face," "English Girls," "Tell Me on a Sunday," "Married Man," "Let Me Finish," "So Much to Do in New York," "Come Back With the Same Look in Your Eyes" and others.
Edelen was nominated for Helen Hayes Awards for her role in Signature's Assassins (playing Squeaky Fromme) and The Rink (as Angel). She also appeared there in A Little Night Music.
Marcia Gardner directs, Jon Kalbfleisch musical directs and designers are James Kronzer (sets), Anne Kennedy (costumes) and Jonathan Blandin (lighting).
Tickets are $25-$28. Call (800) 955-5566 for information.
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In its 10 years, the Signature Theatre has received 100 Helen Hayes Awards nominations, including recent noms for 1998 shows The Fix (10), Nijinsky's Last Dance (7) and A Little Night Music (5).
-- By Kenneth Jones
