The production - which kicked off in Tampa Bay last September - is based on the Cameron Mackintosh/National Theatre of Great Britain's award-winning London staging. That Fair Lady production opened at the National Theatre of Great Britain in March 2001 before transferring to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in July 2001. The show won five Laurence Olivier Awards, including Outstanding Musical Production.

This U.S. Equity tour brings together the original U.K. artistic team with direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography and musical staging by Matthew Bourne. Joining them from across the Atlantic are acclaimed British theatre actors Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O'Hare, who earned rave reviews for their performances as, respectively, Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in the U.K.

Also featured in the cast are Walter Charles as Colonel Hugh Pickering, Tim Jerome as Alfred P. Doolittle, Barbara Marineau as Mrs. Pearce and Justin Bohon as Freddy Eynsford-Hill. At some performances the role of Eliza is played by Dana DeLisa.

Playing the role of Mrs. Higgins is Marni Nixon, who succeeded Sally Ann Howes beginning with the January tour stop in Chicago. Nixon is perhaps best known for dubbing the vocal performances of such film stars as Audrey Hepburn (in "My Fair Lady"), Deborah Kerr (in "The King and I") and Natalie Wood (in "West Side Story.")

Currently rounding out the ensemble are David Abeles, Harlen Bengel, Eric Briarley, Wilson Bridges, Ronald L. Brown, Debra Cardona, Elizabeth DeRosa, Bill Dietrich, Michael J. Farina, Warren Freeman, Jazmin Gorsline, Buddy Hammonds, Robin Haynes, Marnee Hollis, Lisa Kassay, Adam Laird, Lainie Munro, Cathy Newman, Georga Osborne, Lauren Pastorek, Byron St. Cyr, Jesse Swimm, David Tankersley, Stephanie Van Duynhoven, Erin Willis and Lee Zarrett. My Fair Lady will play the Ahmanson through April 27. Upcoming tour stops include:

May 8-31 at the Toronto Centre in Toronto, Ontario
June 4-15 at the OCPAC in Costa Mesa, CA
June 17-22 at the ASU Gammage in Tempe, AZ

For more information visit www.myfairladythemusical.com.

Below are some photos of those in attendance at the April 10 opening-night performance and the champagne reception that followed:

John Lithgow arrives at the performance		Eric Idle

Camryn Manheim with son Milo Jacob		Jane Kaczmarek

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie kicks off the champagne toast

The cast celebrates a successful opening night

Lisa O'Hare, Christopher Cazenove and Marni Nixon

Christopher Cazenove, Lisa O'Hare and Michael Ritchie

Tim Jerome, Justin Bohon and Lisa O'Hare