O'Hara (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, The Pajama Game) plays the role of Ella Peterson, the zany telephone answering-service operator, opposite Will Chase (The Story of My Life, Aida) as playwright Jeffrey Moss.
The cast also includes Dylan Baker (Inspector Barnes), Bobby Cannavale (Blake Barton), Judy Kaye (Sue Summers), Brad Oscar (Dr. Kitchell), David Pittu (Sandor Prantz), Danny Rutigliano (Francis), Jeffrey Schecter (Carl) and John C. Vennema (Larry Hastings) with Clyde Alves, Meggie Cansler, Andrew Cao, Niffer Clarke, Rachel Coloff, Jack Doyle, Leah Edwards, Kimberly Fauré, Marya Grandy, Michael Halling, Max Kumangai, Alyse Alan Louis, Michael Marcotte, Shina Ann Morris, Kevin Munhall, William Ryall, Jennifer Savelli, Anthony Wayne, J.D. Webster and Anna Aimee White.
The beloved musical comedy boasts a score by Tony-winning composer Jule Styne, with book and lyrics by the Tony Award-winning team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Rob Berman is the musical director. The classic score features such songs as "Just in Time," "The Party's Over," "Long Before I Knew You," "I'm Going Back," " It's a Perfect Relationship," "I Met a Girl" and "Is It a Crime?"
In Bells Are Ringing, the lonely Ella works in the basement of an answering service, where she spends her hours listening in on the calls of her clients. As she assumes different identities for each of her callers, she also becomes entangled in their lives.
Performances continue to Nov. 21. Read what Encores! artistic director Jack Viertel has to say about Bells Are Ringing and the other 2010-11 concerts. The original production opened at the Shubert Theater on Nov. 29, 1956, and played a total of 924 performances. The musical was directed by Jerome Robbins; dance and musical numbers were staged by Robbins and Bob Fosse. The show won Tony Awards for its stars Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin. A recent revival starred Tony winner Faith Prince.
Tickets are available by visiting the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th avenues), through CityTix at (212) 581-1212, or online at CityCenter.org. Tickets for the Orchestra, Grand Tier and Mid-Mezzanine are $100; tickets for the Rear Mezzanine and Front Gallery are $50; tickets for the Rear Gallery are $25.
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The Encores! season will continue with Lost in the Stars (Feb. 3-6, 2011) and Where's Charley? (March 17-20, 2011).
