THE MUSICAL COMEDY YOU'VE WAITED 3,000 YEARS FOR! LOVE AND OTHER FABLES A WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL! May 29 - June 16, 2019 The season will open with the World Premiere of a brand new romantic screwball musical comedy, Love and Other Fables. Set on the Greek island of Samos in 600 B. C., Love and Other Fables follows the early life of Aesop, the not-yet-famous slave, as he creates the “fable,” persistently woos the headstrong girl of his dreams, enters into a battle of wits with the King of Egypt and changes the course of history. Written by John McMahon and Jay Jeffries, the original concert version garnered a review from The Chicago Sun-Times, which said “[Love and Other Fables] shows every sign of becoming a surprise hot property. The three songs sampled certainly win my prize for the most astonishing, whip-smart lyrics, with one rapid-fire rhyming line after another perfectly attuned to its properly pronounced syllables.” The production at Theatre By The Sea will be the first fully-staged production of the musical, as it continues its journey to Broadway.
WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING! SINGIN' IN THE RAIN June 19 - July 13, 2019 The season continues with Singin’ in the Rain - the “greatest movie musical of all time,” which has been faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, from their original award-winning screenplay. In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item but, behind the scenes, things aren't always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina's squeaky voice might be the end of her career in "talking pictures" without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her. Each unforgettable scene, song and dance is accounted for, including the show-stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm! Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards including “Make 'Em Laugh,” “Lucky Star,” “You Were Meant For Me,” “Broadway Melody” and “Good Morning,” make Singin' in the Rain the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals.
THEY DELIVERED THE PAPERS, UNTIL THEY MADE THE HEADLINES! NEWSIES July 17 - August 10, 2019 Bill Hanney is excited to present the Rhode Island professional premiere of Disney’s Newsies. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony® Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family!
YOU SHOULD BE DANCING! SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER August 14 - September 8, 2019 Rounding out the season is the stage version of Saturday Night Fever, the extraordinarily successful 1977 movie starring John Travolta. The story follows Tony Manero, a clerk in a paint store in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who lives for Saturday evening and his visit to the local disco, where he is no longer an inconspicuous employee, he is the king of the dance floor. There he meets dancer, Stephanie Mangano and the two choose to take part in a dance competition, which they win. However, Tony, who is not happy because a competing pair of Latino dancers was clearly better, hands the championship trophy to them. The dispute divides Tony and Stephanie, but in the end, the pair decide to remain friends. Packed with disco classics including the Bee Gees’ hits “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Night Fever,” “Tragedy” and “More Than A Woman,” the musical is filled with explosive energy and sensational choreography.
