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Dames At Sea begins previews tonight on Broadway

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

The Broadway premiere of Dames At Sea begins previews tonight at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre. The 1968 musical will officially open on 22 October and it is currently booking through to 6 March 2016.

Directed and choreographed by three-time Tony nominee Randy Skinner, Dames At Sea features music by Jim Wise and book & lyrics by George Haimsohn & Robin Miller. Music supervision and vocal & dance arrangements are by Emmy Award winner Rob Berman.

Synopsis: "The show celebrates the golden era of movie musicals with dazzling dames and a heart as big as the ocean! Ruby steps off a bus in Manhattan, and into her first Broadway show, but hours before the opening night curtain is to rise, the cast learns their theater is being demolished, so it is 'all hands on deck' to find a stage to put on the show. Featuring rollicking tap dancing, love at first sight, joyful music and a boatload of laughs, this glittering musical extravaganza has everything you need to sweep your glooms away."

The cast includes John Bolton (The Captain/Hennesey), Mara Davi (Joan), Danny Gardner (Lucky), Eloise Kropp (Ruby), Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (Mona Kent), and Cary Tedder (Dick).

Director/Choreographer Randy Skinner previously commented:

"This is a triple-threat American musical comedy with a funny, witty book and a wonderfully tuneful score. It's the first time in New York that Dames At Sea will be heard with an orchestra, and the show will have more dancing than ever before with all new dance and vocal arrangements by Rob Berman and the Helen Hayes Theatre is the perfect fit for our show." The creative team behind Dames At Sea features scenic design by three-time Tony nominee Anna Louizos, costume design by two-time Tony nominee David C. Woolard, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, and sound design by Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer. The musical comedy is produced on Broadway by Infinity Theatre Company and Perry Street Theatricals.

Dames At Sea originally premiered off-Broadway at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre on December 20, 1968, and went on to transfer to the Theater de Lys (today's Lucille Lortel Theatre) on April 22, 1969, running for 575 performances. The show also helped to launch the career of a young Bernadette Peters, who starred as Ruby. The musical has enjoyed two West End runs - at the Duchess Theatre in 1969 and at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in 1989 - however, this production will mark the show's Broadway debut.

- by Tom Millward

Originally published on

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