Dames at Sea: new musical arriving in 2014

Infinity Theatre Company and Perry Street Theatricals will present the first Broadway production of the musical comedy Dames at Sea, book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, music by Jim Wise, and musical direction by Rob Berman, arriving on Broadway in 2014.

Design team, casting, production dates and Broadway theatre will be announced at a later date.

Directed and choreographed by the three-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea tells the story of Ruby who steps off a bus from Utah and into her first Broadway show, but hours before the opening night curtain is to rise, the cast learns their theater is being demolished. Ruby and the cast, with the help of some adoring sailors, set a plan in motion to perform the show on a naval battleship.

Director/choreographer Randy Skinner said,

This is a quintessential American musical with an amazingly tuneful score and a really clever book, and this Dames will have more dancing than ever before. For the first time in New York, Dames will be heard with a fully orchestrated score.

Randy's vision for this first ever Broadway production of Dames at Sea remains true to the original concept of the show, but will raise the bar much higher for our cast. We are currently looking for just the right house for this very special show.

The production starred a young ingénue named Bernadette Peters as 'Ruby,' launching the career of one of Broadway's leading stars. Dames at Sea successfully crossed the Atlantic twice to play the West End's Duchess Theatre in 1969 and again in 1989 to play the West End's Haymarket Theatre.

Bios:

George Haimsohn (Book & Lyrics) was born in St. Louis and served in the Navy in World War II. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where he had his first poetry published in the student literary journal. Haimsohn's theater credits include the musicals Dames at Sea, ,Now, Zing!, and ,Johnny American., He was also a professional photographer known as Plato in the early years of physique photography and passed away in 2002 at the age of 77.

Robin Miller (Book & Lyrics) began his career as a journalist in New York just after World War II. He also wrote scripts, including a screenplay for 'The Canterville Ghost.' Subsequently, he joined forces with George Haimsohn and Jim Wise to create Dames at Sea. He also wrote the book and lyrics for a musical version of 'Vanity Fair,' and collaborated on 'Peg' and 'Radio Times,' both of which were produced in London. He passed away in 2010, aged 82.

Jim Wise (Music) wrote the musicals Dames at Sea, 'Yankee Ingenuity' and the children's musical 'Olaf.' Wise founded the Allardice-Wise Scholarship at Wooster College where he received a degree in Classical Languages in 1941. During his lifetime, Wise sat in on the auditions and helped pick the scholars. The scholarship continues to be awarded, on the basis of a competitive audition to a senior Theatre major. He passed away in 2000, at age 81.

Randy Skinner (Director/Choreographer) was choreographer for Broadway's 2008 and 20009 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas,' earning him his third Tony nomination. He received a Tony nomination for his choreography of the 2001 revival of '42nd Street.' He also earned a Tony nomination for 'Ain't Broadway Grand.' His other Broadway credits include 'After the Night' and the 'Music' for Manhattan Theatre Club. For the West End, he choreographed 'Lend Me A Tenor, The Musical.'Skinner has choreographed five City Center Encores! productions: 'Do Re Mi,' 'Of Thee I Sing,' 'Face the Music,' 'No, No, Nanette' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.' He earned a Lucille Lortel nomination for Off-Broadway's 'Lone Star Love.' In 2001, he choreographed the opening number for the Tony Awards.