By Daily Press staff
The babes will be back in arms in Santa Monica, courtesy of Back on Broadway.
Back on Broadway Restaurant, in association with Ruskin Group Theatre, is presenting the Broadway musical classic “Babes in Arms” from Sept. 15 through Oct. 9 at the Miles Memorial Playhouse.
Originally produced on Broadway in 1937, the Rodgers & Hart hit play ran 289 performances and left an imprint on the American music scene with such unforgettable songs as “My Funny Valentine,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Johnny One- Note,” “I Wish I Were in Love Again,” and “Where or When.”
In 1939, the original book and songs were changed and augmented and made into a movie starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Subsequent theatrical productions have traditionally added or dropped some of the original libretto and score.
For this “Babes,” the play and orchestrations have been updated and adapted for the venue by director Andy Belling. The play is about a group of youngsters at a music camp during the last summer of World War II who put on an original show to save their theater from being repossessed by the bank. With state-of-the-art lighting, new orchestrations and a stylized approach, this version is an affectionate tribute to the Rodgers and Hart classic.
Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays at Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd. Tickets are $45, with about half the proceeds going to various charities.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring to life a new version of a chestnut that holds significant meaning to me,” said Fred Deni, Back on Broadway owner and producer of the show. “I’ve done four productions of ‘Babes in Arms,’ including one on Broadway. It’s a wonderful play with great music, and this production will give it exposure to new audiences.”
Said Mike Myers, managing director of Ruskin, “We’re proud to be a co-producer of this play. Fred Deni is something of a legend in Santa Monica and the Westside, and his long commitment to theater and philanthropy makes this production a wonderful marriage of two of his great passions.”
For tickets and information, call (310) 397-3244 or go to http://www.rusk-ingrouptheatre.com.
A nonprofit organization is still needed for opening weekend.
The list of nonprofits lined up so far are: ■ American Red Cross ■ Hill N Dale School ■ League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) ■ Salvation Army ■ Santa Monica Conservancy ■ Santa Monica Police Activities League ■ Santa Monica Historical Society ■ SERTOMA, a service organization
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 19, 2005. Read the original PDF.