SAN FRANCISCO (11 July 1995) -- A fateful conk on an unsuspecting noggin brought Rodgers and Hart's long lost musical AMERICA'S SWEETHEART to light seven years ago and the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization has chosen San Francisco's 42nd St. Moon to premiere this rediscovered treasure in a staged concert reading. AMERICA'S SWEETHEART performs August 4 - 20, 1995 at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre, as the third show of 42nd St. Moon's HAMMERSTEIN & HART FESTIVAL.

A pre-rehearsal script of AMERICA'S SWEETHEART lay completely forgotten in the Tams-Witmark music library until, in perfect 1930's screwball comedy fashion, it toppled onto the head of a surprised warehouse worker. When the script and score for this delightful 1931 Hollywood spoof were discovered, the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization assumed possession and gladly gave the rights to 42nd St. Moon. The show was originally titled CAME THE DAWN, after its title character, glamorous movie star Dawn Monroe, whose name was later inexplicably changed to the decidedly unglamorous moniker of Geraldine March. (Somehow "Came the Geraldine" didn't have the same ring, hence the title change.)

The show was written by Rodgers and Hart upon returning to New York from their first venture into Hollywood, a town at which they seemed eager to poke a little fun. The book, by Herbert Fields, (who referred to Hollywood as a place where good plays are turned into bad movies) revolves around a small town girl and her beau who come out West for fame and fortune in the movies. She makes it big in silent films, only to discover that her nasal voice won't make the leap to "talkies." Careers alternately skyrocket or plummet depending upon the fickle whims of show business moguls, but true love is found among the glitter. Trivia note: Portraying the original America's Sweetheart was the unknown Harriet Lake, who later gained fame in film as Ann Sothern. AMERICA'S SWEETHEART opened February 10, 1931 at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran for 17 weeks. East Coast critics ate up this skewering of the West Coast: John Mason Brown of the New York Post hailed the show as "a gay, giddy, riotous affair", while the New York World's Robert Littell praised it as "Rough, tough and very funny" and Gilbert Gabriel at the New York American called it "insinuatingly clever." Polishing up the pre-rehearsal script is 42nd St. Moon co-producer Greg MacKellan, while music director Scrumbly Koldwyn (of the Jesters) is tracking down missing songs: music is missing for "Sweet Geraldine," a number that explains a great deal about the title character, and lyrics are nowhere to be found for a song entitled "Tennessee Dan." Other songs from AMERICA'S SWEETHEART include "I've Got Five Dollars," "How About It?" and "A Lady Must Live." Roy Casstevens will direct.

Portraying America's Sweetheart will be Juliette Morgan, recently seen as "Evelyn" in 42nd St. Moon's A CONNECTICUT YANKEE. She was also seen in the title role of 42nd St. Moon's PEGGY ANN and as Phebe in TheatreWorks' production of AS YOU LIKE IT. Clay Crosby, an actor who has performed with 42nd St. Moon, as well as in Los Angeles as an actor and cabaret singer, appears as the Sweetheart's love interest. Michael Farbstein and Susan Johnson portray a sidekick comedy team. Farbstein received a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle award for his performance as "Bill Snibson" in ME AND MY GIRL with Peninsula Civic Light Opera where he also portrayed "Cosmo Brown" in SINGING IN THE RAIN. He was also a hit as "Mike" in A CHORUS LINE with San Jose Civic Light Opera. Johnson, who recently made her first 42nd St. Moon appearance in A CONNECTICUT YANKEE, is an award-winning comedienne and actress who has guest-starred on NBC's Seinfeld and can be seen in the upcoming film "Nine Months." Frank Widman portrays movie studio boss S.A. Dolan and is familiar to TheatreWorks audiences for roles in THE TEMPEST, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU and the original production of INTO THE WOODS. Chanelle Schaeffer, who was recently featured in CitiArts production of BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID, portrays a French movie star. The cast is rounded out by Kristen Iuppenlatz, Lori Gieleghem, Roberta Sengstack, Sean Sharp and Tom Cassell.

Back to the 1995 Season