罢丑别听 presents 鈥淐razy For You鈥� from the legendary songbook of George and Ira Gershwin. This Tony Award-winning musical takes a passion for theater and the desire to be loved and infuses them with the toe-tapping stylings of the Gershwin brothers. 鈥淐razy For You鈥� opens on Oct. 7 in the Storch Theatre at the 黑料不打烊 Stage/SU Drama Complex, 820 E. Genesee St. A preview performance is on Oct. 6.
鈥淐razy For You,鈥� conceived by book writer Ken Ludwig and director Mike Ockrent, opened on Broadway in 1992. The 鈥渘ew Gershwin musical comedy鈥� gave a new life to the classic Gershwin songbook. New York Times reviewer Frank Rich said that this 鈥渞iotously entertaining show鈥� unlocks a truly American combination of 鈥渕usic, laughter, dancing, sentiment and showmanship with freshness and confidence.鈥�
Ludwig鈥檚 鈥淐razy For You鈥� crafts a zany love story spanning the glitz and glamour of New York City and the rustic simplicity of Deadrock, Nevada. Bobby Child loves theater more than anything, but he can鈥檛 seem to get his foot in the door with famed producer Bela Zangler. Bobby鈥檚 overbearing mother is insistent that he focus on his more responsible bank job. When his mother sends him to Deadrock to foreclose on a theater, Bobby pulls out all of the stops in an attempt to save that theater (and win over his one true love, Polly). To do this, he mounts an (at first) unsuccessful production to pay the mortgage, which incidentally manages to lay the foundation for career successes and true love.
Long after the deaths of George and Ira Gershwin, Ludwig revitalized some of the best songs ever written for Broadway. Pairing the Gershwins鈥� greatest hits with the lively choreography that brought legendary choreographer Susan Stroman her first of four Tony Awards for Best Choreography, 鈥淐razy For You鈥� ran on Broadway for four years and 1,622 performances.
The New York Times credits 鈥淐razy For You鈥� as the American show that grabbed Broadway back from British spectacles such as 鈥淭he Phantom of the Opera鈥� and 鈥淟es Miserables.鈥� The hysterical script and the everlasting music of the Gershwin brothers give the show wide appeal.
Director and choreographer Brian J. Marcum, assistant professor in the Department of Drama, brings with him an expansive Broadway dancing career. He has performed in 鈥淭he Gershwins’ Fascinating Rhythm,鈥� 鈥淪aturday Night Fever,鈥� 鈥�42nd Street,鈥� 鈥淭he Boy from Oz鈥� starring Hugh Jackman, 鈥淭he Drowsy Chaperone鈥� and 鈥淪pamalot.鈥� Marcum was also the associate choreographer for the Broadway musical 鈥淓lf.鈥�
Marcum鈥檚 choreography will pay homage to Stroman鈥檚 choreography while also showcasing Marcum鈥檚 personal style. Marcum will utilize two six-person choruses of Follies Girls and Cowboys to round out his cast of more than 20.
鈥淥ur hope is that we can take audiences away from whatever it is they鈥檙e dealing with and make them forget about the bad stuff in the world for a moment,鈥� Marcum says. 鈥淲e hope to be able to give them that gift, and to have them leave uplifted and joyous.鈥�
鈥淐razy For You鈥� runs Oct. 6-15. Tickets are available at , by phone at 315.443.3275 and in person at the Box Office.
