42ND STREET

JUNE 22 – JULY 2, 2023

Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Based on the Novel by Bradford Ropes
Original Direction and Choreography by Gower Champion
Originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick

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Get out your tap shoes, Francis! The ultimate show-within-a-show tap musical is back at the Mac-Haydn. Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, the fan favorite 42nd Street celebrates the magic of Broadway and what it means to be a part of “the biz.”

Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer lands her first professional gig in a new Broadway production, led by big-time New York producer Julian Marsh. Set in the height of the Great Depression, the show faces threats of closing—and a serious problem when the leading lady breaks her ankle on opening night.

42nd Street’s grand return to the Mac-Haydn is sure to deliver an extraordinary night out. Chock-full of Broadway standards including “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” “Dames,” and of course “Forty-Second Street” – this iconic love letter to the theater will have you shaking your shoes.

(June 15, 2023–Chatham, NY) The Mac-Haydn Theatre’s 54th summer season opens with the Tony-winning tap musical “42nd Street,” running June 22 through July 2. In this classic show-within-a-show, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer lands her first professional gig in a new Broadway production, led by big-time New York producer Julian Marsh. Set in the height of the Great Depression, the show faces threats of closing—and a serious problem when the leading lady breaks her ankle on opening night.

Artistic Director John Saunders opens the season in the director’s chair, a role he will fulfill two more times this season for “The Sound of Music” and “Jersey Boys.” “There is a joyous sense of fulfillment in a way by bringing “42nd Street” back this summer,” said Saunders. “It was scheduled for our 2020 season and we all know how that went. Now we can finally present this iconic “showbiz” musical packed with optimism just the way we dreamt it many years ago.”

Saunders is joined by Choreographer Mandy Modic, Music Director Eric Shorey and Assistant Music Director Alessandra Alcala. The production will feature scenic design by Erin Kiernan, along with lighting design by Andrew Gmoser, costume design by Bethany Marx, sound design by Sean McGinley, hair and makeup design by Emily Allen, and props design by Adriana Ayala.

After earning a 2022 Berkshire Theatre Award for his solo show “A Call to Places” last season, Mac-Haydn veteran Gabe Belyeu steps into the iconic role of Julian Marsh, a role originated by Jerry Orbach. He is joined by Madison Stratton as Dorothy Brock, who has been seen previously on the Mac-Haydn stage in “Camelot” (2019), “Spamalot” (2017) and “Major Arcana” (2021).

Making her Mac-Haydn debut, Rachel Revellese is Peggy Sawyer. A rising senior at Syracuse University, Revellese has previously appeared at Interlakes Theatre and is the recipient of numerous regional and national titles in tap dance. Among the returnees of the cast are Jonah Hale as Billy Lawlor, Bella DePaola as “Anytime” Annie, Kristen Clark-Bielefeldt as Maggie Jones, and Brian Wagner as Abner Dillon. Jake Koch and Arthur Beutel make their Mac-Haydn debuts as Bert Barry and Pat Denning, respectively. 42nd Street’s grand return to the Mac-Haydn is sure to deliver an extraordinary night out.

Chock-full of Broadway standards including “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,”

“Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” “Dames,” and of course “Forty-Second Street” – this iconic love letter to the theater will have audiences shaking their shoes. “42nd Street” features music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and a book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble. The musical is based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick, with direction and choreography by Gower Champion. For tickets and information, please visit www.machaydntheatre.org or call the box office at (518) 392-9292.

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About the Mac-Haydn Theatre Founded in 1969, the Mac-Haydn Theatre strives to present innovative, diverse and professional musical theatre productions to the residents of Columbia County and beyond. We aim to cultivate young talent for careers in theatre and seek to provide a supportive environment for the creation of new musical theatre works.