Marin School of the Arts performs Neil Simon’s laugh riot musical, LITTLE ME, directed by Rodney Franz, opening Nov 9th. Based on the best-selling mock-confessional by Patrick Dennis (the author of Auntie Mame), LITTLE ME follows the career of a dubious talent who becomes a “D List” celebrity. Maybelle Schlumfert, a self-deluded and full-figured girl rises in a rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches fashion to become the glamorous Belle Poitrine. Hysteria ensues with LITTLE ME serving up copious quantities of husbands, wacky characters, and international adventures. The satire even boasts a murder trial.
Great tunes by Cy Coleman and top-notch lyrics by Carolyn Leigh abound. The lively score includes “I’ve Got Your Number,” “On The Other Side of The Tracks,” “Real Live Girl” and “Be A Performer.” Critics raved about the Broadway production calling it a “Smash Musical, a “Sumptuous Success” and “… a blockbuster so genial it looks like a breeze.” Nominated for 13 Tony Awards, Bob Fosse won for choreography for the original and Martin Short won for Leading Actor in a Musical for the 1996 revival.
Director Franz enthuses, “By special permission of Neil Simon we are performing the recent Roundabout version of the show. It’s more streamlined than the original with more laughs in the script and more punch in the music. Accordingly, we have a great line up of talent collaborating, including: Scott DeTurk as Musical Director, and Kate Leland and Devin Sullivan choreographing. Not to mention over 60 amazing MSA students in the cast crew and orchestra.”
In LITTLE ME, Neil Simon plays with the burlesque/vaudeville style of comedy. Junior theatre student, Kylie Hoye, reports, “What makes this show so entertaining is that both the playwright and the lyricist have the same spot-on sense of humor. The only downside to being in this production, is not being a member of the audience!” Senior, Lara Garay adds,” I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”
This is an ENCORE performance of LITTLE ME and opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 14, in the Performing Arts Center at the Marin School of the Arts, 625 Arthur St., Novato. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but frequently these performances sell out, so it is suggested that tickets be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. Admission is $8 for students and seniors, $20 reserved, or $15 general seating.
