Bristol Riverside Theatre presents Dear World April 29- May 18, 2008

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents an exciting new revision of the Broadway classic Dear World, a musical fable about what happens when the forces of poetry, idealism, and love are pitted against materialism, power, and greed. Legendary composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly, Mame) wrote the music and lyrics for the play which originally opened in 1969, giving him the honor of being the only composer-lyricist in history to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, of Inherit The Wind fame, wrote the book. The Bristol Riverside Theatre production features David Thompson’s most recent revision of the book and new songs composed by Herman. BRT’s Artistic Director Keith Baker will direct this musical re-imagining of The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux.

Dear World runs at Bristol Riverside Theatre April 29 – May 28, 2008 (Opening Night is May 1). Tickets are $34 – $42 and are available by calling the BRT Box Office at (215) 785-0100 or online at www.BRTstage.org. 

In this unique musical – including songs such as “Each Tomorrow Morning,” “I Don’t Want to Know,” ‘I’ve Never Said I Love You,” and “Kiss Her Now” – Countess Aurelia, the enchanting “Madwoman” of Chaillot, learns that an obsessive prospector and a group of profit-mongering businessmen intend to drill for oil in downtown Paris. She enlists her eccentric and charming friends to concoct a scheme to save their homes. This innocent satire strikes an extremely relevant chord in today’s bottom-line world.

BRT’s production stars Mary Gutzi as Countess Aurelia, whose Broadway credits include Ragtime at the Shubert and Oriental Theaters and Fantine in Les Miserables at the Imperial Theater.  The cast also features Katie Babb as Nina, Kenneth Boys as The Prospector, Ryan Driscoll as Julian, Gwendolyn Jones as Mme. Constance, Ben Kramer as The Waiter, Alan Kutner as President 2, Steve Luker as The Sewerman, Noah Mazaika as The Mute, P. Brendan Mulvey as President 3, Patti Perkins as Mme. Gabrielle, George Reilly as The Sergeant, and Gene Terruso as President 1.  The creative team includes Musical Director Mark Yurkanin, Choreographer Gregory Daniels, Lighting Designer Scott Pinkney, Set Designer Nels Anderson, and Costume Designer Lisa Zinni.              

Originally produced on Broadway in 1969, composer Herman adapted this parable into one of his most beautifully melodic and lyrical scores. He has revisited Dear World in recent years, restoring the piece to its original concept as an intimate chamber musical and adding three new songs.  The Washington Post called a 2003 revival of the production “fresh and true to Giraudoux's intent…”

The original 1969 production had a troubled start. It went through turmoil during the preview period and opened to less than favorable reviews. However, the critics praised the performance of Angela Lansbury who won a Tony Award for her performance as Countess Aurelia. The show was originally conceived as a chamber musical and fell victim to a massive production that overwhelmed the simplicity of the original tale. The creative team later rewrote the show, restoring the intimacy they felt had been undermined on Broadway.

Herman’s first smash success came with Hello, Dolly!.  Although facing stiff competition, Hello, Dolly! swept the Tony Awards that season, winning 10 awards, a record that remained unbroken for 37 years.  In 1966, Herman's next musical was the smash hit Mame, which introduced a string of Herman standards, most notably the ballad "If He Walked Into My Life," the holiday favorite "We Need a Little Christmas," and the title tune. In 1983, Herman had his third mega-hit with La Cage aux Folles, which broke box-office records at the Palace Theatre and earned Herman yet another Tony Award for Best Musical. Many of Herman's show tunes have become pop standards. His most famous composition, "Hello, Dolly!" is one of the most popular tunes ever to have originated in a Broadway musical, and was a #1 hit in the United States for Louis Armstrong, knocking The Beatles from #1 in 1964. "I Am What I Am," from La Cage aux Folles, was recorded by Gloria Gaynor and became a disco favorite.

Honored playwright-director Jerome Lawrence, in collaboration with Robert E. Lee, created enduring works of the American theatre, including Inherit the Wind, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, and Auntie Mame. Lawrence and Lee received many of the most prestigious awards in theatre, including the Donaldson Award, the Ohioana Award, Variety Critics Poll – both in New York and London – two Peabody Awards for distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Theatre Association.

Playwright David Thompson’s credits include Steel Pier (nominated for the 1997 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical), And The World Goes 'Round, The Look of Love, Thou Shalt Not, and the 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago, to which he contributed a new book.

About Bristol Riverside Theatre
Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 50 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts.

Bristol Riverside Theatre’s 2007-2008 season is sponsored by Verizon, Grand Sponsor of the 21st Season.