Bloomington Civic Theatre Opens 2012-2013 Season with 42nd Street
May 24, 2012

Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) is excited to announce the beloved tap dancing musical 42nd Street. This Bloomington Civic Theatre (BCT) production will run August 17 - September 16, 2012. 42nd Street will be directed and choreographed by Michael Matthew Ferrell, with music direction by Anita Ruth. The cast of 24 includes Larissa Gritti as 'Peggy', C. Ryan Shipley as 'Billy', Michael Fischetti as 'Julian Marsh', and Bonnie Erickson as 'Dorothy Brock'.

42nd Street is an unforgettable, tap-dancing extravaganza; a big, bold dance musical set in 1933 that celebrates the stuff that dreams are made of. This is the story of hard work, being in the right place at the right time, talent and love. It focuses on the journey of aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer in the ultimate show business fairy tale where a stage struck chorine becomes an overnight star. 42nd Street is a celebration of Broadway and the people involved.

Theater historian John Kenrick commented about the original Broadway production, "When the curtain slowly rose to reveal forty pairs of tap-dancing feet, the star-studded opening night audience at the Winter Garden cheered." 42nd Street features music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original Directions and Dances were by Gower Champion, and the musical was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

Michael Matthew Ferrell (director, 42nd Street) is the 2007 Ivey Award recipient for Choreography and 2010 Choreographer of the Year named by Lavender Magazine. Credits include Oklahoma! (Bloomington Civic Theatre); Ragtime (Park Square Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Evita, The Full Monty, Parade, Gypsy, The Rink, and Passage of Dreams (Theatre Latte Da); You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Grand Night for Singing, and Broadway's Legendary Ladies (Ordway Center); Wizard of Oz, Annie, Babe The Sheep Pig, Tommy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Disney's High School Musical, A Year with Frog and Toad, and Fashion 47 (Children's Theatre Company); Cats, Annie, The Sound of Music, Camelot, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Forever Plaid, Oklahoma!, and Can Can (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres). Additionally, his work has been seen at The Minnesota Opera Company, Minnetonka Theatre, Sesame Street, Stages Theatre Company, Pantages Theatre, Disney World Orlando, and Guthrie Theatre Cabaret shows. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Alive & Kickin, the Twin Cities newest musical ensemble of Rockin' Senior Citizens!

Follow Us On Twitter