When it comes to reading scripts for plays, longtime Little Theater of Gastonia stage director/actor Sarah Buckner is a bit jaded.

Buckner, also the theater director at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, reads dozens of plays every year.
Whenever she's reading a play, she's got a simple rule of thumb to determine if it's one she'd like to do.

"My test is, if I laugh out loud when I'm reading something, it's good," Buckner said.

So, when she was asked to direct "Leading Ladies," the Gastonia theater's last show of the season, she put the script of the play, written by popular playwright Ken Ludwig, through her usual ringer.

She thinks the reason she so readily agreed to direct the play afterward will be the same reason audiences will eat it up.

"I giggled and cackled the whole way through," she said.
What makes the play so hilarious?

Think of the humor found in other popular Ludwig plays, like "Lend Me a Tenor" and "Moon Over Buffalo." "Leading Ladies" incorporates many of the comedic techniques found in those plays, such as slapstick shtick, the naivity of innocent characters from simpler times and plenty of innuendo.

But it's the play's similarities to the 1950s film "Some Like it Hot" (starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe) and the 1980s television show "Bosom Buddies" (Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari) that will provide the biggest laughs.

Because, like those predacessors, "Leading Ladies" offers something audiences can't get enough of - burly men disguised as women.

In this case, it's veteran Little Theater actors Frank Bowers and Ted Elzroth, portraying English Shakespearean actors Jack and Leo, who get to prance about the stage in petticoats and heels.

"They look pretty darn masculine," Buckner said. "We don't do a lot to make them look feminine. We're calling it ‘bad drag.' "

The play, set in the 1950s, focuses on Jack and Leo, down-on-their luck actors performing on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.

They get word that an elderly woman in York, Pa., is nearing her death and will leave a fortune of $3 million to her two long-lost English nephews.

After deciding to pass themselves off as the lost relatives, Jack and Leo make their way to York, only to discover that the relatives weren't nephews, but nieces.

That doesn't stop the duo from passing themselves off as women and fooling all of the townspeople, including Jack's love interest, Meg (Amy Crisp), the old lady's high-spirited niece who's engaged to the local minister (Phillip Wright).

"They're pretty big ladies, especially when they put on heels, and people keep talking about how they're such big ladies," Buckner said. "But they figure it's because they're from England and ladies in England must be a lot different than ladies from Pennsylvania."

The Gershwins' An American in Paris, currently playing at the Alley Theatre, is billed as a new musical comedy. But when the dance steps outnumber the words, I believe the term could be "dansical." Like Moving Out, Contact and 42nd Street, this is a dance-driven show and a first for the Alley Theatre.

"This show utilizes more dance than any production we've done by an overwhelming margin," said Gregory Boyd, Alley's artistic director. "And we don't do dance very often."

Frequent Alley collaborator Ken Ludwig has crafted a prequel to the 1951 MGM movie An American in Paris using classic songs from George and Ira Gershwin. The characters in Ludwig's story burst into tap dance (and song) throughout the show as the choreography is seamlessly woven into the book. Really, who could resist? The Gershwins' music is as danceable as it gets. Even the scenery is moved on the beat.

"The show's focus from the beginning was on dance and comedy along with some heartfelt romance using the Gershwin songs as the engine to create a sense of joy," said Boyd, the show's director. "Dance does that better than any other element of theatrical language."

To get an authentic movie-musical look, the Alley enlisted veteran Broadway choreographer Randy Skinner, who made his mark with the Tony-nominated revival of 42nd Street.

"Randy did a great job doing the original piece for our show, while at the same time honoring the great Gene Kelly choreography from the film," Boyd said.

The show also includes ballet and jazz dance. Finding a versatile batch of dancer/singers required rigorous auditions, said Sara Brians, who has been with the project since the beginning in a variety of roles. Brians, a former Radio City Rockette, worked with Skinner on 42nd Street.

Skinner's signature style incorporates natural arm movements and lots of lateral steps. While the dancer's feet busily pound out Gershwin's complex rhythms in unison, their upper bodies look like they are floating on air. Changing formations keep the audience's attention and often make it seem as if a larger group of dancers is onstage.

The movie's iconic 18-minute ballet scene has been reduced to seven in the play. It's a jampacked seven minutes, though, and includes a reference to Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free.

The dances in musicals often seem an afterthought. But in this work, the characters are always just a step away from solving their dilemmas.

"If a dance number doesn't propel the story forward, then it's not working; the impulse and intention need to serve the plot," Brians said. "Dance is really the engine of this show."

In one pivotal scene, chaos breaks out at a press conference announcing the two leads of the film on live television. The TV host screams, "Will someone please do something?" The ensemble takes that as cue to burst into a rousing reprise of Fascinating Rhythm that just rocks the house.

"Dance is always the solution. That's what dancers do, we save the day," Brians quipped.

EXTENDED again thru June 22nd!

The hilarious new musical comedy The Gershwins’ An American in Paris takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the legendary movie-musical. Reuniting Ken Ludwig, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin – the team behind the Broadway smash Crazy For You – this new American musical tells the story of Michel Gerard, the greatest music hall singer in Paris. When Michel fails to turn up at Monumental Pictures’ Paris studio for the filming of a new musical, Studio Chief Louis Goldman sends his practical, no-nonsense secretary, Rebecca Klemm, to find the missing star –and when the legendary Parisian crosses swords with the indomitable American, nothing short of fireworks ensue. Don’t miss this blissful prequel to the famous movie, featuring some of the best-loved songs written by George and Ira Gershwin including: "S’ Wonderful," "They All Laughed," "Stairway to Paradise" and many more.

With Words and Music by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig, Musical Supervisor Rob Berman, Choreography by Randy Skinner and Directed by Alley Artistic Director Gregory Boyd.

About the Cast:
Jeffry Denman (Preston) made his Broadway debut in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His other Broadway credits include the Johnny Mercer musical review Dream, the final cast of Cats (Munkustrap) and the original Mel Brooks’ The Producers. He has performed in concert with Marvin Hamlisch and The National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Denman has performed at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Fox Theatre, Portland Stage in Maine, Ordway Center and Ogunquit Playhouse.

Stephen DeRosa (Hamish) performed on Broadway as First Beard and Max Jacobs in Twentieth Century, as Bardolph, Justic Shallow and Justice Silence in Henry IV, as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray, as Baker in Into the Woods and as Professor Metz in The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Broadway veteran Felicia Finley (Hermia) has performed on Broadway as Linda in The Wedding Singer, Amneris in Aida, April in The Life and in Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Finley toured in Jekyll and Hyde and Jesus Christ Superstar and was in Off-Broadway productions Forbidden Broadway (SVU and 2001 Space Odyssey). Finley has also performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse and Helen Hayes Theatre.

Harry Groener (Michel Gerard) is a three-time Tony Award nominee, including 1992 Best Actor in a Musical for Bobby Child in Ken Ludwig’s Crazy For You and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Cats in 1983 and Oklahoma! in 1980. Other Broadway roles include: King Arthur in Spamalot, George (Act I and Act II) in Sunday in the Park with George, and Edward Harrigan in Harrigan ‘n Hart, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Groener is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Richard Wilkins, the evil mayor of Sunnydale on the cult TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He has performed in many regional theatres including the Old Globe Theatre (where he is an associate artist), Mark Taper Forum, Westwood Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theater, A.C.T., and the Williamstown Theater Festival.

Alix Korey (Hilda) was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Listen to My Heart and Wild Party. She performed on Broadway in All Shook Up, Triumph of Love, Chicago, The Pirates of Penzance and the 1978 revival of Hello, Dolly!, among others. She is featured on several albums including Songs You Might Have Missed and Gifts of Love.

Kerry O’Malley (Miss Klemm) has appeared in the Broadway revivals of Into the Woods and Annie Get Your Gun. Her film credits include the upcoming Case 39 opposite Renee Zellweger, M. NightShyamalan’s The Happening, The Flying Scissors and Rounders. Television credits include Mary-Kate on "Brotherhood"(Showtime), series regular on "Costello"and "The Mike O'Malley Show," "Law & Order: SVU," "Monk," "Without a Trace," "My Name is Earl," "King of Queens," "Kidnapped," "Charmed," "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue" and "Brooklyn South.’

Ron Orbach (Louis Goldman) has performed on Broadway as Amos Hart in the first national tour of Chicago, where heearned the 1997 Jeff Award and a 1998 Theater LA-Ovations nomination for the original national touring company, and Ira Stone in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. His TV credits include "Without A Trace", "Law & Order", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "Third Watch", and "Platypus Man." His film credits include Clueless and Building Girl.

Meredith Patterson (Yvette) made her Broadway debut as Peggy Swayer in the revival of 42nd Street and later performed this role in a production in Moscow. Her TV debut was in "ABC’s Boston Legal" and her film credits include Company Man, Broken Flowers and The Princess Diaries II: Royal Engagement. She has performed in Geffen Playhouse in The Underpants.

Also included in the cast of The Gershwins’ An American in Paris are Jeremy Benton as Ensemble, Sara Brians as Female Ensemble Swing, Sae La Chin as Ensemble, Erin Crouch as Ensemble, Lianne Marie Dobbs as Ensemble, Michael Thomas Holmes as Ensemble, Drew Humphrey as Ensemble, Wendy James as Ensemble, Matthew Kirk as Male Ensemble Swing, Tony Lawson as Ensemble, Alison Levenberg as Ensemble, Joseph Medeiros as Ensemble, Shannon M. O’Bryan as Ensemble, James Patterson as Ensemble, Wes Pope as Ensemble, Benjie Randall as Ensemble, Kristen J. Smith as Ensemble, JD Webster as Ensemble, Kristen Beth Williams as Ensemble.

About the Creative Team:
About George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin:
The brothers George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin are among America’s greatest artists. Together, the Gershwins collaborated with DuBose Heyward on the American folk opera Porgy and Bess. Ira and George’s first Hollywood musical collaboration was Shall We Dance, the seventh of the ten film musicals featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In 1931, the brothers collaborated on the score for the Broadway show, Of Thee I Sing, which became the first musical play to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

George Gershwin is also known for his orchestral works, "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris," and "Concerto in F." Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin’s older brother, enjoyed a career that spanned over 40 years, and included collaborations with Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, and Harold Arlen.

About Ken Ludwig:
In addition to authoring recent Alley Theatre world premieres, Be My Baby, Leading Ladies, and Treasure Island, Ken Ludwig is an Associate Artist of the Alley and is the author of several Broadway and London hits. Ludwig’s Crazy for You ran for 1622 performances on Broadway, won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Helen Hayes Awards as Best Musical of the Year and was broadcast nationwide on PBS Great Performances. His play Lend Me a Tenor won two Tony Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and was nominated for England's prestigious Olivier Comedy of the Year Award. On Broadway, Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo starred Carol Burnett, then Lynn Redgrave and Robert Goulet, and went on to the West End in London. His adaptation ofBen Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s Twentieth Century ran on Broadway with Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche in 2004. And his play Shakespeare in Hollywood was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play of the Year. His latest work includes the completion of a play by Thornton Wilder, at the request of Wilder’s estate; and an adaptation of The Three Musketeers, which was commissioned by England’s Bristol Old Vic. Ludwig’s work has been translated into 16 languages and performed in over 30 countries around the world.

Rob Berman (Music Supervisor, Vocal and Dance Arrangements) has extensive Broadway credits, including the revival of Wonderful Townand The Pajama Game starring Henry Connick Jr. He is currently the music director for Encores! in New York. He music directed a new Stephen Sondheim review, Opening Doors, at Lincoln Center and also won a Helen Hayes Award for his music direction of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration’s production of Sunday in the Park with George.

Randy Skinner (Choreographer) is an award-winning director and choreographer whose work has encompassed Broadway and regional productions. Credits include 42nd Street (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Ain’t Broadway Grand (Tony, Outer Critics nominations), State Fair (Outer Critics nomination), among others.

If there were standing ovations for galas, Cynthia and Anthony Petrello would have received one Friday night for their spectacular Alley Theatre ball, "An American in Paris."

Just as previews of the Alley's new musical comedy The Gershwins' An American in Paris have been receiving high praise, rave reviews were garnered by the gala held in a vast warehouse south of downtown. But the setting was more Paris and moviedom than warehouse.

"We wanted our guests to feel like they were on a movie set in Hollywood," explained Cynthia, who with a history of professional dance and acting, knows a thing or two about stage and screen.

Guests were given the red-carpet treatment, their arrival captured on video and broadcast on flat screens throughout the party space. A line of sleek limos at the entrance — thank you Geo. H. Lewis & Sons — heralded the VIP contingent.

Once inside, the partying throng of 500 was surrounded by Parisian street scenes: Murals of that city's landmarks covered every wall, and a mini Eiffel Tower centered the reception area. Richard Flowers and his Events Co. team made the remarkable transformation of the space.

Key to the evening were playwright Ken Ludwig, who penned the Alley's new production, and Mike Strunsky, Ira Gershwin's nephew and trustee of the Gershwin estate. The evening honored Alley chairman emeritus Meredith Long for more than 40 years of service and leadership.

Icing on the cake was the performance by Frank Sinatra Jr. and an orchestra that included 10 of his people from New York, Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The remaining 22 were musicians from the San Antonio, Fort Worth and Houston symphonies. Whew! With Gershwin and Sinatra favorites flowing from the bandstand, guests took to the dance floor with enthusiasm.

Adding to the ooh-la-la factor of the night were Alley artistic director Gregory Boyd, board chair Roger Plank and wife Connie, Alley managing director Dean Gladden and wife Janie, Lynn Wyatt with son Bradford Wyatt, Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Kathryn and Jim Ketelsen, Lois and George Stark, Franci Crane and Karen and Harry Pinson