Rhinebeck Theatre Society is proud to present Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady, arguably the crown jewel of America’s Golden Age of musical theater. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, the show follows a Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle. Eliza is selling violets to upper class Opera patrons when, to her horror, she discovers her words are being written by elocutionist Henry Higgins, who boasts that he can pass her off as a sophisticated duchess in only six months with little more than improvements to her speech and diction. Eliza agrees to become a pawn in Higgins’ game, but she has no idea what she’ll be subjected to on the basis of sex and class. Will Eliza fulfill Henry’s vision of what the ideal woman should be, or will she carve a new path for herself and rewrite the role society has prescribed for women of her class, income, and education?
When it premiered in 1956, My Fair Lady catapulted Julie Andrews into the ranks of musical theater legends and provided Rex Harrison with a role he continued to perform until his death at the age of 82. The original Broadway production ran for six and a half years before transferring to London’s West End, where it ran for another five and a half years. The story has proved its longevity over time as a triumphant narrative uplifting and inspiring all those who surpass expectations.
Says Fessler “The cast talked a long time about the relevance of Eliza’s struggles in American society today, and I think all of us walked away from those conversations moved and excited to tell this pioneering woman’s story. Eliza blazes a trail for herself at a time when no one else has the acuity of vision or the creativity to do so. And other women – both literary and flesh-and-blood – have followed her example ever since.”
Rhinebeck Theatre Society’s production stars Jeremy Ratel as Henry Higgins and welcomes Amy Catherine Welch (in her CENTER debut!) as Eliza Doolittle. Rounding out the cast is Miki Da Torre as Eliza’s misguided father, Anthony Carl as Eliza’s suitor Freddy Eynsford-Hill, David Shakopi as Henry’s companion Hugh Pickering, and Linda Roper as his mother. The entire ensemble of 25 actors flourishes under the direction of Robb Fessler, with music direction by JoAnne and Paul Schubert and rousing choreography by Liv Larson.
My Fair Lady features a treasure trove of musical theater standards, including “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly”, “On the Street Where You Live”, “I’m Getting Married in the Morning”, “I Could Have Danced All Night”, and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”. Complete with stunning costumes and an elegant set, the show is not to be missed. Amy Catherine Welch (Eliza) enthusiastically adds, “Everyone should see this show because of how inspiring, funny, transformative and even heartbreaking it is!”
My Fair Lady runs June 14-July 7 at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572). Friday and Saturday shows are at 8pm, and Sunday matinees are at 3pm. Tickets are $29, with a special “Pay What You Can” evening offered for opening night. Reserve tickets may be purchased online at www.centerforperformingarts.org or by calling 845-876-3080.
