by Macey Levin
“42nd Street” is the time honored mythic tale about a lowly chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer, who through chance makes her own starring debut while saving the hide of the broke producer and the entire cast of dancers and stage personell.
It originated as a novel by Bradfod Ropes, who was himself a dance and screenwriter as well as a novelist. The subsequent film in 1933 became a significant movie featuring Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers and Ruby Keeler among other well-know actors as its theme of triumph over adversity resonated with the Depression Era audience.
Reviewers have said “42nd Street” remains a groundbreaking masterpiece and it proved as much when it was revived in 1980 as a Broadway musical that ran for eight years. The Broadway production starred Jerry Orbach. It won the Tony for Best Musical though tragically, the director Gower Champion died on the day of the show’s opening. 42nd Street continues to enchant audiences with a dynamic production at Sharon Playhouse, Sharon, Connecticut, which captivates the audience from the moment the curtain rises.
The show features such classic standards as “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “We’re In The Money,” and, of course, “42nd Street,” among others. The plot and the songs have been seen and heard over and over again but what makes this production very special is the choreography, much of it tap-dancing.
Peggy Sawyer (Gabi Stapula) is the new arrival in New York City from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who wins a part in “Pretty Lady,” a show being directed by the famous and overbearing Julian Marsh (Michael McGuirk.) He fires her shortly before the show is to open. When Dorothy Brock (Savannah Stevenson,) the domineering, egocentric star of the show, breaks her ankle at the final dress rehearsal, Billy Lawlor (Ian Black,) something of a beau to Peggy, and several members of the chorus convince Marsh that Peggy knows the show and can do the lead. Marsh runs to Grand Central Station and sings “Lullaby of Broadway” joined by the chorus in another terrific dance number. Of course, there’s a happy ending.
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
“42nd Street”, directed by Carl Andress, at the Sharon Playhouse. Photo: Sarah Kozma. 
Stapula is terrific singing and dancing as Peggy while Stevenson and McGuirk are the villains the audience comes to love. Savannah Stevenson is powerful as the insecure diva while Amy Wilson and Rudd Anderson are suitably over-anxious as the team that has written the show. Black and Landon Zwick (Pat Denning) are the typical handsome leading men. Payton Turner’s Abner Dillon as Brock’s swain and Larry Toyter (Waiter) mine some good laughs. The acting by the entire cast supports the style of the show and their srong voices remind us that great music lives on forever.
The show, directed by Sharon‘s artistic director Carl Andress, moves smoothly in the many transitions from acting scenes to the musical numbers. The tempo throughout the entire show is buoyant. Choreography by Amy Van Norstrand is breathtaking. There are numbers which include upward of twenty dancers, all synchronized, energetic, sometimes performing different but complementary routines at the same time. It is interesting to note that at the age of nineteen Ms. Van Norstrand was in “42nd Street” when Sharon mounted the show in 2011. Eric Thomas Johnson leads the full-sounding nine-piece orchestra stationed offstage. The costume design by Kathleen DeAngelis is a swirl of colors and styles that dazzles the eye. In fact, the entire show is a seamless coordinated creation incorporating, sound, light and design by a very talented behind the scenes crew.
This is a wonderful production with great staging, marvelous performances, memorable songs, comedy, pathos, and a warm heart. Sharon Playhouse continues to present stunning entertainment to keep its audience members, of all ages, cheering its approval.
42nd Street, Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble; Director: Carl Andress; Choreographer: Amy Van Norstrand; Music Direction: Eric Thomas Johnson; Scenic Design: Christopher and Justin Swader; Costume Desigh: Kathleen DeAngelis; Lighting Design: Wheeler Moon; Sound design: Graham Stone; Wig and Makeup Design: Bobbie Zlotnick; Production Stage Manager: Kristin Schlachter; Assistant Stage Manager: Amelia Heastings; Cast: Lily Anderson (Ensemble) Rudd Anderson (Bert Barry) Nathan Ayotte (Ensemble) Ian Black (Billy Lawlor) Jack Canevari (Ensemble) Andy Delgado (Teen Ensemble) Caitlyn Kops (Teen Ensemble) Liesel Landegger (Phyllis/Ensemble) Michelle Lemon (Ann Reilly/Dance Captain) Isaiah Mayhew (Ensemble/Dance Captain) Michael F. McGuirk (Julian Marsh) Robert Mintz (Andy Lee) Liana Nicole Monaco (Lorraine/Ensemble) Christian Sciarrillo (Teen Ensemble) Sasha Spitz (Ensemble) Gabi Stapula (Peggy Sawyer) Savannah Stevenson (Dorothy Brock) Mia Tonon (Teen Ensemble) Larry Toyter (Ensemble/Waiter) Payton Turpin (Abner Dillon) Brianna Vivace (Teen Ensemble) Alex Wilbur (Teen Ensemble) Amy Wilson (Maggie Jones) Savanna Wright (Ensemble) Landon Zwick (Pat Denning/Ensemble);
Running Time: two hours with one intermission;
July 25-August 9, 2026.
For tickets: phone 860-364-7469 (Ext. 200 & 201); email: boxoffice@sharonplayhouse.org