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"THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE"
Shows: Aug 3rd-Aug 11th
(the different colors refer to the different casts, Red and Blue)
Take a trip back to the Roaring ‘20s when the Arlington Children’s Theater
mounts Thoroughly Modern Millie, the smash Broadway hit that won 6 Tony
awards in 2002 including Best Musical.
The high-spirited musical romp tells the story of Millie Dillmount, a
determined young Kansas native who arrives in New York City to seek her
fortune. She enters the intrigue of New York’s jazz age, shedding her naïve
country girl image for that of a modern “flapper.” When Millie discovers
that her hotel is a front for a gang that kidnaps vulnerable young women,
she devises a zany rescue scheme. Amidst exploding fireworks, poison darts,
tap-dnacing, mistaken identities, and raucous chase scenes, Millie manages
to fight crime and find love and riches.
The musical is based on the 1967 movie of the same name with book by Richard
Morris and Dick Scanlon and new music by Jeanine Tesori,. The production
opens at Arlington’s renovated Regent Theater, 7 Medford Street, on Friday,
August 3, with a 7:00 PM curtain on Friday and Saturday and 2:00 PM on
Sunday. Mid-week shows are at 10:30 AM Tuesday and Thursday and 7:00 PM on
Wednesday. Final performances are Friday, August 10, at 7:00 PM and
Saturday, August 11, at 2:00 PM. Reserved seating tickets are $12 and go on
sale at the Regent Theatre’s box office and online at ACT.arlington.ma.us
starting July 16th.
Over 85 children and teens from 17 communities are in the show.“This is an
updated version,” explains Colleen Rua, the artistic director of Arlington
Children’s Theater (ACT) and director of the show. “It weeds out some of the
cultural stereotypes that marred the movie but keeps in all of the fun of a
big musical reminiscent of Broadway’s golden era.” Several of the cast
members have been studying Mandarin to prepare for their roles in this
bi-lingual production.
ACT shows are popular with area families, with over 2,000 attending the big
summer musicals. “It’s amazing what energy and dancing and pizzazz we get
from the kids on stage,” said Steve Smith who is producing the show along
with Jackie Daley. “You put together a great script, the right professional
talent to choreograph and direct the show, and a lot of eager, talented
kids, and the result is theater magic.”
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