Skylight Opera Theatre Presents Gershwin and Friends

On January 27, 2012, the hit musical revue Gershwin and Friends will be returning to Skylight Opera Theatre. Last season, the critically acclaimed show had a sold out run at Skylight, and this year the entire cast from that successful show will reprise their 2010 roles. The show, which has been expanded from the Studio Theatre to the larger Cabot Theatre, will run through February 12, 2012 at the Broadway Theatre Center located at 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Gershwin and Friends firsttakes place at the New York City home of George Gershwin in the midst of the Jazz Age. I Got Rhythm, Summertime and Rhapsody in Blue can be heard wafting through the air. We join a young couple from Mr. Gershwin's party staff, down to earth Cynthia, and free-wheeling, spontaneous Parrish, as they celebrate Gershwin's music behind the scenes. After their work is done at the Gershwin estate they head home to Harlem in their own high-style with the music of Gershwin's "friends" Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Harold Arlen. This dynamic and innovative new revue of classic tunes from the 20's, 30's and 40's received rave reviews from its 2010 run:

"The three-person show weaves 36 classic songs from the Great American Songbook into a delightful evening of music that simply gets under one's skin... Everything on the stage, including the performers, points to the music - a strategy that works like a charm." (Elaine Schmidt, Entertainment Review of Gershwin and Friends. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 31, 2010)

The expansion of the show brings some exciting new changes. In addition to a brand new set, there are six new songs added to the production, as well as four extended songs from the original run. These tunes include classics such as Over the Rainbow, Lady Be Good, Stairway to Paradise and many more recognizable jazz hits. On-stage musicians, including a string bass player and drummer, have been added to the show to bring the music to life.

Performances of Gershwin and Friends will take place January 27 – February 12, 2012 in
the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in the Historic
Third Ward of Milwaukee. Tickets are $22.50 - $65.50 (plus tax) and can be
purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office or by calling (414)
291-7800 Monday – Sunday from noon – 6:00 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.skylightopera.com. Group, student, senior and other discounts are available.

More Articles by This Author...