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ELLA FITZGERALD MUSICAL TO BLANKET THE COUNTRY: Producers consider bringing the production to Broadway next year.
*“Ella,” a new musical about the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, will open in nine cities across the U.S. during the 2006-07 theater season, reports Playbill.com.
Co-conceiver and director Rob Ruggiero will stage the productions at not-for-profit regional theatres with Tina Fabrique (of Off-Broadway's Dessa Rose) in the title role for each engagement. There is also interest from commercial producers to bring the production to Broadway in 2007, or to launch a wider commercial tour.
“Ella” is set in Nice in 1966, around the time of the death of her half-sister, Frances. She attends the funeral in the States, and returns for a big concert in France. Conflict arises between Ella and her producer, Norman, an off-stage voice who urges her to engage in patter, or talk to the audience about her life. What emerges from Hatcher's conflict is an opportunity for Ella to more naturally reflect on and catalog her past experience, which includes a revelation about her son, Ray.
The musical will feature more than 20 of Fitzgerald's biggest hits, and lesser-known tunes, including "How High the Moon," "Our Love is Here to Stay," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "That Old Black Magic," "Cheek To Cheek," "Blue Skies," "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Love and Kisses," "Cow Cow Boogie," "Angel Eyes," "Mr. Paganini," "The Nearness of You," "Miss Otis Regrets," "I'll Never Be the Same" and more.
The 2006-07 Ella schedule includes: Florida Stage (June 20-Sept. 3), San Diego Rep (Sept. 9-Oct. 15), Arizona Theater Company Nov. 25-Dec. 22 (Tucson) and Dec. 31-Jan. 28, 2007 (Phoenix) and Feb. 2-11, 2007 (Mesa); Cleveland Play House (March 23-April 15, 2007); Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, FL (May 9-June 3, 2007), San Jose Rep (June 23-July 22, 2007) and Barrington Stage Co. (Aug. 9-27, 2007).
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