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Maureen McGovern to star in National Tour of Broadway’s Dazzling New Family Production LITTLE WOMEN – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park May 23-June 4, 2006

Little Women - The Broadway Musical, the remarkable new production based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park for a limited two-week engagement May 23-June 4. Headlining the tour, direct from Broadway, is recording, concert and theater star Maureen McGovern.

Based on Alcott's own family experiences, Little Women - The Broadway Musical, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, for the first time ever, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. Little Women - The Broadway Musical embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit.

Maureen McGovern’s portrayal of Marmee garnered her a Drama Desk Award nomination and glowing reviews on Broadway. “Superb!,” said The Wall Street Journal. “Maureen McGovern, with her strong, vibrant singing and glowing maternal warmth, is a lovely Marmee in every way!,” praised the Star-Ledger. McGovern previously starred on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance, Nine and 3 Penny Opera, and in the Broadway national tour of The King and I. Her regional credits include Elegies, Dear World, Letters From ’Nam, The Lion in Winter, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Of Thee I Sing, Let ’Em Eat Cake!, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls and I Do, I Do. McGovern appeared in the films The Towering Inferno and Airplane! and also in the DreamWorks animated video Joseph: King of Dreams.

A two-time Grammy nominee, her 25 recordings include critically-acclaimed tributes to George Gershwin, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Harold Arlen and the Oscar-winning gold record “The Morning After.” McGovern’s website is www.maureenmcgovern.com.

Joining Maureen McGovern in Little Women - The Broadway Musical are Kate Fisher as Jo March, Renée Brna as Meg, Neva Rae Powers as Aunt March, Gwen Hollander as Amy, Autumn Hurlbert as Beth, Michael Minarik as John Brooke, Stephen Patterson as Laurie, Robert Stattel reprises his Broadway role as Mr. Laurence, and Andrew Varela, also from the Broadway production, as Professor Bhaer.

Produced by Ken Gentry, Randall Wreghitt and Dani Davis, Little Women - The Broadway Musical features book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. The musical is directed by Susan H. Schulman, with choreography by Michael Lichtefeld.

For more information, please visit www.littlewomenonbroadway.com.

The Little Women - The Broadway Musical Original Broadway Cast Recording, featuring Maureen McGovern, is available wherever music is sold on Ghostlight Records; or visit www.ghostlightrecords.com.

Single tickets for Little Women – The Broadway Musical will go on sale April 17, priced from $11-$69, at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center and all Ticketmaster outlets.   For groups of 20 or more, call 214-426-GROUP.  To purchase tickets online, visit www.ticketmaster.com, or order by phone at 214-631-ARTS.

All performances will take place at the Music Hall at Fair Park.  Performances will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday the first week, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and continuing the second week with 8 p.m. performances Tuesday through Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  There will be no evening performance Sunday, June 4.

The Dallas Summer Musicals 2006 season will include the following shows.

Bombay Dreams, June 6-18, 2006.
A dazzling spectacle set amid India’s bustling film industry, Bombay Dreams features a lush score, glittering costumes, lavish sets and exotic dance numbers. The story of a handsome young actor who dreams of fame and romance, the musical journey is an exploration of the importance of cultural heritage, the price of success, the bonds of friendship and the power of true love.  Time Magazine declares the show “Something gorgeously new” and The New York Times calls it a “Feel-good fantasy!”

Les Miserables, June 21-July 2, 2006.*
The legendary musical produced by Cameron Mackintosh with music and book by Claude Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, adapted from the French version conceived and written by Alain Boublil, turned 20 in October.  Yet audiences never seem to tire of this timeless tale of Jean Valjean, who spent 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread but becomes a leading citizen, adopting the orphaned Cozette while attempting to evade recapture by his nemesis, Inspector Javert.  The musical is still playing on Broadway and has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages across the world.
*Since Les Miserables opens on a Wednesday night, first Tuesday subscribers’ tickets will be moved to Sunday, July 2, at 8 p.m. 

Mamma Mia!, July 4-16, 2006. 
Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus used the music of 1970s pop stars ABBA to create this delightful musical that has been seen by over 20 million people and is still playing on Broadway and touring the world.  It’s a simple story of a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads, with a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.  Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise on the eve of the daughter’s wedding, when, without her mother’s knowledge, she invites the three men most likely to have been her father to the festivities.  The storytelling magic of ABBA’s music propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship.

Brooklyn, July 25-August 6, 2006.
This extraordinary new musical was written by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson, and tells the heartwarming story of a young woman who is searching for the father she never knew in the town she was named for, Brooklyn.  Peter Santillo, Associated Press, said, “Strong audience-rousing songs and an outstanding cast…power a diverse score packed with raw funk, hard rock and sizzling gospel numbers.”

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, October 3-22, 2006.
This hilarious parody of Hollywood opened on Broadway in March, 2005, and has been selling out nightly since.  With a book by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek’s music and lyrics, the Tony-award winning hit musical has been favorably compared to The Producers.  Dallas audiences will be among the first in the country to see the national touring production of this exciting new show.  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will also be the 2006 State Fair of Texas musical.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, and American Airlines. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, call 214-421-5678 or visit the Dallas Summer Musicals website at www.dallassummermusicals.org.

Reviewed by Madelyn Miller

More Things to do in Dallas

Seemingly larger than life, Dallas for many people personifies all things Texas. From flashy architecture to oversize automobiles this is a city living large.

The best description of Dallas I have ever seen comes from foodwriter and author Poppy Z. Brite in her book PRIME. She describes the nighttime view of Dallas as seen from the cocktail lounge atop the glittering orb of Reunion Tower as if, “a very rich woman with very gaudy taste had upended her jewelry box onto a huge piece of dark blue satin.”

BEST MAP OF DALLAS
Mapquest Dallas City Map

GREAT GUIDEBOOK
A Marmac Guide to Dallas
Includes Plano, Garland, Irving and Richardson
www.pelicanpub.com

Great Visitor's Guide to the Dallas/Fort Worth Area
The complimentary Dallas/Fort Worth Area Official Visitors Guide is a great resource for planning your next DFW adventure.  The Guide includes information on area cities, attractions, shopping, tour and transportation information plus and annual area-wide calendar of events, and coupons to many of the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s top attractions.  You can download or order a copy by going to www.visitdallas-fortworth.com

WHERE TO STAY TO SEE THE WHOLE METROPLEX

Want to do it all and see it all? You have the right Texas attitude. Stay at the Omni Mandalay in Irving and you will be able to get to the DFW Airport and almost all the attractions in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prarie in about 20 minutes

Omni Mandalay
Irving, Texas

Madelyn’s favorite restaurants
Seasons at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa in Irving
Steel
Lola
Arcodoro/Pomodoro
Iris
Suze
Taverna

MEXICAN RESTAURANT THE LOCALS LOVE
Veracruz in the Bishop’s Art District

BEST CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE IN DALLAS
Chocolate Sushi at Steel. Dip it in the warm caramel sauce for a Texas-size Yum.

Madelyn’s favorite Hole in the Wall Hamburger places 
1. Lee Harvey’s . Bad neighborhood, good hamburgers. Half pound burger is just $5.50 including fries
2. The Loon. Across from Uptown, this dark place was recommended by a restaurant owner. Everyone I take there loves it and returns with others. And so on.
3. Stoneleigh P. Warning: They have this thing about not serving Ketchup.  Bring your own or settle for BBQ sauce or mustard. Loud jukebox music and free magazines to read. Maybe it is a good place to go alone since the music is so loud it is a little hard to talk, But the free magazines are always up to date. (not that kind of date)

MADELYN’S FAVORITE UPSCALE HAMBURGER PLACES
4. Hattie’s in the Bishop’s Art District. The ground round burger comes with Gouda cheese and sweet potato fries.
418 N. Bishop Avenue    214-942-7499
5. Cretia’s. Not really a hole in the wall, this very charming tea house has a monster size 12 oz. hamburger stuffed with garlic and goat cheese comes with a side salad or fries. Worth every penny of the ten dollar price.
4438 McKinney. 214-252-9910
6. Hector’s. Who would go to a Latino fusion restaurant and order a hamburger? I did once and then loved it so much I went back with friends again and again. Be sure to order the sweet potato fries—no matter what else you have.
Henderson Street

ENTERTAINING PLACES

Gilley’s for the flavor of Texas and great entertainment. Come wet yer whistle and twirl your darling’ at the place that invented a great night out, Texas-style.
1135 South Lamar
(one block south of I-30)
www.gilleysdallas.com

Ad Libs for a good laugh

Johnnie High’s Country Music Review for discovering Country and Western talent like LeeAnn Rimes.
Music Hall in Arlington
224 North Center Street
Arlington, Tx
817-226-4400
http://www.johnniehighscountrymusicrevue.com/

BEST COFFEE HOUSE
Standard and Pours  1409 South Lamar in the lower level
Free wireless access and often free entertainment. Always house blend coffee for one dollar with free refills as long as you are there.
They recently got their liquor license.

LEARN TO COOK LIKE A TEXAN

CLASSIC TEX MEX and TEXAS COOKING
Authentic Recipes with big, bold flavors
www.cookbookresources.com

The BBQ QUEENS BIG BOOK OF BARBECUE
By Karen Adler and Judith Fertig
Harvard Common Press
www.harvardcommonpress.com

DALLAS CUISINE
By Dotty Griffith
A sampling of restaurants and their recipes
Two Lane Press
The perfect gift or take-home souvenir to give yourself, your family and your friends.

THE CONTEMPORARY COWBOY
By Dotty Griffith
Recipes from the Wild West to Wall Street
Taylor Trade Publishing

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