Wanna See Something Dirty?

By Madelyn Miller

"dirty BLONDE" starring Sally Mayes, Tom Riis Farrell and Bob Stillman kicks off the 2002 Broadway Contemporary Series presented by Dallas Summer Musicals  at the Majestic Theatre Feb. 12-17, 2002 

Sally Mayes                            Tom Riis                         Bob Stillman

America's original blonde bombshell and sex icon Mae West comes back to life in Claudia Shear's five-time TonyTM-nominated comedy (including Best Play) dirty BLONDE, opening at The Majestic Theatre Tuesday, February 12 for one week only, through Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002.  dirty BLONDE kicks off the 2002 Broadway Contemporary Series, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.

The New York Times raved that dirty BLONDE was "the best new American play of 2000."  Under the direction of James Lapine, the three-member cast includes Sally Mayes along with Tom Riis Farrell and Bob Stillman, and is produced by Jonathan Reinis, Richard Martini, Allen Spivak, Adam Friedson, David Friedson and Ostar Enterprises.  The play was conceived by Ms. Shear and Mr. Lapine.

A romantic comedy, dirty BLONDE is about two New York loners-turned-lovers who learn to accept themselves through their mutual obsession with voluptuous stage and film icon, Mae West.  Two fascinating story lines interweave.  One focuses on the banal lives and unlikely courtship of the two avid fans following their chance meeting at Mae's gravesite.  The other serves as a brilliant counterpoint tracing the evolution of Mae West's willful career from young vaudevillian upstart and overnight wisecracking sexy film star to the lonely isolation of her later years.

The New York Theatre critics were unanimous in their admiration of dirty BLONDE and its cast and creative team.  Vincent Canby of The New York Times hailed dirty BLONDE as "wise, moving, nervy and exceptionally entertaining," while Fintan O'Toole of the Daily News wrote "Claudia Shear has created a wonderful play - a small marvel of humor and humanity.  dirty BLONDE is a true delight - a vividly original, genuinely funny, and surprisingly moving love story."  The Associated Press declared, "Mae West would have loved it!"

Writer/actress Claudia Shear was nominated for a TonyTM Award and Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Mae West in the Broadway production of dirty BLONDE.  Making Entertainment Weekly's "IT" List of 2000, the once struggling actress became known for her one-woman show, Blown Sideways Through Life, which won her an Obie Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Her film credits include Living Out Loud, It Could Happen to You, and the upcoming release, The Opportunists.

Director James Lapine was nominated for a TonyTM Award for the Broadway production of dirty BLONDE.  He has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim as both librettist and director on the Broadway productions of Passion, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park with George.  He collaborated on the off-Broadway shows March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, and later on Broadway with Falsettos.  Other credits include writing and directing the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, currently running in Berlin, and the Broadway revivals of The Diary of Anne Frank and David Henry Hwang's Golden Child.

Ms. Mayes has had leading roles on Broadway in Welcome to the Club, for which she received a Theater World Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination, and She Loves Me, for which she garnered TonyTM, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Her off-Broadway credits include starring roles in the recent hit musical Pete 'n' Keely, as well as Das Barbecu and Closer Than Ever."

Mr. Farrell, who plays Charlie and others in dirty BLONDE, reprises his role from Broadway.  His other Broadway credits include Wrong Mountain, 1776, and Li'l Abner for the Encores! Series at City Center; film credits include Bringing Out the Dead, The Out-of-Towners, Devil's Advocate, Sleepless in Seattle, and Scent of a Woman.

Mr. Stillman was nominated for a TonyTM Award for his roles in dirty BLONDE. He has appeared in the Broadway productions of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Tommy Tune's Grand Hotel, and Peter Allen's Legs Diamond.  His regional theater credits include Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind and the title role in Bernstein's Candide at Chicago's Goodman Theatre.  Mr. Stillman is the musical director of dirty BLONDE, and he wrote the musical arrangements and the original song, "dirty BLONDE."

dirty BLONDE will feature set designs by Douglas Stein, whose Broadway credits include Falsettos, Fool Moon, and John Leguizamo's Freak; costumes by award-winning Susan Hilferty, who has worked with such directors as David Warren, Richard Nelson and Emily Mann; and lighting designed by David Lander, whose work can currently be seen on Broadway in Cabaret; sound design by Dan Moses Schreier whose Broadway credits include The Diary of Anne Frank, Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, and The Tempest.

dirty BLONDE originally opened Off-Broadway in January, 2000 to sell-out crowds and rave reviews at the New York Theatre Workshop.  The production then successfully transferred to Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre and re-opened on May 1, 2000 to ecstatic reviews and five TonyTM nominations.

Tickets for dirty BLONDE and all other BCS series shows (except Disney's The Lion King), go on sale January 7, 2002 at The Box Office at its new location, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, and all Ticketmaster outlets, including the new Majestic Theatre Box Office at 1925 Elm Street.  Tickets are priced from $26-$53 for both dirty BLONDE and Proof, and $32-$58 for Swing.  Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 214-631-ARTS 

All performances will be at The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street, with Tuesday through Sunday night performances at 8 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. on Sat. and Sun.

Other Broadway Contemporary Series shows are Proof, the Pulitzer PrizeTM and TonyTM-Award-winning play that swept numerous other critical awards on Broadway last year, Mar. 5-10 at The Majestic Theatre; and Swing, the "jumpin' and jivin'" dance musical nominated for six TonyTM Awards, including Best New Musical, at The Majestic Theatre Mar. 12-17, 2002.

The long-awaited touring version of Disney's TonyTM Award-winning The Lion King, will come to the Music Hall at Fair Park Sept. 13-Oct. 20, 2002. BCS subscribers who order a four-show season package can also be the first to order their tickets to see this groundbreaking production, brought to Dallas by Disney on Broadway on Tour.  BCS subscribers' week is Oct.1-6. The Lion King is also being offered to Dallas Summer Musicals subscribers; the show will be the State Fair of Texas musical for 2002.

Season tickets for the Broadway Contemporary Series shows may still be purchased at The Box Office in Preston Center, 6013 Berkshire Lane, either in person, by mail, or by faxing requests to 214-691-7386, through February 12.  The tickets range in price from $98.05 to $263.50, depending upon package purchased, time and date of performance, and seat location. A special toll-free season ticket hotline is available; to purchase by phone, call 1-800-366-0583.  The hotline number is available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Season tickets may also be purchased online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

For more information call The Box Office at 214-691-7200.  Single tickets for the Broadway Contemporary Series shows will go on sale January 7 at The Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, except for Disney's The Lion King.  Single tickets for that show will go on sale at a later date.  Group sales tickets for The Lion King, for groups of 20 or more, are available by calling Nicole Metzger at 214-426-GROU(P).

Season sponsors for Broadway Contemporary Series, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, KDMX Radio Station and Visa.  For more information about the season, visit the Dallas Summer Musicals website at www.dallassummermusicals.org.