Celebrate America and the beginnings of our country’s musical theatre history with a new look at the life of George M. Cohan in the Southern California premiere Musical Theatre West’s production of Yankee Doodle Dandy! coming to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center July 6-22, 2018. For tickets go to www.musical.org, call (562) 856-1999 ext. 4 or visit the MTW Ticket Office. Tickets start at $20.
Yankee Doodle Dandy!, sparkles and shines in David Armstrong’s new take on the life of American showman and songwriter George M. Cohan. The patriotic and biographical journey explorers the life of the musical pioneer, from his humble beginnings to his meteoritic rise to the top. This high-flying musical is filled with a score of 22 beloved songs of the past 100 years, including “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Over There,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and additional new music and lyrics by Albert Evans. Musical Theatre West’s production is under the direction of Jamie Rocco, who also serves as Choreographer, with musical director by Jeff Rizzo.
Different than the musical George M! and the film Yankee Doodle Dandy!, the musical explores the highs and lows of Cohan’s life. Set against the colorful backdrop of ‘Old Broadway,’ the show explorers the life of the man; from the hard-knock days of his family’s adventures in vaudeville through his reign as the star-spangled ‘King of Broadway’ and what happened when faced with the consequences of fame, failed relationships, and the changes on Broadway Cohan is recognized as the father of the American musical. Throughout his lifetime he wrote more than 40 Broadway plays and musicals; wrote and composed more than 500 songs and musical numbers; produced 128 theatrical works; and personally appeared in five films and more than 3,400 live performances. Additionally, Cohan collaborated with other authors on 14 plays, many of which his name was uncredited. In 1941, Cohan won a Congressional Medal of Honor for the song, “Over There.”
