From: njs@mrtoad.lahabra.chevron.com (n.j.spera)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre
Subject: Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood in LA
Keywords: musical, Sam Harris
Date: 12 Oct 92 20:27:39 GMT
Reply-To: njs@mrtoad.lahabra.chevron.com
Organization: Chevron, La Habra, CA



Last week Anita posted about a new musical 'Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood! by
Sam Harris opening last weekend at the La Mirada Theatre for the 
Performing Arts.  I attended the opening and thought I'd pass along some
thoughts and comments (not really a review).

HHH was presented by the Whittier - La Mirada Musical Theatre Association -
a community theatre group in suburban LA county.  Their productions are semi-
professional.  Equity actors appear courtesy of Actor's Equity.

Music written by Sam Harris
Book and lyrics by Sam Harris and Bruce H. Newberg 
Musical direction by Lucas Richman
Choreography by Toni Kaye
Directed by Sam Harris (his directorial debut)  
Orchestrations by Peter Matz 
Arrangements by Wally Harper.

Starring in HHH are Tia Riebling, Wallace Kurth, and Ray Benson.
Also starring are Rachelle Ottley, Timothy Smith, Rita McKenzie, 
Bruce H. Newberg, Jana Robbins, and Pattric Walker.
Cast including the ensemble totals 32.

HHH is the story of 3 friends Billy (Wallace Kurth), Kate (Tia Riebling) and
Freddie (Ray Benson) who decide to try their luck in Hollywood after they
loose their jobs as ushers in a theatre in NY when it closes to be turned
into a moviehouse in the early 30's.  Thus the title 'Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!
In addition there is a romantic triangle - Kate loves Billy and wants to marry
him but he's not ready, and Freddie loves Kate but she has no inkling.

HHH opens with a toetapping number "That Swing Thing", the final act of a 
musical in the theatre that is closing to become a moviehouse.  The stars
(Timothy Smith and Jana Robbins)  and director (Bruce H. Newberg)
are going to Hollywood to make a movie of the musical.  

Another large production number, the title number "Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!", 
is at the train station as the trio and the stars and director and a 
'Hedda Hopper' type character are getting ready to board the train for 
Hollywood.

What follows is the story of Billy becoming a producer by a fluke and how
he leaves his friends behind.   Eventually he sees the errors of his ways
and apologizes after Kate has become a big singing star at The Coconut
Grove - but she now loves Freddie and turns down Billy's marriage proposal.
Kate sings a couple of beautiful songs here.

The 'final' number is another big production - it's the closing number of the
movie - now back in production with Kate in the starring role.  It's
like a Ziegfield number with girls in skimpy but gorgeous outfits - a
starburst and the male star decending from above.

With the curtain call - the cast closes with a reprise of "Hurry! Hurry!
Hollywood!

I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out - it was a delightful evening's entertainment
if you like the 'old MGM' style musicals.  The sets were great although
they did have a few technical glitches - and a couple of times the performers'
bodymikes weren't picking them up.

I found most of the music to be quite catchy - in fact I've found myself
humming "Hurry Hurry Hollywood"

Some cast notes:
Tia Riebling was Hodel in the revival of "Fiddler on the Roof" and Ray
Benson is the husband of Jodi Benson.  Rita McKenzie (Phoebe Farber the 
gossip columnist) is the star of "Ethel Merman's Broadway".  Wallace
Kurth is known to watchers of daytime for "Days of Our Lives" and 
"General Hospital" but did play the Pirate King in "Pirate of Penzance"
on Broadway.

Most of the audience were subscribers to WLMMTA but I did notice Ann Miller
and Edie Adams in the audience (Toni Kaye was an assistant director of
"Sugar Babies").  It did get a standing ovation Saturday evening - and was 
a real crowd pleaser.

HHH was first written when Harris and Newberg were students at UCLA and
Wallace (Wally) Kurth and Rachelle Ottley were in the cast with them 
when it was produced by the UCLA Musical Theatre Workshop in 1981.
This was the first time the WLMMTA has presented a new musical.  If HHH
becomes successful - either on tour, on Broadway or his done by regional
theatre - WLMMTA will benefit - although at last report they were still
short of raising enough money to pay all the bills for this production.

HHH continues thru Oct 24 with performances Thurs thur Sun with matinees
on Sat and Sun.


-- 
 Nancy J. Spera, Earth Model Division 
 Chevron Petroleum Technology Co.      
 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446
 Tel: (310) 694-7761  njs@chevron.com
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre