I have decided to just become a shameless shill for the Reprise Theater Company of Los Angeles. For quite some time now, they've been staging short-term revivals of long-running musicals with minimal production values. This season, they're offering us They're Playing Our Song, Gigi and Kiss Me, Kate…and based on past results, I'd say they'll do a fine job with each of them.
They're Playing Our Song (book by Neil Simon, music by Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch) runs September 28 through October 10. The above graphic showing only Jason Alexander as its star was made before they'd finalized his co-star. I don't think it's been announced but it will be Stephanie J. Block, who won much acclaim in the recent Broadway production of 9 to 5. Tickets are now available for that show and for the entire season.
As noted, the show opens September 28, which is a Tuesday. That's the first public performance. The formal opening, with press and V.I.P.s in attendance, is Wednesday, September 29. Then the following Saturday, October 2, the 2 PM matinee will be preceded (from Noon 'til 1 PM) by a lecture/discussion of the history of the show. The Reprise folks have had the wisdom to secure a noted theatrical authority to present this…and, of course, I mean me. I'll tell you more about that when I figure out what's going to happen there but for now, I just thought I'd mention it in case you're pondering when to go see the thing.