Theatre Under The Stars
www.tuts.com

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
MOUNTS MOST EXPENSIVE REGIONAL PRODUCTION OF

"MY FAIR LADY"

JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 16, 2003

Eliza Doolittle (Glory Campton) does the "new small talk" with Freddy Eynsford - Hill (Robert Hunt) and Henry Higgins (Paul Schoeffler) in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett. Now showing through February 16, 2003.

HOUSTON, TEXAS…Just you wait, 'enry 'iggins! Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) mounts a multi-million dollar production of the 1957 Tony Award-winning musical, My Fair Lady, January 30 - February 16 at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby at Walker). Mounted in conjunction with Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn, N.J.), the Ordway Theatre of St. Paul, the 5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle), the Dallas Summer Musicals, and Theatre of the Stars (Atlanta), this new production of My Fair Lady featuring all-new sets and costumes is "the most expensive regional production of My Fair Lady ever mounted," according to TUTS Founder, Frank M. Young.

Professor Henry Higgins (Paul Schoeffler) strives to convince Colonel Pickering (Jim Bernhard) that he is "An Ordinary Man" in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

Based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, My Fair Lady tells the story of a well-to-do professor, Henry Higgins, who takes a raggedy flower peddler, Eliza Doolittle, and turns her into a lady. Alan Jay Lerner supplied the book and lyrics, while writing partner Frederick Loewe supplied the music. Mr. Lerner and Mr. Loewe also collaborated on such hits as Gigi and Camelot. After opening on Broadway on March 15, 1956, My Fair Lady, which won nine Tony Awards, ran for six-and-a-half years before closing. Still considered one of the most successful musicals in history, Lerner & Loewe's popular show was revived on Broadway in 1976, 1981 and 1993.

Glenn Casale, who most recently directed Theatre Under The Stars' 2001 production of Into the Woods, will direct this all-new production, while designer Michael Anania will provide the scenery. Mr. Casale directed the 1999 Tony-nominated production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, which also received four Emmy nominations after airing on the A&E channel. Most recently, Mr. Casale directed the World Premiere production of Bingo at the Ordway Center and is currently working on a new Broadway production of Camelot. Mr. Anania, who has served as resident designer at Paper Mill Playhouse for more than a decade, has served as scenic designer for the PBS special on "Rodgers and Hart," and for New York's Bottom Line, he designed Leader of the Pack, among others. Costumes will be designed by Gregory Poplyk.

Eliza Doolittle (Glory Crampton) coaxes her horse, Dover to "pick up the pace" as Freddy Eynsford - Hill (Robert Hunt) and Professor Henry Higgins (Paul Schoeffler) admires her zeal in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

Glory Crampton, who originated the role of Christine in TUTS' 1991 World Premiere of Kopit/Yeston's Phantom, will portray Eliza Doolittle. Most recently seen in Off-Broadway's Prince and the Pauper, Paul Schoeffler, who will play Henry Higgins, has also been seen opposite Cathy Rigby in the Tony and Emmy-nominated Peter Pan. Houston actor Jim Bernhard will portray Colonel Pickering, while Ed Dixon, whose Broadway credits include The Iceman Cometh, Les Misérables, Cyrano and The Scarlet Pimpernel, will portray Alfred Doolittle. Rounding out the cast are Marge Carroll as Mrs. Pearce, Robert Hunt as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Patricia Fraser as Mrs. Higgins, and Ricky Carlson as Zoltan Karpathy.

Alfred P. Doolittle (Ed Dixon) and pals Harry (David Thome) and Jamie (Philip Lehl) enjoy a "little bit of luck." in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

Single tickets for My Fair Lady ($25-$68) are available to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm); or on-line at www.tuts.com.



MUSICAL NUMBERS:
ACT I
SCENE 1 - Outside, Covent Garden:

"Why can't the English?" (Higgins)
"Wouldn't it be Loverly?" (Eliza and Cockneys)

SCENE 2 - Tottenham Court Road

"With a Little Bit of Luck" (Doolittle, Harry, Jamie)

SCENE 3 - Higgins Study
"I'm an Ordinary Man" (Higgins)

Professor Henry Higgins (Paul Schoeffler) decides if he wants to take raggedy Eliza Doolittle (Glory Crampton) on as a student. Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

SCENE 5 - Outside Ascot
SCENE 6 - ASCOT
Ascot Gavotte (Ensemble)

Mrs. Higgins (Patricia Fraser) scolds her son, Henry (Paul Schoeffler), for bringing a flower peddler to Ascot in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

SCENE 7 - Outside Higgins House, Wimpole Street
"On the Street where you live" (Freddy)

SCENE 8 - Higgins' Study
SCENE 9 - The Transylvanian Embassy Promenade
"The Embassy Waltz" (Higgins, Eliza, Pickering, Ensemble)
SCENE 10 - The Ballroom of the Embassy

ACT II
SCENE 1 - Higgins Study

"You Did It" (Higgins, Pickering, Mrs. Pearce, Servants)
"Just You Wait" reprise (Eliza)

SCENE 2 - Outside Higgins' House

"On the Street where you live" reprise (Freddy)

"Show me" (Eliza, Freddy)

SCENE 3 - Flower Market, Covent Garden
"Wouldn't it be Loverly?" reprise (Eliza, Cockneys)

MY FAIR LADY

"Get me to the church on time" (Doolittle, Jamie, Cockneys)

SCENE 4 - Upstairs hall of Higgins' house
"A Hymn to him" (Higgins)
SCENE 5 - The Garden of Mrs. Higgins' house
"Without you" (Eliza, Higgins)

SCENE 6 - Outside Higgins' House

"I've Grown accustomed to her face" (Higgins)

SCENE 7 - Higgins' Study

Sponsors of TUTS' production of My Fair Lady include BMC Software, Duke Energy, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Hickam, and JP Morgan Chase. My Fair Lady is sponsored in part by the City of Houston. Air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors are KPRC-TV/Channel 2 and the Houston Chronicle.

Theatre Under The Stars, one of America's largest producers of non-profit musical theatre, was founded in 1968 by Frank M. Young. Theatre Under The Stars was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and has since performed there each summer, giving Houston 42 lavish musicals such as South Pacific, West Side Story and The Who's Tommy, all remaining free. Since its founding, Theatre Under The Stars has produced more than 240 major musicals including many local, national and world premieres, such as Jekyll & Hyde, Sayonara, Kopit/Yeston's Phantom, and is currently represented on Broadway with Beauty and the Beast. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, Theatre Under The Stars' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,000 students annually.

Alfred P. Doolittle (Ed Dixon) comes to the home of Professor Henry Higgins (Paul Schoeffler) to discuss compensation for his daughter in Theatre Under The Stars' multi-million dollar production of MY FAIR LADY. Photo by Bruce Bennett.