Pal Joey
June 19-22, 2008

Pal Joey is the penultimate Rodgers & Hart collaboration. Richard Rodgers wrote, “Larry Hart loved Pal Joey not only because it was successful and people said good things about his work in it, but because of Joey himself. Joey is a disreputable character, and Larry understood and liked disreputable characters… Joey was not disreputable because he was mean, but because he had too much imagination to behave himself and because he was a little weak. While Joey himself may have been fairly adolescent in his thinking and morality, the show bearing his name certainly wore long pants, and in many respects forced the entire musical comedy theatre to wear long pants.” Many people will know Pal Joey from the Oscar-nominated film starring Frank Sinatra and from the timeless songs “I Could Write a Book” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Directed by Summer Lyric Theatre’s Artistic Director B. Michael Howard, choreographed by Edmond Kresley, and starring Broadway veteran Ian Carney, Pal Joey promises to be an instant hit.

Li'l Abner
July 10-13, 2008

Tarnation! If you're looking for a fun-filled, foot-stompin' musical taken directly from the comics, then the Tony Award-winning Li’l Abner is for you. It is pure entertainment- a side-splitting extravaganza for all. “If I Had My Druthers,” “Jubilation T. Cornpone,” “Namely You,” “Love in a Home,” “Progress is the Root of All Evil,” “Rag Off'n the Bush,” and “The Country's in the Very Best of Hands” will keep you laughing and wanting more. Director Diane Lala and choreographer Edmond Kresley will lead you through this escapade of gentle satire, rib-tickling humor, and a host of brash, catchy tunes. Li’l Abner is a fun evening of entertainment for the whole family.

OKLAHOMA!
July 31- August 3, 2008

Many people have remarked that there is something pleasing and almost profound about OKLAHOMA! It is set at the beginning of the century, written in the middle, and the revival was mounted at the end. Summer Lyric will create an OKLAHOMA! that is neither old fashioned nor new fashioned but simply matches the brilliance of the writing that somehow makes the show seem contemporary and timeless. What better sentiment with which to face any future than these words from Aunt Eller toward the end of the show:

 Oh, lots of things happen to folks. Sickness or bein’ poor and hungry even- bein’ old and afeared to die. That’s the way it is- cradle to grave. And you can stand it. There’s one way. You gotta be hearty…you cain’t deserve the sweet and tender things in life less’n you’re tough.

Summer Lyric will present you with an OKLAHOMA! that is tender and tough and sweet. This Pulitzer Prize and multi-Tony Award winner was deemed, “Best Musical of the Century” by the New York Drama League, and will be directed by Edmond Kresley with choreography by Matthew Neff (of the Broadway revival tour). Our OKLAHOMA! will leave you with a new-found respect for this classic, and singing “O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!”

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