SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

The stage production, Singin’ In The Rain playing at the La Mirada Theatre, is adapted from the musical screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and songs by Naci Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.  The 1952 film starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald `O’Connor, and Jean Hagen.   The musical stage version opened on Broadway in 1985 and won that year’s Tony award for Best Book for a Musical.  Nothing from the movie is left out of the stage production, every song and dance, including the title number with a real rainstorm on the stage!

           

The story takes place during the silent-film era just at the time that talkies are beginning to be made.  Don Lockwood (Michael Starr and Lina Lamont (Sara King) are an on-screen couple that have been promoted as the same off-screen.  However, Don has an aversion to Lina, an egotist whose spine wrenching voice can only be a hindrance for a star in talkies. Don happens to meet Kathy Selden (Kimberly Immanuel), a talented dancer and singer who is trying to make it in films.  His longtime friend, Cosmo Brown (Brandon Burke), adds to the main characters in the story.

           

Within the plot of Singin’ In The Rain are the memorable songs sung by the very talented cast that include You are My Lucky Star, You Were Meant for Me, Good Morning, (to name a few) and of course Singin’ In The Rain which is performed in an outstanding presentation by Michael Starr as he sings and dances in a downpour of rain on the stage!  All of the original movie choreography by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen is replicated in this production directed and choreographed by Spencer Liff.   The dance routines and those performing them are marvelous. The Musical Director, Keith Harrison, conducts a full orchestra. 

            

All other cast members, who appear as characters important to the plot, include Peter Van Norden, Jamie Torcellini, Kelley Dorney, Candace J. Washington, Clarice Ordaz, Cheyenne Omani, Justin Cowen, Grant Hodges, Ethan Daniel Corbett, Bruce Merkle, Maggie Darago, and Adam Lendermon.  The Ensemble includes Chaz Feuerstine, Veronica Gutierrez, Tayler Mettra, Shanon Mari Mills, Theresa Murray, Samuel Shea, DJ Smith, RodrigoVeranda, and Breanne Wilson.

           

Singin’ In The Rain plays Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, through May 12, at the La Mirada Theatre For the Performing Arts in La Mirada.  Ticket are available by calling the Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310, or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com.

          

  I loved every moment of this wonderful production.  It is very deserving of being

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED