Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24

By: Jul. 19, 2013
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Music Theatre of Wichita will present the U.S. Premiere of the new musical Betty Blue Eyes. The first new musical produced by LES MISERABLES and Phantom of the Opera producer Cameron Mackintosh in more than a decade, Betty Blue Eyes celebrated a critically acclaimed run in London in 2011. Music Theatre of Wichita is the first North American theatre to be licensed for performance of the musical, and the first professional theatre anywhere to stage the show since its West End closing. Check out a first look at the cast below!

Based on the British film "A Private Function" starring Maggie Smith, the musical tells the story of a small town in post-WWII Britain preparing for the upcoming marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and an ambitious couple who kidnap a pig named Betty, which is being secretly raised by local corrupt officials to provide the main course at a celebratory banquet.

The libretto for the stage musical, which the London Times called "A Brand New Smash Hit!," is by the Emmy Award winning writing team of Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman ("An Early Frost," "Sisters"). Betty Blue Eyes is their first musical play.

However, it was the musical score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Mary Poppins, Honk!) which initially attracted the attention of MTWichita Producing Artistic Director Wayne Bryan. Bryan, who is both producing and directing the production, explains "our friendship with authors Stiles and Drewe began when MTWichita produced Honk! in 2001, and then solidified when we created the American Cast Album. I believe our audiences will be delighted by the comic invention in this new musical. All the hard-scrabble characters foster lavish fantasies about how their lives might be different, and each fantasy is the basis of a terrific musical sequence. And the songs in the show are just as tuneful and clever as the songs our patrons loved in Honk!"

Evening performances run Wednesday July 24 -Saturday July 27 at 8pm and Sunday July 28 at 7pm; matinee performances are Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. All shows take place at Century II Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be obtained by calling the box office (316.265.3107) or visiting the Music Theatre of Wichita website (www.MTWichita.org).

Photos Courtesy of Squid Ink Creative

Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24
Larry Raben, Mary Stout, Tracy Lore

Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24
Tracy Lore

Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24
Monte Riegel Wheeler, Larry Raben

Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24
Monte Riegel Wheeler, Kim Corbett, Chet Norment, Larry Raben, Tracy Lore, Mary Stout,

Photo Flash: Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, Opening 7/24
Katie Wesler, Tracy Lore



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