Preview of The Full Monty

Raleigh Little Theatre Preview
By Robert W. McDowell

Six financially strapped Buffalo steelworkers bare all in the Broadway musical version of "The Full Monty"

Six financially strapped steelworkers-turned-male strippers from Buffalo, New York will bare all in the Americanized musical version of The Full Monty, which opens tonight at Raleigh Little Theatre and runs this weekend and Thursday-Sunday through June 24th. Director Haskell Fitz-Simons and choreographer Freddie-Lee Heath will stage this cheeky R-rated musical comedy, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Terrence McNally, based on the 1997 British motion picture about six desperate out-of-work husbands in Sheffield, England, once known as the "City of Steel." Julie Florin will serve as musical director for the show.

The Full Monty had its world premiere on June 1, 2000 at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, CA; the show debuted on Broadway on Oct. 26, 2000 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre; and it made its West End premiere on March 20, 2002 at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London.

The movie on which the musical is based won the 1998 Academy Award® for Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score (Anne Dudley) and was nominated for the Oscars for Best Picture (producer Uberto Pasolini), Best Director Oscar (Peter Cattaneo), and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Simon Beaufoy). The Broadway musical, which ran for 770 Performances before it closed on Sept. 1, 2002, received ten 2001 Tony Award® nominations, including nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), and Best Direction of a Musical (Jack O'Brien), but took home no Tonys.

The current Raleigh Little Theatre production will star Jon Karnofsky as Jerry Lukowski, Dillon Rust as Nathan Lukowski, Kristen McCabe as Pam Lukowski, James Ilsley as Dave Bukatinsky, Rose Martin as Georgie Bukatinsky, Timothy Corbett as Harold Nichols, Allison Lawrence as Vicki Nichols, Jaret Preston as Malcolm MacGregor, Matthew-Jason.Willis as Ethan Girard, Warren Keyes as Horse, Marty Smith as Jeanette Burmeister, and Eric Morales as Keno. The male ensemble includes Del Flack, David Hughens, Matthew Limerick, Eric Morales, Kevin O'Barr, Bobby Rathbone, and Leon Sabarsky. The female ensemble includes Katherine Anderson, Rebecca Leonard, Staci Sabarsky, Jessica Smith, and Tara Williams.

In addition to director Haskell Fitz-Simons, choreographer Freddie-Lee Heath, and musical director Julie Florin, the RLT creative team includes assistant to the director Andrew Britt, technical director Roger Bridges, scenic and lighting designer Rick Young, costume designer Su Jung, properties master Jon Byers, sound designer Becca Easley, and stage manager Bunny Safron.

According to reviews of previous productions, The Full Monty is "terrific from start to finish" (Steven Oxman, DAILY VARIETY); a "slam-dunk musical sensation" (Paul Brownfield, Los Angeles Times); a "huge hit -- a rock 'em, sock 'em, 'take it off, baby' good time with heart" (Jim Farber, DAILY BREEZE); and a "remarkably smart show and a mega crowd pleaser" (Evan Henerson, LA DAILY NEWS). Henerson added, "The Full Monty has got the goods and the energy to match. A rousing evening."

In THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, Paul Hodgins wrote, "The combined genius of O'Brien, Yazbek and McNally has created a work that makes us laugh, as often and as lustily as possible." Jay Reiner of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER called the show "One of the most exhilarating musical comedy treats to be seen in years" He also noted, "David Yazbek's witty songs have an edgy, hip quality. Jerry Mitchell's dance numbers are fresh and alive with energy and high spirits. And McNally's book is a comic gem. The show has so many highlights and show stoppers, one loses count."

In THE BOSTON GLOBE, Ed Siegel wrote, "This show is fun with toe-tapping, tuneful music and a talented ensemble cast." Robert Nesti of THE BOSTON HERALD added, "Hats off to The Full Monty! Hilariously staged with a terrific score, witty choreography and a first-rate cast." And Joyce Kulhawik of WBZ-TV in Boston confessed, "I loved The Full Monty and so will you! The show is loaded with great times, likeable, loopy characters and a standout cast!"

Nelson Pressley of THE WASHINGTON POST wrote, "[The Full Monty] is a solid musical comedy. The songs by Broadway first-timer David Yazbek are full of robust pop-rock hooks and bright, funny lyrics."

Raleigh Little Theatre presents The Full Monty Friday-Saturday, June 1-2, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 3, at 3 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, June 7-9, 14-16, and 21-23, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 10, 17, and 24, at 3 p.m. in RLT's Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $17 Thursday, Friday, and Sunday ($13 students and seniors 62+) and $21 Saturday (all seats), except $10 June 3rd (SOLD OUT). 919/821-3111 or from etix.com http://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSearch?action=previousCalendar&venue_id=279&display_month=6 &display_year=2007&cobrand=RLT. RALEIGH LITTLE THEATRE: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/fullmonty.html. INTERNET BROADWAY DATABASE: http://www.ibdb.com/Show.asp?id=10302. INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119164/.

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