Old Globe Sets Run of Yazbek’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre will present the world premiere of the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from September 15 through October 24, 2004. Based on the 1988 film of the same title, the show re-teams several of the talents behind the Old Globe/Broadway success The Full Monty: composer-lyricist David Yazbek, director Jack O’Brien, and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The show has a book by Jeffrey Lane.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the story of two con men spending time on the French Riviera. Small-time crook Freddy Benson and high-class swindler Lawrence Jamieson both make a living bilking ladies of their money but on two very different scales. Realizing that the town isn’t big enough for the two of them, they set up a competition: Whoever manages to extract $50,000 from a young female target first is the winner, and the loser has to ship out.

The show’s creative team also includes designers David Rockwell (set), Gregg Barnes (costumes), and Kenneth Posner (lighting). Musical direction is by Ted Sperling. David Brown and Marty Bell are attached as commercial producers and a Broadway run of the show is planned following the Old Globe engagement.