Applause

REPRISE! Broadway’s Best closes its 2004-2005 season with Applause, the musical adaptation of the classic movie All About Eve, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The musical features choreography by Mark Esposito, musical direction by Gerald Sternbach, and direction by David Lee.
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls) stars as Margo Channing and Jean Louisa Kelly (Pippin, Company) stars as disingenuous ingénue Eve Harrington.

This musical is about show business and the characters are typical of Broadway’s glitter. “What is it that we’re living for?” sing the impoverished ‘gypsies: Applause, Applause. Margo Channing, is a superlative actress and a sophisticated comedienne however, Margo’s faults are as grand as her talent. She is paranoid about her age, her career and her relationship to her director boyfriend, Bill Sampson.

And then there’s Eve.

Eve Harrington has another view of the theatre’s bright lights. She says Margo’s performances, the way she conveys life on stage, have saved her from despair. Eve’s ingenuous admiration relaxes Margo so much, that Margo befriends the ingénue. However, Eve isn’t everything she appears to be — so fasten your seat belts…it’s going to be a bumpy night!