Arizona Theatre Company offers ‘stitch-in-your-side funny’ musical
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Arizona Theatre Company brings the hilarious and joyful play, ‘The Legend of George McBride,’ from Tony award-winning playwright Matthew Lopez to the Temple of Music & Art in Tucson from June 3 through 24 and to the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix from June 30 through July 16.
Praised as “stitch-in-your-side funny … full of sass and good spirits” by the New York Times, this music-filled comedy follows Casey, an Elvis impersonator with everything going for him, including a flashy sequin jumpsuit. But, just like that, he loses his gig when the owner of the run-down bar where he works hires a drag show to attract more customers.
Worse, he’s broke, his rent is overdue, and his wife announces a baby on the way.
“The King” transforms into an all-out queen with the help of some new friends who become the second family Casey never saw coming. Loaded with music, humor and fabulous, bold costumes, this high-energy, acclaimed play is a reminder that the path to prosperity and fulfillment may sometimes take an unexpected turn and will challenge your assumptions with extraordinary depth and humor.
“Steeped in the tradition of what a parent will sacrifice to provide for their family comes this hilarious comedy by one of America’s most treasured living playwrights,” says Matt August, Arizona Theatre Company Kasser Family Artistic Director. “It’s a story of survival, reinvention, adaptation and how we create community and family in times of need. What could possibly be more American than that?”
The production is directed by Meredith McDonough, who is the former associate artistic director at Actors Theatre of Louisville for seven years; the director of new works at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California; and has also worked with multiple theater companies in New York City including the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company and Atlantic Theater Company.
Ms. McDonough has also served on the board of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society for five years. She has directed plays such as ‘Angels in America,’ ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,’ ‘Opus, Noises Off,’ ‘The Whipping Man’ and the world premiere of the musical ‘Triangle.’
‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ is written by Matthew Lopez, most widely known for his 2006 Obie Award and John Gassner New Play award-winning work, ‘The Whipping Man.’
Mr. Lopez is the 2021 Tony award winner for his play ‘The Inheritance’ and a 2023 Tony award nominee for the musical ‘Some Like It Hot.’
