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Steel Pier

Presented by Stratford Senior High School at Stratford Senior High School

January 28-February 6, 2010

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Stratford Playhouse dances into 2010 with the musical Steel Pier, January 28 through February 6.

The Stratford High School Playhouse has taken on a new challenge. Last year, the daring thespians learned the trapeze for "Barnum", a circus-within-a-musical, for which they won six Tommy Tune awards. Director CeCe Prudhomme, with the help of choreographer Paula Sloan, is now tackling the art of ballroom dancing to present the musical "Steel Pier". It will feature over 50 performers and opens on Thursday, January 28th for an eight-performance run.

The musical is a love story set against a dance marathon on Atlantic City’s legendary Steel Pier. Steel Pier was known for showcasing the world's top entertainers. It's been said that Big Bands weren't really big until they started to play on Steel Pier. For the price of admission, one could see unlimited performances, watch a horse dive into the ocean, enjoy vaudeville shows, and see the talented youngsters known as Tony Grant’s “Stars of Tomorrow” (long before Fox came up with American Idol). In fact, dance marathons were the reality television of the 1930’s: broadcast over the radio, they drew audiences that returned day after day to follow their heroes.Lasting months, the Steel Pier Dance Marathon offered performers an opportunity to win food, housing, and money, as well as a chance to break into show business.

Stratford’s production of "Steel Pier" is a dancing extravaganza! Preparation began in summer 2009 with formal ballroom lessons at a local studio. Prudhomme states, “It’s been challenging having to learn all the dance and partnering. “ Senior Lizzy Wild, who plays the aging celebrity Rita Racine says, “We all now watch ABC’s Dancing with the Stars – for both technique and inspiration.”

Prudhomme selected this musical because she felt the audience could relate to the parallels between the Depression and our current economy. Despite the time period, the production is spectacular. You will enjoy the score by Kandor and Ebb, who previously teamed up to create Cabaret and Chicago; original Broadway costumes; and the opportunity to see a younger generation learn to love a lost art.