Theater steps up with lively '30s show

ST. PETERSBURG -- A Cole Porter musical that starred Ethel Merman in its original Broadway run hits the stage Thursday at the St. Petersburg Little Theater.

Anything Goes and its cast of lovestruck characters features veteran actor Susan Demers in the role of Reno Sweeney, a fast and sexy nightclub owner who also is an evangelist of sorts.

"She helps you commit all the sins, and turns around and saves you," said musical director Paul Johnson.

Directing is Michael Schwartzberg, who last year portrayed Tevye in the Little Theater's acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Demers is a lawyer whose recent community theater credits include her portrayal of Sarah Bernhardt in Ladies of the Camellias, Ruth the Pirate Maid in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, and both Belinda Blair and Flavia Hunt in Noises Off, a play within a play.

She is joined by Rand Smith as Billy Crocker, who is pursuing lovely Englishwoman Hope Harcourt aboard an ocean liner. Two years in a row, Smith has won Lary awards, which honor area community theater actors and crews.

Trish Eckert portrays Harcourt, who delivers one of the play's favorite songs, All Through the Night.

Tim Foster plays the stuffy Englishman Sir Evelyn Oakleigh and Ron Zeitz is Moonface Martin, a small-time crook who desperately craves the big time.

Anything Goes came to Broadway in 1934 at the height of the Depression and was widely viewed as an antidote to the doldrums of the era.

"It's a lot of paced comedy, sight gags, tap dancing. We fortunately have a choreographer who's helping (the actors) learn lifts, tricks and tumbles. So it's pretty much an exciting show," Johnson said.

Jani Roberts is the choreographer.

Besides the title number, other songs in Anything Goes include I Get a Kick Out of You, Blow Gabriel Blow, You're the Top, Friendship and Easy to Love.

Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday's matinee is 2 p.m. The cycle repeats next week with 8 p.m. shows April 25-27 and a 2 p.m. matinee April 28.

Tickets are $16, $8 for students with IDs. The box office is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Little Theater is at 4025 31st St. S. Call 866-1973.

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