THE PALACE IS DANCING DELICIOUSLY WITH “42ND STREET”

CAST OF "42ND STREET"   PHOTO BY CHRIS BANNION

You’ll wish you had a pair of tap dancing shoes and a gift certificate to an Arthur Murray studio when you experience the razzle-dazzle spectacular of “42nd Street,” the musical comedy powerhouse coming to the Palace Theater in Waterbury for three performances only, Friday, October 9 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. With book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, who also directs, and choreography by Randy Skinner, the story follows a sweet, young and naive girl fresh off a bus from Allentown, PA as she tries to take a giant bite out of the Big Apple. 
Come meet Peggy Sawyer with all her eager enthusiasm and talented feet.  The fact that she arrives too late for the dance audition for the new Julian Marsh musical “Pretty Girl” doesn’t stop her from landing a coveted spot in the chorus line.  Being on Broadway means Peggy will put in twelve hour days, seven days a week, for five weeks of rehearsal, and earn the princely sum of $32 a week.  It’s the depression and times are tough, but that doesn’t discourage this bright eyed optimist from practicing her shuffle, pivots, pull backs, wings and two steps with gusto.

As luck would have it, Peggy accidentally bumps the leading lady, a fixture in show business, star Dorothy Brock and knocks her literally off her feet, breaking her ankle.  With the help of Marsh, and co-stars Billy Lawlor and Maggie Jones, Bert Barry and Anytime Annie, Peggy finds herself with thirty-six hours to learn the dance routines to take over for the lead. 
This pretty bright and bouncy show, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, features such great numbers as “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “We’re in the Money,” “Forty-Second Street,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “Lullaby of Broadway.” Come see how the newest star in the firmament comes through to save the day.

For tickets ($47-64), call the Palace Theater, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at 203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org.  Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. A festive dinner in the Poli Club precedes the show at 6 p.m. Call for reservations.

Put on a pair of tap dancing shoes and hoof on over to the Palace Theatre for a happy time of show business glitz and glamour when the shiny as a new copper penny, Peggy Sawyer, uses her fancy footwork to get her name in lights.