Manatee Players to Put on Gershwin Show

BRADENTON – The George and Ira Gershwin show My One and Only comes to the Stone Hall stage at the Manatee Performing Arts Center on May 1. This innovative musical takes the heart-stopping songs 'S Wonderful, Funny Face and of course My One and Only from George and Ira Gershwin's classic Funny Face, along with popular numbers from other Gershwin shows and joins them with a new book.

Other songs include I Can't Be Bothered Now, He Loves and She Loves, Strike Up the Band, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Kickin' the Clouds Away. The barn-storming pilot and pretty channel swimmer are like Fred and Adele Astaire from the 1927 Funny Face, surrounded by a combination of hip dancers from the 1940s and the chic sensibility of the 1980s in this fun and spoofy production.

Area favorites Michael DeMocko and Kathryn Parks lead a talented cast which includes Brittney Klepper, Brian Chunn, John Andruzzi, Beatrice Fletcher-Miller, Sami Blouin, Victoria Tokarz, Eliza Engle, Katie Zanders, Ashley Cronkhite, Laura Priscilla Hoffman, Mark Netherly, Hunter Brown, Scott Vitale, Phillip Morehouse, Joseph Rebella, Cole Kornell, Shelton Brown, Jay A. Poppe, Edwin Folts, Phil Croome and Joe Kane.

The show is being directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby with Aaron Cassette as musical director. My One and Only runs through May 18. Performances are Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $27-$37 including facility fee for adults, $15-$18 including facility fee for teachers and $13-$16 including facility fee for students.

Tickets may be reserved by calling 941-748-5875 Monday –Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players’ website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Avenue West in downtown Bradenton.