Atlanta Lyric Theatre Opens Season with Anything Goes

What better way to open the 33rd season of musicals for the Atlanta Lyric Theatre than with ANYTHING GOES, the show that has won six Tony awards, as well as the 2011 Drama Desk Awards for Best Revival, Best Choreography and Best Actress, and the 1987 Outer Critic's Drama Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Revival. The musical also introduced several songs that have become legendary standards, such as "Anything Goes," "It's De-lovely," "Friendship," "You're the Top," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," and "I Get a Kick Out of You."

Debuting in 1934 in the midst of the Depression, ANYTHING GOES became an instant success, running for over 400 performances. This age-old tale of boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-meets-another-girl, boy-gets-one-of-the-girls, done as a zany shipboard musical, features the brilliant words and music of the incomparable Cole Porter. It has remained an audience favorite, playing to Off-Broadway audiences in 1962, then returning to Broadway in 1987 and 2011. ANYTHING GOES also had a successful run in England's West End in 1982 and was revived there in 2002.

When Billy Crocker learns his ex-fiancee, Hope, is onboard the S.S. American, he stows away to try and win her back, not knowing that Hope is heading to England to marry the very wealthy Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Meanwhile, Billy's friend, evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeney, turns her sights upon Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. To remain on board the ship, Billy borrows an unused ticket and passport from incognito gangster Moon Face Martin, disguising himself as the gangster's missing confederate. Will Billy get Hope? Will Reno get Sir Evelyn? Will Billy be taken into custody, along with Moon Face? This madcap romantic comedy is filled with music, dance, mistaken identities, and hilarity. It promises to deliver a fun-filled evening of theatre for all.

With stage and music direction by Lyric Artistic Director Brandt Blocker and choreography by Karen Hebert, Lisa Manuli as Reno Sweeny headlines the cast of ANYTHING GOES. Manuli was recently seen in "Motherhood the Musical" at the 14th Street Playhouse and in Annie at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. The Lyric's Associate Artistic Director Alan Kilpatrick plays notorious gangster Moon Face Martin. Kilpatrick was last seen in The Lyric's hit productions of "Legally Blonde" and "Gypsy."

Others in the all-Atlanta cast include Jackie Prucha, Dustin Lewis, Laura Floyd, Jeremy Wood, Steve Hornibrook, Jennifer Smiles Plumley, Andy Danh, Jono Davis, George Deavours, Nicholas Crawley, Findley Hansard, Becca Potter, Priscilla Curtis, Victoria Drothler, Chris Lewis, Tucker Weinmann, Fenner Eaddy, Preston Watson, Kara Noel Harrington, Andrew Cole, Austin Tijerina, Dan Ford, and Stephanie Anne Lloyd.

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