Musical Theatre Guild Season to Include CALL ME MADAME, GIRL CRAZY and More

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, has announced an exciting quintet of shows to celebrate its seventeenth season of Broadway in Concert musicals.

The company of professional performers, who present concert-staged readings of seldom seen musicals, will stage five productions in two locations beginning in September, 2012. This season marks the first time all five productions will play in both Glendale and Thousand Oaks. Their 2012-2013 season will include: CALL ME MADAME, GIRL CRAZY, CHESS and two musicals making their West Coast or Los Angeles area debuts: A CATERED AFFAIR and DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY.

THE MUSICAL Theatre Guild 2012-2013 SEASON:

DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY (West Coast Premiere!)
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston, Book by Peter Stone and Thomas Meehan Based on the 1924 play "La Morte in Vacanza" by Alberto Casella; adapted for Broadway in 1929 by Walter Ferris
Based on the 1929 play, with a lush score by Maury Yeston (NINE, TITANIC), Death is sick to, well, death of being everyone's dreaded final visitor. He takes a weekend off and assumes a human guise to mingle with mortals and understand human emotion. During his "vacation", he falls in love with an engaged young woman and learns about love and sacrifice. Time Magazine ranked the show among the best of the year and
commented of the show's brief 2011 run: "Death deserved to live on." Our sincerest condolences if you miss this West Coast Premiere.

Monday, September 24, 2012 - 7:30 PM – Alex Theatre Glendale
Sunday, September 30, 2012– 3:00 PM - Sherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

CALL ME MADAME
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by Washington socialite Perle Mesta's 1949 appointment to the Ambassadorship of Luxembourg, Lindsay and Crouse set their story in "two mythical countries: the Duchy of Lichtenburg and the United States of America." Ethel Merman won the Tony© Award for her performance, and starred in the 1953 film version. The Tony© Award-winning Irving Berlin score includes such hits as "It's a Lovely Day Today" and "The Hostess with the Mostess." CALL ME MADAME is the perfect show for a little post election levity.

Monday, November 19, 2012 - 7:30 PM – Alex Theatre, Glendale
Sunday, November 25, 2012 – 3:00 PM - Sherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

CHESS
Music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Lyrics by Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus, Book by Richard Nelson
Long before their jukebox musical MAMMA MIA, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, wrote the music for this show, which literally and metaphorically showcases The Game of Kings. With lyrics by Tim Rice (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA), the story revolves around the two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess tournament. They find themselves competing for both the championship and for the affections of the woman who manages one, yet yearns for the other. The thrilling pop score includes "One Night in Bangkok" and "I Know Him So Well. "

Monday, February 11, 2013 - 7:30 PM – Alex Theatre, Glendale
Sunday, February 17, 2013 – 3:00 PM – Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

A CATERED AFFAIR (Los Angeles Premiere!)
Music and Lyrics by John Bucchino, Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the 1956 film "The Catered Affair" by Gore Vidal and the original 1955 teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky.
The honor of your presence is requested at this Los Angeles Premiere. Based on the 1956 Bette Davis film written by Gore Vidal, from the original 1955 teleplay by Paddy
Chayefsky, this chamber musical highlights an unforgettable Bronx wedding that is originally planned as a simple event and then turns into something quite different. By turns romantic, funny, insightful and touching, A CATERED AFFAIR received twelve 2011 Drama Desk nominations, the most of any show that season. This AFFAIR is not one to miss.

Monday, April 15, 2013 - 7:30 PM – Alex Theatre, Glendale
Sunday, April 21, 2013 – 3:00 PM – Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

GIRL CRAZY
Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, Book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan
Since its Broadway opening in 1930, GIRL CRAZY has dazzled audiences with its gorgeous and toe-tapping songs like "Bidin' My Time," "Embraceable You," "Treat Me Rough," "But Not For Me," and "I Got Rhythm." The show made Ginger Rogers a star and marked Ethel Merman's stage debut. Hollywood filmed it three times, most memorably with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, and although significant changes were made, it was also the loose basis for the "new" Gershwin musical, CRAZY FOR YOU.

Monday, June 10, 2013 - 7:30 PM – Alex Theatre, Glendale
Sunday, June 16 , 2013 – 3:00 PM – Scherr Forum, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Season tickets are on sale now directly through the Alex Theatre Box Office or by calling 818-243-ALEX. The season at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is available by calling 805-449-2775. The historic Alex Theatre is located at 216 North Brand Blvd in Glendale. The intimate Scherr Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., in Thousand Oaks.

For single tickets to the Alex Theatre, call the Alex Theatre Box Office at 818-243-ALEX. Single tickets to the Scherr Forum are available by calling Ticketmaster at 805-538-8700 or at the Civic Arts Plaza box office. Visit www.musicaltheatreguild.com or call 818- 848-6844 for complete schedule and venue information.