Saturday Night Fever - The Musical will be on stage Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kent State University at Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center.
Saturday Night Fever - The Musical, the iconic story of Tony - the kid from Brooklyn USA - who wants to dance his way to a better life, is back! And back in an all-new production that shares Tony’s love for dancing in spectacular new ways. Fueled by the vintage Bee Gee hits, this contemporary retelling of the classic story captures the energy, passion and life-changing moments that have thrilled audiences since 1977. Now, a new generation of talented actor/singer/dancers meets a new generation of playgoers to explore the soaring sounds and pulsating rhythms of this coming-of-age disco fantasy.
Based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New York Magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night” and Norman Wexler’s hit 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever - The Musical features the world famous music of the Bee Gees. This musical adaptation of the classic film is the story of a talented, streetwise kid from Brooklyn who attempts to escape his dead-end life through dancing. The score includes many classic disco-era hits. Tony Manero is a clerk in a paint store in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. But he lives for Saturday evening and his visit to the local disco, 2001 Odyssey. At the disco, Tony is no longer an inconspicuous employee, he is the king of the dance floor. There he meets dancer, Stephanie Mangano. The two decide to take part in a dance competition. Although Tony is interested in a relationship with Stephanie, she rejects him, thinking that she can pursue higher goals and meet a better selection of men in Manhattan. But Tony and Stephanie continue to rehearse and win the dance competition. However, Tony, not happy because a competing pair of Latino dancers was clearly better, hands the championship trophy to them. The dispute divides Tony and Stephanie. After some very tragic events, Tony and Stephanie decide to remain friends.
Almost all of the songs from the original movie sound track are included in the stage musical. The album was on the top of the US album charts for 24 weeks and in the UK, the album achieved first place for 18 weeks, making it one of the most successful movie sound tracks of all time. In 1979, it won a Grammy as Album of the Year. In 2003 it reached # 131 of Rolling Stone’s “500 best albums of all time.”
This all new production of Saturday Night Fever - The Musical, presented by NorthCore Productions and 2 Luck Concepts LLC, is directed by Marcia Kash with choreography by Marc Kimelman and music direction by Steve Thomas. Tour direction is by Columbia Artists Theatricals, Gary McAvay, President (www.cami.com). Featured in the cast are Matt Alfano as Tony Manero, Tessa Alves as Stephanie, and Heather McGuigan as Annette, along with Christy Adamson, Jak Barradell, Katie Beethan, Deb Collins, Michael De Rose, Kristin Dobby, Aaron Ferguson, Nicko Giannakos, Ryan Gifford, Sarah Higgins, Galen Johnson, Kyla Musselman, David Rosser, Adam Sergison, AJ Simmons, Justin Stadnyk and Jennifer Thiessen.
Tickets for Saturday Night Fever - The Musical start at $48 and are available for purchase at the Performing Arts Center box office by calling 330-308-6400 or online at www.kent.edu/tusc/pac. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Performing Arts Center’s 2016-2017 Season is sponsored by Michael Taylor Insurance and Financial Incorporated, an Allstate Agency.
Free parking is available for all shows. Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Dr. N.E. in New Philadelphia.