“Li’l Abner”

Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank

Based on cartoon characters by Al Capp 


Musical Direction by Darryl Archibald
Choreography by Lee Martino
Directed by Michael Michetti
Limited Engagement of 16 Performances Only!
February 5 to 17 (Press Opening February 6)
at UCLA’S Freud Playhouse

The 2007-2008 season of Reprise! Broadway’s Best continues with the latest production of Li’l Abner.

“Li’l Abner” will perform Tuesday, February 5th through Sunday, February 17th at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse. For tickets, please call the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101 or visit www.reprise.org.

Welcome to Dogpatch, U.S.A., which has just been deemed "the most unnecessary, no account" town in the country. In a scramble to keep Dogpatch from being used for atomic testing and to also save the beloved Sadie Hawkins day, Li'l Abner, Daisy Mae and the other wild and colorful citizens of Dogpatch must find a reason why their town is worth something! 
Based on the famous comic strip by Al Capp, this witty musical satire features the songs "Namely You," "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands,' and the raucous, foot-stomping "Jubilation T. Cornpone."

Opening to what was described by The Daily News as “a top flight American musical, ranking with Guys and Dolls “ Li’l Abner opened on Broadway in November of 1956 and ran for 693 performances before closing in the spring of 1958. The winner of two Tony Awards, (including Best Supporting Actress and Best Choreography) this musical features music by Gene de Paul and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, with a book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. Original direction and choreography is by Michael Kidd, whose stage and screen credits include Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Finian’s Rainbow, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Where’s Charley?

Li’l Abner is known for highlighting the satirical nature of Al Capp’s comic strip. Also titled Li’l Abner, Capp’s publications ran from 1934 to 1977, being read by millions of Americans on a daily basis. Its popularity led to the debut of the Broadway musical and subsequent 1959 film release, starring much of the original Broadway cast (with the exception of Leslie Parrish, in the role of Daisy Mae). In addition, the comics inspired real life Sadie Hawkins events and a Dogpatch U.S.A. amusement park.

Li’l Abner is the third attraction of the 2007-2008 Reprise! Broadway’s Best season. It will be followed by Flora the Red Menace May 6 to 18 (press opening May 7).

“Li’l Abner” will perform Tuesday, February 5th through Sunday, February 17th (press opening February 6) at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse. For tickets, please call the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101 or visit www.reprise.org.

Prices- Tuesday, February 5th (preview) is $60; all other performances are $70 - $75. Student/Senior rush is $20, 15 minutes before showtime (subject to availability). For tickets, please call the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101. For further information on Reprise! Broadway’s Best, please visit www.reprise.org.

About Reprise!

Reprise! Broadway’s Best now in its eleventh season at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, was founded by Marcia Seligson, who served as Producing Artistic Director from 1995 – 2005, and is honored as its Founding Artistic Director. In 2007, Jason Alexander was named Artistic Director. In 2005, Jim Gardia became Producing Director. Reprise! has presented twenty-seven of America’s best and most classic musicals of this century. The late Peter Matz, one of Broadway, television and popular music’s most important conductor-arrangers, served as the musical director from the founding of Reprise! until his death in August, 2002. Gerald Sternbach has succeeded him.

Since the beginning (“Promises, Promises” starring Jason Alexander, Alan Thicke, and Jean Smart) the scope of Reprise! productions has grown considerably – the rehearsal time has doubled, costumes and scenery have increased, and orchestras have been enlarged – as Reprise! has worked its way through some of the great, and often infrequently seen American musicals.

Originally presented as “in concert” (i.e. scripts in hand), the productions are now completely staged and choreographed. The casts are drawn from the best Broadway performers working today and actors working here in Los Angeles who rarely have the opportunity to appear in musicals. The number of performances of each show has grown from seven to sixteen.

The productions have included “Finian’s Rainbow” with Andrea Marcovicci and Rex Smith; “Wonderful Town” with Lucie Arnaz and Stephanie Zimbalist; “Of Thee I Sing” with Gregory Harrison and Maureen McGovern; “The Boys From Syracuse” with David Hyde Pierce and Lea DeLaria; “Call Me Madam” with Karen Morrow; “Mack & Mabel” with Douglas Sills, Jane Krakowski and Donna McKechnie; “Strike Up The Band” with Charles Nelson Reilly; “1776” with Roger Rees and Orson Bean; “The Most Happy Fella” with Rodney Gilfry; “Anything Goes” with Rachel York and Brent Barrett; “On The 20^TH Century” with Bob Gunton, Carolee Carmello, Mimi Hines, Robert Picardo and Dan Butler; “She Loves Me” with Rebecca Luker and Scott Waara; “Babes In Arms” with Joey McIntyre and Jodi Benson; “Kismet” with Len Cariou and Anthony Crivello; “Company” with Christopher Sieber and Judith Light; “Brigadoon” with Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley; “Pippin” with Sam Harris and Michael Arden; “Applause” with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jean Louisa Kelly; “On The Town” with David Elder and Harriet Harris; “City Of Angels” with Stephen Bogardus and Burke Moses; “Zorba” with Marc Kudisch and Judy Kaye; “My One and Only” with Michael Gruber and Rachel York. “Sunday In The Park With George” with Kelli O’Hara and Manoel Felciano; and “No Strings” with Scott Bakula and Sophina Brown.

Reprise! also produced three large special events – “Sweeney Todd” with Kelsey Grammer and Christine Baranski; “Hair” with Steven Weber, Sam Harris and Marissa Jaret Winokur; and “Follies” with Patty Duke, Vikki Carr, Bob Gunton and Harry Groener.