BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS

THE GINGER MUSICAL

Conceived and developed by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern Book/Musical Arrangements/Original Songs by Christopher McGovern With music by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Jerome Kern

Date:  Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Time:  10:00am (please meet at the Herberger Theatre no later than 9:30am)
Location:  Herberger Theatre, 222 E. Monroe, Phoenix
Cost:  $10 children; $18 adults (over 18)
Payment deadline:  August 5, 2010
RSVP:  email jan@theparsonsfamily.com to reserve your seat and receive payment information
 

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Arizona Theatre Company's policy is that children under 4 years are not allowed inside the theatre.   

 

She danced her way into our hearts in the arms of Fred Astaire, setting the gold standard for grace and elegance on the silver screen. In her surprising true-life story, we follow Ginger Rogers from the vaudeville stage at the age of 15 through her ascension to Hollywood goddess. Backwards in High Heels is the story of a small-town girl from Texas who dazzled the whole wide world, playing everything from 'the girl next door' to the modern woman with a mind of her own. It's a candy box of show-stopping dance numbers, great songs and some surprising revelations about the movie legend.

The title of the show is from the oft-repeated phrase:  “Ginger Rogers danced every step that Fred Astaire did….BUT…Ginger did it backwards and in high heels.”  

 

'Ginger' Dances With Snap!'

On the screen, Ginger Rogers exuded grace, humor and confidence, especially with her most-famous dance partner Fred Astaire. You get to see that buoyant personality, along with a less attractive and harsher side in the high-spirited and light-hearted musical 'Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical.' It’s told in a mostly sprightly and somewhat campy style that becomes darker as Rogers achieves fame and tries to move beyond her films with Astaire. As conceived by Lynette Barkley and Christopher McGovern, the show comes off as a smart movie biography that might have been made in the 1930s by RKO, but with modern twists to allow the blemishes to show.

McGovern’s book cleverly runs through the biography with energetic dances (by Patti Colombo) and musical montages set to carefully chosen songs that speak to the story. Four of Rogers’ five marriages are dispatched during the song 'Change Partners,' and you see her more demanding nature about career choices during 'Let’s Face the Music and Dance,' which begins with the line, 'There may be trouble ahead.'

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
 

Remember that this theatre does NOT issue individual tickets, I will have a group invoice.  Therefore, we will meet at 9:30am in front of the Herberger Theatre to gather as a group and be ready to go inside when they begin seating.   Please check in with me  so that I know that you have arrived.  I have found that people are able to locate my identical twin daughters in a crowd easier than finding me.   They always dress alike, and their photographs can be seen at http://www.theparsonsfamily.com .   If you arrive late, it's possible that we've already gone into the theatre.     Let the theatre company representative know that you are in Jan Parsons' Homeschool group.   I always let them know if there are families that haven't arrived when we go into the theatre.  It is at their sole discretion, however, on when and where you are seated.  Most of the companies fill the theatre from front to back, row by row, so it's probable that you will not sit with our group if you arrive late.  They may choose to seat other groups before you.  If the show has already begun, they may require you to wait for an appropriate time so as not to disturb others, meaning that you may miss some of the show.  

Please see "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding refund policy and for other important information.