<\/p>\n
Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe winner Mark Sonnenblick<\/a> has written a new song exclusively for the Muny’s upcoming production of\u00a0Meet Me in St. Louis\u2014<\/em>the heartwarming musical\u00a0about the Smith family\u2019s preparations for the 1904 St. Louis World\u2019s Fair\u2014which will play the St. Louis, Missouri, venue August 6-13.<\/p>\n Entitled \u201cThat\u2019s Enough of That,\u201d the song is written for the character Katie Connelly, the Smith family\u2019s beloved housekeeper, who will be played in the Muny production by Tony winner Beth Leavel<\/a>, who just concluded an acclaimed engagement\u00a0in the title role of the Ogunquit Playhouse’s\u00a0<\/a>Hello, Dolly!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Arranged and orchestrated by Greg Anthony Rassen, the song will be performed in the musical’s second act when eldest Smith daughters Esther and Rose are frustrated by Lucille Ballard\u2019s breaking of custom ahead of their final Christmas Ball in St. Louis. Katie steps in to\u00a0give them some wry advice.<\/p>\n \u201cWriting a new song for a musical as beloved as\u00a0Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em> is both a tremendous honor and an inspiring challenge,\u201d Sonnenblick said in a statement. \u201cI, of course, feel the same way about getting to write for Beth. I only hope \u2018That\u2019s Enough of That\u2019 seems like a natural extension of Katie\u2019s warm humor and heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSince 1960, when The Muny premiered the first stage edition of Meet Me<\/em>, more than 25 songs that weren\u2019t in the film version have appeared in various stage adaptations\u2014including a 1989 Broadway production,\u201d added Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. \u201cThe 1944 film was what we today would call a jukebox musical. It had only four original songs, and the rest were popular known songs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we produced the show in 2018, Gordon Greenberg<\/a>\u2019s revised book made us understand that Katie needed a new second-act number. The opportunity to add a new song by one of today\u2019s most exciting songwriters is incredibly special.\u201d<\/p>\n Meet Me in St. Louis,<\/em>\u00a0in fact,\u00a0has evolved with each Muny staging. Its book was revised by The Muny in the 1990s and again for the centennial season. The 2018 script, with additional material by Greenberg, will also be used for this summer\u2019s production, the ninth at The Muny.<\/p>\n Sonnenblick recently co-wrote seven songs for KPop Demon Hunters<\/em>, including \u201cGolden,\u201d \u201cYour Idol,\u201d and \u201cWhat It Sounds Like,\u201d earning him an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe and an extended run as the No. 1 songwriter on the Billboard Hot 100. His musical Midnight at The Never Get<\/em>, starring Ben Platt<\/a> and directed by David Cromer<\/a>, is currently playing at\u00a0London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.<\/p>\n Leavel, a Tony winner for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone<\/a><\/em>, has appeared in 13 Muny productions, including Gypsy<\/em>; Oklahoma!<\/em>; Hello, Dolly!<\/em>; Nunsense: Muny Style!<\/em>; Thoroughly Modern Millie<\/em>; Annie<\/em>; Mame<\/em>; 42nd Street<\/em>; and Grease<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The upcoming production of\u00a0Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em> will be directed by\u00a0Maggie Burrows<\/a> with
Joining Leavel on stage\u00a0will be Broadway
Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em> has music and lyrics by Ralph Blane<\/a> and
The 1944 film starred Judy Garland<\/a>. Songs include \u201cHave Yourself a
The production will also have associate choreography by Michael
The Muny artistic staff includes Artistic Director and Executive
Season 108 at The Muny continues with\u00a0Disney\u2019s Newsies<\/em> (through\u00a0July 22), Ain\u2019t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations<\/em> (July 27-August 2), Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em> (August 6-13), and Something Rotten!<\/em> (August 17-23).<\/p>\n
\nchoreography by Sarah Meahl<\/a> and music direction by conductor Paul
\nByssainthe Jr.<\/p>\n
\nmarried couple Patti Murin<\/a> as Mrs. Anna Smith and Colin Donnell<\/a> as Mr.
\nAlonzo Smith plus Katerina McCrimmon<\/a> as Esther Smith, Stan Brown as
\nGrandpa Prophater, Andrew Poston<\/a> as John Truitt, Kyla Stone<\/a> as Rose
\nSmith, Ilan Eskenazi<\/a> as Lon Smith, Lilah Levinson as Tootie Smith,
\nJoylin Bass as Agnes Smith, and Lissa deGuzman as Lucille Ballard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Hugh Martin<\/a>, plus additional material by Richard Rodgers<\/a> and Oscar
\nHammerstein II; George W. Meyer<\/a>, Edgar Leslie<\/a>, and E. Ray Goetz<\/a>; and
\nKerry Mills<\/a> and Andrew B. Sterling. The musical has an original book by
\nHugh Wheeler<\/a> with a revised book by Gordon Greenberg, based on The Kensington Stories<\/em> by Sally Benson and the MGM motion picture Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em>. The 1989 Broadway production was nominated for four 1990 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.<\/p>\n
\nMerry Little Christmas,\u201d \u201cThe Boy Next Door,\u201d \u201cThe Trolley Song,\u201d and
\n\u201cWhenever I\u2019m With You.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSantomassimo, scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer<\/a>, costume design by Leon
\nDobkowski, lighting design by Paige Seber<\/a>, sound design by Joshua
\nHummel, video design by Kylee Loera<\/a> and
\nGreg Emetaz, wig design by Kelley Jordan, and production stage
\nmanagement by Willie
\nPorter. Casting is by The Telsey Office<\/a>‘s Rachel Hoffman.<\/p>\n
\nProducer Isaacson, Associate Artistic Director Michael Baxter,
\nDirector of Production Tracy Utzmyers, and Music Supervisors Michael
\nHorsley and Evan Roider.<\/p>\n