Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor continues its 35th Anniversary summer season with “Cagney The Musical,” a rousing musical celebration of legendary actor, dancer, and Hollywood icon James Cagney.
Produced in association with Riki Kane Larimer, “Cagney The Musical” will run June 30 through July 26 at Bay Street Theater. Opening night is July 3.
Directed by Bay Street Theater Associate Artistic Director Will Pomerantz, “Cagney The Musical” traces the life and career of James Cagney, from his early days in vaudeville to his rise as one of the most unforgettable stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
“James Cagney was more than a movie star,” said Pomerantz. “He was a performer of remarkable range, discipline, charisma, and heart. This musical captures not only the legend, but the artist behind the legend.”
Best remembered for his tough-guy film roles, Cagney was also a gifted song-and-dance man whose Oscar-winning performance as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy remains one of the great musical performances in American film history.
Filled with tap dancing, original songs, classic George M Cohan favorites, and the grit, glamour, and heart of old Hollywood, “Cagney The Musical” brings audiences inside the story of a performer who could command the screen with a glare, light up a stage with a dance step, and redefine what it meant to be an American entertainer.
Featuring singers, dancers, musicians, and a story rooted in the enduring spirit of American show business, “Cagney The Musical” is both a tribute to an American original and a reminder of the power, joy, and immediacy of live theater.
The production stars Robert Creighton as James Cagney, reprising the role he originated and helped create. Creighton also co-wrote the music and lyrics with Christopher McGovern. Book by Peter Colley.
The cast also features Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and actor Melissa Manchester, Jim Borstelmann, Corinne C. Broadbent, Audrey Cardwell, Emma Kantor, Daniel Plimpton, Bruce Sabath, and Michael Starr.
“There may be no better time than July to celebrate a story like Cagney,” said Scott Schwartz, Artistic Director of Bay Street Theater. “Theater has the power to lift us up, bring us together, and remind us of the ideals that continue to inspire us. ‘Cagney The Musical’ does not shy away from that spirit. It is patriotic in the best sense: full of energy, heart, determination, and love for the American art forms that helped shape our cultural history.”
For tickets, visit baystreet.org.