'My Fair Lady'

The repertory theatre in my area just announced it's 2004-05 season and the first show they are going to do is 'My Fair Lady'. It is described by the theatre as being performed by an ensemble of 10 actors and using composer Frederick Loewe's rarely-heard original two-piano musical arrangements.

I know all about this musical, but I have no clue what it means by the two-piano score and why only 10 actors are in it- maybe the actors are this theatre's idea, but I'm just wondering if anyone's ever seen it performed this way.

Hope that made sense.
-bb2005

Updated On: 6/29/04 at 11:40 AM

Here's the Times review of the McCarter production:
http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9C02EED61F30F934A25755C0A9629C8B63

---

Gary Griffin (the director of the upcoming Color Purple musical) directed this show in Chicago with this format and McCarter just closed its run this past sunday. The show is in the midst of being transferred to Hartford Stage (opens July 7th)with the same cast (albiet with a different Eliza and Higgins) - all under Griffin's leadership. It's gotten great reviews in each incarnation, and it features Jane Connell (The Full Monty and Mame - on film), Jim Stanyek (Hero in the Forum revival w/Nathan Lane), Stephen Mo Hannan (Original cast of CATS, and wrote a book about being in the show)...
Definitely worth seeing! My best friend is the ASM on the show and I just got back from moving her up to Hartford today... that was a drive!
But I digress,
DT.

Gary Griffin DID NOT originate the concept of the ten-actor version of MY FAIR LADY. It was first done four years ago at Trinity Rep in Providence, Rhode Island, directed by Amanda Dehnert. Griffin was merely the first director to rip off Dehnert's concept. Now everyone is doing it!