EDMT Announces Performances for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'

El Dorado Hills, CA---It's the Roaring Twenties! Jazz is bursting onto the scene, class barriers are dissolving, and gender roles are being turned on their ears. Against this backdrop of faster cars and shorter skirts, a small-town girl comes to New York City hoping to learn how the other half lives. But what starts out as a bold declaration of independence quickly turns into a whirlwind of money, romance, kidnapping, and tap-dancing stenographers, all leading to hilarious hijinks and a surprise ending that could happen only in New York!  

The 1967 film Thoroughly Modern Millie starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing and Beatrice Lilly paved the way for the successful 2002 Tony Award winning Broadway stage version of this hilarious and heart warming musical.   Now award winning El Dorado Musical Theatre will open “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on July 18 at the Jill Solberg Theater in Folsom and aims to keep you laughing and your toes tapping right through July 27th at their weekend matinee and evening performances.

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” tells the story of young and naïve Millie Dillmount (Lauryn Caruso), a Kansas girl, who comes to New York to pursue her dream of becoming "thoroughly modern" and marrying for money instead of love. She meets and is attracted to poor, fun-loving Jimmy (Chris Meissner), goes to work for pompous Mr. Trevor Graydon (Spencer Borup) with every intention of marrying him. When not typing up a storm at the Sincere Trust Insurance Company, Millie befriends her fellow residents at a hotel for single and aspiring actresses.

The subplot swirls around the hotel proprietress, the mysterious, sinister and hilarious Mrs. Meers (Hilary Wells) who employs Ching Ho (Stefan Sorgea) and Bun Foo (Brian Farmer), to kidnap any “orphans” checking into The Hotel Priscilla as part of her sideline dealings in white slavery. One of the potential victims is Millie's new best friend, the genteel heiress Miss Dorothy Brown (Krista Mackin). Millie also falls under the protective wing of Muzzy Van Hossmere (Savannah Argyle), a cabaret singer who made exactly the kind of marriage Millie has in mind.

Producing a musical with a heavy emphasis on tap dancing is a feat that EDMT has had tremendous success with before.  Their 2007 production of “42nd Street” played to rave reviews, amazing audiences that youth performers between the ages of 13-20 could perform the original Broadway tap choreography in the opening number of that production.  Debbie Wilson directed and choreographed “42nd Street”, which won nine SARTA Elly Awards that year including Best Overall Production in a Young People’s Musical, Best Choreography, Best Musical Direction, Best Costumes, Best Lighting, Best Leading Actress, Best Leading Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor.   EDMT sets the bar higher still with “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and Debbie Wilson will again direct and choreograph, bringing to the stage fifty three highly seasoned  performers who will sing, tap and Charleston their hearts out to the delight of all.     

How is El Dorado Musical Theater able to bring amateur productions with professional quality to the local community? The support of local business sponsors, such as Parker Development, help underwrite the many costs of realizing a full scale production including professionally created period costumes, award winning lighting, sound design and scenery that will bring you right back to the streets of New York in 1922.  EDMT is indebted to all the businesses that have supported EDMT and take such a vibrant interest in arts in the community.

Tickets are on sale now for this “must see” musical and are available for purchase online at www.edmt.info or by calling the box office at (916) 941-SING.  Group discounts and discounts for seniors and students are also available.

Date : July 18th Through July 27th, 2008.

Click here to View the Thoroughly Modern Millie Contact Sheet.