Thu 3/2 @ 7PM
“I’m betting you’ve never seen this musical, so this is an invitation to catch something very special,” says The Musical Theater Project’s Artistic Director Bill Rudman of the next offering in its Movies at Home series.
Never seen it? I never heard of it — and I love movie musicals! But he’s right: the 1953 film Give the Girl a Break is obscure. The razor-thin “plot” revolves around a competition to find an actress to fill the lead role in a new Broadway music when their star walks out in a huff. It comes down to three, two of whom, once cast, abandon the role by putting their man first. How very 50s of them.
It features Debbie Reynolds, who’d just been seen in Singin’ in the Rain with Gene Kelly, released the previous year, in the role of the third choice who gets the part and become a star. And it also features Bob Fosse and Gower Champion, who went on to become major forces in stage choreography, in dancing, singing and acting roles, and Champion as part of the dance team of Marge and Gower Champion. Unfortunately, the film wasn’t a box office success.
Here’s what you do. First watch Rudman’s intro telling you what to look out for. Then rent the film on YouTube and watch it. Finally, join him on Zoom to talk about the film. It’s free and open to all. Here’s the Zoom link.