MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

December 2, 2003

World Premiere of "Irving Berlin's American Vaudeville" Jan. 30 to Feb. 8

EVANSTON --- Northwestern University will present the world premiere of “Irving Berlin’s American Vaudeville,” an original musical revue created, directed and choreographed by David H. Bell, one of the Chicago area’s most talented and innovative musical theatre directors.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and Jan. 31; 2 p.m. Feb. 1; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Feb. 6 and Feb. 7; and 2 p.m. Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, at the Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus.

Bell’s new revue explores America in its most volatile era of social, political and ideological change through the words and music of America’s greatest troubadour and shaper of American popular music -- songwriter Irving Berlin (1888-1989).

“Irving Berlin captured the energy and excitement of the early part of the last century in songs,” said Bell. “He is the only American composer who made hit music for more than six decades. All of the popular issues of the day were layered in his songs. Because of this we have a rare opportunity to see the world of the first quarter of the 20th century through the eyes of the man who popularized its major themes and social issues such as feminism, urban industrialization, modernism and the immigrant experience -- all themes that typified the era and are discussed, often comically, in the songs of Irving Berlin.”

Since Berlin was the clearest barometer of the trends, styles and history of the early 20th century, Bell’s new revue will highlight how America has changed through song.

“Berlin was a Russian-born immigrant who came to America and made his fortune,” said Bell.

“His music speaks to the urbanization of America, the glorification of the ‘American girl’ and has come to signify the concept of the American dream itself.”

Berlin composed more than 1,500 ballads, novelty tunes, love songs and dance numbers for Broadway musicals, Hollywood films and leading recording artists during his long career. Some of these hits -- “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody” and “Say it with Music” -- will be featured in the revue.

However, because of the great success of Berlin’s later theatre and movie songs (“White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and his tribute to his country, “God Bless America”) many of the songs written in the first quarter of the 20th century have been largely forgotten. To acquaint today’s audiences with these “unknown” songs, the revue will include some of Berlin’s lesser-known music such as “At the Devil’s Ball,” “You’d Be Surprised” and “I Will See You in Cuba.”

Bell is the former resident director of the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre in Lincolnshire, Ill. and the former artistic director of Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He currently is the associate artistic director of the Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta.

Northwestern University’s 2003-04 Mainstage Theatre Season is generously supported by the Sara Lee Foundation.

Single ticket prices for “Irving Berlin’s American Vaudeville” are $24 for the general public; $20 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $11 for full-time students.

Online ticket sales for Northwestern University Mainstage productions are available through TicketWeb.com by going to the Northwestern Theatre and Interpretation Center Web site at http://www.tic.northwestern.edu/tickets.html and clicking the TicketWeb icon.

For more information or to order tickets by phone, call the Theatre and Interpretation Center box office at (847) 491-7282.