Pal Joey Will Charm You
SDSU's master of fine arts candidates production will run from Feb. 28 through March 9.
This semester, SDSU NewsCenter will focus on the arts with stories of the creative endeavors of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Gambling. Gangsters. A heavy cloud of cigar and cigarette smoke.
So sets the scene for San Diego State University’s musical theatre program staging of "Pal Joey," a musical based on a character and situations created in a series of short stories written by John O’Hara and published in The New Yorker.
The production boasts snappy dialogue and a Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart score, including “I Could Write a Book” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."
"Pal Joey" is the story of a love-triangle and questionable ethics all in the name of getting ahead in life. With a variety of musical numbers featuring blues, jazz, big band music and dancing, Pal Joey sets the scene to highlight the talent of SDSU’s musical theatre master of fine arts candidates.
“Pal Joey is enhanced by the outstanding talent of our current class of MFA candidates,” said Paula Kalustian, director of the program. “Many of them have extensive professional experience on and off Broadway. This experience, coupled with this performance being their final performance in the MFA program, is sure to delight audiences.”
About the cast
Cody Walker, who performed in the National Tour of 42nd Street, plays Joey Evans. Vera Simpson, the bored, rich socialite who falls for Joey, is played by Roxane Carrasco who is best known for her eight years on Broadway in the musical "Chicago."
Lead roles are rounded out by Sasha Weiss playing Gladys Bumps, who dislikes and distrusts Joey. Weiss has performed professionally off-Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. Finally, Kimberly Doreen Burns plays the role of Linda English, a naïve young girl who is easily impressed by Joey’s lies. Burns has performed professionally off-Broadway and internationally.
More information
The production will run from Feb. 28 through March 9 at the Don Powell Theatre. Visit SDSU's School of Theatre, Television and Film website for more information.
About the Musical Theatre Program
As one of only two master of fine arts in musical theatre programs in the nation, SDSU’s program is unique in its integration of conservatory-style training paired with academic study. Throughout their two years at SDSU, the students undergo intensive training as artist-scholar-educators in the field of musical theatre.
