Photo Flash: Richard Maltby Jr. Visits STAGES St. Louis' AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

On Friday, June 29, 2012 Tony Award winner and Ain't Misbehavin' creator, Richard Maltby Jr. visited STAGES ST. LOUIS to experience their critically acclaimed production first hand. Following the 8:00 pm performance Maltby Jr., met with the cast and crew to congratulate them on a successful run. Check out photos of Maltby with the cast below!

"STAGES just produced my show Ain't Misbehavin' and it is one of the best productions this show has ever received." Maltby Jr. added, "Cast, direction, design and musicianship were all on the highest level. ClEarly Stages is a theatre that is devoted to work of the highest theatrical quality, and I hope everyone in St. Louis realizes how lucky they are to have such a theatre producing in their community. This is Broadway level work (or higher), and everyone- theatre staff and board members to the audiences themselves- should be very proud."

Mr. Maltby Jr is the theatre director, producer, screenwriter, and lyricist most famous for writing the lyrics to Miss Saigon, Baby and the musical version of the film, Big. He also conceived and directed the only two musical revues to have ever won the Tony Award for Best Musical; Fosse and Ain't Misbehavin'.

Richard Maltby Jr. flew into St. Louis from New York specifically to catch the STAGES production that has been called, "A must see event," by Chris Gibson of Broadwayworld.com. Mark Bretz of Ladue News gives it "a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5," and Jamie Allman of 97.1 radio declares Ain't Misbehavin' is "the hottest show in town."

STAGES executive producer Jack Lane was thrilled to have Matlby Jr catch the production. "We are honored and beside ourselves to have Richard Maltby Jr. come to STAGES. We knew we had something special by the positive responses we have received nightly from our audiences and from the critics, but to have Mr. Maltby Jr. visit from New York and enjoy the show, is just icing on the cake."

Ain't Misbehavin' is a musical anthology of Thomas "Fats" Waller, and a tribute to the musicians of the Harlem Renaissance, bringing to life the Golden Age of jazz palaces like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom. The STAGES ST. LOUIS production featured the talented Dwelvan David, Wendy Lynette Fox, Raena White, and St. Louis natives Willena Vaughn and Eric Lajuan Summers. Joining the cast on stage was a live band of seven brilliant musicians led by Adaron "Pops" Jackson. The creative team included Director Michael Hamilton, Scenic Designer James Wolk, Lighting Designer Matthew McCarthy, Choreographer Peggy Taphorn, and Musical Director Lisa Campbell-Albert.

STAGES ST. LOUIS is committed to preserving and advancing the art form of Musical Theatre through excellence in performance and education. The recipient of twenty-eight Kevin Kline Awards over the past seven years, including three awards for Outstanding Production of a Musical, STAGES has become the leading company for musical theatre performance and education in the Midwest.

For more information, visit www.stagesstlouis.org.

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