Musical theater satire comes to Vero Voce stage

Vero Voce Theater, 951 State Ave. in St. Charles, will present Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart's "The Musical of Musicals (The Musical)" at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays, March 11-20.

In this hilarious satire of musical theater, one story becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a different master of the form, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim. The basic plot: June is an ingénue who can't pay the rent and is threatened by her evil landlord.

Will the handsome leading man come to the rescue? The variations are: a Rodgers & Hammerstein version, set in Kansas in August, complete with a dream ballet; a Sondheim version, featuring the landlord as a tortured artistic genius who slashes the throats of his tenants in revenge for not appreciating his work; a Jerry Herman version, as a splashy star vehicle; an Andrew Lloyd Webber version, a rock musical with themes borrowed from Puccini; and a Kander & Ebb version, set in a speak-easy in Chicago.

This comic valentine to musical theater was the longest running show in the York Theatre Company's 35-year history before moving to off-Broadway.

It is directed by Dennis Brown, co-owner, with assistant director Katie Czajka, with music direction by Dawn Harkins, co-owner, and produced by David Rodriguez, artistic director.

The cast includes Anne Arza of Downers Grove, Susan O'Byrne of Hinsdale, Jocelyn Adamski of Oak Park, Virginia Kammerer of St. Charles, Jonathan Witt of Naperville, Brian Rabinowitz of Oak Park and Richard Trost of South Elgin.

General admission tickets are $20, $18 for seniors and students, and $12 for children, age 12 and younger, and may be purchased online at www.verovoce.com or by calling (630) 584-0139. All major credit cards accepted. Reservations are recommended.