SAN FRANCISCO (19 September 1995) -- 42nd St. Moon presents a bit of Heaven on Earth with I MARRIED AN ANGEL, a Rodgers and Hart screwball comedy from 1938, and the 5th of 42nd St. Moon's six-show HAMMERSTEIN & HART FESTIVAL. I MARRIED AN ANGEL will be presented in a concert version October 13 - 29, 1995 (Preview: October 12) at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre.

I MARRIED AN ANGEL contains some of Rodgers and Hart's best-loved songs, including "Spring is Here," "I'll Tell the Man in the St." and the title song. The show ran for 338 performances on Broadway before beginning a national tour that ended at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in January of 1940. An immediate hit, I MARRIED AN ANGEL was unanimously lauded by the press: "From the top shelf of the Rodgers and Hart music cabinet," praised the New York Times. "Extraordinarily beautiful score. Musical comedy has met its masters." The New York Post enthused, "The most delightful score Rodgers and Hart have ever written -- altogether intoxicating," and the New York Sun hailed the show as "A bubbling oasis in a springtime desert."

Written originally in 1933 as a film to follow up the successful "Love Me Tonight," I MARRIED AN ANGEL was abandoned by MGM, so Rodgers and Hart bought the rights and turned it into a stage production. The original production featured Dennis King, Vivienne Segal and the stunningly beautiful ballerina Vera Zorina as the Angel. While Zorina could mesmerize a crowd with her looks and her dancing, she was not a songbird. Hence, I MARRIED AN ANGEL occupies a unique place in musical theatre history as one of the only (perhaps the only) musical not to have any songs for its leading lady. While there was a revised version that toured in 1964, 42nd St. Moon will present the original Broadway score plus songs written for the film, which include the largely unheard songs of the Angel, such as the ballad "Tell Me I Know How to Love."

Based upon a play by Hungarian playwright Janos Veszary, I MARRIED AN ANGEL follows the romantic exploits of a rich playboy who, fed up with sophisticated women, vows never to marry unless an angel comes down from Heaven. Angel, or Brigitta, hears his plea and fulfills his wish, marrying him and then inadvertently wreaking havoc through her fastidious dedication to telling the truth. Portraying Angel will be Marcia Pizzo, with Joseph Lustig as her hapless husband, Count Willy Palaffi. Lustig has been seen in 42nd St. Moon productions of A CONNECTICUT YANKEE and SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS.

Elisa Camahort will play a young American woman trying to win the heart of Count Palaffi, and Spencer Aste will hit the boards as the count's secretary, Peter Mueller. Lesley Hamilton will portray Count Palaffi's sister, Peggy Palaffi, who attempts to teach Angel the womanly ways of the world, with John Gilbert portraying Harry Szigetti, an old flame of Peggy's. The cast is rounded out by Alison Bloomfield, Lori Leigh Gieleghem, L.J. Mitchell and Judy Whiting. Greg MacKellan will direct and Peggy Gorham will provide musical direction and accompaniment.

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