Contact initiate Sunday Perfs from 2 Mar 03

Contact initiate Sunday Perfs from 2 Mar 03

Susan Stroman's Broadway dance-musical Contact is to initiate Sunday matinee performances at the Queens Theatre from Sunday 2 Mar. The Sunday performances will replace Monday evening shows. (The last Monday eve show will be 17 Feb 03)

The show, starring Leigh Zimmerman & Michael Praed, opened to good notices from the popular press in Oct 02: THE INDEPENDENT says, "Whatever Contact is, it's an entertaining show." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "This is a show of wonderful originality, equally rich in choreographic invention and warm humanity." THE TIMES says, "A frothy, lightweight triptych of tales told with Broadway brio but hardly burning with creative ambition." THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Swinging sensation." THE SUNDAY TIMES says, "It is a tough, magical, elegant show, funny and intelligent, ironical, generous and irresistibly playful."

Leigh Zimmerman (The Girl in the Yellow Dress), recent West End credits include 'Velma Kelly' in "Chicago".

Michael Praed, (Michael Wiley), West End credits include creating the role of 'Frederick' in the Drury Lane production of "The Pirates of Penzance" . His TV credits include "Riders", "Dynasty" and playing the title role in "Robin of Sherwood".

The show is devised by Susan Stroman and James Weidman, and directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman. It is designed by Thomas Lynch with costumes by William Ivey Long

The show opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre on Broadway in March 2000 and, controversially won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical even though it doesn't feature any original music or singing performances.

Contact is in fact three short dance pieces:

Swinging A Forest glade , 1767; A Servant, an Aristocrat, a Girl on a Swing.

Did You Move?An Italian restaurant, Queens, 1954; A Wife, a Husband, a Headwaiter.

Contact An Advertising Executive, a Bartender, a Girl in a Yellow Dress.

All of the musical accompaniment is recordings of tunes, from classical to pop to swing.