MONMOUTH — Politicians, pundits and public from both sides of the aisle come together in the Broadway classic “Of Thee I Sing,” opening Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Theater at Monmouth.
In the Gilbert & Sullivan-inspired musical presidential candidate John P. Wintergreen runs simply on a platform of “love.” His handlers, searching for a hook to snare voters, devise a Miss White House beauty pageant to find him a first lady.
Trouble begins when Wintergreen falls in love with his campaign secretary, Mary Turner, instead of pageant winner Diana Deveraux. The spurned beauty queen of French descent seeks justice with help from her ancestral countrymen, who try to turn the incident into an international scandal. But the power of love and corn muffins prevail, and the first lady manages to save the day — and her husband from impeachment.
“Of Thee I Sing” was a smash hit running for 441 performances and winning the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1932. The political satire features George Gershwin’s swinging, jazzy score with lyrics by his brother Ira.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 27.; 7 p.m. Sept. 23; and 1 p.m. Sept. 23, 29 and 30. Tickets range from $10 to $28. Call 933-9999 or visit www.theateratmonmouth.org.
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