Ginger Rogers danced her way into the hearts of millions (and into the arms of Fred Astaire) and beginning July 27, Cumberland County Playhouse gives you the chance to see her story live on stage! Backwards in High Heelstells the story of this legendary performer through the music of some of the 20th century’s greatest composers and showcases the spectacular dance moves that made her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Jeremy Benton and starring Jessica Wockenfuss as Ginger and Douglas Waterbury-Tieman as Fred, this lavish new musical will also feature Weslie Webster as Ginger’s mother Lela, along with Carly Amburn, Daniel Black, Colin Cahill, John Dobbratz, Britt Hancock, Lindy Pendzick, Austin Price and Jason Ross.
Jessica Wockenfuss as Ginger Rogers
Ginger’s career began when she won a Charleston contest at the age of 15. She made her Broadway debut at 18 and soon after was discovered by Paramount Pictures where she began a meteoric rise to stardom that culminated in her winning an Academy Award. Along the way, she had tempestuous relationships with producers, co-stars, many husbands – and a complicated, defining relationship with her mother, Lela. Backwards in High Heels is the story of a small-town girl who dazzled the world, and it features show-stopping dance numbers, unforgettable songs, and some surprising revelations about a Hollywood film legend.
Christopher McGovern, co-creator of Backwards in High Heels notes that “Ginger was a trail blazer: She was among the first of Hollywood’s leading ladies to demand fair pay and to exert control over her work to a previously unprecedented level.” He also notes that the core of Ginger’s story was her complex relationship with her mother, and this universal subject makes Backwards in High Heels “relevant to all generations of children, parents and lovers of theatre and the movies.”
Backwards in High Heels was conceived and developed by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern. Book/Musical Arrangements/Original Songs are by Christopher McGovern with music by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Jerome Kern.
Backwards in High Heels will play on the Mainstage from July 27 through November 2. The production is rated PG and is sponsored by Uplands Retirement Village. Also at the Playhouse: The Music Man (rated G, sponsored by Crossville, Inc.) through September 1; See Rock City (rated G, sponsored by VolFirst) through August 17;Smoke On The Mountain (rated G, sponsored by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store) through August 10; and the uproarious musical vaudeville/medicine show Cowboys (rated G, sponsored by The Beef & Barrel, The Blind Zebra and Red’s Ale House) plays through mid July.
Tickets and information are also available for selected concerts at Crossville’s Palace Theater and other events at www.ccplayhouse.com or by calling 931.484.5000. All CCP productions are made possible through sponsor support, with additional support provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
