On Aug. 2, 2012 the Colorado Springs Youth Repertory Theatre will open its performances of As Thousands Cheer. Youth Repertory Theatre is the FAC Theatre Company program dedicated to young actors and technicians. The program is a five-week intensive culminating in the production of As Thousands Cheer.
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| Ethel Waters |
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| Jose Limon and Letita Ide |
As Thousands Cheer originally opened on September 30th 1933 at the Music Box Theater on Broadway. Written by Moss Hart with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, the musical is a 21 scene compilation of wit, satire, and drama that covers a wide variety of themes from Depression-era news articles. An instant sensation on Broadway that ran for 400 consecutive performances, As Thousands Cheer represents a theatrical phenomenon unheard of during the Great Depression. The show has boasted such big names as Joan Crawford, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Noel Coward, Josephine Baker, and Aimee Semple McPherson as it leads. The musical also popularized songs such as “Easter Parade,” “Harlem on My Mind” and “Heat Wave” — a timely tune for this summertime showing.