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Romance

Fountain Hills Theater to present ‘Mack and Mabel’

Musical on the silent film saga opens May 17

Posted 4/19/24

Fountain Hills Theater presents the Jerry Herman musical “Mack and Mabel,” a saga of the silent film era.

“Mack and Mabel” tells the story of director Mack Sennett and …

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Romance

Fountain Hills Theater to present ‘Mack and Mabel’

Musical on the silent film saga opens May 17

Posted

Fountain Hills Theater presents the Jerry Herman musical “Mack and Mabel,” a saga of the silent film era.

“Mack and Mabel” tells the story of director Mack Sennett and his star, Mabel Normand.

Mack himself guides the audience through his tale of triumph, romance and regret, a press release said, who reminisces about his colorful past, including his bittersweet love affair with Mabel, whom he discovered and guided to superstardom.

Jerry Herman’s (“Hello Dolly,” “Mame”) celebrated score includes some of his most treasured gems, including, “Time Heals Everything,” “I Won’t Send Roses,” “Wherever He Ain’t” and “Look What Happened to Mabel.”

“Mack and Mabel” is directed by Peter J. Hill with musical direction by Jay Melberg and choreography by Noel Irick.

“Mack and Mabel” is rated PG for implied drug use.

The idea for “Mack and Mabel” came from Jerry Herman’s friend Leonard Spigelgass, a Hollywood screenwriter and producer who believed there was a compelling story in the romance of silent comedy pioneer Mack Sennett and his lover and first comedy star Mabel Normand.

The rise-and-fall of their tumultuous affair had more or less paralleled the rise-and-fall of the silent film era itself.

The show opened at Broadway’s Majestic on October 6, 1974. With Herman’s score, which many consider to be his best and most consistent, the show has been revised and revived at various times and places. (Most successfully in London.) It remains a show that audiences want to see as well as a testament to Herman’s indefatigable gifts as a songwriter for all times.

“Mack and Mabel” will play May 17 through June 2 with performances Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Individual tickets are $35 and seniors receive a $5 discount on all Thursday performances.

Group, active duty and veteran discounts are available. All performances are at Fountain Hills Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd.

Tickets are available through the Theater Box Office at 480-837-9661 x3 or by visiting fhtaz.org.