STOCKTON — The Stockton Civic Theatre presents the classical Broadway musical hit “42nd Street” opening on Friday, July 1, and running through Sunday, July 24.

 With music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, the show will be directed by SCT’s Artistic Director, Jim Coleman, with choreography by Evelyn Barney. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. Choreography in the film version was by Busby Berkely.

Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 film adaptation, it focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression. “42nd Street” is a story of hard work, and of being in the right place at the right time with talent and love. The show is a celebration of Broadway and the people involved in stage musicals that focuses on aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, and takes us along on her journey. Musical hits include “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Dames,” “I Know Now,” “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and “42nd Street.”

In the original 1980 Broadway production, producer David Merrick took a huge gamble with his $3 million production based on the 1933 Warner Brothers’ film musical. He felt that audiences were once again ready to embrace the nostalgia craze started by the successful revivals of other classic shows, and augmented the familiar songs from the film’s soundtrack with a liberal dose of popular tunes. According to theatre historian John Kenrich,

“When the curtain slowly rose to reveal forty pairs of tap-dancing feet, the star-studded opening night audience at the Winter Garden cheered. Champion (who had no tap training) followed this number with a series of tap-infused extravaganzas larger and more polished than anything Broadway really had in the 1930s.” It was the 12th longest running show in Broadway history, and went on to fabulously successful productions in London’s West End (which launched the career of then teen-ager Catherine Zeta-Jones) and also a Broadway revival in 2001. It has toured in UK, Asia, and regionally in the U.S.

A reception with complimentary food and beverages for opening night patrons will be held on Friday, July 1, at 7 p.m. Performances continue through Sunday, July 24, on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. A special Saturday matinee is scheduled on July 16 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors, and $15 for students and children. Rated G (all audiences.)

For tickets, contact the Box Office Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 473-2424, or buy tickets online 24/7 at sctlivetheatre.com. The theatre is located at 2312 Rosemarie Lane, Stockton. The mission of Stockton Civic Theatre is to offer affordable, quality productions, adult and youth education, collaboration outreach programs, and promote involvement with our diverse community.