"Respect: A Musical Journey of Women" Hits Florida

The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center's Studio Theatre in Boca Raton pays tribute to female singers and pop stars and their music when "Respect: A Musical Journey of Women" hits Florida. The entertaining, exuberant, and exhilarating look at the lives of women as reflected in the popular music of the times has evolved from Dorothy Marcie's one-woman dissertation to an international hit musical revue since its debut.

"It's a great show," said the show's original director, Peter J. Loewy. "Everyone who sees it loves it. It's 'up,' it's fun, and yet it has a story to tell. And I get as many positive comments about it from men as I do from women!"
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The production is part of the BRTG's newly extended season, and features an ensemble cast of four and a live band. Along with Sharyn Peoples, who recently received rave reviews in Slow Burn Theatre Company's production of "Next to Normal," Carla Bordonada, Nicole Kinzel and Ziarra Washington will make up the cast. The show's original musical director, Phil Hinton is also on board.

They will combine excerpts of 60 songs, including, "I Will Survive," "These Boots Were Made for Walking," "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "Hero," with women's own stories about finding dreams, lost love, relationship issues, entering the workforce, gaining independence and more.

Loewy, who recently produced a successful revival of "Respect" in his own theatre in Metuchen, New Jersey, is excited to bring the show back to its 'state of origin.'

"What's interesting -- and exciting -- to me about 'Respect' is that it's attractive to all audiences," said Loewy. "We get mothers with their daughters, and grandmothers with their granddaughters, not to mention their male counterparts! When we played at the Cuillo Centre for the Arts and at the 26th Street Theatre in Wilton Manors, we would chat with people before and after the show. Some of them had seen it five or more times!" ?

The show will entertain with favorite songs from the 20th century and an engaging look at the evolving roles of women in that time, from Lily Langtree to Cyndi Lauper and Betty Boop to Tina Turner, or from Rosie the Riveter to Britney Spears. Using Top 40 hits, videos and costumes, Marcie illustrates how, in the early part of the century, song lyrics resonated with women's dependency and submissiveness, echoed their rebellion in the late 1960s and reflected their independence in the 1990s.

"Respect: A Musical Journey of Women" runs from Dec. 5 - Jan. 5 at The Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 2nd Floor? 201 Plaza Real, ?Boca Raton, FL 33432. For information or tickets, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.brtg.org