‘Daddy Long Legs’ opens June 8 at KCPT

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Leader Staff

arts@ptleader.com

Key City Public Theatre presents the first West Coast production of the musical “Daddy Long Legs” since the closing of its successful off Broadway run in 2016.

“Daddy Long Legs,” is a 2007 musical adaptation of the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster. With music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and book by John Caird, Daddy Long Legs is a two person epistolary musical about a young orphan girl played by Christa Holbrook, and her mysterious benefactor, Vince Wingerter in his KCPT debut.

The story centers around orphan Jerusha Abbott who, during one the visits of the trustees of the home, spots the long, spindly shadow of a trustee, whom she dubs Daddy Long Legs. She is given a letter from the trustee, outlining his anonymous gift to fund her education, under the condition she will write to him, reporting on her progress, with no expectation that her letters would be answered. Upon reading her first letter, young philanthropist, Jervis Pendleton, is bemused by her assumptions of him. Through this constrained communication, love blooms between the two.

Key City Public Theater artistic apprentice Brendan Chambers directs the show, with choreography by Denise Winter, and musical direction by Linda Dowdell. A three-piece band accompanies the performance, with Dowdell on piano, Maryann Tapiro on cello, and Michael Townsend on guitar.

Performances run June 8 through July 1. Pay-what-you-wish performances are June 10 and 14. For tickets and more information, visit.keycitypublictheatre.org.