World Premiere Musical 'Carmen Miranda- The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat' Opens at Hudson Backstage on May 28

LOS ANGELES, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: "Carmen Miranda- The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat." World Premiere engagement of a new musical.

WHO: Written by Sam Mossler. Directed by Adam Schlachter. Musical director: Dennis Kaye. Choreographed by Daniel Coffman. Presented by Tocayo Productions, Inc. in association with Hudson Theatricals. Magi Avila toplines the cast of eleven.

WHERE: Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6339 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038.

WHEN: Previews May 21-23. Opens Friday, May 28, 2010., runs through June 27. Show times Fri. & Sat. at 8, Sun. at 3.

ADMISSION: $45. Previews $35.

RESERVATIONS: (323) 960-7740.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.Plays411.com/carmen

ESTIMATED RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 50 minutes.

Carmen Miranda (1909-1955) was born in Portugal and raised in Brazil. She became a successful radio singer, making a transition first into Brazilian films, and then to America, first on Broadway and then to Hollywood. She was a sensation, making 13 Hollywood movies and, at one point (1946), becoming Hollywood's highest earning star. The singer, dancer, actress was known for her unabashedly Latin screen persona, her musical talent, her sex appeal, and her distinctive headgear. She was the lady in the tutti frutti hat, like the title of the song in her film "The Gang's All Here." A disastrous marriage to an exploitive husband/manager who overworked her and allegedly beat her contributed to her early demise. She succumbed to a fatal heart attack the night after her final television appearance. Her body was flown back to her beloved Brazil, where half a million mourners lined the streets.

The show "Carmen Miranda- The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat" does not purport to be a documentary about Miranda's life. Rather, it is the celebration of the life and career of a unique and legendary entertainer, who brought joy to millions.

Enjoy 16 of Miranda's songs and production numbers, sung by Avila and played by the live on stage band.

The show is suitable for family audiences.

The cast includes Magi Avila (as Carmen), Dennis Kaye, Robson Vieira, Edgar Lopez, Marcello Olivas, Jeff Markgraf, Geremy Dingle, Larry Meregillano, Ron Hershewe, Cengis Yaltkaya and Michael Solomon.

Philip Sokoloff Publicity for the Theatre

SOURCE Tocayo Productions