Mike Isaacson, Fabulous Fox offer Fox patrons an opportunity to travel through time with selection of shows that mirror Fabulous Fox’ Silver Anniversary

By Daniel Hines
Publisher
TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

If Mike Isaacson were to be cast in a movie based on the lineup of productions for the 25^th Anniversary of The Fabulous Fox since it was rescued by Leon and Mary Strauss, it would have to be as Dr. Emmett Brown, the erratic inventor of the DeLorean time machine featured in ‘Back to the Future’.

It isn’t that Mike has turned into a mad inventor, albeit one with genius qualities. Rather, it’s that the 2007-2008 season is a time capsule that reflects the eras not only since the restoration of the Fox was launched but even throughout its storied history, featuring shows that are highly successful productions reflecting eras that touch upon memories of all ages of Fox Theater patrons over the years.

“Because it is our 25^th Anniversary, I wanted to have shows that would provide a scope of the styles of entertainment that characterized eras that the audiences could identify with,” Mike explains.  “Theater is a unique opportunity in which a broad range of persons, ages, interests and backgrounds comes together to share an experience.  When we go to the movies, the audience is virtually all the same.  We want something more.”

Based on this season’s line up, Mike and The Fabulous Fox have provided something more.  And, in so doing, Mike and Fox are giving us all a chance to truly enjoy a unique theatrical experience…one in which we have some fun and laughter and good times.

Consider the lineup:

October 2-14 2007—‘The Rat Pack, Live at the Sands’—If this name alone doesn’t bring back memories, talk to your parents—or perhaps even your grandparents. ‘The Rat Pack’  is a London-based production that comes to the U.S. for only limited performances, and, of course, resurrects The Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra, along with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.  It features the Las Vegas night club style of extemporaneous humor that exemplified Sinatra’s ‘Court’ for an entire generation. 

“I remember when I first saw this show on one of its U.S. appearances,” Mike recalls.  “I knew right away that I had to book it for The Fox, and started working on it immediately after seeing it.”

October 19-21 2007—‘Rent’—In keeping with the commitment to the ‘pace’ of the season, this perennial favorite returns for its seemingly annual visit.  Because of scheduling complications, the St. Louis stay is always short, but so well-received that it returns by popular demand.

October 30-November 11 2007 ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’—Perhaps more than any other show, this one really picks up on the theme of a trip through time.

“It starts with a darkened stage with an older man sitting alone in a chair,” Mike explains.  “He is fanatical about his affection for a musical he saw as a younger man in 1928, and he describes how he

(Photo by Jean Marcus)wants to share his recollection with the audience.

“He goes to a Victrola and starts playing a scratchy record from the show—which is ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’—and as the music plays, the Orchestra, which has been silent to this point, joins in and the stage becomes alive with the characters of the show. 

“Finally, the setting is complete, the music has gone from the scratchy record to the Orchestra, and we are told the story by the old man, who is identified only as ‘the man in the chair.’  It’s a passport in which we get a sense of the relationship of the man with the play.”

If this doesn’t intrigue you enough, here’s something that might make this a ‘must-see’ show…Mike believes that it might be among the most popular shows of the season.

While the Broadway series is always a highlight, there are other notable books through the season.  Consider this lineup for the Holidays:

November 20-25 2007—‘Annie, The National Tour’—From the 1920s to The Great Depression.  The little red-haired orphan exemplifies a spirit when even in hard times, Americans still had hope, a quality that seems to be eroded by the ‘1984-like’ always at war attitude of today.  But that’s for discussion in other sections of the site.
The point is that The Fox once again meets its commitment to the magic of a special type of fun that can be provided only by theater.

November 29-December 2 2007—‘A Christmas Carol’—This is a St. Louis tradition, featuring the Nebraska Theatre Caravan.  Coupled with ‘Annie’, it provides a potent combination for the Holiday season. “We like to schedule family shows around the Holidays,” Mike says.  “ ‘Annie’ and ‘Christmas Carol,  are always  favorites, so we have a lot of matinees so that children can be introduced to The Fox.”

December 5-9 2007—“Nutcracker at the Fox’ featuring the fame Joffrey Ballet—It ‘s a holiday classic, highly recommended. 

December 12 2007-January 6, 2008--But then, it’s a return to the blockbusters. ‘Wicked’, the smash hit which sold out all its tickets during its first visit to The Fabulous Fox returns.  “ ‘Wicked’ is the ‘Phantom’ of American musical theater, “ Mike says. He also points out that it continues the scope of the time capsule theme since it tells the untold story of Oz, with a slightly different twist from the original movie in 1939.  He predicts full houses for all the performances, and encourages patrons to purchase their tickets post-haste.

January 9-13 2008—‘High School Musical’—Yes, it’s based on the highly successful Disney film, and it is not to be confused with the old ‘Up with People’ performances that once were so successful.  The fact is that there is an explosion of talent among young people nationwide, due in large part to the opportunities provided by extraordinary musical teaching at schools.  And, while it's not a part of the Broadway series,  for Mike it’s an opportunity to expand the reach of The Fabulous Fox.

“I don’t want young people to be excluded from the entertainment provided by musical theater,” Mike muses.  “Other musical forms have excluded a younger audience, and I want to make sure that a new generation of younger people becomes acquainted with the enjoyment of musical theater.”

The Broadway Series takes a brief absence from the Fox in the succeeding weeks, but don’t worry—there are productions that will provide a wide range of offerings including the always popular ‘blast’ January 18-20, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ February 1-3.  The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Band of the Coldstream Guards, which was well-received in its previous visit to the Fox return for a one-night only performance February 9. 

February 12-24 2008--Then, fittingly, Mike’s time capsule returns with a new show that might be described as a Sesame Street for adults, ‘Avenue Q’.   But, be forewarned…this is not a number of cute Muppets, although it is a cast of puppets.  But don’t expect to see the flirtations of Kermit and Miss Piggy.  This is a show for adults, complete with adult language and sexual situations, in which the loveable puppets tell the story about trying to make it in New York City.  And, by the way, it’s a Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.  Mike believes it could be the best received show of the season.

If you don’t believe it’s an adult-based show, consider this required program notice:  “Avenue Q has not been authorized or approved by The Jim Henson Company of Sesame Workshop, which have no responsibility for its content.”

March 11-23 2008—‘The Wedding Singer, The Musical Comedy’—This is based upon the movie and continues Mike’s theme of a scope of time, as we move into 1985 (was it really 22 years ago? )While the production is based upon the movie of the same name, this is a musical adaptation with, as Mike says, “A charming love story,” backed by some great music.

April 23-May 18 2008—‘Jersey Boys—The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’—This is the bookend for ‘Rat Pack.’  It offers a smash ending to the Broadway series.  Of course, it features the wonderful tunes that so many of us remember, but there is more:

“This is a wonderful story, “ Mike says.  “It’s a compelling story of the struggle of these young guys to find a sound and all that goes on behind the scenes.”  Consider these great numbers:  ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ ‘Rag Doll,’ ‘Oh What a Night’ and ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.’  Time magazine says it will run for centuries, but we’ll have only three weeks.   Mike expects this show to be a sell-out.

Now you might think that this would be enough time travel, but after a time off, The Fabulous Fox hits us with one more trip—‘Mamma Mia!’, built around the greatest hits of ABBA returns June 3-8.  This unlikely show has become a world-wide favorite, attracting an almost cult-like following. (Admit it…if you’ve seen the show once, you’ve gone back and back and back.)

So, our thanks to Mike and the Fabulous Fox for reminding us that there was a reason for Happy Days…that there was a time when it was OK to laugh…that everything old is new again…that it’s ok to grow older and have memories…and offering this trip through time.

Now, if he’d only offer me a ride in that DeLorean I’m sure he has hidden somewhere.