"I fell in love with Judy Garland as a child watching The Wizard of Oz in its annual showing on television, and she became my favorite movie star. You know, we are exactly the same height-four foot, eleven...This is my love letter to her..." So begins Dear Miss Garland, a world premiere of the musical co-written and starring Boston-area favorite Kathy St. George which opens at Stoneham Theatre on Thursday, June 4. The show is a collaboration between St. George and renowned Boston director, and co-writer, Scott Edmiston. Both artists have had a fascination with Judy Garland from a young age and are thrilled to bring her story to life through both poignant and hilarious anecdotes and the music for which she is adored.
This musical concert traces Garland's life from her stage debut to her comeback concert at Carnegie Hall in 1961. Throughout the first act, St. George moves between narration in the first person about her relationship with Garland and playing Garland at pivotal points in her life, interspersed with songs from their lives. The second act is a musical tribute that includes favorites such as "The Trolley Song," "A Star is Born," "You Made Me Love You," "Get Happy," "Chicago," and, of course, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
St. George first began "doing Judy," as she calls it, for cabaret shows and benefits around Boston. People would request it and she would oblige. When Edmiston caught her act, he gave her a coffee table book about Judy Garland, which she still has. "He loves her like I do," says St. George, "Scott and I had always talked about doing a Judy show together and so I asked him to help me write one and direct it! His enthusiasm, love, and admiration for her talent equals mine." In this show, they pay tribute to Garland's artistry.
The show features a seven-piece band directed by Music Director Jim Rice, a set by Scenic Designer Janie Howland, lighting design by Karen Perlow, sound engineering by John Stone, choreography by Ilyse Robbins, and costumes by designer Charles Schoonmaker.
Dear Miss Garland runs Thursday, June 4 through Sunday, June 28. Tickets are $40, with discounts available for seniors and students. Stoneham Theatre is located at 395 Main Street in Stoneham. For tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200, open Tuesday through Saturday 1-6pm, or www.stonehamtheatre.org.
