Catch this rainbow on Broadway

The sparkly new production of Finians' Rainbow just opened on Broadway last week and it's a show that operates on many levels. It deals with immigration, racism, abuse of power, the strength of love, the enduring concept of hope and the notion that all of the above can be mixed together and seasoned with the mystical, thanks to a pot of gold stolen from a wayward leprechaun.

Written by Yip Harburg, Burton Lane, and Fred Saidy and first produced in the 1940's, with two prior revivals before the current one, this was a musical ahead of it's time, dealing with some powerful themes yet tempered by the phenomenon of rainbows, the fantasy of leprechauns, the magic of fairy dust and that elusive pot of gold. One of the most beautiful songs from the Great American Songbook, Old Devil Moon, comes from Finian's Rainbow and it was sung beautifully in this production.

Great casting made this show really pop. From Finian himself, played by Tony winner Jim Norton, to the absolutely lovely and talented Kate Baldwin, as his daugther Sharon, to hunky Cheyenne Jackson as Woody, and awesome character actors Christopher Fitzgerald as the endearing leprechaun Og, the mighty Chuck Cooper as Bill, David Schramm as the bigoted Senator Rawlins and the show stopping Terri White as Dottie. Special mention: Alina Faye, making her Broadway debut as Susan Mahoney, Woody's non-speaking sister, who expresses herself through dance. She is a delight to watch.

The production is well directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle.

Due to the book, and the many issues it attempts to conquer, Finian's Rainbow sometimes feels home spun and very much like something you'd see in a church basement, but I rather like the feel of that.
With great music, fabulous performances and hopeful wishes, this Finian's Rainbow is a stunning production that makes you want to look to the rainbow.

http://www.finiansonbroadway.com