American Musical Productions: The Desert Song

For the first time in Akron in 75 years, American Musical Productions presents The Desert Song by Sigmund Romberg (Composer of The Student Prince and The New Moon), Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II and Frank Mandel (Authors of Show Boat, Rose Marie, and No, No, Nanette). This swashbuckling musical romance set in French Morocco was ripped from the newspaper headlines in 1925. The story follows Pierre, the son of the French Governor of Morocco, who masks himself as The Red Shadow to help the native Riffs fight against French oppression. Pierre is in love with a strong-willed French girl Margot who longs for romance and adventure, but not knowing his masked identity, thinks Pierre is a weakling. All ends happily in this sweeping, song-filled spectacle. The most popular American light opera of all time, Sigmund Romberg's immortal score contains such hits as the romantic "One Alone," the stirring male chorus "The Riff Song," and of course the unforgettable duet "The Desert Song." The New York Evening World raved, "The Desert Song is a big, red-blooded, romantic musical treat." The Desert Song was last seen in Akron in 1951 produced by the Goodyear Operetta Society. Don't miss this special fully-staged production celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Broadway premiere, performed by a cast of 30 and a 24-piece orchestra under the direction of Joseph Rubin. Akron first saw The Desert Song on the stage of the now demolished Colonial Theatre on October 15-16, 1928. The Akron Bea