A beloved Lakeside tradition returns in grand, sweeping style.
One of the highlights of the Lakeside summer season from the 1950s through the 1970s was a series of musicals staged by La Petite Opera Comique. Now, American Musical Productions revives that golden-era tradition with The Desert Song.
Last seen on the Hoover Auditorium stage 65 years ago, this swashbuckling musical romance, set in French Morocco, was inspired by newspaper headlines of 1925. The story follows Pierre, the son of the French Governor, who disguises himself as the mysterious "Red Shadow" to aid the native Riffs’ fight against French oppression.
Meanwhile, he pursues the spirited Margot, who longs for romance and adventure, unaware that the masked hero she admires and the seemingly timid Pierre are one and the same.
Everything builds to a joyful finale in this song-filled spectacle. Sigmund Romberg’s soaring score — the most popular American light opera of its era — features beloved classics including “One Alone,” the stirring male chorus “Riff Song,” and the unforgettable duet “The Desert Song.”
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Broadway premiere with this special production, featuring a cast of 30 and a 24-piece orchestra under the direction of Joseph Rubin.
