The Ross Valley Players' "Moonlight & Magnolias" celebrates the 70th anniversary of the first release of "Gone With the Wind." Ron Hutchinson's off-Broadway farce looks at the well-known film and how it almost wasn't made.
In the comedy, movie mogul David O. Selznick shuts down production of his new epic because the screenplay just doesn't work. He sends for screenwriter Ben Hecht and drags director Victor Fleming off the set of "The Wizard of Oz." The three men labor for five days to save the picture, subsisting on nothing but bananas and peanuts.
David Kester (middle) of Napa is producer Selznick, Russell Lessig (left) of Sausalito is director Fleming, Stephen Dietz (far right) of Petaluma is screenwriter Hecht and Molly McGrath of Mill Valley is Selznick's secretary Miss Poppenguhl. Robert Wilson directs the play.
The show runs Sept 5-Oct 12. Show times are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Performances are at the Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Tickets are available at 456-9555, brownpapertickets.com or at the door. Tickets are $15-$25. For more information, visit rossvalleyplayers.com.
A pre-performance reception, "Buzz at the Barn," is Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., at the Barn Theatre. Attendance is included in the price of admission. Reservations are recommended.