The Gershwins' Of Thee I Sing

New Line Theatre brings Of Thee I Sing to The Marcelle in Grand Center, running March 4 through March 27, 2027. It's a Jazz Age musical comedy with music by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The production is part of New Line's 35th season.

If you're not familiar with the story, it's a satire of a presidential campaign that spirals into an Atlantic City beauty pageant, a sex scandal, an impeachment, and plenty of backroom deals. It riffs on the topsy-turvy madness of Gilbert and Sullivan, so the whole thing is meant to be played for laughs. The show has a bit of history behind it, too: in 1932, it became the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama, which went to Kaufman, Ryskind, and Gershwin. George Gershwin didn't get any recognition at the time because the prize was considered literary, and he was posthumously awarded an honorary Pulitzer in 1998.

Behind the scenes, the production is directed by Scott Miller and Chris Moore, with music direction by Jason Eschhofen and choreography by Livy Potthoff. Design is handled by Ryan Day, Dr. Rob Lippert, Lauren Smith, and Eric Wennlund. It's a good chance to hear the Gershwins' work on stage—they wrote fifteen musicals together, including Strike Up the Band, Funny Face, Girl Crazy, and Porgy and Bess, as well as standards like "I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Kaufman and Ryskind were just as prolific, redefining comedy with Animal Crackers and their collaborations with the Marx Brothers.

Performances run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, with the first preview on March 4. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $25 for students. On that March 4 preview night, prices drop to $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $20 for students. You can find the theater at 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive in the Grand Center Arts District.