Considered by many to be the most beautiful woman of her day, Fred Astaire’s all-time favorite dance partner, and the bride Orson Welles wanted more than any other woman in the world, there is only one Rita Hayworth.
Crowned the “Love Goddess” by her adoring fans, Rita Hayworth thrilled studio executives, servicemen, and movie audiences alike, generating big box office in 1940s/50s Hollywood. Yet she struggled to identify with the bombshell image projected of her, marrying and divorcing five different men in her search for a partner who loved her for who she truly was. As Hayworth’s story unfolds, we meet Orson Welles, Fred Astaire, Harry Cohn and other extraordinary figures in her life, all presented through the fractured prism of her deteriorating memory due to a then unknown cause: Alzheimer’s. Featuring gorgeous original music by composer-lyricist & Broadway pianist, Logan Medland, and thrilling jazz, tap, and Flamenco dance sequences.
Originally a solo play created and performed by Almog Pail entitled Me, Myself and Rita and Love Goddess, the Cabaret, the show won raves from audiences and critics in Malta, Off-Broadway and London (Canal Café Theatre), as it evolved into a full-scale musical. This production in collaboration with The Cockpit is the first production of the new full-length musical by Pail & Garvey, featuring 5 actor-singers portraying over 40 characters, with 12 original songs by Medland. Following the London run, LOVE GODDESS plans a commercial run on the West End and Broadway/ Off-Broadway.
LOVE GODDESS, presented in collaboration with The Cockpit, is the first production of the new full- length musical by Almog Pail & co-writer Stephen Garvey. The production features five actor-singers led by Almog Pail, portraying over 40 characters, with 12 original songs by composer-lyricist Logan Medland.
Created, co-written and featuring Almog Pail as Rita(SALVAGE MARINES), music, lyrics, arrangements & music supervision by Logan Medland (Broadway: A BRONX TALE, DR. ZHIVAGO. National Tour: CATS, JERSEY BOYS), book co-written by Stephen Garvey (THE BARDY BUNCH, CUT ME DOWN).
Directed by Steve North (Director, film: SISTERHOOD, GREENSLEEVES, CREGAN. Actor, stage: West End: National Theatre’s WAR HORSE. TV: THE ESSEX SERPENT, DOCTOR WHO, EASTENDERS), Choreography by Jacqui Jameson (West End: MY FAIR LADY-Dir: Trevor Nunn, FOSSE w/Gwen Verdon, CHICAGO w/Joel Grey, Film: BEYOND THE SEA, MAMMA MIA w/Meryl Streep). Music Direction by Archie Combe, Set Design by Mayou Trikerioti, Lighting Design by Danny Vavrečka, Costume Design by Alice McNicholas. Sound Design by Nick Burkinyoung, Yerk Audio. Casting by Danielle Tarento, Tarento Casting.
Produced by Laura Lundy, Blue Panther Productions (Broadway: CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, 2018 revival, Associate Producer. London: ME, MYSELF AND RITA, WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT LOVE, New York: AROUSAL, THE SINGULARITY).