Kelly McCormick and co-star Kevyn Morrow in the Arizona Theatre Company's production of the musical comedy "The Pajama Game."

More Photos (1):

Other articles by Kathleen Allen:

Young at art Grilling isn't just for meat; here's the how-to for vegetables There's no saving the world from Van Slyke's corny humor 'Jewtopia' outrageous, offensive and hilarious Winners from last week; this week, we're noshingTucson Restaurant Review : Pizzeria VivaceScordato's 3-month effort produces perfect pizza crust 'Rum & Coke' deserves an audience Last week's so-sweet winners; this week, it's your fave liquid Not your everyday goy meets girl love story

Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

"The Pajama Game" was a no-brainer for David Ira Goldstein.

When the world premiere of the new musical "Mask" fell through for Arizona Theatre Company, the artistic director of the company quickly slipped in the 1954 gem about a man, a woman, the Sleep Tite pajama factory and a union fight. Goldstein is directing the piece.

"It's one of the best of the '50s Golden Age musical comedies," said Goldstein shortly after rehearsals began earlier this month.

"It's got a great story, you care about the characters, it has a good structure, good conflict, wonderful subplots. They knew how to build them back then."

"The Pajama Game," which opens in previews Saturday, is based on the novel "7 1/2 Cents" by Richard Bissell. It's responsible for launching the careers of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who wrote the music and lyrics, and Bob Fosse, who marked this as his first Broadway choreographic effort.

That Fosse effort means the choreographer for the ATC production, Patricia Wilcox, has big bowler hats to fill,

especially in the iconic "Steamed Heat" number, which has Fosse written all over it.

"That was the hardest number to do of any numbers I've ever done," said Wilcox shortly before she started rehearsal for the tango-ish dance to "Hernando's Hideaway" a few weeks ago. "Everybody has seen it. It's classic, it's perfect, it's wonderful. How do you approach it? As a choreographer, I go, 'Oh, shoot, what am I going to do?' "

What she decided to do is to pay homage to Fosse's work, while making it her own.

Wilcox has been creating on the choreography for this musical for months. She began by listening — over and over again — to the score, then storyboarding the dance sequences, then videotaping herself dancing the moves, then getting with musical director Christopher McGovern to work and rework the dances.

Finally, she worked with the dancers.

At a rehearsal on a recent Sunday, the slim Wilcox stood in front of eight dancers, the women in high heels, and showed them how she would like the tango scene to go.

But first, she explains the story in the scene — how the dancers are headed off to a party at Hernando's Hideaway.

Explaining the story is elementary, Wilcox said.

"If the choreography comes out of the emotion of the scene, it makes sense," she said.

"You sing whenever talking no longer serves you, so you heighten the scene. And the choreography does the same thing. . . . Every dance has to further the story."

She stood straight, her arms outstretched as though they were lightly touching a dance partner.

"Elbow's slightly bent," she said. "Don't lock the elbows. It's a very different sensibility."

Then she glides across the floor.

"A one, a two, a three, a four," she says as she shows the steps.

"You're not doing flat, flat with your feet, here. We're doing ball, ball."

The dancers watch intently as Wilcox partners with one of the male dancers and McGovern plays the piano as the two tango with concentration and grace.

Then all eight of the dancers pair off and try it. There are few missteps. Wilcox makes adjustments, asks if a turn works, laughs with the dancers.

Within five minutes, the first part of the sultry tango looks near perfect.

"I have dancers for this show," Wilcox had said earlier with a sense of glee — often she works with actors who have to learn to dance. Clearly, she is pleased to be working with a group of people who speak her language and can catch on quickly to sophisticated moves.

The costumes are not what you might call sophisticated — the play is about working-class people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after all.

They, too, further the story, explained Goldstein as he strolled through ATC's costume shops, pointing out colorful cotton dresses and loads of pajamas.

And, of course, the set is essential to the story.

Set designer Bill Forrester took a moment to explain his design. He sat in front of a small model he made and inserted backdrop after backdrop representing the multiple scene changes, from outside to in; and mood changes, from reality to fantasy. The set pops with color and is, at times, whimsical.

"We're trying to approach it in a fresh way," said Goldstein, explaining that the set is strongly influenced by Googie architecture, which is a style that popped up in the 1950s and '60s. It's angular, colorful and makes use of pop imagery. It's what the Flintstones coffee shop looked like — kinda of space- agey, in a '50s sort of way.

It all adds up to the musical that'll put smiles on faces and put everyone in a jovial holiday mood, said Goldstein.

"It's fun," he added, "it's bright, it's happy."

The union at the Sleep Tite pajama factory is looking for a 71/2-cent raise. It's a raise that management doesn't want to give the workers.

Sid is on the side of management; Babe, on the union's side. Still, romantic sparks fly. Naturally, she rejects him, but during the annual picnic for the factory workers, things begin to heat up.

Back at the factory, however, things get chilly again. When a work slowdown happens — one Babe supports — Sid threatens to fire the offending workers. Babe, quite annoyed with his attitude, kicks the machinery and causes a stoppage.

Sid has no choice — he has to fire her.

Will the union get the raise? Will the boy get the girl? Will you leave humming "Hernando's Hideaway"?

• The 1954 production was the first in which Harold Prince served as a producer. He later went on to direct, and has racked up multiple Tony awards.

• Two songs from the musical — "Hernando's Hideaway" and "Hey There" — both made the weekly TV show "Your Hit Parade," which highlighted the week's most popular songs.

• The musical was the first Broadway show Bob Fosse choreographed. The producers weren't sure he could cut it, so Jerome Robbins (he choreographed "West Side Story" and a slew of other hits) was hired as a backup. Robbins eventually received co-directing billing.

• Thirty-nine percent of the Broadway cast was in the 1957 movie. Not in the movie: Janis Paige, who played Babe. Doris Day did that role in the movie. The role of Sid was played by John Raitt on Broadway and in the movie.

• The original Broadway production opened on May 13, 1954, and ran for 1,063 performances. It was revived in 1973, in a production starring Hal Linden, Barbara McNair and Cab Calloway. It didn't do particularly well, though the 2006 Roundabout Theatre Company revival starring Harry Connick Jr. and Kelli O'Hara was a popular one and snagged the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.

"The Pajama Game"

• Presented by: Arizona Theatre Company.

• By: Based on the book "71/2 Cents" by Richard Bissell, with theatrical book by Bissell and George Abbott, and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

• Director: David Ira Goldstein.

• Choreographer: Patricia Wilcox.

• When: Previews are 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Opening is 7:30 p.m. next Friday. Continues through Dec. 15.

• Where: Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.

• Tickets: $31-$54.

• Reservations: 622-2823.

• Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission.

• Cast includes: Michelle Aravena, Tony DeBruno, Bob Sorenson, Kelly McCormick and Kevyn Morrow.

• If you dare: ATC is encouraging audience members to wear their pj's to the theater.