Zion Opera Workshop will be presenting "Crazy For You," which is a romantic comedy musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin.

This is the 43rd annual production of the Workshop.The musical will be staged at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, March 1, and March 2 in Smith Auditorium of Zion United Church of Christ, Lehighton. A 2 p.m. matinee is also scheduled for March 2.Released in 1992, "Crazy For You" was billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy."It is largely based on the songwriting team's 1930 musical, "Girl Crazy," but incorporates songs from several other productions as well."Crazy for You" won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical.The show tells the story of Bobby Child, played by ZOW veteran Brent Harris, who is a well-to-do 1930s banker, whose dream in life is to escape banking and dance on Broadway.His Mother, Lottie (Michelle Stoudt) and his fiancée, Irene (Tina Becker) don't want to hear of his dancing dreams.Sent instead to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on the mortgage of the failing Gaiety Theatre, Bobby falls for the theater owner, Everett Baker's daughter, Polly (played by "real life" father and daughter, Tim and Becky Herd).Posing as New York theatre producer "Zangler," he puts on a show to save the theatre and invites the real "Zangler's Follies" showgirls to come out west and assist him with the matter.The follies girls include the Girls' leader, Tess, played by Jessica Schafer; Patsy, her not so bright best friend (Elyse Kistler); Mitzi (Dance Captain, Laura Cressley); Elaine (Alexis Young); Louise (Alyssa Huntington); Susie (Evy Heckman); Betsy (Tara Crowe); Margie (Casi Reichard), Sheila (Kaitlyn Piekarski) and Vera (Mikayla Blakeslee).Turning the local cowboys into dancers is the least of his problems when the real Zangler (Doug Rau) shows up in Deadrock. The singing and dancing cowboys include the Trio of Sam (Adam Reichard), Moose (Matt Poirer) and Mingo (Josiah Behrens) who are surrounded by their friends Custus (Nicolai Kabana), Billy (Dave Krum), Wyatt (Jim Blakeslee), Pete (Thomas Phelan), Harry (Jonathan Rodgers), Jimmy (Darrin Wagner) and Junior (Kane Zerbe).The owner of the saloon, Lank Hawkins (Noah Smith) wants to buy the theater and feels Polly (who by the way is the ONLY woman in Deadrock) is "his" woman.In the midst of the confusion, dancing and singing, British tourists Eugene (Brandon Cressley) and Patricia (April Boyett) show up to review Lank's saloon.Rounding out the cast is Mother's Chauffeur (Martha Cox) and chorus members Schyler Cordova, Lexi Pfeifer, Bridget McFadden, April Walker, Aleigh Smith, Kristin Campbell, Nathan Kroboth and Sophie Coombe.Memorable Gershwin tunes include: "I Got Rhythm," "Naughty Baby," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "But Not for Me," "Nice Work if You Can Get It," and "Someone to Watch over Me."The show is directed by Bradly R. Cressley, Director of Music at Zion

U.C.C. The stage director is Jessica Schafer and the assistant director is Brent Harris.Technical Directors are Duane and Pati Reichard. Deb Strausberger, owner of TNT Dance Studio in Lehighton, is once again serving as choreographer for the production.Tickets are available from any cast member, at Carbon County Music and More, 115 S. 2nd St, Lehighton, or by calling box office manager, Sue Yeastedt at 484-629-3116.