"Something big is happening...a new and very exciting turn for The American Century Theater," said Jack Marshall, TACT artistic director, in announcing the World Premiere production of the new musical, Danny and Sylvia: A Musical Love Story by local playwright, Robert McElwaine with music by Hollywood composer Bob Bain.

"Many who saw our 1999 production of Lady in the Dark rediscovered Danny Kaye after they witnessed Tschiaikovsky, his famous show-stopping song where 54 Russian composers are rattled off at break-neck speed. When Bob McElwaine presented his script to us, well, we jumped on the opportunity to be the first to produce this musical."

McElwaine is one of the newest and freshest faces on the Washington musical stage scene along with Bob Bain. Then again, they are a couple of septuagenarians with lengthy backgrounds in both theater and music. McElwaine, 77, who wrote book and lyrics for Danny and Sylvia, has been actively involved in Washington theater for thirty years, as a director of Kennedy Center Productions and associate of the late Roger Stevens at the Kennedy Center, as a director of the National Theater, and as a playwright. His new work was inspired by the decade he spent working as Danny Kaye’s publicist. "Danny was a one-of-a-kind talent, and he and his wife Sylvia Fine formed one of the most dynamic creative teams in Hollywood," says McElwaine.

Bob Bain, also 77, who composed the music for the new musical, is a former associate of Henry Mancini and a composer and arranger for the MGM and CBS studio orchestras. He is recognized as one of America’s premier guitarists. Many will remember him for his opening guitar riffs in the famous theme for the TV show, Peter Gunn, as well as from his lead guitar performances on the Tonight show.

Danny and Sylvia is the third installment of The American Century Theater’s "Reflections" series, which periodically presents original plays and musicals about important 20th Century figures and events. "Our theater is about remembering and taking a second look, and it’s important that people not forget Danny Kaye, a star of stage, motion pictures and television who excelled at comedy, singing, and dramatic acting," says Executive Director Rhonda Hill. "He helped build UNICEF, made millions laugh, and left a legacy that includes film classics like Hans Christian Anderson, The Court Jester, and White Christmas."

"And he was the one who got me interested in musical comedy," adds Marshall. "I owe a lot to Danny Kaye."

Charged with displaying Kaye’s wide range of talents is Brian Childers, who was acclaimed in a dramatic turn as Emery in TACT’s The Boys in the Band, then portrayed the comic tenor in this season’s Hollywood Pinafore. Sylvia Fine, who wrote most of Kaye’s signature patter songs, is played by Janine Gulisano, who has built a following with her musical performances at Toby’s and the West End Dinner Theater, and who received a 1999 Helen Hayes nomination for the role of Maria in West Side Story.

The show is being mounted by the team that has led all of TACT’s musical productions, including last year’s Helen Hayes nominated The Cradle Will Rock: Director Marshall, Musical Director Tom Fuller, and Choreographer Jackie Manger. ("Duplicating Kaye’s crazy movements is going to be a challenge," Manger laughs.)

Danny and Sylvia is the third collaboration between Bain and McElwaine, who are former Los Angeles high school pals. Their musical, Goldfish, based upon the life of movie producer Samuel Goldwyn, was given a staged reading at the Kennedy Center in 1998.