Flora the Red Menace Opens at 1st Stage

Flora the Red Menace, the first musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb, opens May 18 at 1st Stage, Tysons Corner's non-profit professional theatre.

The production will be directed by Susan Devine. It was the first collaboration for Kander and Ebb, who went on to write Cabaret and Chicago. The book was written by David Thompson. The show runs through June 17.

"It's a sparkling story of hope and determination," said Mark Krikstan, artistic director at 1st Stage. "It has the wit and vibrancy Kander and Ebb brought to all their shows. This is the show that gave Liza Minnelli her Broadway debut."

Set in another time of economic turmoil, the story centers on Flora, who is determined to land a fashion job. Not even the Great Depression is enough to dampen her effort -- until she meets Harry, the stammering, handsome face of the local workers' party. Suddenly life is full of choices: love, ideology or a paycheck?

Flora is the sixth and final production in 1st Stage's fourth season. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote that "1st Stage is well on its way to establishing itself as a significant player on the Washington-area theater scene."

The theater's just-ended production of Side Man won critical acclaim, with The Washington Post writing, "1st Stage's production works... this 'Side Man' rarely misses a beat."

The 100-seat non-profit theatre is in the heart of the fastest-growing urban area of Fairfax County and has been home to the professional debut of dozens of artists. The theatre, located in a mixed-use building, provides a warm and intimate setting for plays, musicals and concerts.

Performances of Flora the Red Menace are on Friday nights at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available at www.1ststagetysons.org.