Strike up the Band

The hilarity of Strike up the Band proves that "all is farcical in love and war!" with this romp; a true joy embodied on the stage. With music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and script by George S. Kaufman, this Broadway classic offers songs ranging from playful Gilbert and Sullivan pastiches to heart-clutching ballads (most notably "The Man I Love"), woven into a goofy plot that is loaded with blatant anti-war, big-business satire.

The overly proud owner of the Fletcher American Cheese Co. has convinced the U.S. government to declare war on Switzerland, who has protested a tariff on imported cheese. Add two pairs of star-crossed lovers, one very overbearing mother, a cagey government official and a strange man who always places himself in the right place at the most interesting times; mix them all together, and you are left with a side-splitting romp of cheese-y proportions!

Beneath this title's exterior beats an observant heart that is as relevant today as when it opened. The magnificence of its Gershwin score is sheer splendor. Performers and audience members alike will be chomping at the bit and, given the brilliance of the material, it can be produced just as effectively as a concert piece.