Modernized 'Tootsie' musical coming to Akron

Just thinking about the title "Tootsie" brings a sense of nostalgia and plenty of smiles for those who fell in love with Dustin Hoffman's "Dorothy," the famed, feisty, feminist character who shook things up on her soap opera in the 1982 movie "Tootsie."

In that satirical romantic comedy, Hoffman's primary character was out-of-work actor Michael, who disguises himself as the bespectacled, middle-aged Dorothy to get a part in the soap opera "Southwest General." He fools everyone, at least for a while, and Dorothy becomes a big star as she takes on sexism in the television industry.

Today, the "Tootsie" story has been updated for the stage musical, whose tour will play at E.J. Thomas Hall Nov. 29 and 30 as part of the Broadway in Akron series.

Now, instead of poking fun at a bad soap opera like the movie did, the musical sets "Tootsie's" characters in a really bad Broadway musical called "Juliet's Curse," a sequel to "Romeo and Juliet."

"It's this spoofy little continuation of what happens after 'Romeo and Juliet,' " Wright State University student Arianna Schrage, who's making her national tour debut as a "Tootsie" ensemble member, said of the musical-within-a-musical. "It's really silly and fun."

The actress, 20, said she's watched the original hit movie "Tootsie" and that the musical's plot line is very similar to the movie's plot.

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"I enjoy watching the changes that were made to make it more modern and to be able to integrate the beautiful music and the totally hilarious book into the musical now," she said by phone Nov. 11 from a tour stop in Syracuse, New York.

You won't hear the movie's Top 40 theme song "It Might Be You" in this 2018 musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2019. But you will hear an all-new score with lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer David Yazbek, who also wrote "The Band's Visit," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "The Full Monty."

Yazbek's music in "Tootsie" is brilliant in this musical comedy, Schrage said. And as The New York Times commented, "Mr. Yazbek is one of the few composer-lyricists working today who can set jokes to music and make them pay."

Original choreographer Denis Jones has had some fun creating choreography that's laughingly bad — incorporating everything from a fidget spinner to a lap dance in a big number — for the silly musical within the "Tootsie" musical, Schrage said.

Now, instead of Dorothy turning a TV show on its head, the character, portrayed by Drew Becker, sets out to overhaul the ridiculous musical's story, where Juliet survives and falls in love with Romeo's brother — Craig.

Instead of playing a hospital administrator, as Dorothy did in the movie's soap opera, she plays Juliet's nurse. And instead of dealing with a lecherous actor playing a doctor, Dorothy has to contend with a goofy reality star who's playing Craig.

In both the movie and the musical, character Michael, who has a reputation with directors for being hard to work with, auditions for the Broadway musical as Dorothy out of desperation because no one will hire him. Playing the nurse ends up being the role of a lifetime for Michael, who achieves fame through deception.

Along the way, Michael learns some important things about women by literally putting himself in their shoes. And, of course, in Tootsie's iconic red, sparkling gown.

But as a result of Michael's masquerading, he does hurt some people.

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In more musical story updates, Michael's love interest Julie is strong, successful and independent, not a sad, single mother who lets men push her around, as Jessica Lange's character was in the movie. Of course, with Michael spending his time with Julie while he's posing as Dorothy, romantic entanglements ensue.

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Gap year for tour

Schrage, who joined the "Tootsie" tour in September for its second leg, is now taking a gap year to make her national tour debut. The actress, who grew up in the Dayton area, will head back to Wright State for her junior year next fall, where she's a theater major and dance minor.

"This was the first thing I had auditioned for of this caliber," Schrage said of her original video submission in May, followed by video callbacks in June and July.

She was excited to learn she landed a spot in the tour's ensemble the same day she was opening another show — "A Chorus Line" in Marquette, Michigan.

In "Tootsie," Schrage plays a pink-clad pedestrian who's part of a sort of Greek chorus representing the voices inside Michael's head. Then, for the musical within the musical, she plays Portia, the show's costume designer.

Schrage and "Tootsie's" other new cast members had a compact, 10-day rehearsal process in Syracuse in early September to relaunch the tour after its summer break. That was followed by about two weeks of tech rehearsals before Schrage experienced her official opening.

Above all, "Tootsie" is a joyous show that's full of belly laughs, Schrage said.

"It's fun getting to contribute to an audience that's laughing and just giving them a fun time," she said.

"That silly, joyous feeling, like the giddy feeling that you got thinking of the movie, is exactly what is happening when people come to see the musical."

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Musical: "Tootsie"

When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30

Where: E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., the University of Akron

Onstage: Starring Drew Becker, Ashley Alexandra, Payton Reilly, Jared David Michael Grant, Matthew Rella, Kathy Halenda, Dianne Manaster, Adam du Plessis

Offstage: Robert Horn, book; David Yazbek, score and lyrics; David Solomon, director; Denis Jones, choreographer; Chip Abbott, associate choreographer; David Rockwell, scenic designer; Christine Peters, tour scenic designer; William Ivey Long, costume designer; Christopher Vergara, associate costume designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; Vivien Leone and Coby Chasman-Beck, associate lighting designers; Colleen Doherty, assistant lighting designer; Brian Ronan, sound designer; Cody Spencer, associate sound designer; Paul Huntley, hair and wig designer; Loryn Pretorius, assistant hair and wig designer; Angelina Avallone, makeup designer

Cost: $20-$82.50

Information: playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Tootsie' musical, a modern update of original movie, coming to Akron