Broadway comes to Bay Ridge with '42nd Street'

By Meredith Deliso

The Narrows Community Theater is putting on its tap shoes.

The venerable Bay Ridge group stages “42nd Street,” a blockbuster musical about a blockbuster musical, starting this Friday.

It’s a classic musical, so it should come as no surprise that the show follows a young ingénue, Peggy Sawyer, who lands her big break on Broadway in an extravagant production at the height of the Great Depression.

The resulting show within a show makes for big, memorable dance numbers and toe-tapping show tunes, including “The Lullaby of Broadway” and “We’re in the Money” — which the cast breaks into after finding a dime on the sidewalk (hey, it was the Depression).

“The book is much snappier and funnier than you’d think,” said director Tom Berger. “It gives you a lot to play with.”

The Tony Award-winning book, written by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble in 1980, is based on the 1933 movie of the same name, and Berger appropriately views the show as a throwback to a Broadway of yesteryear.

“The idea of that classic triple threat — singer, actor and dancer — those days don’t exist anymore. People do puppetry, speak different languages, do aerial things,” said Berger. “Instead of doing a modern retelling, it helps to make it more of a period piece.”

The production also marks the company’s return to the Fort Hamilton Army Base, which limited public access after 9-11. As a result of losing its own base, the company’s been a group of traveling minstrels for the past 10 years.

“The fact that we’re having a real home, a real theater, with a real stage, is really great,” said Narrows Community Theater Vice President Ann Gubiotti. “It’s been really good to be back.”

“42nd Street” at Fort Hamilton Army Base [101st Street and Seventh Avenue in Fort Hamilton, (718) 482-3173], May 13 and 14 at 8 pm, May 15 at 3 pm, May 21 at 2 and 8 pm, and May 22 at 3 pm. Tickets $20, $15 for seniors, students and children. For info, visit www.narrowscommunitytheater.com.