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Based on a true story, Peter Quilter’s hilarious comedy invites us into the world of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York socialite of great passion, considerable wealth and zero talent who fancied herself an opera diva. Known as “the first lady of the sliding scale,” Florence warbled and screeched her way through every performance to an audience who cried out with laughter. But this delusional and joyously happy woman paid little attention to her critics, comfortably surrounded by a circle of devoted friends who were almost as eccentric as she was. Despite her lack of talent, Jenkins doggedly pursued her ...Read More
Based on a true story, Peter Quilter’s hilarious comedy invites us into the world of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York socialite of great passion, considerable wealth and zero talent who fancied herself an opera diva. Known as “the first lady of the sliding scale,” Florence warbled and screeched her way through every performance to an audience who cried out with laughter. But this delusional and joyously happy woman paid little attention to her critics, comfortably surrounded by a circle of devoted friends who were almost as eccentric as she was. Despite her lack of talent, Jenkins doggedly pursued her dreams and enjoyed a successful career singing at charity recitals. In 1944, she sold out New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall for her final performance, with more than 2,000 would-be patrons turned away at the door.
“I believe that people may have walked into her concerts to laugh at her, but they left full of admiration,” says director Richard Israel. “Florence Foster Jenkins was someone who carved her own trail and single-mindedly pursued her dreams. Ultimately, she had the last laugh. She went to her grave really happy, and she made a lot of other people really happy along the way. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit.”
Glorious! runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., Oct. 10 through Nov. 2. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42 on Thursdays and $47 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except opening night (Oct. 10) for which tickets are $52 and include a post-performance reception with the actors. International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, CA 90802. For reservations and information, call the ICT Box Office at 562-436-4610 or www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.
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