The Union Theatre at London will present from July 27 to August 20 a new revival of the musical DAMES AT SEA, written by Jim Wise (music), George Haimson and Robin Miller (book and lyrics) in the mid sixties.

DAMES AT SEA is a parody of large, flashy 1930s Busby Berkeley-style movie musicals. The musical was originally written as a short sketch, and it was later lengthened to a 50-minute production.

The plot of DAMES AT SEA is set in the early 1930s. A Broadway musical is in rehearsal. It is a lavish spectacle, the vision of eccentric director/choreographer/producer Hennessey to keep spirits high in amongst the depression –suffering New Yorkers. Mona Kent is the star of the show, a temperamental diva whose tears and tantrums are the stuff of legend. Joan is the wisecracking chorus girl who, during the course of rehearsals re-kindles her romance with former boyfriend Lucky, a sailor. Fresh from Utah arrives Ruby, a bright but naïve dancer with talent and ambition. She falls for Dick, another sailor and aspiring songwriter after they discover a shared history back in Utah.

There’s good news for Ruby when she is given a part in the chorus but bad news soon follows as the company learns of the planned demolition of the theatre. In a desperate attempt to keep the show alive Dick and Lucky persuade the Captain of their ship to allow the show to be stage there.

Mona recognises the Captain as a former boyfriend but is soon found by Ruby kissing Dick. Ruby is upset but is reassured by Dick of the misunderstanding. The show is almost ready, the ship has been turned into a makeshift theatre and then… Mona gets seasick. After she is unable to perform all turn to Ruby who, at the last minutes, in true Hollywood style, steps in and saves the day.

The new DAMES AT SEA revival at the Union Theatre will be directed by Kirk Jameson (I LOVE YOU, YOU´RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at the Union Theatre), Drew McOnie (ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY at Union Theatre, SPRING AWAKENING and THE FULL MONTY at Germany) will be the choreographer and Richard Bates (ORDINARY DAYS at Trafalgar Studios and TICK TICK... BOOM! at the Union Theatre) will be musical director.

The cast will include Ian Mowat as The  Captain, Gema Sutton as Ruby, Claire Marlowe as Joan, Daniel Bartlett as Dick, Alan Hunter as Lucky and Anthony Wise as Hennessey. Sasi Strallen, Meg Gallagher, Natalie Kent, Joshua Tonks, Matt Gillett and Jonny Godbold complete the company.

DAMES AT SEA was first staged at the Off-Off-Broadway Caffe Cino in 1966, starring Bernardette Peters as Ruby. The production re-opened at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre on December 1968, and it was transferred on April 1969 to the larger Theater de Lys, where it ran until May 10, 1970.

On August 27, 1969, the show opened at London´s Duchess Theatre, where it ran for 127 performances.

Subsequent revivals have been staged at the Lamb´s Theatre in Manhattan (1985), and the Haymarket Theatre in London (1989).