Malden Resident David Warnock Stars in Wellesley Players' My Fair Lady

The hummable, quotable, wonderfully enjoyable musical for the whole family! The story, the songs, the characters -- you know and love them. A Broadway hit when it debuted in 1956, this fan-favorite musical has gone on to win Tony Awards, launch careers and be adapted into the Oscar-winning beloved film. The Wellesley Players brings together an award-winning team to present this beautiful musical in a manner that speaks to today’s audiences. When Professor Henry Higgins bets he can transform a Cockney flower girl into an aristocratic lady, he doesn’t anticipate that Eliza Doolittle will end up transforming him. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s delightful social satire Pygmalion, Lerner and Loewe’s charming and beloved musical features such unforgettable numbers as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” it’s no wonder everyone — not just Henry Higgins — falls in love with Eliza Doolittle. This show is the standard by which all others are measured. The production will feature the sparkling two-piano orchestration, crafted with the approval of Lerner and Loewe by the show’s original arranger of dance music.

The cast and crew of Wellesley Players’ production are drawn from talent throughout Eastern Massachusetts, from Ashland to Beverly, from Tewksbury to Winthrop, and some hometown Players from Wellesley. The talented cast includes both Wellesley Players veterans and performers who are new to the troupe.

Malden resident David Warnock joins the cast as the retired British officer who goads Henry Higgins into a bet over reforming the accent of Cockney flowergirl Eliza Doolittle. Warnock was drawn to this production not only by the show itself, but also by the creative team with whom he performed in Concord Players’ recent production of Les Miserables. Among his many roles, a few of his favorites have been Fredrick in A Little Night Music, Robert in Proof, Treves in The Elephant Man, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Garry in Noises Off, and John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Having recently seen A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder on Broadway, his dream role is to tackle the eight hilarious male and female members of the D’Ysquith family, all portrayed by the same actor. What brings Warnock to community theater are “the collaboration, discovery, friendships, sharing the ups and downs of a group of people who bond together to produce a show.”

When he’s not on stage, Warnock is a research associate with a major medical device company, responsible for writing reports and regulatory submission documents.

The show will be directed by Celia Couture with music direction by Art Finstein, choreography by Kelly Murphy and set design by Ruth Neeman. Director Celia Couture has taken shows to the National Drama Festival three times, including once with the Wellesley Players. Her Radium Girls with the Burlington Players won the National Best Show Award in 2013.

My Fair Lady will be performed at the Arsenal Center of the Arts, Mosesian Theatre in Watertown from April 10-19. Don’t miss it! To reserve tickets please visit: www.wellesleyplayers.org. Discounts for groups are available. Order early as seating is reserved.

Photos by Jonathan Sachs