Its likely none of us will be invited to come to the theater in our pajamas again anytime soon, so for that reason -- and several others -- it might not be unwise to visit Herberger Theater Center, where Arizona Theatre Company is presenting The Pajama Game this month. The company is suggesting PJ attire at most performances.
Those other reasons include direction by David Ira Goldstein and a return from New York by local favorite (and former Phoenix native) Bob Sorenson, who portrays factory timekeeper Vernon Hines and therefore gets to sing the delightful Ill Never Be Jealous Again. That number is among a handful from the shows original score (by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross) that are widely remembered. Perhaps the best-known tune associated with Pajama Game (which originally starred Bonnie Raitts dad, musical-theater star John Raitt) is Steam Heat, which was made over in both the 1973 and 2006 Broadway revivals.
The official Phoenix opening of the ATC production sold out night after night in Tucson last month.
Mon., Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 4, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 5, 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 6, 1 & 7 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 10, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 11, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 12, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 13, 1 & 7 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 18, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 19, 4 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 20, 1 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 25, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 26, 2 & 8 p.m., 2007