'Singin' in the Rain' :: Bring on the Song! Bring on the Dance! Bring on the Rain!

"Singin' in the Rain..." If you're like me, you remember the plot, but most of all, you remember the quadruple threat - dancing, singing, acting and comedic timing of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. It is for me, one of the greatest films of all time. San Diego Musical Theatre is bringing it to us live on stage... rain and all.

The play, set in 1920s Hollywood during the early days of "talkies," is a direct adaptation of the 1952 MGM movie that was co-directed by Gene Kelly. The film adaptation was written by Broadway veterans Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Comden being one of only a handful of females in the script and songwriting business. She most famously wrote "New York, New York," "Lonely Town," "The Party's Over" and "Just in Time." This trailblazer won seven Tony Awards and wrote the Broadway stage scores for "Wonderful Town," "Peter Pan," "On The Twentieth Century" and "Do Re Mi." Her chief lyric, libretto and screenplay colleague was Green, though she also collaborated with Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, Morton Gould and Andre Previn.

It takes some serious talent to pull off this show, so Director Todd Nielsen, Choreographer Jill Gorrie and Music Director Don LeMaster are hard at work making it happen, along with Brandon Davidson, who dazzles in the role of Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly's character).

Davidson grew up here in San Diego, often performing in Balboa Park, then went on to study musical theatre and fine arts at the Boston Conservatory. "The program dumps its students right into the heart of Times Square, New York. The majority of the shows I have done since then, are period musicals from the first half of the 20th century, The Gershwin Brothers, Irving Berlin, iconic Americana. Being in the Broadway National Tour of 'White Christmas' paid my bills for a long time in my 20s,"said Davidson.
Having played Don Lockwood before, Davidson feels, "Don is my dream role; this is nothing but a labor of love for me. I fell in love with tap dancing as a kid and it's great to come out and be the song and dance man I've always dreamed of being."

When considering the script and characters, he says, "I love how playful Don and Cosmo are with each other. They are not blood-related, but they function as brothers; they drink in saloons and get kicked out of bars. They have seen a lot of life together, pounding the payment of Hollywood. This isn't Shakespeare and it never gets too serious, but Don definitely is in touch with his heart. I love that he has this vulnerable moment when he is just...'singing in the rain.' There is so much joy and sentiment involved in that moment."

Davidson is also studying advanced medicine, specifically dance medicine. "I am here preforming and studying; splitting my time between my left and right brain. My Dad is a doctor, so I grew up partly in that world. Then, when I was touring with 'White Christmas,' in 2009, a close friend went through a major injury. Her career was halted, and for one year I watched her rehab. What was interesting to me was the therapists had difficulty relating to how a dance injury forces so much change. A dream of mine is to open a clinic for artists where the clinicians get it - they treat people with greater empathy - they understand dance is a part of your soul."

A permanent New York resident these days, Davidson has enjoyed coming home to San Diego for a bit. "I can definitely tell you that this company - San Diego Musical Theatre - spares no expense with production value. If you have never seen 'Singin' in the Rain,' you just have to see it. It is an American staple, it is this and 'The Sound of Music.' Everyone should know it. This show has a wonderful, stunning score and these characters have joyful abandon. We need that in our lives."

San Diego Musical Theatre's production of 'Singin' in the Rain' runs Friday, May 22 through Sunday, June 7 at The Spreckels Theatre downtown. For tickets and more information, call the box office at 858.560.5740 or go to sdmt.org