This new Two-Time Tony Award winning musical production is based on one of my favorite romantic books and movies of all time, “The Bridges of Madison County”.  It was created by one of Broadway’s most accomplished creative teams with music and lyrics by Three-Time Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown and based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller.  It opened February 2nd and runs through February 14th.Here’s the plot if somehow you missed seeing the incredibly romantic 1995 movie with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep:  It’s the story of  star crossed lovers  Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride living on an Iowan farm in 1965 with her nice but boring husband Bud and their two rambunctious teenage children Michael and Carolyn.  When the husband and kids leave her at home for four days to go to the State Fair to show Carolyn’s prize steer guess who shows up for dinner?  The extremely handsome, sexy, worldly, and rugged photographer, Robert Kincaid.  He stops at her farm to ask directions to one of the famous covered bridges of Madison County that he’s photographing for his magazine, National Geographic.  She invites him in for iced tea and the rest is their story of desire, love, lost dreams, hope, and sense of duty.Brown’s musical score is fresh and a total delight.  It’s a mixture of country, operatic, and folk which might sound odd but it works.   Elizabeth Stanley’s (Francesca) operatic voice is absolutely beautiful and Andrew Samonsky (Robert) vocals were for me, perfection.   Remember that name, because I predict we will see much more of this wonderful singer and performer.  I also loved the sets.  You really feel what it must be like to live in the flatlands of Iowa in the ’60’s by the bare but creative use of scenery.

This is not only a wonderful date night production to take your significant other to but is also a great “chick” musical.  And remember Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!!  This musical will make you laugh, swoon, and will break your heart – but in a good way.Single tickets for THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, starting at $20 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX.

Dallas Summer Musicals’ highly anticipated 2015-2016 Season will continue with DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, March 11-27, 2016; WICKED, April 20 – May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 – June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 – July 10, 2016. Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group, Inc. will also present the Broadway hit musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, February 27 & 28, 2016 for a limited engagement.