Stage 3 singing the ‘Blues in the Night’

Musical theater hath no fury like three women scorned.

Sonora’s Stage 3 Theatre Company presents the song-fueled sizzler “Blues in the Night” starting July 10. The show follows three women who find they are all in love with the same man. Set in a worn-out 1930s hotel, the production is light on dialogue, heavy on music.

The show features 26 blues and jazz numbers made famous by the likes of Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington. The foothills production is directed by Dwight Dean Mahabir with musical direction by Dennis Brown.

Mahabir is doing double duty as the show’s director and cheating suitor. He previously appeared in the company’s one-man show “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder” last season. Joining him are Stage 3 newcomers Caroline Walsh as The Girl, Nicole Firpo as The Dancer and Jazmyn Upshaw-Toney as The Woman. Company favorite Michelle Allison (previously seen in “Fences” and “Crowns”) returns as The Lady.

While the cast features many performers making their company debut, the actresses have extensive regional experience. Walsh, a Columbia College student, has sung with the Columbia College Jazz Quartet for the past three years. Upshaw-Toney appeared in “It Runs in the Family” and “Chicago” for Stockton Civic Theatre. Firpo is a principal dancer with Central West Ballet, where she has been Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” Princess Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty” and the lead in “Cinderella.”

The production is also a reunion for Mahabir, Allison and Brown. The three worked on a production of the show together 15 years ago.

“This is my first time directing, and it definitely gives me a new perspective and respect for the other side of the table,” Mahabir said in a statement about the play. “This production will be somewhat different (from his previous production) as we are adding a dancer to display another art form. … I am overjoyed to be collaborating with my dear friend Dennis Brown.”

“Blues in the Night” will run through Aug. 9 at Stage 3. Two encore performances will be staged Sept. 4-5 at downtown Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Stage 3 singing the ‘Blues in the Night’."