Stepping Out

Hazel to the rescue

The sitcom maid re-emerges in a new musical

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Hazel, that irrepressible maid from the iconic Saturday Evening Post cartoon and ‘60s Emmy Award-winning sitcom, is now sweeping her way onto the stage in a new musical currently in development, “Hazel: A Musical Maid in America.”
The tryout show, which had its spring 2016 debut at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, arrives on Long Island in the form of a staged reading, starring Klea Blackhurst, at the Madison Theatre, on the campus of Molloy College, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28.
“It’s based off of the version that was done in Chicago,” says Angelo Fraboni, the Madison Theatre’s artistic director. “But it’s actually a new show, with a different director and choreographer [Parker Esse], musical director [Aaron Gandy] and new cast.” Blackhurst, who brought Hazel to life in the Chicago production, continues in this staging, supported by Molloy’s Cap21 Theatre Arts students, among the performers.
“It’s a show that’s really right for our times, even though it’s set in the ‘60s,” says Fraboni. “It’s about finding your voice, accepting change, and finding your true self. Hazel helps and guides the Baxter family. It’s a nice story.”
Hazel was created by cartoonist Ted Key in 1943 and ran in The Saturday Evening Post until 1969 when it was distributed to newspapers. She was the subject of the TV show “Hazel,” which garnered its star, Shirley Booth, two Emmy Awards when it ran in prime time from 1961 through 1966.

“Hazel: Maid in America” shows how Hazel comes to be employed — and adored — by the Baxters, a suburban family replete with husband, wife, child, and dog. The musical features topics of the era it’s set in, such as women’s lib and the space race, but, like Hazel herself, transcends its time due to its humor and big heart. 
The brainchild of composer Ron Abel and lyricist Chuck Steffan, the pair thought Hazel would make a good subject for a musical because, as they pondered the current state of the world, they said to each other, “Remember when life was funny?”
The premise of the story goes like this: During a time of great change for America, not all of the Baxter family is on board. What George Baxter finds not so funny about his wife joining the work force and his maid taking over his household and his life results in a humorous look at family life in a turbulent decade. It asks the question: Can a simple maid debone a turkey, save a marriage, uncover a matter of national security and lead a conga line? She can if she’s Hazel, according to Hazel’s writer Lissa Levin (the sitcom writer-producer who has worked on “Mad About You,” “Cheers,” “Family Ties,” and “WKRP in Cincinnati” among other projects).
The Baxter family — George, his wife Dorothy and Harold, their son, reside in a quiet typically suburban neighborhood. George is working on snagging a big client for his law firm in hopes of a promised partnership, while Dorothy has gone back to work. So they decide to hire a maid. The Baxters have their ups and downs, and it’s Hazel to the rescue.
“It’s a fun, fast paced, entertaining family musical,” Fraboni says. “The script moves along quickly.”
Audiences will get a fascinating slook at a show in process while Molloy’s students gain real-world experience collaborating with the theater pros. The aspiring young performers — all sophomores — are a big part of the show, which is part of Madison’s development series.
“It’s being entirely reworked,” says Fraboni. “Lissa Levin has rewritten the show with new material specifically for us. This is a great opportunity for our kids to work together with a pro like Parker Esse, who directs all over the country and Lissa, along with Aaron Gandy, our musical director. We want to expose our students to how the development of a show goes and all the work that is involved along the way. And for our audience, it’s a peek at a new show.”
“Every day we are doing rewrites,” Fraboni says of the rehearsal process. “We have lots of material going in and out. As a staged reading, there will be a simple design and not fully costumed. We will give everyone the flavor of what it could be.”
“We want everyone to come and enjoy themselves. And after the show, we will do a talk back. The audience can stay and participate. We’re excited about the production and hope everyone enjoys it.”
And, of course, those Broadway ambitions remain behind the scenes. If “Hazel: Made in America,” attracts the attention of a producer who has an interest in bringing it to a New York City stage, Fraboni and his team will have accomplished their ultimate goal.

Hazel: Maid in America
When: Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, 8 p.m. $25.
Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy College, Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre.
(516) 323-4444 or www.madisontheatreny.org.