Show History

History

Inspiration

Red Hot & Cole is a revue conceived by Randy Strawderman with a book by Strawderman, Bianchi and Muriel McAuley.  It is a revue of Cole Porter's music, featuring over 25 of his standards.  The show functions as a gathering of some of Porter's most noteworthy cohorts and performers to reflect on their experiences with him.  At the same time, the book tracks Porter's long life and career, from starting off in Indiana to his crippling mid-career accident.  The name of the musical is a take on Red, Hot and Blue, one of Porter's most famous musicals from the 1930s.

Productions

Red Hot & Cole first came to the stage at the Darien Dinner Theater in July of 1989.  It has been performed in many noteworthy venues, including the Williamstown Musical Theatre Company, Madison Theatre Guild, Sunset Playhouse and the Civic Light Opera.