Restored, Remastered Tapes of Duke Ellington's 'Sophisticated Ladies' at Cinemas Palme D'Or in December

Recently restored and remastered tapes of the 1981 Tony Award winning musical, Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Ladies," are scheduled to be shown at Cinémas Palme D'Or in December, an event rep announced Wednesday.

The shows are scheduled at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at 72840 Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Tickets are $15 general admission and $12 for seniors.

The restored and remastered tapes were originally captured live, in-performance at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1982, according to Specticast. The principal cast includes Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle and Paula Kelly. The production features the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington.

The screening at Cinémas Palme D'Or will be presented in remastered 5.1 surround sound, according to an event rep.

Ellington compositions featured in the musical include "Take the 'A' Train", "I'm Beginning to See the Light", "Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce", "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", "In a Sentimental Mood", "Sophisticated Lady", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Satin Doll", "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" and others.

In a review for The New York Times in March 1981, Frank Rich wrote that " . . . the new musical revue at the Lunt-Fontanne, is an Ellington celebration that just won't quit until it has won over the audience with dynamic showmanship . . . it rides so high on affection, skill and, of course, stunning music that the lapses don't begin to spoil the fun. What's more, this is the only Broadway revue of recent vintage that operates on a truly grand scale."

Tickets can be purchased online at www.fandango.com or by calling the Cinémas Palme D'Or box office at (760) 779-0430.