SF Playhouse’s “My Fair Lady” Is True to Original Classic!
by Darlene Jurow
San Francisco Playhouse closes its 22nd season as it stands true to Lerner and Loewe’s classic “My Fair Lady,” currently performing through September 13, 2025 at the SF Playhouse (450 Post Street), in San Francisco. This Tony-Award-winning musical adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion follows Eliza Doolittle’s transformation from cockney flower girl to the belle of elegant society under the tutelage of linguistic expert Professor Henry Higgins with aid from Colonel Pickering. What starts out as an innocuous bet, blossoms into something more in this musical favorite. This production revisits the relationships of Higgins, Doolittle, and Pickering, in addition to offering a novel take on its ending.
Featuring Lerner and Loewe’s beloved score including “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?,” “The Rain in Spain,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and “On the Street Where You Live,” this adaptation of the original production is truly marvelous.
The cast of this production is truly extraordinary. Jillian A. Smith is superb in the role of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, while Adam Magill is magnificent as Professsor Henry Higgins. Brady Morales-Woolery, who makes his Playhouse debut as Colonel Pickering, is also wonderful, as is Jomar Tagatac, who does an astonishing performance as Alfred Doolittle.
Other cast members include Nicholas Tabora in the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill, an upper-class British man who falls for Eliza;, Jill Slyter in the role of Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins’ mother; Chachi Delgado and Andy Collins, who portray Jamie and Harry, Alfred Doolittle’s friends; and Heather Orth, who makes her Playhouse debut as Mrs. Pearce, Professor Higgins’ housekeeper.
Jura Davis, Julio Chavez, Jill Jacobs, Kareem Jenkins, BrieAnne Alisa Martin, and Dian Meechai round out the ensemble.
There are some great singing voices in this cast, including those of Jillian A. Smith (Eliza) and Nicholas Tabora (Freddy).
Overall, this large-cast production is a real treat, with songs accompanied by a backstage orchestra (music direction by Dave Dobrusky), and an impressive rotating set (designed by Nina Ball).
The costume design by Abra Berman (with Lex Noseworthy) is truly charming, as is the scenic design by Nina Ball. The gigantic hats are themselves quite spectacular!
The audience loved, loved, loved the performance, and at its conclusion was given a well-deserved standing ovation!
For tickets or more information, the public may visit sfplayhouse.org or phone the box office at (415) 677-9596.
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Photo caption: Alfred P. Doolittle (center - Jomar Tagatac) hears wedding bells in San Francisco Playhouse’s “My Fair Lady,” currently performing through September 13, 2025. (Photo credit: Jessica Palopoli)