‘Shinbone Alley’ at TAP

Shinbone Alley is performed now through Sept. 2 at Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP). Shinbone Alley is by Mel Brooks and Joe Darion, with music by George Kleinsinger, lyrics by Joe Darion, is directed by James Valcq.

Featuring a book by comedy legend Mel Brooks and Joe Darion, and a “cool” jazz score that remains one of the only examples of this genre in the commercial theatre, Shinbone Alley was one of the most daring musicals of the 1950s. In a deserted office, a cockroach dives headfirst onto the keys of a typewriter, pouring out the ruminations of his soul. It’s archy, poet, philosopher, moralist and hapless friend of mehitabel, the alley cat. This bizarre, highly original musical takes us into the streets of the big city as archy tries hopelessly to bring the “toujours gai” mehitabel off the back fence and into a respectable home as a housecat.

Shinbone Alley features Bill Theisen, Brade Bradshaw, Jennifer Harlee Mitchell, Carmen Risi, Samantha Sostaric and Kati Schwaber. It is performed Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are $28 for general admission and $12 for students. For more information and to buy tickets visit thirdavenueplayhouse.com.