Cast members (above) perform "Bye Bye Birdie" in last summer's production by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane. Shown in a dance number (below) are, from left, Jennifer Marks, Kristopher Lloyd Shaw and Carrie Black. (Photos by Michael Palumbo)

Summer Lyric Theatre is gearing up to present an irresistible mix of classic and contemporary American musicals as it celebrates its 40th season of bringing song, dance and laughter to the stage at Tulane University.

Summer Lyric's 2007 season opens June 21-24 with "Little Me," the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical comedy with a script by Neil Simon based on Patrick Denni's barbed satire of the celebrity autobiography. Under the direction of Summer Lyric artistic director B. Michael Howard and Ed Kresley, and featuring the Kresley's choreography, a single actor will play all the men in the life of Belle Poitrine, the musical's iconic star of stage, screen and scandal. The lively score includes "Real Live Girl," "On the Other Side of the Tracks," "I've Got Your Number" and "Here's to Us."

The blockbuster Broadway and Hollywood hit "Chicago," created by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, is the season's second production, running July 12-15. In Roaring Twenties Chicago, chorus girl Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover, then vies for the spotlight and sensational newspaper headlines, hoping the publicity will catapult her to fame, freedom and a successful stage career. This sharp-edged drama features an electrifying score that includes the hit numbers "All that Jazz," "Cell Block Tango," "When You're Good to Mama" and "Razzle Dazzle." Chicago is directed by and choreographed by Diane Lala.

The final offering of Summer Lyric's 40th season, on August 2-8, is "High Society," the Cole Porter stage musical based on the Cole Porter movie musical -- which in turn was based on Phillip Barry's play and film, "The Philadelphia Story." The play is about socialite Tracy Lord and her lively love life. Directed by Howard and choreographed by Kresley, High Society features Porter treats such as "Just One of Those Things" and "It's All Right with Me."

The company's first season came in 1968 when it featured the perennial favorites "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Student Prince" and "Carousel."

"In the decades since that first year, Summer Lyric has produced 121 different musicals, many of them more than once, and always to enthusiastic critical acclaim," says Charlie Farve Hayes, Summer Lyric Theatre operations manager.

All summer 2007 performances will be in Dixon Hall on the Tulane University uptown campus. Show schedules are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with one matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Summer Lyric box office will open for season subscription renewals on Monday, March 12; orders for new subscriptions will begin April 16; and single show tickets go on sale May 14. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office or charged by phone at 504-865-5269.