OGDEN – Weber State University’s production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” opening Feb. 26, marks the 100th anniversary of George and Ira Gershwin being published. More notably for the local crowd, it will be soon-to-retire musical theater professor Jim Christian’s last production/direction as a professor at the university.

“I’m very excited for this to be my last show – my swan song – because it represents a lot of my style,” Christian said. “It will be good to go out with a bang.”

Christian said the show is packed with all the elements of great musical theater – singing, dancing and acting. There are 10 principal cast members with 8 ensemble men and 8 ensemble women.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” is a comedy-filled Tony Award-winning show from America’s Prohibition era that includes hidden identities, scrambled romances and the musical genius of the Gershwins.

In the show, actors will sing and dance inside a ritzy beach house with a cellar full of booze during the 1920s. Christian said the show is loosely based on a 1920s show called “Lady be Good.” George and Ira Gershwin re-worked the show and freshened up the characters for this version.

WHAT: Weber State University’s “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27 and March 1-5, and 2 p.m. March 5

WHERE: Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, Allred Theater 1901 University Circle Ogden

ADMISSION: Tickets are $10-$12 each and can be purchased online at www.WeberStateTickets.com. Tickets will also be sold beginning one hour before curtain at the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts ticket office. It is encouraged to purchase tickets online or arrive early in order to avoid waiting in line.

Many in the audience may recognize the music, with the show including many of the classics from the Gershwin songbook including “S’Wonderful,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.”

The show runs Feb. 26-27 and March 1-5, starting at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee at 2 p.m. March 5. Tickets are from $10 to $12 and can be purchased at www.weberstatetickets.com or at the box office at the Browning Center, 1901 University Circle, one hour prior to the show. The show will be performed in the Allred Theater at the Browning Center. 

Photo: WSU Nice Work Photo With Jim Resized (1).jpg Caption: WSU’s “Nice Work if You Can Get It” premiere’s February 26 at 7:30 p.m. at WSU’s Browning Center. The show will be professor Jim Christian’s last directed show at the university.