New location on Strip suits ‘Menopause the Musical’

By Jerry Fink

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Alan Glist has almost perfect pitch when it comes to choosing musicals.

He’s produced such hits as “Zorba,” “Nine,” “My One and Only,” “Ring of Fire” and “La Cage Aux Folles,” and his GFour Productions has won 30 Tony Awards, 38 Drama Desk Awards and 10 Outer Critics Circle Awards.

But he admits he was a bit tone deaf when his wife, Kathi, pitched him a musical about women going through the change. It just didn’t strike a chord.

“I said I don’t think so, not a show called ‘Menopause the Musical,’ ” Glist said.

Fortunately, his wife persuaded him to take a chance.

“I want to tell you I’m so happy I listened to Kathi,” Glist said. “It has become a little phenomenon. I’m so happy Jeanie Linders had a hot flash while she was drinking a glass of wine one night.”

Linders’ flash debuted in March 2001 in Orlando, Fla., in a 76-seat theater that once housed a perfume shop. Since then, “Menopause the Musical” has been seen by more than 11 million fans and has been performed in more than 250 U.S. cities and in 14 foreign countries.

The musical debuted this month at the Luxor after routinely packing the Las Vegas Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret.

“Menopause the Musical” revolves around four women who meet at a lingerie sale at Bloomingdale’s. From diverse backgrounds, they have one thing in common — they are experiencing menopause.

Song parodies fit the menopause theme. “Puff the Magic Dragon” becomes “Puff, My God, I’m Draggin’,” “My Guy” morphs into “My Thighs” and the disco era’s anthem turns into “Stayin’ Awake! Stayin’ Awake!”

The ensemble includes Queen Emily David, Paige O’Hara, Laura Lee O’Connell and Annette Houlihan Verdolino.

After almost four years at the Hilton, Glist wanted to move the show to the Strip.

Linders likes the move to the Luxor. “We have a new set design, fabulous lighting. We went from being a wonderful off-Broadway show to a fabulous off-Broadway show.”