A rest for dancing feet

Playing the lead in “42nd Street,” she tapped and tapped. And tapped some more. But that didn’t keep dancer Catherine Wreford from being one of the first cast members to arrive at the post-performance bash celebrating the opening of the musical July 11 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Her secret? “Lots of candy,” she deadpanned as a throng of well-wishers gathered around her on Music Center Plaza. “Truth is, I love the show, have fun with it every night. And I think America loves it, especially at this time, because it’s a great escape.”

As a breeze flirted with the gurgling plaza fountain, guests such as TV stars Doris Roberts and Camryn Manheim dived into a buffet of barbecue chicken and corn bread -- with old-fashioned ice cream sundaes for dessert -- and buzzed about the show. “I love the fact that it’s so naive and filled with young people full of hope,” Roberts said. Added Manheim, as she executed a triple-time tap step in thong sandals: “It made me want to do a play. I did musical comedy all through college.”

Looking every bit the sultry vamp she played on stage, deep-voiced singer Blair Ross puffed on a cigarette as she lounged at a cocktail table. “Helps me with the low notes,” she said of the smoke that curled up into the dark summer night. Ross loves playing the part of prima donna Dorothy Brock, she said, “because I’m such a creature of sloth. I get all my work done in the first act, and then I have one number in the second. And I don’t even have to stand up ... or dance a lick.”