CUMMING — Audiences will be swept up into the world of 1912 London during the Cumming Playhouse’s next major production, “My Fair Lady.”

City of the South Theatre Company will present Learner and Loewe’s 1957 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, which was also the inspiration for the 1964 Academy Award-winning film starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.

“My Fair Lady” runs April 28-May 22 at the playhouse, with showtimes at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Audiences will be captivated by the story of Eliza Doolittle, a rough Cockney girl, whose life is forever transformed after she bumps into Colonel Pickering and Professor Henry Higgins.

After a comment by Higgins that he could raise Eliza’s status in life from a common guttersnipe to a proper lady by simply changing the way she speaks, Pickering challenges him to do so and Eliza agrees to take lessons from Higgins.

While frustrating for both at first, the lessons soon begin to work wonders and produce results neither expected.

Based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play, “Pygmalion,” the musical asks the classic question of what is more important in life — one’s heritage or environment.

That question becomes essential to Eliza’s personal story as she discovers she has the power to change the course of her own life.

Tony Smithey, a professional performer/director who has led and participated in numerous productions throughout the metro Atlanta area, is making his playhouse debut in “My Fair Lady.” He tackles both the role of male leadHiggins and the show’s director.

Smithey said he hopes audiences are blown away by the quality of this production.

“In some ways, I think this may be one of the biggest shows the Cumming Playhouse has ever seen,” he said. “Our leading cast all have amazing resumes in the performance world, and our ensemble is filled with strong voices of young, local talent.”

Not only are the acting and music — which includes such well-known numbers as “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Get Me to the Church on Time” — top-notch, but Smithey said audiences will also be impressed with the show’s costumes and sets.

“We have an amazing set designer whose work will transport audiences back in time to the streets, parlors and ballrooms of Victorian England,” he said.

“Larsen Kennedy, one of our leading cast members, and I have also created an array of gorgeous costumes for everyone on stage. With our sets and costumes, every scene will be like a living painting. This show will be both vocally and visually stunning.”

Glenda Tibbals Gray, who portrays female lead Eliza, said “My Fair Lady” is truly a family-friendly show that everyone will enjoy.

“This is one of those all-time, great classics that everyone should see at least once in their lives,” said Gray, who playhouse patrons may remember from last October’s sellout production of “Smoke on the Mountain,” in which she played Vera Sanders.

“There’s a wonderful story, colorful characters, lots of humor and heart, amazing songs, gorgeous sets and costumes — truly something for everyone to enjoy. You won’t want to miss out on this one.”