Tags
Bob Fosse, Boca Raton Theatre Guild, musical, musical comedy, Musical Theatre, Pippin, Stephen Schwartz, They're Playing Our Song, Willow Theatre
The Boca Raton Theatre Guild to Produce
Two Musicals for its 2013-2014 Season
The Boca Raton Theatre Guild has chosen to produce two acclaimed musicals for their 2013-2014 season. The commercial and critical success of their recent production of Chicago was one of the key factors inspiring the change. In the past their seasons have consisted of one musical and one straight play.
The BRTG season will open with They’re Playing Our Song, the Neil Simon/Marvin Hamlisch disco era musical, and will conclude with the Stephen Schwartz, Bob Fosse, Roger O. Hirson 1972 classic Pippin.
Producer/director Keith Garsson explains the Guild’s decision: “The recent loss of composer Marvin Hamlisch led us to re-examine his unique body of work to see which shows have been overlooked. It didn’t take long to come across They’re Playing Our Song and realize that its energetic disco score, New York setting and funny script by Neil Simon was a terrific choice to insert into the spot usually reserved for our straight play.”
They’re Playing Our Song will star Carbonell Award winners Margot Moreland and Oscar Cheda as fictional counterparts to the real-life romance between Hamlisch and lyricist Carol Bayer-Sager. Ms. Moreland recently wowed Theatre Guild audiences in her critically acclaimed performance of last year’s Sweet Charity and Mr. Cheda, has just completed a run in the critically acclaimed production of In the Heights at Actor’s Playhouse. Caryl Fantel will serve as musical director for the production.
The season will conclude with the Guild’s traditional ‘big’ musical. According to musical theatre scholar Scott Miller in his 1996 book, From Assassins to West Side Story, “Pippin is a largely under-appreciated musical with a great deal more substance to it than many people realize…” Currently enjoying an extremely successful revival on Broadway, Pippin uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of a young prince and his search for meaning and significance.
Says producer Garsson: “Pippin features a collection of dance-in the-aisles tunes. It ran for years on Broadway, beginning in 1972. Of course that was over forty years ago… expect some innovations!”
“And,” Garsson continues, “We’re really pleased Ron Hutchins, who created all that brilliant choreography in Chicago will be joining us for both shows this season as we continue to grow our productions as our audience demands!”
The Boca Raton Theatre Guild is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to producing professional productions and advancing the art of theatre in the South Florida community.
All performances will take place in the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road.
Tickets for They’re Playing Our Song and Pippin will be available at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948.
For more information about the Boca Raton Theatre Guild, please visit www.brtg.org.
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They’re Playing Our Song
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager
Book: Neil Simon
November 8-24, 2013
Tickets: $35
Previews: (November 8 & 9) $30
Wednesday Evenings: $30
Pippin
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz with contributions by Bob Fosse
Book: Roger O. Hirson
January 24 – February 9
Tickets: $35
Previews: (January 24 & 25) $30
Wednesday Evenings: $30
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 South Military Trail,
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Phone: 561-347-3948
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