Spring Break
'Side by Side' musical graces Black Box
Doug T. Graham/Verge Reporter
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: The Verge
"Side by Side by Sondheim," a musical revue celebrating the musical works of legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today in the Black Box Theater at the Doudna Fine Arts Center.
Being a musical revue, the production contains no traditional plot, although director Adam Stitch notes that because each song comes from a Broadway show, they each have their own small plot.
"There is a narrator who introduces the songs and talks about Soundheim's life," Stitch said. "He functions as more of an emcee than a traditional narrator."
Some of the better known songs composed by Soundheim to be performed are: "Comedy Tonight" from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Send in the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music" and "You Gotta Have a Gimmick" from "Gypsy."
The show is one of the first to be performed in the Black Box Theatre, which housed the theatre department's production of "Medea" last semester.
One of the features of the space is its versatility; because the Black Box has no traditional stage, nor nailed-down seats, the players have the ability to customize every aspect of the space to better suit the play.
For "Side by Side by Soundheim," the cast and crew have erected a raised two-level stage, the likes of which haven't been seen before in Doudna.
To accompany this unique staging, the risers in which the audience will sit have been moved into an arrangement that defies traditional stage vocabulary.
"This is somewhat like a Thrust, which is when the audience is on three sides, but it is a little different because our stage is in the corner." explained Audrey Wiggs, a junior Theatre Arts major. "Its unique."
An aspect of any music revue is that it discourages having any actor being featured more than the others.
Director Adam Stitch noted how every actor is involved in about the same number of songs.
For example, Joe Amato, a junior music education major with a concentration in voice, has two solos and is involved with three ensembles in addition to the all-cast numbers.
Because the play was written to be a small, intimate show it is accompanied by two pianos as opposed to a full orchestra.
The production is the result of a joint effort by the Eastern music and theatre arts departments. It is the first time such collaboration has been staged at Doudna and given the fact that both departments are now housed under the same roof, it will most likely not be the last.
The show opens tonight and will be performed Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for senior citizens and Eastern employees and $12 for the general public.
Being a musical revue, the production contains no traditional plot, although director Adam Stitch notes that because each song comes from a Broadway show, they each have their own small plot.
"There is a narrator who introduces the songs and talks about Soundheim's life," Stitch said. "He functions as more of an emcee than a traditional narrator."
Some of the better known songs composed by Soundheim to be performed are: "Comedy Tonight" from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Send in the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music" and "You Gotta Have a Gimmick" from "Gypsy."
The show is one of the first to be performed in the Black Box Theatre, which housed the theatre department's production of "Medea" last semester.
One of the features of the space is its versatility; because the Black Box has no traditional stage, nor nailed-down seats, the players have the ability to customize every aspect of the space to better suit the play.
For "Side by Side by Soundheim," the cast and crew have erected a raised two-level stage, the likes of which haven't been seen before in Doudna.
To accompany this unique staging, the risers in which the audience will sit have been moved into an arrangement that defies traditional stage vocabulary.
"This is somewhat like a Thrust, which is when the audience is on three sides, but it is a little different because our stage is in the corner." explained Audrey Wiggs, a junior Theatre Arts major. "Its unique."
An aspect of any music revue is that it discourages having any actor being featured more than the others.
Director Adam Stitch noted how every actor is involved in about the same number of songs.
For example, Joe Amato, a junior music education major with a concentration in voice, has two solos and is involved with three ensembles in addition to the all-cast numbers.
Because the play was written to be a small, intimate show it is accompanied by two pianos as opposed to a full orchestra.
The production is the result of a joint effort by the Eastern music and theatre arts departments. It is the first time such collaboration has been staged at Doudna and given the fact that both departments are now housed under the same roof, it will most likely not be the last.
The show opens tonight and will be performed Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for senior citizens and Eastern employees and $12 for the general public.
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