The Stephen Schwartz Project BEGINS April 10th
Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the world premiere of a new musical revue, The Stephen Schwartz Project, will open April 10 and run through May 25, 2008 at MetroStage. Conceived, directed and choreographed by Michael Bobbitt, The Stephen Schwartz Project will feature “wicked” new arrangements by John L. Cornelius II of Schwartz’s most beloved music.
In September 2007, this new revue was workshopped in Houston, Texas, with more than 45 students at Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS). It included songs from Schwartz's legendary portfolio of award-winning hits; songs such as "Defying Gravity" from his latest blockbuster Wicked, "When You Believe" from the animated film The Prince of Egypt and "Spark of Creation" from Children Of Eden and had audience members jumping to their feet and roaring with approval throughout the performances. Mr. Schwartz was in the audience and was very pleased with the new arrangements. He will be attending the premiere here at MetroStage which will feature nine professional actors from the Washington DC area, and a five piece band.
Director and choreographer Michael Bobbitt is the Artistic Director at Adventure Theatre. He most recently directed and choreographed Petite Rouge at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Locally he choreographed Once On This Island and Frog and Toad at Round House Theatre. He is currently collaborating with Mr. Cornelius on a musical adaptation of The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. Music Director Doug Bowles is on the voice faculty at American University, is a private voice teacher, and performer and has music directed many shows including Grand Night For Singing, Always Patsy Cline and The Yellow Rose. His company SingCo Music has produced many cabaret style entertainments and includes the SingCo Music Orchestra.
The Stephen Schwartz Project will feature a wide variety of songs from this award-winning composer/lyricist. Songs from Broadway and regional favorites Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden, The Baker's Wife, The Magic Show and Wicked, and award-winning films Prince of Egypt, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be performed with new arrangements and great choreography.
The set designer is Alex Cooper, costumes will be by Emily Dere and the lighting designer is Jason Arnold. Jessica Lee Winfield is the Stage Manager and Kevin Laughon is the Production Manager/ Scenic Artist.
The Stephen Schwartz Project will be in performance from April 10 - May 25, Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm and Sundays at 3pm and 7pm. Press Night is Sunday April 13 at 7 pm. Tickets are $35-40 and can be reserved by calling 1-800-494-8497 or go to BoxOfficeTickets.com.
Labels: Schwartz
posted by Carolyn Griffin at
11:51 PM
2 Comments:
I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to seeing your current show since Stephen Schwartz has been one of my favorite Broadway composers for many years. Admittedly that opinion was based mainly on 'Godspell', 'Pippin', and 'Wicked', really his only three blockbusters. I was eager to hear music from other shows I did not know -- 'Baker's Wife', 'Children of Eden', etc.
90 minutes later I left your theater (Thursday, April 17th) feeling almost ripped off. Why oh why did the creators of your 'Project' feel they had to obliterate the tunes of virtually all his music? I hardly recognized any of the songs, even the venerable 'Day By Day'. Halfway through the show I consulted my program to verify that, indeed, Schwartz wrote the MUSIC for my three favorites of his and was not just the lyricist.
I'm totally baffled and would love some kind of explanation from someone near the show. Toward the end of what became an excruciating 90 minutes, I turned to one of my companions and remarked that all the numbers were sounding alike -- almost atonal keyboard renditions of what could have passed for a Cirque du Soleil score.
I don't mean to detract from the performances of the winsome young cast. I'm only sorry that since many of them were born long after the best of Schwartz's music had left Broadway, they've probably never enjoyed the true melodies of the songs they were parodying.
By
Anonymous, at 2:12 PM
Stephen Schwartz was contacted several years ago by director Michael Bobbitt about reinventing several of his songs. He attended a workshop in Houston last September (that included more songs than what we are currently showcasing) and, for the most part, he loved what he heard and saw. He has given his complete blessing for The Stephen Schwartz Project.
-Kevin Laughon, Production Manager
By
Carolyn Griffin, at 7:38 PM
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