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Press Releases
For Immediate Release
November 13, 2009
For more information, contact
Stuart Soloway
(585) 395-2797
ssoloway@brockport.edu
Rome Rollicks in Musical...Forum
Doug Dohr as "Pseudolus surrounded by the Geminae (Shea Woodard, left and Lindsey Rearic).
Photo by Jim Dusen.
Doug Dohr as "Pseudolus" surrounded by Geminae (Lindsey Rearic, top, and Shea Woodard. Photo by Jim Dusen.
Brockport, NY – You can’t argue with a musical farce that promises “something familiar; something peculiar… Comedy tonight!” As with the Department of Theatre’s previous production, Don’t Dress for Dinner, their next one, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum also abounds with mistaken identities, amorous adventures, and more than a few slamming doors as part of the scenery, taking farce back to its ancient roots. The musical comedy begins on Friday, December 4, 2009, at 7:30 pm at The College at Brockport’s Tower Fine Arts Center Mainstage, 180 Holley Street, Brockport.
Director Susan Haefner feels that “this script is so brilliant… it’s comedy gold.” Haefner, a Webster-native is returning to her western New York roots after appearing on Broadway in 42nd Street, >i>Thoroughly Modern Millie, and State Fair. Prior to joining the first national tour of Elton John’s Billy Elliot (opening in Chicago in March 2010), she is taking the helm of …Forum as a Geva Theatre Center directing fellow. The Department of Theatre has a long-standing relationship with Geva in which the regional theatre provides course instructors, internship opportunities, public lectures and other support while also having their directing fellow stage one of the department’s productions each year. Haefner relishes the prospect of working with the student actors: “This cast is so motivated, creative and energetic. The script says jump, we ask ‘How high?,’ and try to go higher. And make it fun and funny while doing it.”
The musical is loosely based on three plays by Plautus. Ancient Roman comedies — especially Plautus’ works — had the reputation of being “bawdy, broad, and inappropriate,” says Haefner. Ironically, these are some of the same traits of vaudeville and burlesque, which also influenced Forum in various ways, right down to its title, an homage to the way some 20th century nightclub comics would work their way into portions of their routines.
Having one of the longer titles in the annals of musical theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was the first Broadway show that sported both music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, after his purely lyrical contributions to West Side Story and Gypsy. Known today as one of the masters of musical theatre composition, it is interesting to note that even though Forum won six Tony Awards® (including those for Best Musical and Best Actor, Zero Mostel ), Sondheim’s score was not even nominated!
The original production of this frothy farce also was at the intersection of one of the 20th century’s more controversial chapters. Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford were two of the stars of the show as it was suffering through tryouts in Washington, DC. Hoping to turn it into a hit, producer Harold Prince wanted to bring in Jerome Robbins as show doctor. The problem was that both Mostel and Gilford were severely affected by the communist witch hunts of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Robbins was one of HUAC’s witnesses who named names of potential communists, including that of Gilford’s wife. Prince was nervous about Mostel’s reaction to this possible solution for a floundering musical, and presented it gingerly. Mostel is reported to have thought momentarily before indicating his approval with the quote: “We of the left don’t blacklist!” From this came one of the biggest musical hits of the early 60s, and one of Mostel’s biggest personal successes, until he was to play “Tevye” in Fiddler on the Roof. Fiddler was directed, from the start, by Jerome Robbins. Politics and the theatre make strange bedfellows.
Performances of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are December 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, at 7:30 pm, and December 6 at 2 pm. The performance on December 6 will be sign language interpreted for the hearing impaired.
Tickets for the performances are $12/General, $10/Seniors and College at Brockport Alumni, Faculty and Staff and $8/Students and are available by phone at (585) 395-ARTS or at the Tower Fine Arts Center Box Office. Tickets can also be obtained at all area Wegmans supermarkets.
The College at Brockport, State University of New York
350 New Campus Drive * Brockport, New York 14420-2931
(585) 395-2754 * FAX (585) 395-2723 *
www.brockport.edu