Ohio Northern U stages 'Brigadoon'
4/20/2006The Ohio Northern University departments of theater and music will open Brigadoon, the classic musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, Wednesday in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts.
The romantic fantasy, which tells the tale of a Scottish village that materializes only once each century, features such songs as "The Heather on the Hill," "Come to Me, Bend to Me," and "Almost Like Being in Love."
But the songs are only part of the package. There's dancing and comedy and some tragedy as well.
"I must be the only Scottish person in the world who hasn't seen Brigadoon, and I love what I'm hearing," said Catriona Macphie, managing director of the Freed Center, who is also assisting as a vocal coach.
Brigadoon is a major undertaking, Macphie said, adding that Ohio Northern taps into as many resources as possible for the spring show.
Those resources include alumni, among them set designer Paul Weimer, who has been an associate designer for such shows as Monty Python's Spamalot as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera and The Woman in White.
Lighting designer Judith Daitsman has worked with the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Spoleto Festival, the National Theatre of Greece, and various off-Broadway productions.
The all-student cast numbers 36, and a 24-piece orchestra provides accompaniment.
"Brigadoon" is scheduled at 8 p.m. Wednesday through April 29 and 2 p.m. April 30 in Biggs Theatre of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts in Ada. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students, and $9 for youngsters 12 and younger. Information: 419-772-1900.
If he'd thought of it, William Shakespeare might have written The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged).
Instead, it was written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, who became the Reduced Shakespeare Company. The comedy, which has been described as "a whoopie cushion with legs," takes about 90 minutes to wind its way through Shakepeare's 11 tragedies, 7 histories, 16 comedies, and various pieces of poetry. Suffice it to say, some shortcuts and a great many liberties are taken.
The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) opens tomorrow at Monroe County Community College, starring Steve Ryder, who is also directing, and MCCC father-and-son faculty members Bill McCloskey, professor of English, and Scott McCloskey, adjunct instructor of theater and English.
Performances of "The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged)" are scheduled at 7:30
p.m. tomorrow and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in Meyer Theater of the La-Z-Boy Center, 1555 South Raisinville Rd., on the main campus of Monroe County Community College in Monroe. Tickets are $10. Information: 734-384-4272.
●Bowling Green State University's Treehouse Troupe presents a dual production of Quixote! and Puss in Boots tonight-Sunday at Bowling Green.
Both shows, the former based on Miguel Cervantes' story of Don Quixote de la Mancha and his faithful companion, Sancho Panza, and the latter based on Charles Perrault's tale of a clever cat who helps a poor miller's son win a kingdom, have been adapted and directed by F. Scott Regan, a professor of theater at the university.
The Treehouse Troupe is a theatrical company composed of university students who annually perform for more than 12,000 elementary school students throughout northwest Ohio. In addition to its travels to area schools, the troupe presents performances at the university for those who are unable to attend a school show.
Performances of "Quixote!" and "Puss in Boots" are at 7:30
p.m. today-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Joe E. Brown Theatre in University Hall on the BGSU campus. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Information: 419-372-2719.
●Edward Albee's Counting the Ways and Eugene Ionesco's The Bald Soprano open tonight at BGSU Firelands campus in Huron.
The former uses the form of a vaudeville play to tell the story of a marriage. The latter has been described by the playwright as an absurdist comedy.
The plays were to be part of a residency by Albee at the college, but he has canceled his appearance due to illness. In the tradition of theater, the shows will go on, but other events, including a press conference and lectures, have been canceled.
"Counting the Ways" and "The Bald Soprano" are to be performed at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in McBride Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for BGSU employees, and $5 for children and students. Information: 419-433-5560, ext. 20747.
Contact Nanciann Cherry at: ncherry@theblade.com
or 419-724-6130.