From left, Heidi (Joy Reynolds), Hunter (Stuart Rupprecht), Susan (Holly Robinson) and Jeff (Patrick MacDonald) rehearse in [title of show]. Photo by Larry Gibbons
LALT News:
The musical comedy [title of show] (that’s not a misprint) premiered on Broadway in 2008 to positive reviews. The show chronicles its own creation as an entry in the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2004 all the way through its Broadway opening in 2008. And now, it’s getting its premiere in the Land of Enchantment.
Hunter (a writer, played by Stuart Rupprecht) and Jeff (a composer and lyricist, played by Patrick MacDonald) are best friends putting together a musical with the help of two other friends. Heidi (played by Joy Reynolds) and Susan (played by Holly Robinson) are along for the ride as well as Larry, the onstage keyboardist, played by Brian Huysman, who also serves as the show’s music director.
Although there are many shows based on characters writing a show, [title of show] is unique in that the show being worked on happens to be the same show the audience is watching. In the original productions, the authors also served as the actors up to and including the Broadway run. So, Hunter, Jeff, Heidi, Susan, and Larry are all real people, and it’s this genuine nature that is a part of the appeal of the show.
Director Tim Orcutt first saw [title of show] in Upstate New York a few years back and thought the show would be a perfect fit for the smaller stage at LALT’s Performing Arts Center.
“Even today, there’s such a lack of originality on Broadway,” Orcutt said. “Everywhere you turn you see revivals and conversions of movies and books into Broadway shows. [title of show] is a truly original work, and the script even pokes a bit of fun at the churning sea of Broadway reboots.”
Speaking of poking fun, [title of show] is not without its share of irreverence (and be advised, some very salty dialogue). One song, “Monkeys and Playbills,” cleverly works the titles of fifty Broadway flops into one catchy tune. But it’s not all wink-and-nudge music either. The score contains inspirational songs that encourage the creative spirit (“Die, Vampire, Die!” and “Nine People’s Favorite Thing”) as well as those of a more reflective nature (“A Way Back to Then”).
[title of show] delivers humor, groan-worthy puns, as well as drama and passion to create a brief but enjoyable evening of theatre.
[title of show] runs Nov. 3-19 with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. each Sunday. Tickets are $14, $12 for seniors and students, and are available at CB Fox or a half hour before curtain at the Performing Art Center, located at 17th and Nectar in Los Alamos.
Running time approximately 100 minutes with no intermission. Due to strong language, it is recommended for mature audiences.
Los Alamos Little Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that has provided theatrical entertainment to northern New Mexico audiences since 1943.