Broadway Bard
A musical revue featuring songs from musicals "appropriating" Shakespeare's works
Scenario, book and direction by Fran Teague, with music director Justin Sanders
Town & Gown Players, 2006-7 Second Stage season (part of "The Summer of Sorta Shakespeare")
In research for her latest book, Shakespeare and the American Popular Stage (Cambridge University Press, 2006), Fran identified dozens of Broadway and other musicals based on/suggested by/adapted from works by Shakespeare. This revue brings together some of the words and music that sold thousands of tickets . . . and some from productions that, in the fine old euphemism, struggled to find their audiences. Brad, Amy, Drew, Christina, Teddy and Justin spent many hours rehearsing; the show ran in May.
You can't see Justin's score in the photo at right. It was as thick as his leg. He helped with the arrangements, rehearsed the singers and gave them an energetic accompaniment onstage. Wonderful work. Oh, the light: Justin did have some good ideas, but this is not one of those moments. He used the theater's ghost light for the first rehearsals in the house.
Yes, that is a skull. The prop closet holds many delights.
The first act comprised songs from major hit musicals, some of them familiar and some less so. The staging was pretty modest, with stage manager Teddy doubling as bartender and irrigating the Talent at frequent intervals. The second act was filled with "oddities," selections from non-major or non-hit shows and those with sort of indirect Shakespeare connections. The hand puppets were definitely a highlight.
The photo below shows the cast and crew. Left to right: Brad, Fran, Teddy, Drew, Amy, Christina, Justin, and electrician Karen.
| Approved Ben Teague web site |
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Broadway Bard