A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC; A VERY SHORT RUN;
A MOST ACCOMPLISHED CAST
Get ready for the wit, sophistication, and gentle eroticism of this most worldly and elegant of American musicals. The story is worldly, charming, and rueful—emotions eloquently displayed by Stephen Sondheim’s score, and abetted by Hugh Wheeler’s astounding book. A Little Night Music is an adaptation of the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, a droll story of sexual musical chairs among the middle- and lower-classes in provincial Sweden at the turn of the last century. Three generations of characters assemble and reassemble romantic relationships until everyone is reasonably paired up at the end. But along the way there are shouting matches, tears, trysts, and even a game of Russian roulette.
Sondheim conveys this complex sexual merry-go-round with some of his most brilliant, exquisite, stunning and mind-bogglingly clever lyrics which elucidate character even as they move the plot forward. The only hit to come out of the score is “Send in the Clowns” (whose international popularity mystified the composer), but his graceful quasi-operetta is a continuous flow of comic, wise, dramatic, and romantic songs. Those who are hearing this work for the first time will be rightfully dazzled by his sumptuous use of ¾ waltz time, polyphony and counterpoint. Tony’s were handed out for score, book and best musical in 1973.
Now, the Colony Theatre and producers Carly Bracco, Noelle Berry, Marc Ginsburg, and Liza Baron have assembled some of the strongest voices in musical theater to present a concert staged reading that plays for four performances only, September 21-24, 2017. I have heard every one of the 15 voices in cabarets and musicals (and a few on video), and each one is stellar. And while the great Broadway actor Robert Yacko appears in the lead, it’s encouraging that we get to see so many underrepresented players who deserve the spotlight. And by supporting this effort, we will get to see more of these concert presentations of glorious musicals that are rarely performed. You will be amazed how these stripped-down versions (piano and cello are used here) often capture a musical’s essence better than gigantic spectacles.
Desiree Armfeldt – ERICA HANRAHAN-BALL
Frederik Egerman – ROBERT YACKO
Madame Armfeldt – MICHELLE HOLMES
Anne Egerman – CARLY BRACCO
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm – MARC GINSBURG
Countess Charlotte Malcolm – CLOIE WYATT TAYLOR
Henrik Egerman – STANTON MORALES
Petra – LIZA BARON
Fredrika – ALISON WHITNEY
Frid – JOEY NISIVOCCIA
and introducing as the Liebeslider Quintet…
Mr. Lindquist – TAJ JEGARAJ
Mr. Erlanson – PEYTON THOMAS TUCKER
Mrs. Nordstrom – JENNIFER KUMIYAMA
Mrs. Segstrom – ANGELA BAUMGARDNER
Mrs. Anderssen – SARA ST. PIERRE
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A Little Night Music in Concert
Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St in Burbank
Thursday 9/21 at 8pm
Friday 9/22 at 8pm
Saturday 9/23 at 8pm
Sunday 9/24 at 3pm
for tickets ($35), call 866.811.4111 or visit Colony
