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 Pseudolus the slave (Omri Schein*), and the lovers Hero (Nic Rouleau) and Philia (Lilly Tobin) *appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association. Photo: Randy O'Rourke A Musical Note about Forum Music and lyrics for “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum” are by musical genius Stephen Sondheim, but it started off on the wrong note, so to speak. The original opening was a gentle little song titled “Love Is in the Air”. Sondheim realized that the song gave the wrong signal. He wrote “Invocation”, but director George Abbott rejected it as not hummable. Producer Harold Prince knew something was wrong but didn’t quite know how to fix the problem, so he called in Jerome Robbins. Robbins joined the show, tightening some numbers and restaging a few more. He had Sondheim write “I’m Calm” (sung by Hysterium) and a couple of reprises of “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid”. But most important, Robbins told Sondheim that the opening didn’t work and audiences didn’t know what the show was about, suggesting that the wild, hilarious farce could work only if the audience was prepared to laugh. Sondheim went to work on “Comedy Tonight” and from that moment “A Funny Thing Happened…” was the huge hit everyone expected it to be. Come to TriArts this weekend and witness: “Something familiar, something peculiar
TriArts Sharon Playhouse is pleased to announce the winning entries to be featured at the 2009 Young Playwrights Festival on Tuesday, June 30th. Playwright Frank Tangredi will be a guest speaker at the event. Mr. Tangredi is author of “Galatea”, which was nominated for an L.A. Weekly Award for Best Playwriting and was presented at TriArts Bok Gallery by Aglet Theatre Company. This year’s winning playwrights are: 3rd-4th Grade: Emily Singer (“The Shoes”), Hopewell Junction, NY; 5th-6th Grade: Hannah Nancy Pouler (“Open The Door”), Lakeville, CT; 9th-12th Grade; and Walker Charles Rumpf (“Peter and the Princess"), Hopewell Junction, NY. Plays were submitted by students in grades 3-12 from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. The winning playwrights have had mentoring sessions with established playwrights and the 10-20 minute plays will each receive a staged reading at the festival on June 30th at 7 pm on the main stage of TriArts Sharon Playhouse. Each winning playwright will be presented with a certificate of merit and a $100 cash prize. Artistic Director Michael Berkeley said “It is always incredible to see the look on the winning playwrights’ faces as they see their words on a page come to life!” Executive Director Alice Bemand added, “We create a professional experience for the winning authors, using experienced actors, and providing professional lighting, sound and stage management, so the young playwrights learn how the technical side of theatre enhances their writing.” The Young Playwrights Festival is part of TriArts’ Bryan L. Knapp New Works Series, now in its 7th year of presenting readings of new plays and musicals, providing a venue for playwrights to develop new works before an audience. Admission to the Young Playwrights Festival is $5. Tickets are available in advance at the TriArts Box Office, by calling 860-364-SHOW x200, online at www.triarts.net, or at the door. Sponsored by the Interlaken Inn. FAMILY FRIDAYS – We want everyone to experience the merriment and the hijinks as our Forum characters whiz from one ridiculous situation to another. Come with the children. Come with the grandchildren. Just don’t miss this hilarious production. Tell the kids to get off their computers, shut off the TV, stop with the video games, quit texting messages and instead experience live theatre! Just call the Box Office to reserve your seats for Family Fridays. And speaking of the kids, don’t forget to check out TriArts Youtheatre program. Limited space is still available. Purchase Your When
TriArts is grateful to our sponsors of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”: Best and Cavallaro Real Estate, The White Hart Inn and WKZE, 98.1 FM |
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Winners of the 2009 Young Playwrights Festival 
| All Information Subject to Change Without Notice | Michael Berkeley, Artistic Director ~ Alice Bemand, Executive Director |