“Once Upon a Time…” 4 words that propel us into the familiar, with a twist.
Growing up, I’d learned that this most popular show in the Sondheim canon depicts what happens after “happily ever after”. And now, telling this story in the midst of a global pandemic, Act 2 takes on an especially poignant tone as it examines the role of community in our survival. How do our individual choices affect the whole? Pretty heady stuff wrapped in the package of beloved childhood characters. Couple that with the sophistication of Sondheim’s score and you have an incredibly compelling piece of storytelling that we’re so excited to share with you.
- Jennifer Swiderski
Like most lovers of musical theatre, we are heartbroken by Stephen Sondheim’s passing last week. Mr. Sondheim’s works, for many of us, were the catalyst and inspiration behind pursuing this profession, and we were thrilled our students had the opportunity to explore this rich work by one of musical theatre’s greatest. How incredibly lucky we all are to have lived at the same time as a man who changed the landscape of theatre. While it has been “hard to see the light” since his passing, we can think of no better way to honor his incredible legacy. There truly is a “giant in the sky.” We dedicate this production to Stephen Sondheim. Thank you for the words, the music, the lessons, and the humanity.
- Kristy Cates & Schuyler Thornton
