 |
Anna (Stephanie Burkett Gerson), John (Zane Gerson), Divonne (Jessica Gisin) and Cliff (Michael L. Willett) are four college students with Broadway ambitions in the new musical ‘The Green Room.’ (photo by Alysa Brennan) |
Four friends and theater students dream of the big time, Broadway, as they stare down their last day of college life in the world premiere of the musical “The Green Room,” which opens this week at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse.
Written by Rod Damer and C. Stephen Foster, and with lyrics and music by Chuck Pelletier, “The Green Room” was originally written by Damer as a one-act play based on his college theater life at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. The Green Room doubled as a study lounge and hangout he and his friends would pull all-nighters in, according to Pelletier, a friend of Damer’s.
“I thought this is a great idea for a musical because I had always respected the musicals that try to keep a very small scope in what they’re trying to do, creating a world that does not require huge flown-in sets and chandeliers, things that are hard for smaller theaters to produce,” said Pelletier, who like Foster, has acted in other Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities productions. “This was a perfect example of something self-contained, could write a musical in two acts and show the progression of these kids from the beginning of freshman year to the end of their senior year.”
Pelletier adapted “The Green Room” into a one-act musical. The musical was then brought to Foster who was running his own theater company. After it received a warm reception, it was adapted into a two-act musical and Foster became a collaborator
“I liked it because it was about four college kids in theater and it all took place in their hangout, which was the Green Room of the theater department,” Foster said. “That resonated with me because I used to do the same thing at my college. I would go there and study. I would go there and practice scenes for my classes. It was my sense of safety and I really got that in the original production.”
“The Green Room,” which is directed by Ovation Award-winning director/producer Stephanie Coltrin, features four friends that have theater ambitions but some face more challenges than others in reaching their dreams. Divonne Bruder (Jessica Gisin) is what Foster calls a Bette Midler-type actress, who is outspoken, funny, oozes charisma, not classically pretty and one who “never gets cast as an ing/nue.” Anna Kearns (Stephanie Burkett Gerson) is that ing/nue, a beautiful blonde, a Sandra Dee-type who always gets cast as the ing/nue. John Davis (Zane Gerson) is a cocky jock, a leading man who is in a relationship with Anna. Then there’s Cliff Kearns (Michael J. Willett), Anna’s brother, a writer and actor who falls for Divonne, but she only has theater on her mind.
“This is the story of four theater majors but it is really a story in a larger sense about anyone who has ever stood on the edge of a precipice of your sheltered life where you’re being taken care of by your parents and that next step being that now you’re on your own,” Pelletier said.
Even before “The Green Room” hits the Hermosa Beach stage, the musical has already been honored, chosen as an official entry in the second annual Festival of New American Musicals. The production also features the award-winning Songwriter’s Guild of America song, “It’s All About Me.”
“It’s a wonderful honor,” Foster said. “We made a CD of ‘Green Room’ and put it on MySpace, and that’s how they found us. We didn’t submit it to them. They said, ‘We really find your musical fascinating.’ We felt exhilarated.”
The “energetic fun show about youthful hope” features music from pop and country to Stephen Sondheim-type show tunes to hard rock. A live, offstage band will perform the songs.
“The Green Room” preview takes place Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. The gala press opening takes place Friday, May 22, at 8 p.m. The regular schedule is Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees May 24 and 31. A Sunday evening show will take place May 24, at 7 p.m.
|
