TheatreXtra premieres its first musical production in March with the uniquely dubbed, [title of show].
"It's a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical," says Kyle Schulte, director of [title of show], this season's final TheatreXtra production. "This is the first time TheatreXtra has put on a musical, so we're all thrilled to be a part of it."
Playing Mar. 3-5 in the David Spinks Theatre, there are shows nightly at 8 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Mar. 5.
[title of show]'s catchy music and eccentric cast promises to leave an impression on audiences. An off-beat comedy written by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, it premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in September 2004. After running with great success Off-Broadway in 2006, [title of show] ran at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway in 2008.
"I was already a fan of the show and knew the music well," says Schulte, a third-year drama major. "When the performance rights were released, I jumped at the chance to present it here."
With 19 pieces of music, including 14 songs, putting together a musical in four weeks is a challenge that would make any director's head spin.
"This has really been a collaborative effort," he says. "It's a musical about students putting on a musical, and so far, this has been a great fit for our cast and crew, and works perfectly with TheatreXtra's mandate."
The demands of directing a musical add a new element to the process.
"There are two more elements in this show: choreography and music," he adds. "It's been so much fun to direct."
With quirky songs such as, Two Nobodies in New York, The Tony Award Song and Die, Vampire, Die!, audiences can expect a contemporary, funny night of musical theatre.
"I liked that the themes of the musical were very similar to my own life," says Schulte. "This show is relevant to students, and we know the audiences are going to love it too."
Tickets to TheatreXtra's hilarious final production of the season are available at the U of L Box Office or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are $15 regular and $10 for students and seniors.
For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.
