[post title: a clever take on [title of show]'s premise while still mentioning that it was really good]

The cast of TCR's [title of show]

By James E. Trainor III

Photos by Len Struttman

Cedar Rapids - It's three weeks from the deadline of the New York Theatre Musical Festival, and Hunter (Andrew Clancey) and Jeff (Aaron Murphy) are sitting around wondering what to write about. But instead of sitting around wondering what to write about, they're writing about sitting around wondering what to write about. Wait a minute, let me rewrite that: [title of show] is a musical with the central premise that it's being written as it's being performed. So anything Hunter or Jeff, or their friends Heidi (Heather Akers) and Susan (Emma Drtina) say is going into the show. Including "Wonder Woman for President."

It's a deceptively simple premise that makes for some wonderful metatheatre and some immensely funny moments. At the same time, it's a surprisingly moving document of a creative struggle made all the more real for its self-referential sense of humor and its clunky metaphors. TCR's production, directed by Leslie Charipar (musical direction by Janelle Lauer; lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell), turns the Grandon Studio into a two-hour brainstorming session for four hip, funny, foul-mouthed artists, and all of it, from "Untitled Musical Number" to "Finale," is done with an impressive level of passion and energy.

[title of show] Opens February 15

Cedar Rapids - "TCR's very first musical in the Grandon Studio is a cast of four, and promises to be a very funny experience for those lucky enough to get tickets.

Much like the sold out productions of last season's Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and fall's November, seating is limited when [title of show] opens on Feb 15th.

An evening of adult humor and intimate music (about writing a musical!) is the order of business as four close friends dream of winning a Tony. Equally funny and charming, this is another show you won't want to miss. The musical received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 2009."

(Source: TCR newsletter)

Riverside's [title of show] is fabulous

by Meghan D'Souza

[title of show]

Yes, that's really the title of the show currently running at Riverside Theatre.

[audience laughs]
[standing ovation]
[reviewer raves]
[readers attend show]

Okay, okay. I wish it was that easy to capture how great this performance was. To help me along, I stole quotes from audience members on their way out from the show.

"What a great way to start the 30th season (of Riverside Theatre)."
"That was fabulous! Just fabulous!"
"I laughed so much my cheeks hurt."

This show follows a group of friends as they write a musical about their lives. What is fun is that what we are watching, their lives unfolding, is also the musical. This musical is for a festival, but the friends have dreams of making it to Broadway. We witness excitement, a downfall and lifelong goals being fulfilled.

I can't imagine a more perfect cast for this show. Eddie Skaggs, Patrick Dulaney, Jessica Flood and Kristen Behrendt came together to build believable relationships in front of our eyes. Skaggs and Dulaney played two close friends who had a long history together. Flood and Behrendt joined the story as ladies who had not previously known each other, but by the end of the play it was clear that everyone had grown together and built a strong bond in their experience of writing and performing their musical.

The most important part of making this musical work was the comedy. For some, this can be tricky. However, the whole cast, especially Dulaney, had a real talent for comedy. They knew how to use body language, tone of voice, facial expression and, above all else, perfect timing to get the humor across. That is why our cheeks were hurting from laughing so much. It can be so easy to overact or really throw a joke so far in the face of the audience that it simply isn't funny. This cast was so clever with their humor and bounced off of each other so well that the script worked perfectly.

Despite being mainly a comedy, this musical did have its sober parts and I was impressed with the smooth transition the actors made from humor to tension, back to humor, all while staying true to who the characters were. Such a jump to extremes was unexpected, but I liked it. Instead taking a tense scene and making it all about sarcasm to keep the humor going, the anger, anxiety, and stress felt real. The atmosphere was tense. When the characters mended the situation, they made another smooth transition back up to the fun times they were having.

Props should also be given for a clever set design on the open stage. The stage floor was covered with a life-size piece of notebook paper that had doodles pertaining to the musical drawn on it. The piano was on wheels for the characters to move the pianist around when they changed the set around. A dry erase board stood towards the back for the characters to write their notes on, but it was also used as a screen to project images on during one of the songs. The back lighting also used projection, depending on the mood on stage.

This is definitely a musical I am glad I did not miss. It is rare for me to laugh out loud at performances, but this show had what it takes.

Riverside's 30th year begins with unique musical

Riverside - Iowa City’s resident professional theatre company, will present [title of show] September 10 through October 3. With music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, [title of show] is directed by Ron Clark. The musical director is Maggie Grosvenor Mowery. Tickets are available at the Riverside Theatre Box Office at (319) 338-7672.

Nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Book of a Musical in 2009, [title of show] is a funny and melodic romp that chronicles the three-week journey of two struggling writers, Jeff and Hunter, who decide to write a completely original musical starring themselves and their two best friends for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. In the span of 90 minutes, four performers and a pianist hilariously depict the creative process of collaboration for the audience.

The musical’s unconventional title comes from the blank to be filled in on the festival application form. Musical numbers include songs such as "Two Nobodies in New York," "Die Vampire, Die," "Monkeys and Playbills," and "Change It, Don’t Change It." "They’re catchy and clever,” director Ron Clark said, "but they also honestly and charmingly reflect the moments of elation, frustration, and heartbreak that are part of any creative journey." He says the score "contains references to more than 50 other musicals, which die-hard theatre fans will have fun listening for, and an eclectic range of styles everyone will enjoy—from hip-hop to Lerner and Loewe, and everything in between."

Eddie Skaggs, who appeared in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Riverside in 2007 and Patrick DuLaney, who appeared in both Love’s Labour’s Lost and Romeo and Juliet at this summer’s Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival, play Jeff and Hunter (respectively.) Friends Heidi and Susan are played by Riverside musical favorite Kristen Behrendt and Jessica Flood, who also appeared in Love’s Labour’s Lost as Jaquenetta the Wench.

Jason Sifford appears on stage as the pianist. The production also features choreography by Patrick DuLaney, scenography by Scott Olinger and costume design by Laura Ambrose.

Tickets range from $12-$28 with a $12 student rush 20 minutes before the performance. Tickets may be ordered through the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 213 N. Gilbert Street, (319) 338-7672.

Auditions for [TITLE OF SHOW] coming up

Riverside - Riverside Theatre announces auditions on Monday, June 14 beginning at 4 pm for its 2010-11 season opening musical, [TITLE OF SHOW] – yes, that’s really the title – an original Broadway musical about two nobodies writing an original Broadway musical. [TITLE OF SHOW] was nominated for a Tony Award in 2009.

Roles are currently available for two non-Equity performers, one male (tenor) and one female (alto to mezzo) to play characters in their 30s.

Audition requirements: brief contemporary comic monologue, 16 bars of upbeat tempo song, sight reading. Accompanist provided. [TITLE OF SHOW], directed by Ron Clark, begins rehearsals August 9, with performances September 10 - October 3.

To schedule an audition, please call the box office at 338-7672 (noon-4 pm, Tuesday-Saturday). For more information about the auditions, please contact Jody Hovland at artistic@riversidetheatre.org. More information about Riverside Theatre is available at www.riversidetheatre.org.