Who doesn’t love a good Broadway tune? Fans of the grand stage will soon be treated to all of their favorite Broadway sounds in a very local venue.
'Sondheim Unplugged' at the Caffeinated Cabaret. L-R: Will Collyer, James Snyder & Isaac James (Photo Credit Jeffrey Sherwood)
A new musical series, Cabaret at The Merc, is set to debut at 6:30 p.m. on May 27 at The Merc at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.
“‘Sondheim Unplugged’ is going to encompass all of Sondheim’s lifetime of work,” said Director J. Scott Lapp.
Lapp said that the intimate venue of the brick-lined, acoustically-sound Mercantile makes perfect sense for displaying some of the big sounds of the Broadway stage.
“That’s what’s so cool about it to me. To be confined in a small room with great Broadway talent,” he said.
Directed by Lapp and produced by Jordan Beck, “Sondheim Unplugged” premiered last week to a sold-out crowd at the Caffeinated Cafe in Riverside.
Lapp is no stranger to the arts in the region, having earned a celebrated and growing reputation for impressive stage work.
He’s successfully directed such local hits “13: The Musical,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and “RENT” at Old Town Temecula Community Theater. And he is fresh off his directorial debut of “Bonnie and Clyde” on Broadway.
Lapp said that his New York state of mind has, in part, inspired Cabaret at The Merc.
“That experience really opened a lot of doors. I’m looking forward to bringing good talent here,” he said.
Temecula Theater Manager Bea Barnett said: “Jeremy Lapp and Jordan Beck are the fresh faces and voices of the Next Broadway-Generation. We are honored to have such award-winning and acclaimed producers partnering with Temecula Presents to bring East Coast Stars right to our own backyard. We dream big around here and our patrons are the lucky beneficiaries of all the first-rate entertainment and talent that comes through Temecula’s stage stop.”
Featuring performances by Will Collyer (“Parade” at Mark Taper Forum, MTG’s High Fidelity), Melissa Hoff (“Zhivago” at La Jolla Playhouse), Isaac James (Musical Theatre West’s “Sweeney Todd”), Lisa Livesay (“Parade” at Mark Taper Forum, “Wicked” national tour), and James Snyder (Broadway’s “Cry-Baby,” Pasadena Playhouse’s “Dangerous Beauty”) and more.
“Sondheim Unplugged” will also feature an onstage band including upright bass, acoustic guitar, and cello led by musical director Allen Everman at the piano.
Old Town Temecula Community Theater is located at 42051 Main Street in Temecula.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the Old Town Temecula Community Theater Ticket Office at 866-OLD-TOWN or by visiting www.TemeculaTheater.org.
Kerri S. Mabee can be reached at kerri.mabee@swrnn.com. Follow me on Twitter @kerrimabee.
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