(FREE) Art on the Stage at the Playhouse: "Sundays in the Park with George," opening Friday, May 31st
(FREE) Art on the Stage at the Playhouse: "Sundays in the Park with George," opening Friday, May 31st
by Marlys Cervantes/ Staff Writer
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“I am not hiding behind my canvas, I am living in it!”
~Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George
Ponca Playhouse announces its final regular season show for the 2023-24 season with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer-winning masterpiece, which originally opened on May 2, 1984.
The Playhouse production will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the musical and the 140th anniversary of the painting by Georges Seurat, a French Post-Impressionist artist. The painting, titled “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of a La Grande Jatte”, altered the direction of modern art by initiating Neo-Impressionism and is one of the icons of late 19th century painting. The painting is part of the collection at The Art Institute of Chicago where it has been on view since it was acquired in 1924.
At Ponca Playhouse, when a director is interested in directing a production, they put their hat in the ring, so to speak, by recommending a play or plays to the Board and its Reading Committee to consider for an upcoming season. Director Ryan Brown chooses the productions he recommends by considering the value of their message. When asked why he wants to bring Sundays to our community stage, Brown expresses the value he sees in this musical as how it “speaks to an artist in all of us. Wanting to bring something to our family, our community, our world, that will last after us.”
Brown is also a music educator, and he says, “It also speaks volumes for education. The theme of children and art is how I live my life. I try to guide children in my day job, and I make art in my free time.”
Stage Manager for the production is Thomas Rowell, and Music Director is Chris Schelp. Tech experts are Nathan Oesterle and John Kuhlmann, and Costume Designer is Melodie Parman. Producers are Dolley Rolland and Marlys Cervantes.
Brown is thrilled to have a strong cast and knows the community will enjoy an excellent production. The cast is hard at work with the complex music of Sondheim and Brown’s creative team expands as his needs for the production grows. If you’ve enjoyed his past shows, such as Man of La Mancha, you know you’re in for a treat with this one.
Production dates for Sunday in the Park with George are May 31st -June 2nd and June 7th -9th with Friday and Saturday night show times beginning at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.
Tickets for this production are on sale now and may be purchased on the Ponca Playhouse website, Poncaplayhouse.com, by calling the box office at 580-765-5360 (you can leave a message with the tickets you desire, or your call will be returned), or by visiting the box office at 301 South 1st Street one hour prior to show times.
Come out and see the art of Georges Searat, the story by James Lapine, and the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim come alive on stage at the Ponca Playhouse!
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