Steampunk'd Heroines take to the stage?

The first question I asked when I first heard about Sonoma State University’s upcoming new musical revue “Heroines” had to do with which songs from Three Penny Opera, The Merry Widow and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were going to be included in this spring semester show which opens Thursday, February 5.

Admittedly I was already a Three Penny Opera fan. In fact, my first exposure to this 18th century English ballad opera was actually many years ago at Sonoma State University. To that favorable experience I add my fondness for Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore and a keen appreciation of women like the Merry Widow who- through theatre – sang out for women to be in control of their lives.

This SSU Departments of Music and Theatre Arts & Dance production encouarges the women of these theatrical stories (which by the way set the stage for political and social change) crank up the dials on their calls for independence.

“The story explores the changing roles of women in society from the 1880’s into the early 1930’s,” said stage director Jane Erwin Hammett, who also wrote the adaptation. “It is ultimately about having a say in what happens to you.”

The second question I had was about steampunk.

According to Wikipedia steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century’s British Victorian era … in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has maintained mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power.

Okay so how does that relate to this show? Costuming and stage design.

“There is a toughness to steampunk, a bit of rebellion that I thought would go well with the pioneering these women have to come to. As a bonus, the cogs, wheels and clocks give a kind of time element that also supports our story of evolution over time,” said Hammett.

Ahhh...

This is one show I’m not going to miss.

The show runs February 5 - 15 at Evert B. Person Theatre, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Tickets: $10-$17. SSU students free.

Thank you David Papas for the photo.