Theater Review: '[title of show]' by SHU Theater Arts Dept.

Sacred Heart University Performing Arts Theater Arts Department is putting up a well-rehearsed and thoroughly enjoyable production of one of my favorite little shows, [title of show]. This unique musical about the process of writing and producing a musical features a book by Hunter Bell and music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen, the “Two Nobodies in New York” Hunter and Jeff in the show respectively.

[title of show] was the 2009 Tony Award nomination for Best Book of Musical. As mentioned in the script, it was first presented by Bridge Club Productions at the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival and went on to developmental productions at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in Waterford, Connecticut and Ars Nova. It was originally produced Off Broadway by the Vineyard Theatre in New York in 2006 before moving to Broadway in 2008.

Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theater festival, with the deadline for submissions a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the piano.

Ultimately, Jeff suggests that they write about what to write about. In the span of 90 minutes, they write and perform their show at the festival.

[title of show] is, above all, a love letter to musical theater and to the joy of collaboration. For me, the love letter to Broadway is what makes this show most effective. Some of the references are easy to spot, while many are definitely more obscure. The playbills that flash during "Monkeys and Playbills" were fascinating to this theater geek.

Jerry Goehring, Executive Director of Performing Arts at the university, directed the students. He is a Tony (“A Christmas Story: the Musical” and “Be More Chill”) and Grammy-nominated producer

Leo Carusone, Director of Theatre, is the onstage musical director playing the role of Larry from behind the keyboard and facing the audience. Carusone, who has a long-time association with the “Nunsense” series, masterfully plays the quirky score on the small piano and gets to interact with the four members of the cast. In fact, the first scene has the two men around behind the piano, just as a real pair of writers/composers would do. The Sacred Heart students that filled the audience loved seeing the faculty member’s performance and cheered him on.

Christopher Conte portrays the composer Jeff, the slightly more low-key member of the team. Conte is a junior strategic communications and theatre arts double major who previously played Mark in “A Chorus Line” at the university.

Nick Rubano is just as good as the book writer Hunter. Rubano dedicates this performance to Rosemarie Callahan for her passion for teaching the performing arts.

Kimmy Johnson plays the Heidi (Blickenstaff) role with a wonderful singing voice and strong stage presence. Johnson is a senior interdisciplinary studies major with theatre arts and psychology minors who was part of “The Mad Ones.”

Kiley Ondash, a musical theatre and business management double major, is the final member of the cast in the role of Susan (Blackwell.) She also was part of “A Chorus Line” and “As You Like It.”

The set designed by the Theatre Arts Dept. is intentionally minimal, with the four chairs mentioned in the script and four small rectangular screens hung vertically above the stage. These are used for projections designed by Jordan Pita, who also was in charge of the sound. Lighting design by Sam Deluise and Nora Serrao is simple yet effective.

Costume design by Marykate Kiley, assisted by Emily Vandal, enhanced the four characters with some vintage t-shirts for Hunter. Grace Peknic, a sophomore, contributed the hair and makeup design. Junior Grace Posillico was in charge of the prop design, which included a food delivery. Senior Bella Sangiorgi provided the cute choreography for the song and dance numbers, especially “Die Vampire Die.”

Assistant Producer Hadley Bansal, a junior at Sacred Heart, did the house announcements at the performance that I attended. Nicky Duca was the assistant director.

The show that wants to be "Nine People's Favorite Thing" is presented without intermission. Come be ‘Part of it All’ at remaining performances of [title of show] scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in The Little Theater on campus on Sacred Heart University.

Next up at Sacred Heart University will be “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play. It is scheduled to run Nov. 10 - 12 at 8:00 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 3:00 p.m. Box office 203 371-7908 or visit Edgertoncenter.org.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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