"A Grand Night for Singing" on Wallman Hall Stage This Month

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” is the second production of the 2011 Town & Gown summer season. Created 30 years after Rodgers and Hammerstein’s last hit show, “A Grand Night for Singing” is a musical revue featuring the collaborators’ best known songs and was an instant hit on Broadway in 1994.

Conceived by Walter Bobbie using the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II, the revue features new modern arrangements by Fred Wells. A small cast of singers weaves the songs into different scenarios, some of which give a new twist to a well-known classic. For example, a young lady asks a gentleman the musical question “Shall We Dance” and a lovelorn young man muses “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” In both cases, we hear the familiar lyrics telling a different story than in the original. 

At the same time, when a young couple dream together, “When the Children Are Asleep” we know exactly what’s going on. As always, there’s a story in the song, but the context and who is singing and how it’s staged can change the overall meaning for the audience—a fresh view of a timeless classic.

The Town & Gown production is being directed by FSU faculty member, Jeffrey Ingman and musical director is R.J. Nestor who served as musical director for our recent production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s“Cinderella.” The cast features Nora Perone from Morgantown, a veteran for several Town & Gown Productions, most recently “Godspell,” and Sarah Satterwhite from Farmington, who appeared in “A Christmas Carol” and “The Music Man.” Also featured are Anthony Host from Morgantown who was in the recent Masquers production of “Dog Sees God,” Chris Vickers from Summersville who was Prince Charming in “Cinderella” and Elisha Nestor from Morgantown also in “Cinderella” as the Queen.

Fairmont State faculty member Troy Snyder is scheduled to design the lighting, FSU alumnus Patrick Sibbett is the set designer and Jason Noland is designing the costumes. 

Remaining performances are in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the Fairmont State campus on June 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and may be obtained by calling the box office at (304) 367-4240 and additional information is at www.fairmontstate.edu/tickets.

To view a video about the show, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8rru3-YZ4I&feature=youtu.be

TheatreSchool of Fine Arts