A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

MAY 12-15, 2022 | Majestic Theatre

With music and lyrics by the renowned Stephen Sondheim – his first as both composer and lyricist – and a book by Burt Shrevelove and Larry Gelbart, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM debuted in 1962, and was nominated for 8 Tony Awards® in 1963, winning 6, including Best Musical and Best Author (Musical). The original production ran for 964 performances, longer than any other original Broadway production by Sondheim, and, in 1966, was made into a successful film starring Zero Mostel, who also starred in the original stage production. 

Set in Ancient Rome, FORUM takes comedy back to its roots, combining the time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright Plautus with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. This nonstop, musical laugh-fest tells the bawdy story of Pseudolus (played by Mike Gallagher), a crafty servant who, in exchange for his freedom, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful, but slow-witted, courtesan (“Philia” played by Tara Park) for his young master (“Hero” played by Ryan Michael Friedman). FORUM is filled with the most classic twists and turns of a farce, with cases of mistaken identity, the slamming of doors, satirical comments on social class, plus, a showgirl or two.

A FUNNY THING…FORUM is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

THE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

This light, fast-paced, fully-staged concert production of FORUM is led by Mike Gallagher as Pseudolus, with Tara Park and Ryan Michael Friedman as the star-crossed lovers Philia and Hero, respectively. Also featured in this hilarious cast are Charles Barry as Senex, Brynne Huffman as Domina, James Williams as Erronius (US Senex), Joey Castorena as Hysterium, JT Snyder as Miles Gloriosus, and Caroline Rivera as Lycus. Playing Lycus’ Courtesan’s are Michael Alonzo as Panacea (US Hero), Tychelle Bearden as Geminae, Sydney Cornelius as Vibrata (US Domina & Lycus), Presley Duyck as Tintinabula (US Philia), D’Mariel Jones as Geminae, and Cari Walton as Gymnasia. The Proteans are played by Lucas Haupert (US Hysterium), Taylor Nash, and Danny Vanegas. Colin Phillips serves as the Standby for Pseudolus, Christopher J. Deaton the Standby for Miles & Erronius, and Alexa Morgan the Courtesan Swing.

The always live and local Lyric Stage Orchestra features Rachel Bundy, Ciana Rosenblad, & Elijah Evans on Violin, Edwardo Rios on Viola, Kourtney Newton on Cello, Beth McPherson on Double Bass, Christian Gonzalez on Reed 1 (Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo), Clayton Williams on Reed 2 (Alto Sax, Clarinet), Kristen Thompson & Bobby Lapinski on Reed 3 (Clarinet, Tenor Sax), Catherine Conlin on Reed 4 (Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet), Miles Johnson on Trumpet 1, Emma Cook on Trumpet 2, Paul Birk on Trombone 1, Nijel Smith on Trombone 2, and Ashley Westgate on Percussion.

FORUM in Concert is directed by Mary Gilbreath Grim (Lyric Stage directorial debut), and choreographed by Kelly McCain, with Ania Lyons serving as the Assistant Choreographer. The 15-piece Lyric Stage Orchestra is conducted by Music Director Vonda K. Bowling, with Bruce Greer serving as the Musical Supervisor. Lighting Design is by Scott Guenther, Sound Design & Engineering by Jorge Guerra, Costume Design & Coordination is by Megan A. Liles, with D’Mariel Jones serving as Assistant Costume Coordinator, and Props Coordination is by Jenny Dang. Production and Stage Management are by Ashley Schneider, Jenny Dang, and Tanvi Sutaria. FORUM in Concert is produced by Lyric Stage Producer Catherine Carpenter Cox and Lyric Stage Executive Artistic Director Christopher J. Deaton. Lyric Stage Founder Steven Jones serves as the Consulting Producer.

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REVIEW

ONSTAGENTX BY MARTHA HEIMBERG

“Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight!”

Talk about matchmaking: The classy Lyric Stage at the gilded, glorious Majestic Theater is a marriage made in musical heaven.

Lyric’s rich 15-piece orchestra, the exuberant 21-member cast, and some happy high-comedy dance numbers all fill the grand old stage with the red velvet curtain for the company’s latest show: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the 1962 Broadway musical farce that still has audiences laughing and cheering.

Stephen Sondheim wrote the score and the witty lyrics, his first as both composer and lyricist. Burt Shrevelove and Larry Gelbart cooked up the bawdy joke-packed book, based on comedies of the Roman playwright Plautus, with lots of vaudeville turns stirred in for good measure. 

“In Concert,” as the program notes point out, is not just actors reading a script and singing around a piano. This almost-fully staged production is orchestrated with the complete original script and songs, handsomely costumed by Megan A. Lilies, with a rich lighting design from Scott Guenther. There are no built sets, but it’s easy to imagine a street in Rome because the book and songs make it happen. In short, why bother with a set when you can perform great musicals with first-rate talent in a posh historic theater?   

Directed here with quick comic pacing by Mary Galbreath Grim, and with musical direction by the everywhere-everything conductor Vonda K. Bowling, Forum’s famed opening song, “Comedy Tonight,” promises a happy ending right off the top. All we have to do is sit bak in the scrumptious red velvet seats, relax, and guffaw for the next two hours of crazy plot, great singing, and Kelly McCain’s sharp, jaunty choreography. I loved the courtesan parade, with each dancer showing off his or her particular hanky-panky skills. They can all shake their booties bigtime, but Cari Walton’s Gymnasia more than lives up to her titillating contortionist title.

Crafty Roman slave Pseudolus (a wily, wanna-be-gruff Mike Gallagher) schemes to win his freedom by helping his swooning, callow young master Hero (appealing tenor Ryan Michael Friedman) win the wide-eyed, witless, and beautiful courtesan Philia (sweet-throated soprano Tara Park). She, alas, is betrothed to the hunky, egomaniacal soldier Miles Gloriosus (hilarious JT Snyder). Charming young lovers Friedman and Park sing “Lovely”—and it’s a welcome slowing of the tangled plot to hear this beautiful duet.   “Something for everyone,” we’re promised. The show delivers.

Also producing their share of shenanigans and laughs are Charles Barry as the aging Senex, looking for a last fling of his toga with the “maid” (any maid) to escape his wife Domina, the ferociously funny Brynne Huffman—who can hit a high note that rings right through every head in the hall. Caroline Rivera runs the neighborhood brothel with pride and comic chutzpah, in her Mohawk haircut and see-through purple pantaloons.

Everybody in the cast is sly, or bawdy, or whatever it takes to land the laugh. A standout is Joey Castorena as Hysterium, Senex’s chief slave and a natural-born scene-stealer. His jittery, hapless Hysterium and Gallagher’s conniving, lying, freedom-seeking Pseudolus are great comic partners. Castorena flounces, pouts, stomps, faints, or slams the door—while Gallagher throws up his hands, stares in disbelief, and opens doors to let the comic chaos in. The two men bring the house down with their hilarious reprise of “Lovely”, as Hysterium camps it up in his courtesan disguise, and Pseudolus is all grins as “she” primps and makes eyes at him.

Of course, we’re all on our feet and cheering when the happy ending arrives (just in time) and true love, freedom, and laughter reign. Comedy tonight! I only wish the show ran longer. Get your tix quick.

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CAST HEADSHOTS

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