- April 18, 2024
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Stephen Sondheim is one the most honored composers and lyricists in American theater history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards, including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award.
The new show at City Repertory Theatre, “Side by Side by Sondheim,” celebrates the works of Sondheim. The musical revue includes songs from “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,” “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” “Sweeney Todd” and “A Mad Show.”
Cast for the show includes Julia Davidson Truilo, Kelly Nelson and Lloyd Bowers. Truilo has been a performer, director and writer on both the national and international scene. As co-founder and managing director of Seaside Music Theater, she helped nurture musical theater artists for more than 30 years. In addition to maintaining a performing career and teaching voice, she currently serves as executive director of Ormond Beach MainStreet.
Nelson is returning to the CRT stage for a second season. She has performed on many stages and currently teaches theater at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
Bowers is a civil litigation attorney with the law firm of Wickersham & Bowers, in Daytona Beach. His appearance in this show marks his first return to live theater in 35 years.
The cast is also joined by narrator Earnest Murphy, who has enjoyed a lifetime career as a professional classical tenor, beginning with serving as the first soloist selected for the inaugural U.S. Army Band, established by President Eisenhower. He also performed with the Robert Shaw Chorale, New York Pro Musica and the Abbey Singers, a classical quintet, for which he received two Grammy Awards.
Pianist Rusty Baker rounds out the performers.
“We chose this show because Julia wanted to do Sondheim. It’s not often done by non-professional theaters because the music is very hard,” said director John Sbordone. “What you will find is the story is the lyrics. They are captivating, fun, satirical — they run the gamut of everything you find in a musical theater.”
Although not all music performed was written by Sondheim, the lyrics were.
The show runs 7:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday, Jan. 18-26, with a performance Thursday, Jan. 24, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Jan. 20. Tickets are $15. Call 585-9415 or click here.
