'Titanic: the Musical' coming to Bonners
Ferry
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October 2, 2012 |
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On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the
legendary ship, Boebe Productions presents
"Titanic: The Musical," a tale of recounted
dreams, hopes and aspirations of those aboard
the fateful ship.
Winner of Five 1997 Tony Awards, including Best
Musical, Best Book, and Best Score, "Titanic:
The Musical" is the story of the launching, the
maiden voyage, the collision with the iceberg,
and the sinking played out against the
background of the rigid class-distinctions of
the Edwardian Age.
According to author Peter Stone, the sinking of
the Titanic in the early hours of April 15,
1912, remains the quintessential disaster of
this century.
A total of 1,517 souls-men, women and
children-lost their lives (only 711 survived).
The fact that the finest, largest, strongest
ship in the world, called, in fact, the
"unsinkable" ship, should have been lost during
its maiden voyage is so incredible that, had it
not actually happened, no author would have
dared to contrive it.
But the catastrophe had social ramifications
that went far beyond that night's events. For
the first time since the beginning of the
industrial revolution early in the 19th Century,
bigger, faster and stronger did not prove
automatically to be better.
Suddenly the very essence of "progress" had to
be questioned; might the advancement of
technology not always be progress?
Nor was this the only question arising from the
disaster. The accommodations of the ship,
divided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes, mirrored
almost exactly the class structure (upper,
middle and lower) of the English-speaking world.
But when the wide discrepancy between the number
of survivors from each of the ship's classes was
revealed ... all but two of the women in 1st
Class were saved while 155 women and children
from 2nd and 3rd (mostly 3rd) drowned ... there
was a new, long-overdue scrutiny of the
prevailing social system and its values.
It is not an exaggeration to state that the 19th
Century, with its social stricture, its
extravagant codes of honor and sacrifice, and
its unswerving belief that God favored the rich,
ended that night.
The musical play Titanic examines the causes,
the conditions and the characters involved in
this ever-fascinating drama. This is the factual
story of that ship; of her officers, crew and
passengers, to be sure, but she will not, as has
happened so many times before, serve as merely
the background against which fictional,
melodramatic narratives are recounted. The
central character of our Titanic is the Titanic
herself.
Featuring a cast of 26, this contemporary
musical presents the story of one of America’s
greatest tragedies in a powerfully moving
production.
Reading the Who’s Who, you would think this
production will be coming to your closest city:
Director/Choreographer Paula Hammons Sloan has
directed/choreographed well over 50 musical
productions for numerous national tours
including shows at Atlantic City’s Trump Plaza
and Tropicana Resort. She also served on the
faculty of Dance & Theater Departments of
prestigious universities and Performing Arts
High School.
Producer/Artistic Director Steve Steiner has
worked In NYC On-Broadway, Off-Broadway and
national & regional tours. Conductor/Musician
Michael McAssey, based in New York City has
directed at Westchester Broadway Theater,
Theater Barn and Cohoes Music Hall in New York
as well as conductor and musical director for a
two year Broadway National Tour. He is a winner
and three time nominee of NYC’s MAC Award for
Outstanding Male Vocalist, toured with Donny
Osmond and more.
Scenic Designer David Esler is based in New York
City and has designed over 100 productions.
Lighting Designer Jeff Greenberg has designed
for theater, dance and opera in many theaters,
on international and national tours and has
received awards for Best Lighting.
The cast of 26 actors have impressive experience
performing in NYC as well as touring, with many
awards and degrees among them including from
Carnegie Mellon, Boston Conservatory and the
Royal Academy of Dancing.
Boebe Productions, established in 1994, produced
Honky Tonk Highway Off Broadway and over a dozen
musicals in casino venues throughout the country
including Buddy…The Buddy Holly Story, 42nd
Street, Hairspray, Footloose and Cabaret.
"Titanic, The Musical" will be making a 50 city
national tour, bringing its outstanding
performance to Bonners Ferry, Idaho at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 26, presented by Friends of the
Arts.
This top caliber performance with a live
orchestra will be one night only at the Bonners
Ferry High School Becker Auditorium. Tickets are
$25 adults and $20 youth 18 and under and are on
sale at Mountain Mike’s (208) 267-3748, Bear
Mechanical (208) 267-5763 and Bonners Books
(208) 267-2622. This is bound to be a sold out
show, so get your tickets early!
Don’t miss the opportunity to see a first class
musical theater production right in our own
backyard! For more info call Friends of the Arts
at (208) 267-5256 or (208) 267-5763
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