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Raul Esparza to Headline John Doyle's Company in Cincinnati, Spring '06
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 14, 2005
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Company, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth, traces the love life of bachelor Bobby, whose interactions with his married friends force him to re-evaulate his choices about commitment. Fragmented in structure and slangily, sexily modern in content, Company marked the first musical in the groundbreaking collaboration between Sondheim and director Harold Prince.
"Mr. Doyle's production of Company will feature the same concept he used in Sweeney: a reinvention of the show in which the actors also serve as its orchestra of musicians," according to the Cincinatti Playhouse's website. The idea for the production fermented when Edward Stern, the artistic director of the theatre, saw Sweeney Todd in London and was impressed by the inventiveness of its staging. He asked Doyle what Sondheim musical he would like to stage after Sweeney Todd. Sondheim, as well, has okayed the new production of Company.
Esparza has appeared in two previous high-profile Sondheim musicals; he played George in Sunday in the Park with George and Charley in Merrily We Roll Along during the lauded Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center in 2002. Currently appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Esparza netted a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award for his performance in Taboo; other Broadway credits include The Rocky Horror Show and Cabaret. Off-Broadway, he has been seen in tick, tick...BOOM!, and the plays The Normal Heart and Comedians.
Company, starring Dean Jones (who was soon after replaced by Larry Kert), Elaine Stritch and others, opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 26th, 1970 and ran for 705 performances. The show won six Tony Awards--including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Scenic Design (for Boris Aronson). Company featured direction by Prince; he was aided by Michael Bennett, who delivered the show's choreography.
The rest of the Cincinatti Playhouse cast has yet to be announced, but David Gallo (sets), Ann Hould-Ward (costumes) and Thomas Hase (lighting) will comprise Company's design team.
Visit www.cincyplay.com for more information.
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