Back to the Garden Returns To Shadowbox Thru 11/28

Columbus audiences just can't seem to get enough of Shadowbox Live's hit musical Back to the Garden. The theater has already had two successful runs of the musical journey through the Woodstock Festival as well as a free, outdoor performance of the show, which drew over three thousand people. Due to popular demand, the producers at Shadowbox Live decided to bring it back for a third run this fall.

"We had already made the decision before [the free, outdoor] Schiller Park [performance]," says director and Executive Producer, Stev Guyer, "But that event proved without a doubt that people still wanted to see this show."

In true Shadowbox Live form, Guyer and his production team have taken advantage of the opportunity provided by another rehearsal period to make some changes to the show.
Cast Changes

There have been several cast changes toe the musical. New cast members include Billy DePetro, Betsy Shortt, Chad Whitaker, Laura Nichols, Kaitlin Descutner, Eric Flores, Thomas McGovern, and Krysta Grimes. Other Shadowbox Live metaperformers who were already in the cast have stepped into larger roles such as Jamie Barrow as Abbie Hoffman, Mike Davis as John Sebastian, and John Boyd as Artie Kornfeld. Further, David Whitehouse has reclaimed his role of deadpan emcee Chip Monck.
The cast additions, however, are not limited to actors employed by Shadowbox Live. Taking a cue from their previous successes working with local high schools, Stacie Boord, Director of Community Relations for Shadowbox Live, sent out audition notices for teenaged performers to join the cast as interns. This resulted in the inclusion of Alex Buchan, Shaquan Gray, Alexandra Scott and Nicholas Jordan-Dewitt Wilson, all of whom jumped at the chance to hone their craft in a professional setting.
Additionally, the fall show will include two of the youngest cast members to grace the Shadowbox Live stage. Lila Hahn, 5, daughter of bandleader Matthew Hahn and performer / keyboardist Jennfier Hahn; and Kiana Patrick, 6, daughter of performer Nikki Fagin, will join the cast as well.

Script Changes

Many of the scenes have been cut down to aide the flow and movement of the production. Trimming the dialogue has allowed space to add two new songs to the show: "Dance to the Music" by Sly and the Family Stone and "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane. Further, choreographer Katy Psenicka took a hard look at each dance number and did a number of small changes within them.

"What it really comes down to is this," summarized Guyer, "People keep coming back because of two opposing and yet conjunctive reasons. The first is that this show is constantly evolving and so, no matter how many times you see it, you're always going to have a different experience. The other side is that, despite any changes, this show remains static in it's theme which is the peace, love and brotherhood that resonated so loudly for three days during one historic summer that, over forty years later, its echoes are still strongly heard."

Back to the Garden re-opened Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM and will run every Sunday at 2:30 and 7:00 PM through November 28th. There are no shows on Sunday November 21st. Tickets are $30 / $20 students, seniors, active military. For reservations contact the Shadowbox Live box office at 614-416-7625 or go online to www.shadowboxlive.org.

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