Photo Flash: Resonance Works' Presents ON THE TOWN

Set during WWII, On the Town follows the amorous adventures of Three Sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City. Determined to make every minute count, the three friends set off to explore the Big Apple and to find romance - encountering colorful characters and hilarious misadventures along the way. The revolutionary score boldly draws from diverse musical inspirations - jazz, spirituals, operetta, symphonic classicism, beautiful ballads, and catchy tunes - including the iconic songs "New York, New York," "Lonely Town," and "Some Other Time," plus a plethora of purely orchestral music.

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This concert version includes the entirety of Bernstein's original score (plus numbers that were cut before the New York premiere) with narration by original collaborators Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Members of The Brass Roots join forces with the Resonance Chamber Orchestra for these performances, conducted by Maria Sensi Sellner.

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Stage director Valerie Rachelle, Artistic Director of the Oregon Cabaret Theater, makes her Pittsburgh debut with this production. "I'm so excited to be working not only on this piece but with Maria and this company. This production will make use of projections and movement to bring the score and script to life. It will be a beautiful celebration of the sights and sounds of Bernstein's New York."

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The cast includes returning favorites Christopher Scott (Side by Side by Sondheim), Patrick McNally (Elixir of Love), Benjamin Robinson (Falstaff, Rusalka), Gillian Hassert (Side by Side by Sondheim), Rebecca Shorstein (Elixir of Love, Cinderella), Anna Singer (Cinderella, Bon Appétit!), and Jonathan Stuckey (Macbeth, Amahl and the Night Visitors) along with newcomer Lauren Corcoran Emrich.

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Resonance Works has long taken great inspiration from Bernstein's "total embrace" of music with his work as a composer, conductor, educator, and humanitarian. With On the Town, Bernstein became the first symphonic composer to write a musical. Just 11 months before On the Town premiered on Broadway, Bernstein conducted the world premiere of his first Symphony, "Jeremiah" with the Pittsburgh Symphony. This October, Pittsburgh audiences have the opportunity to experience both of these landmark works, as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents the "Jeremiah" Symphony on October 5 & 7 in their "Bernstein in Pittsburgh" concerts.

Photo Credit: Alisa Innocenti

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