'Sunday in the Park' connects with audiences

Have you ever had a bright, bold new idea that no one else at the office understood or embraced? Have you ever had to make a difficult choice between two important things – or people – in your life?

Have you ever felt like your creative energy was at a low ebb, or that you can’t find a new voice or vision in your work? Have you ever felt like you don’t live up to the standards of your ancestors who went before you? 

If you’ve experienced at least one of these feelings – and who among us hasn’t? – you’ll find something to connect deeply with in EPAC’s production of “Sunday in the Park with George,” playing now through Saturday at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre.

The musical presents a version of what composer Stephen Sondheim and writer (and Franklin & Marshall College alumnus) James Lapine imagined artist Georges Seurat’s life might have been like – along with the lives of the characters in his paintings, and those of Seurat’s descendants, if he’d had any.

The show also explores how Seurat rebelled against the French art establishment by using pointillist techniques – replacing the Impressionists’ brush strokes with dots of pure color arranged in such a way that the human eye would “combine” the dots to see blended colors and shimmering light in his painting. The show is also about the heart-rending sacrifices an artist must sometimes make in his personal life.

And the musical is about Seurat’s (fictional) artist great-grandson in America, also named George, who has lost his unique vision amid his mad scramble to woo patrons and attract commissions. 

Sondheim’s music is glorious, and Lapine’s book is emotional and thought-provoking. Many audience members have regretted leaving their Kleenex at home!

And EPAC has pulled out all the stops to make this a memorable production of a wonderful musical. You’ll be delighted with the show’s creative vision, the acting, the singing, the musicianship, the set and the costumes. Kudos to the cast, crew, creative team and musicians who have been “Putting it Together” for weeks, to the delight of audiences and critics.

The show only runs through this Saturday, May 17^th. You do NOT want to miss your chance to see this show that EPAC audiences will be talking about for years.

Thanks to EPAC’s season sponsor, BlueRidge Communications, and “Sunday’s” show co-sponsors, Lily’s on Main and SugarArts at Donecker's. When you patronize these sponsors, or run into their employees, please give them a huge "THANK YOU!!" for supporting “theater that matters” at Ephrata Performing Arts Center.

Order your tickets to “Sunday in the Park …” online, or call the box office at (717) 733-7966.

-       -- Merv Wright 

Welcome to the EPAC blog, and "The Full Monty"

Hello, and welcome to the new Ephrata Performing Arts Center blog, through which we’ll keep you informed about everything that’s going on at EPAC. You’ll learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at the theater, and about some of the unsung heroes of EPAC. We’ll also share information and fun tidbits from the wider world of the arts and theater that we think will interest the EPAC family. We welcome – and encourage – your comments and questions.

This first blog post is being written by Mary Ellen “Merv” Wright, a volunteer for EPAC. Other people will also be writing this blog; we’ll put our initials at the end of our posts, so that, if you have a question or comment about a given post, you’ll know to whom to address it.

“The Full Monty” opens tonight (Thursday, Nov. 4), and I guarantee it’s going to be a wonderful and entertaining show, filled with heart and humor – and served up with a side of beefcake. I was lucky enough to sit in on Sunday’s rehearsal at EPAC, and I can’t say enough good things about the cast, the pit orchestra and the show itself. You will love this rollicking piece of theater. The songs are catchy and the script is filled with both tender moments and hilarious one-liners, all beautifully delivered by an energetic and talented cast. The orchestra also sounded fantastic on Sunday night.

A theater reviewer, writing about a recent Texas community-theater production of “The Full Monty,” commented that the show is mainly about a bunch of men dancing around naked, and that, therefore, the plot is basically irrelevant. Based on what I saw Sunday, I cannot disagree more with that reviewer. Men stripping to music may be the thing that makes audiences hoot and holler at this show, but it is only a small part of what this funny-yet-emotional play is about.

“The Full Monty” is, in fact, “about” so many different things that it is bound to appeal to a very wide audience. It’s about a bunch of backslapping Buffalo, N.Y., buddies – steelworkers (and one of their bosses) who find themselves out of work and feeling lost. It’s about men in danger of becoming alienated from the people in their lives who love them most – wives, mothers, sons – because their loss of employment has meant a loss of identity and dignity. They’re struggling to keep both their furniture AND their pride from being repossessed. Ironically, the six guys in this show – men of varying ages and body types – find a way to regain their dignity by shedding their clothes. They realize they can score a one-night financial jackpot by performing as male strippers and by baring all for an audience of family and friends.

The show is about body image; about learning what it means to be a “real man”; about the importance of finding someone to love, and about what really matters in life. It’s about men realizing that, just as they so often objectify women, they, themselves, can be objectified BY women (with disheartening results).

And, yes, the show is also about a bunch of men taking off their clothes and dancing around till they’ve achieved “the full monty” – complete nakedness. You will love watching this group of “regular guys” practicing pelvic thrusts and other humorously suggestive moves in anticipation of the big performance.

Kudos to the whole cast; this is a great ensemble with a lot of energy and talent. But particular praise must go to the men of Hot Metal, who are having their performance mettle tested by this show: Sean Young, Matthew Rush, Kevin Ditzler, Bob Breen, Tim Spiese and Matthew Metro. These guys have not only worked incredibly hard to inhabit their characters and learn their sexy-steelworker choreography, but have also shown themselves willing to expose themselves, literally and figuratively, to help tell the heartwarming and joyous “Full Monty” story. Please be mindful that these gentlemen – the whole cast, in fact – are volunteering their time to let the audience experience this great music and this great story. This is the essence of community theater, and all of the actors, musicians and members of the directing/choreography staff and crew deserve our gratitude for their long hours of effort.

EPAC’s “Full Monty” will appeal to everyone who wants to come join the fun. But it would also make a great ladies’ night out; I predict there will be quite a few soprano screams, “woo-hoos” and whistles coming from the audience. But you may also find a lump in your throat and a big smile on your lips as you kick back and enjoy this fine production. It runs through November 20. Get your tickets now, either online or by calling the box office at 733-7966. – M.W.