野狼社区 University presents Stephen Sondheim鈥檚 鈥淪unday in the Park with George,鈥� a musical about the art of making art, April 21-23 as the finale of its 71st season of award-winning opera and music theater.
Inspired by Georges Seurat鈥檚 painting 鈥淎 Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande,鈥� the musical won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards.
OCU鈥檚 mainstage production will feature a cast of 24, led by guest director/choreographer Joe Locarro and a 19-piece pit orchestra under the baton of Matthew Mailman. Original costumes inspired by Seurat鈥檚 artwork are designed by Rachel Barnett.
Performances are at 8 p.m. April 21 and 22, with a 3 p.m. April 23 matinee on OCU鈥檚 historic Kirkpatrick stage, 2501 N. Blackwelder. Tickets ($15-$30) are available at okcu.edu/tickets or 405-208-5227. A free director鈥檚 talk by Locarro will be held 45 minutes before curtain.
Frank Rich of The New York Times called 鈥淪unday in the Park with George鈥� an 鈥渁udacious, haunting and, in its own intensely personal way, touching work,鈥� while the Pulitzer jury praised its exploration of 鈥渢he costs and agonies of artistic creation鈥nd finding strength and courage in a renewed connection with the past.鈥�
鈥淪tephen Sondheim and James Lapine鈥檚 stunning work merges past and present into poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art,鈥� said Locarro, a veteran Broadway performer and award-winning director making his OCU debut. 鈥淪eurat's artistic ability thrives while his love diminishes. A century later, Seurat's descendant 鈥� also named George and also an artist 鈥� seeks the answer to his future in the past. I鈥檓 delighted to be working with OCU鈥檚 exceptionally talented students and staff to bring this masterpiece to life.鈥�
An opening night dinner, featuring performances by OCU musicians, will be held at 6:15 p.m. April 21 in the atrium of the Bass Music Center. Call 405-208-5227 for dinner tickets ($25) in advance.
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More about guest director/choreographer Joe Locarro:
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A veteran Broadway performer, Locarro was a member of the original companies of 鈥淩agtime,鈥� 鈥淭he Goodbye Girl,鈥� 鈥淢erlin鈥� and 鈥淧aper Moon,鈥� and a cast member with 鈥淟es Mis茅rables鈥� (Enjolras) and 鈥淐ats鈥� (Munkustrap). He worked with Jerome Robbins as the Tony understudy in the first national tour of 鈥淲est Side Story鈥� and was featured as the title character in 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar.鈥� Last month, he returned to Broadway to perform in the Ragtime 25th Anniversary Benefit Concert, joining his original cast mates alongside OCU alumna Kelli O鈥橦ara.
Locarro has directed theater, film and television productions including three productions each of 鈥淩agtime鈥� and 鈥淟es Mis茅rables鈥� as well as 鈥淐abaret,鈥� 鈥淧eter Pan,鈥� 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar,鈥� 鈥淧ippin,鈥� 鈥淪noopy鈥� and two original music reviews.
His film and television directing credits include 鈥淔inding Billy, The Search for Billy Elliot鈥�; the PBS series 鈥淰ine Talk,鈥� starring Stanley Tucci; and 鈥淚ntelligence Squared Debates鈥� as well as the PBS specials 鈥淎 Tale of Two Cities in Concert鈥� starring Michael York and 鈥淩emember Me鈥� featuring Parsons Dance.
