A little night music on tap at the Geyer
For first time in many years, The Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale, will host a musical review Nov. 17 though Nov. 20 when they present “Side By Side By Sondheim.”
Brad Geyer, who is the director of the show and serving as a narrator for the perfmormance, said the review was chosen to showcase the talent that often performs at The Geyer.
“Over the last few years the quality of our performers have really risen and we have some really accomplished people with us,” he said.
Geyer said that he had originally setout to do a Sondheim musical but just did not feel like the cast was the right fit, so he decided to still pursue a Sondheim performance in “Side by Side by Sondheim.”
“We try to satisfy our performers with art they want to create and we try to satisfy our patrons with art they want to watch,” he said.
Steven Sondheim, born in 1930, is an American composer and lyricist that has received an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards, eight Grammy Awards a Pulitzer Prize and more.
Some of his best known works include “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company,” “Sweeney Todd,” “West Side Story” and “Gypsy.”
While The Geyer Performing Arts Center has done large scale Sondheim productions in the past, such as “Into the Woods,” “Side by Side by Sondheim” strips away the costumes and elaborate stage sets and allows the vocal talents of the performers to shine.
“This will be done more cabaret style. We will be in more formal attire. There aren’t any props or sets. It is a show that features the music and the singers,” said Geyer. “We brought in a baby grand piano that will be the only accompaniment to our performers.”
One of the production’s performers, 16-year-old Victoria Post said that she is looking forward to performing in another Sondheim musical since her first performance at The Geyer, when she was 7, was “Sweeney Todd.”
“It is such a dark show, and I was scared of scary movies and my mom wanted me to see how the behind the scenes work (so I wouldn’t be afraid,)” she said.
Victoria said that her favorite piece from the show is a song called “100 People.”
“It is about a girl that is enamored with New York City. It is a really optimistic and uplifting song,” she said. “With everything going on it is nice to have this song that is basically about how she loves being around people.”
According to Victoria, those who attend the performance are in for a different experience than what they are used to with other musicals.
“They can expect to see really the music standing for itself. There are really a lot of great actors for the show who embrace the music. There Isn’t really a flashy set, it is just bringing out that music and really enjoying it,” she said. “I hope that they (the audience) walks away humming a Sondheim song.”
“Side by Side by Sondheim” will be performed 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17-19 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 20.
Tickets are $15 and are available online at geyerpac.com or by calling 724-887-0887.