[NEohioPAL] Only Five More Performances of FPAC's Critically Acclaimed COMPANY!

[lydia hall]

Critics Agree: FPAC
Production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company


Not to be Missed

 

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH—The reigning
opinion—sung in choral unison by the major voices of greater Cleveland’s
theater reviewers, is that, in the words of Times theater critic Roy Berko, “Company
is go-see theatre at FPAC.” Luckily, and also urgently, audiences have five
remaining opportunities to go and see for themselves before Company packs its bags on May 14th.



This rendition of Stephen
Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking
1970 Broadway smash, locally offered by the Adult Professional Wing of The Fairmount
Performing Arts Conservatory, under the auspices of The Fairmount Center for
the Arts, has received high praise regarding every aspect of the production:
from Ben Gantose’s lighting design to Bebe Katz’s “miraculous”, “very clever” choreography; from Trad A. Burns’ scenic
design to Jonathan Swoboda’s musical direction.


Bob Abelman of the News-Herald said
of the production, “This is a Company
chock-full of talented actors who
can sing, dance and generate rich, interesting characters, brought
together by a director who marries Sondheim’s style with Furth’s
storytelling.”  Of leading man Connor
O’Brien, Abelman raved, “[O’Brien’s] immediately
endearing, absolutely adorable
Bobby find[s] all the lyrical and melodic complexities in Sondheim’s work and
the voice to effectively express them.” In a word, he described O’Brien’s Bobby
as “captivating.” Abelman went on to
commend the company of Company as
“[An] exceptional cast of players”
and stated that, in the FPAC production, “Sondheim’s brilliantly conceived
songs become showcases for performers willing to take creative risks; they
become showstoppers when performers dare to go out on an emotional edge.
This FPAC production is filthy with showstoppers.”


Fran Heller, contributing writer
for The Cleveland Jewish News, said:

“This solid, first-class
production of Company presented
by the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory proves that the landmark musical
remains strikingly contemporary in its examination of modern-day marriage. Fred
Sternfeld’s sterling direction, a prime cast and innovative staging deliver a show worthy of legendary composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s genius….This
is the kind of ‘company’ you will embrace with joy.”

 

 





Donald Rosenberg,
classically-trained musician, longtime Sondheim aficionado and highly respected
music and dance critic for The Plain Dealer wrote this headline: 



When it comes to Sondheim’s Company, Fairmount Performing Arts
Conservatory best the New York Phil


referring to the recent New York
Philharmonic’s gala concert of the musical. The Big Apple event, which took
place at Avery Fisher Hall on April 7, 2011, boasted a cast including such
luminaries as Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer,
Christina Hendricks and Martha Plimpton. Paul Gemignani, typically
engaged to maneuver the baton in Sondheim’s music, conducted the NY
Philharmonic, using, as FPAC does, Jonathan Tunick’s orchestrations.

Rosenberg said, “…imagine my
surprise to have enjoyed the intimate
Fairmount Center version far more than the glitzy, Philharmonic incarnation….At
The Fairmount Center, director Fred Sternfeld has put together a uniformly strong cast that negotiates
Sondheim’s songs with expressive and rhythmic aplomb….The Fairmount cast and a
fine small offstage orchestra are alert to the wry twists of phrase, soaring
lines and cheeky urban references,” adding that, “the actors’ proximity to the
audience is a major factor in the production’s fresh appeal….Everyone deserves a round of applause.” Rosenberg
concluded, “Anyone who savors Sondheim is advised to take the short trek to the
Fairmount Center.” 


Better than New York theater,
right in your own back yard. Who could ask for more?


Fairmount Performing Arts
Conservatory’s Company, now through
May 14, 2011 at The Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Road in
Mayfield Village, Ohio. Order tickets online: fairmountcenter.tix.com or call
440-338-3171. 
Performances run Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM.
Special Mother’s Day matinee on Sunday, May 8th at 2:00 PM, with
discounted tickets available for all mothers.



More information can be found by visiting: www.fairmountcenter.org and http://fredsternfeld.com/company.htm
or by contacting Lydia Hall, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist: lydiahall at hotmail.com / 617.680.7663 		 	   		  
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