Musicals are back at BCC

February 14, 2012, Brevard County, FL - Musicals are back in a big way at Brevard Community College.

The college’s Fine and Performing Arts Department will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” March 16-18 on the main stage at the Bernard Simpkins Fine Arts Auditorium on the Cocoa campus.

The March 16 and 17 performances start at 8 p.m. The March 18 performance starts at 2 p.m.

The production marks the first musical on the main stage at BCC since 1998, showing the college’s Fine and Performing Arts program is thriving.

The play is a collaboration between BCC faculty with direction by Jeanine Henry, director of Theatre Arts, and vocal direction by Dr. Robert E. Lamb, director of vocal music.

Orchestra direction is by Jim Bishop, director of instrumental music, and scenic artistry is by art professor Lance Henderson.

The hit comedy is set in ancient Rome and based on a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Music and Lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim. 

“This play is so much fun. It is bawdy and funny – perfect for college students,” says Henry. “It is an excellent lesson for our students in many ways.  It is an excellent exercise in comedy and comic timing.

“It is also the first musical for which Stephen Sondheim wrote both music and lyrics so there is the challenge of singing Sondheim’s music but it is not as difficult as some of his later pieces. 

“The play is also based on the comedies of the Roman playwright Plautus, who is the founder of our comic tradition, so it is a great jumping off point for theatre history discussions.  We are thoroughly enjoying putting it together,” says Henry.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students, seniors (60+) and Military. Tickets are available at the Cocoa cashier’s office during business hours Monday-Thursday in Building 11, or at the box office which is open one hour before curtain each day of the performance.

The box office accepts cash only.  For more information, call 433-7385, or contact: Jeanine Henry, Director of Theatre Arts, (321) 433-7384, henryj@brevardcc.edu .

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