The Broadway musicals included in the 2006 Live Design Master Classes have been announced. The fourth annual Broadway Sound Master Classes (BSMC) will kick off on Friday, May 19, 2006, with a performance of Drowsy Chaperone–-featuring sound design by Acme Sound Partners-–plus a post-show discussion and analysis with the designers.
In The Drowsy Chaperone, an homage to the musicals of the 1920s, audiences watch as a theatre addict (known as Man in Chair) listens to a recording of his favorite 1928 tuner, entitled “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The musical comes to life onstage with the tale of a Broadway starlet ready to leave show business to get married and her producer who sets out to sabotage the wedding. The show had successful try outs in Toronto and Los Angeles, with audiences falling in love with its ability to be both a parody of and tribute to musicals.
With a 15-piece orchestra, it features orchestrations by Larry Blank, dance and incidental music arrangements by Glen Kelly (The Producers), music director/vocal arrangements by Phil Reno and technical supervision by Brian Lynch.
The Drowsy Chaperone opens on Broadway May 1. It is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, who received a Tony nomination for his direction of Spamalot, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin (who also stars) and Don McKellar. The creative team includes scenic designer David Gallo, costume designer Gregg Barnes, and lighting designers Ken Billington and Brian Monahan. Read Live Design's coverage of Drowsy Chaperone, "Roaring 20s," by Mark A. Newman.
Attendees of the 12th Annual Broadway Lighting Master Classes (BLMC) will see the award-winning musical The Light in the Piazza, on Tuesday May 23, at Lincoln Center Theatre, also followed by a discussion and analysis with the designers. The musical features lighting by Christopher Akerlind, who won a Tony, Drama Desk, Hewes Design, and Outer Critics Circle Award for his lighting of the show. Akerlind will also be making his debut appearance on the faculty of the BLMC, to be held May 22 to 24 at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University in New York City.
The Light in the Piazza features sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, and sound by ACME Sound Partners. The award-winning show (six Tony awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and five Drama Desk Awards) has proved so popular it has been extended four times, now set to close July 2, 2006. Click here to read Entertainment Design’s full coverage of Light in the Piazza.
The Live Design Master Classes are produced by Live Design magazine in conjunction with the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. The BLMC, with creative consultant Jules Fisher, will take place May 22-24 at the Skirball Center–located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South on the NYU campus, which is part of the Helen and Martin Kimmel University Center, which opened in late 2003. The entire BSMC program, led by creative consultant Abe Jacob, including seminars, manufacturers showcases, and cocktail parties, will run May 19 to 21 at the Burrows Theatre at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. For additional information about the 2006 BLMC and BSMC and to register online, visit www.livedesignonline.com/broadwaymasterclasses.