Relationships: bane or blessing? This is the question Robert tries to determine surrounded by his coterie of married friends in Stephen Sondheim’s play Company.
The award-winning Temple Theater will open its new season with one of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning and most revolutionary musicals, Company, in honor of Sondheim’s 75th birthday.
“This is one of the most important musicals,” Director Peter Reynolds said. “It’s the first concept musical – not plot driven.”
The play follows Robert, a 35-year-old bachelor, on his journey to understand relationships and his fear of commitment. The story is accented by Sondheim’s masterful lyrics and music.
Company creates laugh-out-loud humor on the crazy elements of relationships.
“Sondheim wanted to create a play that would have the audience laughing like crazy, and then go home still thinking about it,” Reynolds said.
Playwright George Furth and Sondheim worked well together to create a musical that comments on relationships and the joys and difficulties of being with someone.
Recently, Temple Theater has won several awards. Philadelphia Inquirer theater critic Doug Keating awarded three designers from Temple’s production of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, and guest artist Jorge Cousinean received best sound design. Also, faculty member and Department Chair Daniel P. Boylen was runner-up for set design and guest artist John Hoey was runner-up for lighting design.
While Temple Theater brings great talent together to offer quality entertainment, musicals are seldom produced. But in this case, Reynolds directs skilled actors and actresses who are able to shine in Company with some of Sondheim’s best musical work.
Company opens at Tomlinson Theater (13th and Norris streets) Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. Performances run Oct. 7, 8 and 12-15 at 8 p.m. and also 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Tickets are $15 available at the Liacouras Center Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (215) 336-2000. Tickets are $12 for seniors, children and faculty. Tickets are free for all students with a GAF card.
Kaitlyn Dreyling can be reached at khd1217@temple.edu.
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