“Double, double toil and hassle,” Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth’s “Music of the Witches,” however within the musical comedy, “Witches of Eastwick,” Sluggish Burn Theatre Firm’s 15th season opener within the Amaturo Theater on the Broward Heart for the Performing Arts, these ladies sing a unique track – one among ladies’s empowerment.
Directed by Sluggish Burn Theatre’s inventive director, Patrick Fitzwater, and operating Saturday, Oct. 19 by Sunday, Nov. 3, the South Florida premiere relies on the 1984 John Updike novel of the identical identify.
The e-book, which was made into a movie in 1987 starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher and Susan Sarandon, and tells the story of three bored New England skilled ladies who conjure up a depraved lover. He may very well be the satan incarnate – or as Nicholson says within the movie, “your common sexy little satan.”
And in 2000, the novel was tailored right into a stage musical with e-book and lyrics by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe, who has South Florida connections.
Fitzwater says Sluggish Burn acquired unique rights to supply “Witches of Eastwick” instantly by producer Cameron Waterproof coat (“Cats,” “Les Misérables”).
“We now have a particular dispensation,” he says. “We’re the one theater within the U.S. to presently produce this present.”
Whereas the present by no means ran on Broadway, it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Greatest New Musical within the authentic West Finish manufacturing in London in 2000 produced by Waterproof coat.
“Witches” has gone on to be produced in Russia, Japan, Sweden and Australia, making its U.S. debut in 2007 in Arlington, Va.
Rowe, who relies in New York, has hung out in Florida working with Actors’ Playhouse in Miami, The Parker and on the former New River Repertory in Fort Lauderdale, the place, along with composing the rating to the campy musical, “Zombie Promenade,” says he created the zombie make-up and ran the sound system.
That manufacturing launched the “Zombie Promenade” proper onto the off-Broadway stage in 1996.
“I’m so grateful to have ‘Witches of Eastwick’ produced by Patrick and Sluggish Burn Theatre and may’t wait to come back down and see it,” says Rowe.
Additionally an creator and podcaster, Rowe is engaged on his newest e-book, tentatively titled, “So You Have a Theater Child – Now What?”
Fitzwater, who collects CD solid recordings, says he’s all the time beloved the present.“At Sluggish Burn, we love to do the reveals you may need missed in your journey to Broadway or to the West Finish and ‘Witches of Eastwick’ is the right choice to carry to our viewers.”
Together with his musical scores, Rowe says he goals to inform a narrative along with his music and marry the music to the narrative.
“My purpose is to supply an emotional expertise to the viewers,” says Rowe by cellphone from Provincetown, Mass., earlier than he heads south to Florida for opening night time. “For ‘Witches of Eastwick,’ the theme is about ladies discovering and proudly owning the facility they all the time had and conveying these feelings musically.”
A type of songs is “Phrases, Phrases, Phrases,” sung by Carbonell Award-winner Lindsey Corey, who performs Sukie Rougemont (Michelle Pfeiffer within the movie), which fits partly:
“I’d like to speak about Euripides
And Schopenhauer and Bach.
And if there’s any doubt remaining,
I’d be glad simply to speak.”
The fast-paced lyrics are a tongue-twister and Corey says she took residence the rating and practiced each night time. With solely two weeks of rehearsal time, and a hurricane on the horizon, follow time is of the essence.
“I received them down,” she says, launching right into a dwell rendition on a Zoom name for example her level.
The solid additionally consists of Broadway actor Gail Bennett as Alexandra Spofford and Leah Sessa, a Carbonell and Silver Palm award recipient, who final appeared with Sluggish Burn as Nancy in “Groundhog Day” and as Heather Chandler in “Heathers” who performs Jane (the position created by Susan Sarandon within the movie).
Making his Sluggish Burn debut within the Jack Nicholson position is veteran Broadway touring actor Philip Bryan because the devilish Darryl van Horne.
Bryan will carry out the musical’s signature dance quantity, “Dance With the Satan,” on an illuminated staircase, which Fitzwater characterizes as “very Vegas and really Liza.”
Rounding out the solid are Britte Steele as Felicia Gabriel, Christopher Dreeson as Clyde Gabriel and Tony Carrubba as Michael Spofford.
Fitzwater notes that “Witches of Eastwick” has three sturdy ladies leads “smack-dab” within the heart of the story.
“This can be a well timed story,” he says. “This can be a joyous time for girls in our nation and the storyline could begin a couple of conversations on the best way residence.”
He compares the camaraderie of the feminine actors on stage to the precise chemistry of the actors within the movie.
“There was an on the spot connection between the actors,” he says. “There’s a palpable sense of group; it’s an actual sisterhood.”
Sessa credit Rowe’s “lovely music” and harmonies because the conduit for making a particular bond among the many solid..
And whereas one other iconic scene within the play the place the witches fly over the viewers could also be exhausting to duplicate within the house, Fitzwater guarantees, “they’ll fly – the witches will fly.”
“It’s very magical,” he says. “And, additionally a number of enjoyable.”
If You Go:
WHAT: Sluggish Burn Theatre Firm’s “Witches of Eastwick”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 1 and seven:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Opens Saturday, Oct. 19 by Sunday, Nov. 3.
WHERE: Amaturo Theater on the Broward Heart for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
TICKETS: $72.50, $77, $80, $85.
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or BrowardCenter.org
This story was produced by Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA), an unbiased journalism program of the Broward County Cultural Division. Go to ArtsCalendar.com for extra tales concerning the arts in South Florida.
