Musical – Trustus

Company

TRUSTUS THEATRE BEGINS 35^th ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH 1971 TONY-AWARD WINNER

Company opens the 35^th Anniversary Season on September 27.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Trustus Theatre opens their 35^th Anniversary Season with the 1971 Tony Award-Winning musical, Company. Originally set in the ‘70s, this production has been reimagined to a modern landscape where swiping right, liking, and sharing are all part of starting a relationship and will leave us pondering how true human connections begin these days. Company will open up on The Thigpen Main Stage on Friday September 27, and will run through Saturday, October 26, 2019. Shows will run Thursday through Sunday for five packed weekends. Tickets may be purchased here or by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at 803-254-9732.

From musical theatre’s most renowned composer, Company is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics, and Best Book. In celebration of Trustus Theatre’s 35^th Anniversary, this classic musical returns to the Thigpen Main Stage following a lauded production in 1997 that was directed by Dewey Scott-Wiley. This story follows confirmed bachelor, Bobby, who contemplates his unmarried state on the night of his 35^th birthday. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, his friends— “those good and crazy people, [his] married friends”—explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Bobby is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

The book for Company was written by George Furth and the music and lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim, who is considered one of the greatest American musical theatre writers of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Returning to our stage to direct the 2019 production of Company will be Trustus Company Member Dewey Scott-Wiley who directed Trustus Theatre’s original production in 1997. The Music Director from the 1997 production, Tom Beard, will also be returning this season to provide musical direction. Choreography will be provided by Terrance Henderson, the 2016 winner of the Steve Morrison Visionary Award.

“It’s a lovely coincidence that Trustus is turning 35, and Bobby, the main character in Company, is celebrating his 35^th birthday,” said Artistic Director Chad Henderson. “This show is almost 50 years old now, and it continues to resonate and remain relevant. We wanted to bring something from the classic canon to our main stage to open Season 35, and Company seemed like a great fit. This show exhibits powerful universality because it explores relationships, marriage, being single, and being self-aware when those around you are trying to steer your decisions.”

The musical will feature Trustus Company Members Walter Graham, Katrina Blanding, Christopher Cockrell, Robin Gottlieb, Kevin Bush, and Brittany Hammock with guest artists Jocelyn Brannon, Craig Allen, Charlie Goodrich, Sheldon Paschal, Stann Gwynn, Hilary Scales-Lewis, Gaby Walker, and Rachael Mitchum.

“The ensemble and production team that’s working on this production is truly exciting,” said Henderson. “Sondheim’s work is often considered some of the most difficult work in musical theatre, and this cast is stacked with well-known performers and musicians. Not to mention, the creative team of Dewey Scott-Wiley, Tom Beard, and Terrance Henderson will bring a modernity to this piece that will amplify its relevance for a 21^st Century audience. This will be a special moment for Columbia theatre, and certainly for Trustus.”

Company will run from Friday, September 27 through Saturday, October 26, 2019 and the tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at 803-254-9732 or online at trustus.org. Opening night is Friday, September 27, at 8pm. The performances following are on Saturday, September 28, at 8pm; Sunday, September 29, at 3pm; Thursday, October 3, at 8pm; Friday, October 4, at 8pm; Saturday, October 5, at 8pm; Sunday, October 6, at 3pm; Thursday, October 10, at 8pm; Friday, October 11, at 8pm; Saturday, October 12, at 8pm; Sunday, October 13, at 3pm; Thursday, October 17, at 8pm; Friday, October 18, at 8pm; Saturday, October 19, at 8pm; Sunday, October 20, at 3pm; Thursday, October 24, at 8pm; Friday, October 25, at 8pm; and Saturday, October 26, at 8pm.

Company is supported by our sponsor, W Realty.

The piano for the production has been provided by Rice Music House.

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical

Grab your britches and tell your kin because Trustus Theatre is announcing the upcoming holiday hit, The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical written by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso and directed by Robin Gottlieb with music direction by Randy Moore running from December 2 – December 17.

The finest trailer park in all of North Florida, Armadillo Acres, is gearing up for the Christmas season and the tenants couldn’t be more giddy- that is, everyone but newcomer Darlene. When a freak bout of amnesia strikes Darlene, the trailer park Scrooge, due to some improperly wired decorations, neighborly love is put to the test. Between an unexpected love affair and one-too-many glasses of Keg Nog, the outrageousness that Betty, Lin, Pickles and the rest of the cast will bring to the Thigpen Mainstage will be a hootin’ and hollerin’ time for mature audiences only!

Chad Henderson, artistic director, excitedly says, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical was such a sold-out success when we first ran it in 2011 that we opened our next season with a revival of it in 2012. Audiences loved these slapdash characters that were comedic and outlandish, but were ultimately relatable. You don’t need to have seen the first musical to appreciate this story, and this is the perfect show for patrons wanting to get into the spirit – but prefer a more adult-alternative approach. If audiences truly love comedies (as I’m often led to believe), then this will be the hottest ticket in the Midlands this holiday season.”

“I play Betty, the leasing manager of North Florida’s most exclusive manufactured housing community,” says actress Vicky Henderson. “Along with two other very colorful women, Lin (a death row widow) and Pickles (a spunky yet naive, new mom who’s also newly single), they serve as the modern-day Greek chorus of sorts, helping the audience get to know the residents and relevant happenings of Armadillo Acres. We do a lot of bonding with the audience, making sure you feel like more like family and less like a visitor before the night is through. Whether or not you saw the first show, you will recognize these lovable characters as they without a doubt appear in your own life. This is a perfect show to decompress with friends from the busyness of the holidays.”

Opening night for The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical is Friday, December 2 at 8:00 pm. Other shows are Saturday, December 3 at 8:00pm, Sunday, December 4 at 3:00pm, Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30pm, Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30pm, Thursday, December 8 at 7:30pm, Friday, December 9 at 8:00pm, Saturday, December 10 at 8:00pm, Sunday, December 11 at 3:00pm, Tuesday, December 13 at 7:30pm, Thursday, December 15 at 7:30pm, Friday, December 16 at 8:00pm and Saturday, December 17 at 8:00pm.Tickets are available at the Trustus box office or online at www.trustus.org. Box office hours are Wednesday-Friday from 2-6 pm.

Making Noise in Columbia!

American Idiot is making a lot of noise here in Columbia – literally. We’ve had a wild season of auditions, rehearsals, opening night and continued performances that have continuously rocked the main stage. In addition to the easily recognizable Green Day musical hits, American Idiot draws a lot of power from telling a human story. We’d love for you to join us as we find connection and belonging in a culture that seems to become more disconnected and out of touch with humanity. Read it for yourself in the most recent reviews that are buzzing around the Columbia streets:

“Indeed, while Green Day and American Idiot’s name recognition should certainly help bring the crowds, Ibrahim’s confidence comes as much from her company’s willingness to take risks — and the artists’ commitment to making sure that those reaches are consistently worthwhile”. – More from Free Times here: http://www.free-times.com/cover/boulevard-of-ambitions-dreams-062916

“With over 20 screens, a projector, four video feeds, LED light strips and a confetti feature, audiences can expect a new experience on the Trustus stage.” via The State Newspaper here: http://www.thestate.com/entertainment/local-events/article86301972.html

“American Idiot musical shakes up traditional theatre.” See more from The Daily Gamecock here: http://www.dailygamecock.com/article/2016/07/american-idiot-musical-shakes-up-traditional-theatre

“In those moments, I was often surprised by how well most of the songs translated so deftly to the stage, even for folks who aren’t necessarily fans of the band and familiar with the album, thanks to how electrifying it is to see them brought to life.” More from Jasper Magazine – The Word on Columbia Arts here: http://jaspercolumbia.net/blog/?p=8159

“[American Idiot] undeniably rocks out at full throttle… It would be hard to find a better way to spend an hour and 40 minutes as part of a fun night out in the Vista.” –OnstageColumbia.com see more here: http://www.onstagecolumbia.com

You have a limited chance to see what Columbia critics are raving about. We can’t wait to see you in the audience as we rock the stage and create topics you’ll be discussing long after you leave our theatre. Without our audience, we wouldn’t be able to bring this two time Tony Award-winning production to town. For more information on American Idiot, visit www.trustus.org, www.facebook.com/TrustusTheatre, https://twitter.com/trustustheatre or call 803.254.9732.