Company • Sondheim’s modern musical

Jan. 26 – Feb. 26, 2017

A trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score, Company continues to bewitch audiences with clever storytelling and emotional resonance. On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. Through a series of humorous and touching vignettes, his married friends illustrate the pros and cons of taking on a spouse, forcing Robert to question his adamant retention of singlehood. Set to a brilliantly brisk and energetic score containing many of Stephen Sondheim’s most popular show-stoppers, Company is sophisticated, whip-smart funny, and profoundly alive.

Performance runtime is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission

Parental guidance suggested.

Performances held at the Broadway Rose New Stage, 12850 SW Grant Ave., Tigard, OR 97223

Music and lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by GEORGE FURTH
Originally produced by and directed on Broadway by HAROLD PRINCE
Orchestrations by JONATHAN TUNICK

Pearson-website Show Sponsor

Bonnie Conger

Show Dates
Thursday, January 26, 7:30 PM PREVIEW
Friday, January 27, 7:30 PM OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, January 28, 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 29, 2:00 PM—Limited Availability

Thursday, February 2, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 3, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 4, 2:00 PM—Post-show talk back*
Saturday, February 4, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 5, 2:00 PM

Thursday, February 9, 7:30 PM—Limited Availability
Friday, February 10, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 11, 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 11, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 12, 2:00 PMSOLD OUT

Thursday, February 16, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 17, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 18, 2:00 PM– Audio description available
Saturday, February 18, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 19, 2:00 PM—Limited Availability

Thursday, February 23, 2:00 PMAdded matinee performance – special discount pricing
Thursday, February 23, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 24, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 25, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 26, 2:00 PM—Limited Availability

*Talk-backs are free and open to the public. They begin immediately following the first Saturday matinee performance of the mainstage production, and are held in the theater. You do not have to attend the Broadway Rose production in order to attend the talk-back.

Creative
Directed by Annie Kaiser
Music Direction by Jeffrey Childs
Choreography by Dan Murphy
Set Designed by Larry Larsen
Costume Design by Brynne Oster-Bainnson
Lighting Design by Jon Ares
Prop Supervision by Jim Crino
Sound Design by Brian Moen
Stage Manager Jessica Junor


Annie Kaiser (Director) directed Broadway Rose’s productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Whodunit the Musical, and began directing their summer children’s productions in 2009. Annie appeared most recently as Muzzy van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Broadway Rose. Other Portland-area roles include: Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man and Mama Morton in Chicago (Broadway Rose), Martha Watson in White Christmas (Lakewood Theatre Company), Miss Nelson/Viola Swamp in Miss Nelson is Missing (Oregon Children’s Theatre), and Isabel in Crossing Delancey (Magdelyn). Some favorite roles include Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Anita in West Side Story, Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, and Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town. Annie received her training at University of Washington and is the Performing Arts Coordinator and Leadership Advisor at West Linn High School.

Jeffrey Childs (Musical Director). Originally from Chico, CA, Jeffrey has been the staff accompanist at California State University, Chico; as well as the cofounder of Theatre, ETC, a musical theatre program for children. He has also helped develop shows with the Broadway Junior program at Music Theatre International. Previous Broadway Rose credits include A Very Merry PDX-mas, Church Basement Ladies, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Taffeta Christmas, Oklahoma!, Grease, The World Goes ‘Round (PAMTA, Drammy), Plaid Tidings, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; and The Andrews Brothers. Other credits include: Music Director – A Year With Frog & Toad (Oregon Children’s Theatre),  Violet (STAGED!), Conductor – Little Shop of Horrors and Assistant Music Director – Dreamgirls and Sweeney Todd (Portland Center Stage). Jeffrey also teaches classes and camps at Oregon Children’s Theatre and Stagecoach, Valley Catholic High School, and Robert Gray Middle School.

Dan Murphy (Choreographer) is the founding managing director of the Broadway Rose. Over the past 25 seasons he has directed, choreographed and/or performed in over 60 productions presented here. It is a pleasure to work with Annie Kaiser again, having assisted her on last season’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and looks forward to being an actor to her director in Gypsy this summer.

Larry Larsen (Scenic Designer) has been designing scenery and lights professionally in Portland for the last 28 years. This is his second show for Broadway Rose where he last designed Adrift in Macao. Recent design work includes Commedia Italiana for Portland Revels, where he has been the resident set designer since 2001, Mr. Kolpert for Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Junie B. Jones at Oregon Children’s Theater, and This Random World for Portland Actors Conservatory. This past summer he designed the scenery and lighting for Mock’s Crest production of Ruddigore for which he is also the Producing Artistic Director. Larry has also designed for Artists Repertory Theatre, Theatre Vertigo, Portland Repertory Theatre, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, Northwest Children’s Theatre, Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa, Portland Civic Theatre, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival/Portland, where he was the design associate for six seasons. Larry is the chair of the Department of Performing and Fine Arts at the University of Portland where he has taught fine art, design, and theatre production for the last 23 years. He has an M.F.A. from the University of Washington in scenic and lighting design.

Brynne Oster-Bainnson (Costume Designer) earned her degree from Drew University. She started out as a high school intern back in 2009 and is now the wardrobe supervisor at Broadway Rose. She also has designed multiple productions including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Fly By Night, and A Very Merry PDX-mas. She is  also the costumer for St. Mary’s Academy and David Douglas High School. Some of her recent costume credits outside of Broadway Rose include The Nether and The Flick (Third Rail Repertory) and db (CoHo Productions).

Jon Ares (Lighting Designer) returns to Broadway Rose after an 18-year hiatus.  Previously, Jon designed lights for Hello, Dolly!, Lucky Stiff, Bye Bye Birdie, The Fantasticks, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, and others.  Around Portland, Jon has designed at Lakewood Theatre Company, New Rose Theatre, Portland Repertory Theatre, Actors Repertory Theatre, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, Musical Theatre Company, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Miracle Theatre Company, NW Theatre of the Deaf, Portland Black Repertory, and many others. Jon has also designed at theatres and universities around the United States. Jon is currently the resident set and lighting designer for the West Linn High School Theatre Arts Program.

Jim Crino (Prop Designer) is pleased to be returning to Broadway Rose for his 41st production, having most recently designed props here for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Jim is a local actor, director and designer. He is currently the primary costume designer for both the Oregon Symphony’s Kids Concerts and Red Shoes Productions. Jim is a proud graduate of The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, a member of SAG/AFTRA, and can occasionally be seen as Leroy Estes on NBC’s Grimm.

Phil McBeth (Technical Director) is proud to be the resident technical director of Broadway Rose. He has also been designing lighting for years at Broadway Rose, including such shows as West Side Story, The Bikinis, Whodunit…The Musical, A Christmas Survival Guide, Grease, Adrift in Macao, and A Taffeta Christmas. Musical theatre and dance have always been a passion of his. Phil started his career at Sam Barlow High School and went on to college in Seattle at Cornish College of the Arts. He then returned to Oregon and was hired as the technical director of the Majestic Theatre in Corvallis, Oregon. There he worked on his craft of lighting shows as well as freelance lighting on the side. He has also worked with the Hult Center resident dance company, Dance West, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Stumptown Stages, and Mt. Hood Repertory.

Brian Moen (Sound Designer) is proud to serve as the resident sound designer for Broadway Rose this season. Brian’s recent shows with Broadway Rose include sound designing Fly By Night, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and West Side Story. Brian began his professional sound designing career with Stumptown Stages, where he won a PAMTA for sound designing Ain’t Misbehavin’. Brian would like to thank the theatre community and his wife, Andrea, for all she does.

Jeff Duncan (Production Manager) joined the Broadway Rose staff in 2014 and has designed props for A Very Merry PDX-mas, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Whodunit…The Musical, and The World Goes ‘Round. He began his theatre career in creative development at Music Theatre International where he worked with the Broadway Junior team and was featured as a props specialist on instructional DVDs. In 2006, he co-founded Theatre ETC, a children’s theatre in Chico, CA. Thanks to Jeffrey, Judi, Warren, and Jenni.

Jessica Junor (Stage Manager) This is Jessica’s eighth season stage managing with Broadway Rose and her fourth season as the Resident Stage Manager. She is often found working as an electrician as well.  Jessica is grateful to work in this close-knit environment where everyone involved is treated like part of a family. Some shows she has worked on are: A Very Merry PDX-mas, Fly By Night, West Side Story, Church Basement Ladies, A Taffeta Christmas, Adrift in Macao, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease, The Music Man, The Bikinis, Plaid Tidings, Cats, Always…Patsy Cline, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, G.I. Holiday Jukebox, Honky Tonk Angels, and Forbidden Broadway. She also works with IATSE Local 28, the professional stagehands union in Portland.

Musicians
Piano Jeffrey Childs
Trumpet Levis Dragulin
Percussion Mitch Wilson
Bass/Violin Amy Roesler
Reeds Mieke Bruggman

News, Reviews, and Buzz
 

BWW Review: Almost 50 Years Later, COMPANY Is Still Awesome, at Broadway Rose
by Krista Garver
BroadwayWorld.com, Feb. 7, 2017
It takes a special kind of performer to fill shoes that were once worn by both Elaine Stritch and Patti LuPone. [Luisa] Sermol does this with ease. Her “Ladies Who Lunch” well deserved a standing ovation. Read more.


You Could Drive a Person Crazy
by Judy Nedry
JudyNedry.com, Feb. 1, 2017
Of the many clever songs and delightful moments in Company, my favorite was the song “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” sung by Robert’s three girlfriends… Read more.


Some Good Company on a Cold Winter’s Night

by Tina Arth
Westside Theatre Reviews, 
Jan. 31, 2017
[Justine] Davis is simply amazing…a sparkling comic, without a trace of self-consciousness in her delivery. Her duet with Miller, “Barcelona,” is the kind of gem that could stand alone… Read more.


‘Company’ tackles Stephen Sondheim’s music with ease

by Samantha Swindler
The Oregonian/OregonLive, Jan. 29, 2017
Renee Lawrence, in her Broadway Rose debut, also gives a standout performance as Marta.She’s the young, artsy newcomer to New York and her ode to the chaos of the city, “Another Hundred People” is a highlight. Read more.


Actress wears her heart on her sleeve (interview with Andrea Enright)
by Barbara Sherman
RegalCourier, Jan. 25, 2017
Andrea Enright is still grieving the loss of her husband but returning to acting is bringing new joy…”When I left New York, I thought I’d never act again, but now that I’m back on stage, I’ve fallen in love with the theater all over again.”
Read more.


Behind the Scenes: ‘Company’ at Broadway Rose

Storify collection by Broadway Rose
Browse social media highlights and peek behind-the-scenes of Sondheim’s ‘Company’ at Broadway Rose Theatre Company, playing January 26 – February 26, 2017 in Tigard, Oregon. See more.

 

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Director's Note

A Note From the Director: Annie Kaiser


Of course, I love Stephen Sondheim’s work.

Okay, let’s adjust that: I used to love Stephen Sondheim’s work.

After having been immersed in Company for several weeks, the feeling I have now is more like awe. Or, almost…disbelief. Because enjoying Sondheim as an audience member or even as a performer is one thing. But when one is awarded the task of shepherding a cast and creative team through the process of interpreting one of his creations, one becomes aware of how brilliantly talented and insanely smart Sondheim really is. I have felt a monumental responsibility to try to honor his genius and passion.

Luckily, because almost 50 years have passed since Company was first produced, and it is a Tony Award-winning musical that revolutionized the art form, a wealth of information has been published – interviews, analysis, and even Sondheim’s own reflections. I have read it all multiple times, becoming alternatingly overwhelmed and enlightened. Excited AND scared. And the most invaluable realization that I came to is that no matter how innovatively complicated the form, ostentatiously literate the lyrics, or confoundingly obtuse the main character might seem to be, what lies beneath all of it is stunningly straightforward: Company is a story about a man reflecting, or, as Sondheim puts it, “the story of what happens inside Robert.” Well, telling a human story is simple. If one can trust that Sondheim, George Furth, and Hal Prince already took care of the complicated business of deciding HOW the story would be told, then our job becomes quite simple.

Directing Company has been the most exhilaratingly challenging artistic experience I have had thus far, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to collaborate with our brilliant cast and masterful creative team to share Company with you.

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