January 23 – February 23, 2020
Not much happens in Farmtown, USA, home of brothers Joe and Jerry Jessup. So when Joe realizes he has superpowers, he hightails it out of town to seek fame and fortune in “Big City.” When he finds trouble instead, jittery Jerry is forced to follow – and their boring life is turned upside down into a rip-roarin’ adventure! Toss in an eccentric billionaire, a plucky reporter, and dastardly villains, and you’ve got one epic tale of the world’s FIRST superhero. A musical comedy spoof of comic book crusaders, Up and Away combines old fashioned stage magic with rapid-fire character changes and plot twists to sweep audiences off their feet.
Directed and Choreographed by DAN MURPHY
Music Director JAMES PICK
Book and Lyric by KEVIN HAMMONDS | Music by KRISTIN BAIR
Orchestrations by FRANK GALGANO and MATT CASTLE
Run time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Performances held at the Broadway Rose New Stage, 12850 SW Grant Avenue, Tigard, OR
Show Sponsor
Bonnie Conger
Show Dates
Thursday, January 23, 7:30 PM PREVIEW
Friday, January 24, 7:30 PM OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, January 25, 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 26, 2:00 PM
Thursday, January 30, 7:30 PM
Friday, January 31, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 1, 2:00 PM—Post-show talk-back*
Saturday, February 1, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 2, 2:00 PM—Limited Availability
Thursday, February 6, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 8, 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 8, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 9, 2:00 PM—Limited Availability
Thursday, February 13, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 14, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 15, 2:00 PM
Saturday, February 15, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 16, 2:00 PM
Thursday, February 20, 7:30 PM
Friday, February 21, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 22, 2:00 PM—Audio description available
Saturday, Feburary 22, 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 23, 2:00 PM
*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 and Choreographed by Dan Murphy
Music Direction by James Pick
Set Design by Reid Thompson
Light Design by Joel Ferraro
Original Costume Design by Leon Dobkowski
Sound Design by Brian K. Moen
Stage Manager Jessica Junor
Assistant Stage Manager Emily Harmon-Watilo
Musicians
James Pick Keyboard 1/Conductor
Brian Michael Keyboard 2
Alex Geffel Percussion
News, Reviews, and Buzz
A&E podcast: Special guests Kristin Bair and Kevin Hammond
Washington County A&E Guide, Jan. 30, 2020
Host Gabby Urenda interviews interviews the writers of “Up and Away,” a superhero musical playing at the Broadway Rose Theatre in Tigard. Kevin Hammond wrote the book and lyrics,and Kristin Bair wrote the music. Listen now.
BWW Review: UP AND AWAY at Broadway Rose
by Krista Garver
BroadwayWorld.com, Jan. 30, 2020
UP AND AWAY is a fast-moving, Bam! Pow! Splat! of a good time. …Read more.
Heroes and Villains
by Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Oregon ArtsWatch, Jan. 28, 2020
The actors are instrumental in maintaining the play’s balance between soulfulness and silliness …Read more.
Over the Moon for Up and Away
by Tina Arth
Westside Theatre Reviews, Jan. 28, 2020
Dan Murphy’s direction and choreography should be permanently embedded as definitive for future productions – the exuberant, unapologetic silliness left me breathless. …Read more.
There’s a new superhero in town!
by Judy Nedry
JudyNedry.com, Jan. 28, 2020
It’s fun. It’s joyful. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny! …Read more.
Up & Away @ Broadway Rose
by Kristopher Haines
The Crippled Critic, Jan. 27, 2020
This light comedy was a welcome respite from some particularly somber productions elsewhere. Let Broadway Rose lift your spirits “Up & Away.” … Read more.
Broadway Rose takes this superhero parody ‘Up and Away’: Review
by Lee Williams
The Oregonian, Jan. 27, 2020
…as much buzzy, zippy fun as a double date with Ant-Man and Wasp…a marvel in the making… Read more.
Director's Note
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR: DAN MURPHY
I had the pleasure of seeing the world premiere of Up and Away at Pittsburgh CLO in 2018 with Alan Anderson, Broadway Rose’s marketing director, while we were in town for a conference. After the performance, we both thought our audiences would really enjoy this show. It is wonderful to sit in a room full of people all having a good laugh and tapping their toes to the tunes. I was fortunate enough to meet the writers, Kristin and Kevin, who are as nice as they are talented, and immediately this show went on our short list.
It is so much fun to bring new and newer works to our audiences. I am on the reading committees for two national new musical festivals, through which I read and listen to at least 50 new shows a year. I get about another 40 submissions directly to my desk. It is not easy to keep up with all the talent out there! As much as we love presenting classics like My Fair Lady and Hello, Dolly!, we also relish bringing audiences something unknown. My mantra has always been, “Oklahoma! was new once and somebody bought a ticket!”
I was personally attracted to this show because I felt it really put the comedy in musical comedy. Good comedy is often about taking risks, but hey, Sharon (Broadway Rose co-founder and artistic director) and I started this company rolling the dice over 29 years ago and we’ve been rolling the dice ever since. Thank you for being here and taking a chance on a new show. Thank you for helping kick off our 29th season. Thank you for supporting local musical theatre.
Behind the Scenes
An Interview with the Writers
Broadway Rose’s production is the second fully staged production of Up and Away, following its world premiere in 2018 at Pittsburgh CLO. Writers Kevin Hammond and Kristin Bair took a moment to talk about it with us. Read the interview!
