Sunday night’s first run of August Rush: The Musical was the culmination of a week of Tech Rehearsal crowning countless hours of meticulous work including overnight shifts. The pay-off for all that dedicated professionalism is the very first staging of an original new musical crafted by Tony winning Director John Doyle to be previewed by our audiences starting tomorrow! The cast and crew will be doing “double-duty” rehearsing and refining while continuing performing this week and next until Press Opening, Friday night, May 3.
Tech continues this afternoon into the final dress rehearsals tonight. I’m anticipating changes and adjustments this afternoon, and that the show will remain in flux throughout this, Paramount’s first extended preview period. Doyle’s style has a strong sense of personal authorship, an autonomy, fascinating to watch. Sheer panels designed by Scenic Designer, 3x Tony winner Scott Pask, float through the space shaping playing areas on this handsome contemporary landscape. In tandem with Chicago designers, Paul Toben, Lighting Design, and Joe Burke, Projection Design, Doyle’s aesthetic is enhanced and creates a new, musical world unlike anything seen before on our stage.
The cast appears tireless, at the ready to repeat and repeat, then go back and run it again. Their commitment astonishes, their musicianship, vocal and acting talent, a most thrilling and palpable asset to the telling of this story of love, music and family connection. Broadway’s Tony winning Costume Designer, Ann Hould-Ward is here bringing her brand of couture to the black and white palette of attire; young, hip, fresh and on-trend. Choreographer JoAnn Hunter, of some 20 Broadway shows including the most recent, School of Rock, has this show’s actor/musician ensemble dancing and playing their instruments simultaneously to jaw-dropping effect: “How do they do that!?” Composer Mark Mancina’s original film score is an experience, lush and memorable, played live onstage, with gorgeous moments moving this story as it draws this young mother, father, and their 11-year-old son closer and closer together.
a new, musical world unlike anything seen before on our stage
Next season’s Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, and The Secret of My Success, is brilliantly moving along in production design and casting and soon new ground will be broken as well on Paramount’s Kinky Boots. So much going on at the same time! Team Paramount rocks!
Love & thanks,
Jim