Sierra Stages to Present COMPANY, 2/27-3/22

Sierra Stages presents the landmark musical comedy COMPANY from February 27 through March 22 at the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. Set in a swinging New York City of the early 1970's, COMPANY is a two hour ride with five married couples, three single women--and Bobby, the only eligible bachelor in the group--as the show examines and celebrates married life and its alternatives through a series of comic vignettes and powerhouse musical numbers.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, the original 1970 Broadway production of COMPANY was produced and directed by Harold Prince. The show received six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It has returned in two award-winning Broadway revivals, and was recently broadcast on PBS in a concert version with Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby. The show's many Sondheim standards include "Company," "Side by Side by Side," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Another Hundred People," "Barcelona," and "Being Alive."

"COMPANY was one of the first musicals that I fell in love with," said musical director Ken Getz. "The show has an incredibly thrilling opening number (featuring the entire cast) that sets the tone for the evening, and then, amazingly, each song that follows is equally or more satisfying than the one before. The songs are funny, poignant, emotional, and entertaining, and they integrate seamlessly with the book scenes which still make me laugh out loud as Bobby negotiates his relationship with each of the five married couples and each of his girlfriends." Getz adds: "Even though the show was written more than 40 years ago, it does not feel dated at all. The music and lyrics remain fresh and dynamic, and the book scenes continue to feel

contemporary because they are about relationships between husbands and wives and between men and women that really don't change all that much over time. Yes, much has changed in American society over the last 40 years, but the creators of this show (like all great artists) have given us a musical comedy that will endure for many years to come."

The Sierra Stages production of COMPANY is directed by Jac Royce, with musical direction by Ken Getz and musical staging by Becky Browning. The cast includes Isaias Acosta, Casey Burke, Nancy Haffey, Kate Haight, Jonathan Hansard, Kay Hight, Tinley Ireland, JR Lewis, Carley Neill, Conor Nolan, Kelly Taylor, Kim Wellman, Stephen Wellman, and Carolyn Winters. The cast will be accompanied by a full orchestra consisting of nine instrumentalists and four women who comprise "The Vocal Minority". Set design is by Mike Edwards, lighting design is by Erin Beatie, and costume design is by Cynthia Levesque.

Performances of COMPANY are Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays (March 2 and 9 only) at 2 PM. General Admission for the preview performances on February 27 and 28 is only $15. General Admission for all other performances is $25 ($23 for Seniors age 65 and above and $15 for Youth age 17 and under). For those audience members who prefer a specific seat location and wish to provide additional financial support for Sierra Stages, Reserved Seating for all performances is available for $35. For students, one hour before each performance at the box office, Sierra Stages offers 6 FREE tickets to students age 25 and under who present a valid student ID (limit of one ticket per ID). $15 student rush tickets will also be sold at the box office, subject to availability, 1⁄2 hour before each performance.

General Admission and Reserved Seating tickets are available online at www.SierraStages.org or by calling Sierra Stages at 530.346.3210. Tickets are also on sale at BriarPatch Co-op on Sierra College Boulevard in Grass Valley.

In addition to COMPANY, Sierra Stages' sixth season includes the original J.M Barrie version of PETER PAN (July 10 through August 2), the charming musical YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (September 18 through October 12), and a special presentation of David Auburn's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play PROOF (May 1 through May 18). For the sixth consecutive year, Sierra Stages offers a very affordable 3-Show Season Pass (for COMPANY, PETER PAN and CHARLIE BROWN) priced at only $55, which may be purchased online at www.SierraStages.org or by calling Sierra Stages at 530-346-3210.

Sierra Stages is a tax-exempt not-for-profit community theatre. In its first five seasons, Sierra Stages has presented 20 plays and musicals, including five Sondheim shows: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (2009), INTO THE WOODS (2010), MARRY ME A LITTLE (2011), A FUNNY THING

HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (2011), and ASSASSINS (2012). Sierra Stages has received 38 Elly Award nominations for its productions.

For more information about COMPANY and Sierra Stages, visit www.SierraStages.org.

Photos by David Wong