Acting Up's REFRAMED Premieres Three New Musicals Inspired By Three Paintings

It was over thirty years ago when Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine premiered their Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. While their musical inspired by Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" is the only stage piece that takes its cue from a work of art, it is certainly among the best known.

In Toronto's Acting Up Stage Company's new production, REFRAMED, three groups of musical theatre artists also get inspired by paintings. Performed at the Art Gallery of Ontario from April 12 - 17, REFRAMED is a trio of new musicals, each inspired by one of the gallery's paintings. Visitors watch the production from a gallery where each is displayed.

"This is such an exciting initiative for us," Acting Up Stage Company Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus tells Stage Door. "With Reframed we are bringing original Canadian musicals to life and showcasing the work of a fantastic new generation of musical theatre writers - a core priority of our mandate. Simultaneously, we are experimenting with cross- disciplinary partnerships and bringing a music, theatre and visual arts audience together for an intimate, immersive celebration of creativity. I think the combination of live musical theatre performers and musicians in one of the country's most hallowed artistic institutions, is going to yield a truly distinctive and unmissable artistic experience."

"We are thrilled to be part of this innovative partnership in which musical theatre brings three extraordinary artworks to life in ways we have not previously imagined possible," says Judith Koke, Chief of Public Programming and Learning at the Art Gallery of Ontario. "The writers and actors have inspired unique, contemporary readings of paintings we tend to see through the lens of history. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience live theatre in the actual galleries."

The three musicals that make up REFRAMED are:

THE PREPOSTEROUS POSTHUMOUS PREDICAMENT OF PAULIE PEEL, with music and lyrics by Kevin Wong and a book by Julie Tepperman is inspired by Paul Peel's 1891 painting, "The Young Biologist."

After the sudden death of his scientist father, ten year old Paulie Peel, and his mother Pauline, struggle to make sense of this tragedy. At the funeral, Paulie reveals a surprising scientific theory for dad's untimely "death" - a conundrum that only he, as his father's trusted apprentice, can solve.

HE IS COMING, with music and lyrics by Britta Johnson and a book by Sara Farb is inspired by Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs' late 19th, early 20th Century painting, "He Is Coming."

Irene Newman, arguably New York's most influential living artist, is being evicted from her legendary apartment and studio in just a few minutes. But, of course, what's the rush?

LA CASATI, with music and lyrics by Bryce Kulak and a book by Erin Shields is inspired by Augustus John's 1919 painting, "The Marchesa Casati."

Painter Augustus John discovers his friend and one-time lover Luisa, Marchesa Casati hiding out in her crumbling Venetian palace. His attempts to get her to come to terms with her imminent bankruptcy are hijacked by La Casati's desperate need to draw him into the past.

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