BWW Previews: BBMann Bets Big on Small Musical ONCE

Scott Saxon has a rather unique description for quirky musical "Once." He calls it "the anti-blockbuster," elaborating that the charming Tony-winner is the "exact opposite" of shows like "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "Spamalot" or even rousing "Rock of Ages."

And he's betting big on the show, hoping that audiences fill Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in February 2014.

"This is a musical distilled to its essence," Saxon enthused, "a small, quaint, emotional story told with music. Everyone who sees it raves about it."

"Once," adapted from the 2006 film of the same name, is the story of a thirty-something Dublin street musician and the girl who connects with him over music. Set in an Irish pub, the cast plays their own instruments to accompany the hauntingly gorgeous songs written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

The show concentrates on story; "it doesn't need the other trappings," Saxon says. "This is about how art can affect you emotionally."

He relates a story about how "Once" grabs audiences. The head of Professional Facilities Management, the fir that manages the hall, saw "Once" on Broadway. An email followed, Saxon told me, telling everyone "This is the next big hit."

Sans the huge sets (like the unfolding storybook mansion of "Mary Poppins") or the energetic ensemble of "Shrek," "Once" might not be what people are expecting from a Broadway musical. Still, the show comes in hot off the heels of 11 Tony Award nominations and a whopping eight wins.

It joins play "War Horse" in an eclectic BBMann season, but one that Saxon remains proud of.

"It is our responsibility to show people all the different kind of musicals out there," Saxon, an unabashed fan of the show, said. "I really love it."

Yet, how do you sell a story about street musicians to audiences used to blockbusters? "Jersey Boys" enjoyed two massive runs in Fort Myers. The Rockettes were in town a few years ago.

Easy. "Once" is a "love story," one told with tune. Patrons can even arrive the hour before the show, head right onto the stage and enjoy a drink with the cast on the set. Saxon thinks Southwest Florida crowds "are gonna love it," adding "People are going to be talking about ['Once'] for a while!"

• "Mamma Mia!," Oct. 26-27, 2013
• "We Will Rock You," Dec. 17-22, 2013
• "The Wizard of Oz," Jan. 21-26, 2014
• "Once," Feb. 18-23, 2014
• "War Horse," March 11-16, 2014
• "Million Dollar Quartet," April 1-6, 2014

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