Contemporary Theater Co Makes it Up on the Spot in BRAVO! AN IMPROVISED MUSICAL
The music soars and the actors all come together for the triumphant finale, which none of them have ever sung before! Everything is created onstage in the moment in the Contemporary Theater Company's fall production, Bravo! An Improvised Musical, playing October 21 - November 18.
A brand new musical premieres every night as these performers take the stage. Everything is made up on-the-spot, and the actors know nothing about the show before it starts. Bravo! captures that magic and love of musicals with an incredible twist.
This is the Contemporary Theater Company's third fully-improvised play format. They have previously performed audience favorites Slamming Doors: An Improvised Farce and Whodunit? An Improvised Murder Mystery, which will return this January. Bravo! An Improvised Musical takes it to the next level with songs as well as plot, characters, and dialogue all made up on-the-spot.
"It's been incredible listening to the cast in rehearsals," says stage manager Maggie Cady. "We have such talented musicians creating new songs and the plot of a whole play each night!"
The team behind the company's 2015 production of Sweeney Todd is back together for this brand new project - creating a new musical every night. Directed by Christopher Simpson, music direction by Jean Maxon-Carpenter, assistant directed by Tiffany Fenton, starring Jason Shealy (Sweeney Todd) and Eden Casteel (Mrs. Lovett) alongside Christine Cauchon, Sophie Kreyssig, Clayton Michaud, Ryan Sekac, and Chelsea Swan.
"With a project this complex, the level of expertise and creativity required of everyone involved from actors and musicians to the lighting designer and crew is incredible," says Music Director Jean Maxon-Carpenter. "Instantly creating a new full-length musical every night requires a lot from us all."
How do you rehearse for an improvised show? Cady compares it to athletic training - you work on the skills that you will need in the moment and exercise those muscles. In this case, it is practicing creating lyrics, melodies, and a complete story on the fly.
"At a rehearsal we might practice five or six opening numbers in a row set in different locations," says Cady. "Getting the cast to be able to work together as a team is essential."
Tickets for performances and more information about the company are available online at www.contemporarytheatercompany.com or by calling 401-218-0282.
Preview: Oct 14 at 7 pm
Performances: Oct 21, 28, Nov 4, 10-11, 16-18 at 7 pm, Nov 12 at 2 pm
PHOTO: From Micetro Improv Photo Credit: Ron Cowie Productions (From right to left) Jim Foley, Kaisa Kokko, Tyler Brown
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