GLORY DAYS Plays Last Weekend in San Francisco 11/5-7
Although the musical opened and also closed on its opening night on Broadway, "Glory Days" continues to appeal to show producers from other parts of the US to as far as Tokyo, Japan. The fresh out of high school-inspired musical, created by mid-twenties writers/musicians James Gardiner and Nick Blaemire, has been getting warm reception lately in San Francisco, CA.
San Francisco-based Royal Underground Theatre Company stages the West Coast Premiere of pop/rock, one-act musical "Glory Days" at the Boxcar Studios (125 A Hyde Street) running till this weekend, November 5 and 6, 2010 at 8 p.m. and November 7, 2010 at 2 p.m.
In "Glory Days", regional theatre actors Jason Aaronson (Andy), Ivan Hardin (Jack), Chris Morrell (Skip), Cesar Romero (swing), and Filipino-American Jepoy Ramos (Will) reminisce about high school at their reunion held in elevated bleachers next to a football field.
Originally developed and staged at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, "Glory Days" is infamously remembered for having been fast tracked from its monthlong run at the Signature Theatre to its 17 previews and one-day run at the Circle in the Square on Broadway in 2008. Mixed critical reviews revealing a thin storyline and one dimensional characters; and poor advance ticket sales forced early closure.
Theatre critics have a friendlier attitude toward the San Francisco production though.
76-year-old novelist and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller only had glowing review bestowed upon the cast and the show in general: "The four boys in the cast do an amazing job of becoming the characters they play. It is hard to realize the Jason Aaronson (Andy) is not really a boring conformist desperate to remain "one of the guys" or that Ivan Hardin (Jack) is not really an 18 year old who discovers he is gay. Chris Morrell (Skip) reminds us that those 'Glory Days' we all try to recapture vanish forever on graduation day. Life has disappointed him and we all understand why."
"The pace of this production is beautifully orchestrated, and each character has his moment on stage to expand his character and bring him to life. This is a musical that is far more than its book...Its subtext forces the audience to relive those terrible/ delicious/ scary/ exciting days when they were teens trying to be like everyone else," she added.
Real life high school friends Gardiner and Blaemire's song "Open Road" - the writing tandem's early collaborative work originally presented to Signature Theatre artistic director Eric Schaeffer (who also directed the show on Broadway) - is one of the vocal highlights of the musical. The show's gay character Jack sings his solo number "Open Road" as he advertently outs himself to his old pals Andy, Skip and Will.
The West Coast Premiere of "Glory Days" is directed by Filipino-American Enrico Banson, who was last seen as Roger in Royal Underground Theatre Company's own production of Jonathan Larson's ground breaking rock musical "Rent".
"We believe that audiences are attracted to new questions, not old answers. The Royal Underground produces exciting, muscular, and intelligent plays, musicals and new works that are innovative, at times provocative, and always entertaining; productions that not only challenge the artists involve but the audience as well," said Mr. Banson.
To purchase tickets to "Glory Days", visit www.jericaproductions.com. Tickets at US$15.00 -30.00.
Ivan Hardin, Chris Morell, Jason Aaranson, Jepoy Ramos
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