Sunday, May 1st, 2:00
p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
In 2007, the
charming, off-beat Irish film Once opened to glowing reviews and quickly
developed a fervent following. The touching, lyrical musical tells the story of
two down-on-their-luck musicians, an angst-ridden Dublin street
singer/songwriter who works as a vacuum repairman, and a Czech immigrant who
sells flowers in order to support herself and her family. Girl (as she is
known) initiates a friendship with Guy (as he is known), and in the course of a
week they make music together, fall in love and part, but not before changing
each other’s lives. The movie’s stars, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, also
wrote much of the score, and received an Oscar for their beautiful ballad,
“Falling Slowly.”
Once is simultaneously graceful and gritty, and
has a naturalism and intimacy that are generally best achieved in film. The 12
adult members of the cast play at least one instrument, and are onstage
virtually throughout the show. “I didn’t want anyone onstage who we didn’t get
to know intimately,” says director John Tiffany. By individualizing each character,
adds writer Enda Walsh, “we built a community, and that became the heart of the
piece. They’re an ensemble of misshapen people who sing and tell the story.
Watching them play the music and sing and find their voice is very beautiful
and very strong. But in addition to making it about community, we also wanted
the show to be hugely communal. So how do we do that? We allow the audience
onstage.”
Prior to the
start of the show, the audience is welcome to come onstage and mingle with the
cast, who are having a jam session. This bonding ritual doesn’t merely break
the fourth wall; it obliterates it. “We wanted the audience to own the
experience,” says Walsh. As the show unfolds, the focus is, of course, on the
relationship between Guy and Girl, but the audience also catches glimpses of
the lives of the other characters. “We needed to be sure that there are all
these other love stories in the air. Each person is riffing off a love that’s
been lost, that got away. That was the key: for the audience to feel part of
the experience, and also to look at the people on the stage and go, ‘They’re
us.’”
The material
has proved to be as powerful onstage as it is on film. “I think what’s very
moving about the piece is how sometimes we meet people who we don’t necessarily
stay with forever, but they give us the resources to move on to the next part
of our life,” says Tiffany. “There’s something very truthful in that. People
have said to me, ‘When I was sitting in the theatre watching Once, I
felt like I was watching it with everyone I’ve ever loved, whether or not
they’re still in my life.’”
Winner of
eight 2012 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL, ONCE is a truly original
Broadway experience. Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, ONCE
draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. It’s an unforgettable
story about going for your dreams, not living in fear, and the power of music
to connect all of us.
Reviews of Once, The Musical
“Once uses song and dance in a way I’ve never experienced in an American musical.” New York Times
“Once is unusually fun and
heartfelt musical theatre. The cast is on fire.” The New Yorker
“A love story played with fierce sincerity and unexpected honesty.” Wall Street Journal
“There are plenty of romantic
Broadway musicals, but Once is part of a much smaller and rarefied
group: musicals that are actually wise about the joys and anguish of love and
life.” Chicago Tribune
“Unbridled Joy!” Vogue
“Pure, moving, inventive, and
irresistible. Once makes a lasting connection.” Associated Press
“A rhapsodic unique musical that’s tender, funny, and soaring.” Variety
“Once charms us with a
rare combination of intelligence, warmth, and musicality.” Bloomburg News
“A new musical to celebrate. Wonderful and enchanting.” Newsday
“Once in a blue moon, perhaps
once in a decade or so, a new Broadway musical breaks the rules, challenges
expectations, and delights audiences with something they didn’t realize they
were longing for. Once is that musical.” Columbus Dispatch
---
Once has been
produced in Dublin, London, Melbourne, and Seoul. The second North American
touring production began in January of this year. See Once at the
Thrasher-Horne Center on Sunday, May 1st.
Coming Soon to the Thrasher-Horne
Center
Catch the Fever – Saturday Night
Fever – at Thrasher-Horne Center
7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7th, and
Tuesday, March 8th
Lights! Action! Disco! You should be dancing, yeah!
Lights! Action! Disco! You should be dancing, yeah!
John Travolta danced his way onto
the big screen in Saturday Night Fever in 1977. Saturday Night Fever,
The Musical, is a spectacular touring production based on the
groundbreaking movie.
Feel the energy Monday, March 7th, and
Tuesday, March 8th, at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Saturday Night Fever is
packed with hits from the Bee Gees, including "Stayin' Alive,"
"Night Fever," "Jive Talking," "You Should Be
Dancing," and "How Deep is Your Love."
HAL HOLBROOK IN MARK TWAIN
TONIGHT!
Friday, April 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
Hal Holbrook’s first performance
of Mark Twain Tonight! was in 1954 at Lock Haven State Teachers College
in Pennsylvania. Holbrook has been performing as Mark Twain ever since.
Just as Mark Twain brought his wit and humor to far-flung places,
Holbrook-as-Twain has also performed around the world.
“Uncanny. A dazzling display of
virtuosity.” The New Yorker
“The combination of Holbrook’s
physical and vocal talents and the potency of Twain’s words is a mesmerizing
thing to behold.” Washington Post
”One of the treasures of the
American Theatre.” Life Magazine
“Uproariously funny!” Time
Magazine
“From the moment Hal Holbrook
steps on stage, you simply take for granted that Mark Twain himself is up there
talking to you.” Wall Street Journal
“A genuine piece of theatrical
history! Mark Twain Tonight! remains the standard bearer in terms of
biographical solo drama.” New York Post
Hal Halbrook has won five Emmy
Awards. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and twice for awards from
the Screen Actors’ Guild. He has appeared in dozens of movies on both the
big screen and on TV. In 1999, Holbrook was inducted into the New York Theatre
Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was presented with the National Medal of the
Humanities by President Bush at the White House.
Don’t Miss Hal Holbrook as he
performs Mark Twain Tonight! at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Friday,
April 22nd.
---
Please share this article with your friends and colleagues. The
Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.
In this article, I’ve written about the upcoming Northeast Florida
Premiere of the acclaimed musical Once. The performance will be at the
Thrasher-Horne Center on Sunday, May 1st. I’ve also noted other upcoming performances,
including Saturday Night Fever, The Musical, and Hal Holbrook in Mark
Twain Tonight!
Tickets for these events and others are on sale now on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s
website.
The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type
in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to
dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher
Horne-Center!
Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets!
Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will
appreciate learning about what they have been missing.
We appreciate you taking the time to visit us. If you have a
comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below.
