The Department of Theatre and Dance at Gustavus Adolphus College will present Stephen Sondheim’s hilarious musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum February 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, March 1 and 2. These performances in Anderson Theatre begin at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available by calling the Gustavus Ticket Center at 507-933-7590.
Director Henry MacCarthy has moved the prologue from its original location in ancient Rome and transformed it into a vaudeville style theatre set just before the turn of the 20th Century. This setting provides an atmosphere conducive to the bawdy nature of the musical with its sexual innuendoes and lewd comedy scattered throughout the piece.
The main character, Pseudolus, played by senior Adam Butler, is a slave obsessed with, and driven by, his desire for freedom. It is quickly apparent how daunting this task is as Pseudolus’ master falls in love with a courtesan against the will of his parents. As the performance plays out, numerous comedic elements emerge including mistaken identities and characters in disguise as Pseudolus becomes tangled in the grand plot to secure his master’s love and his own freedom.
Henry MacCarthy, in his first year at Gustavus, has taken on the task of directing this major musical. His efforts are supported by a wide array of talented faculty including Christina Smith (music director), Michele Rusinko (choreographer), Andrea Gross (costume designer), Micah J. Maatman (set designer) and senior Michael Rueckert (lighting designer). With more than twenty performers onstage and a small orchestra, Anderson Theatre’s performance of Sondheim’s outrageous A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is one that you will not want to miss!
Performances of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum run February 22, 23, 28, 29 and March 1 at 8:00 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. February 24 and March 2. Tickets are available by calling 507-933-7590.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact Erik Splett at (952) 486-1471 or by email at esplett@gustavus.edu.
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