What does it mean to be “on the edge?” Musical theatre is a relatively new art form. Depending on who you ask, it originated sometime in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Unlike opera or the classical stage, musical theatre’s boundaries are only beginning to be explored.
MTM prides itself on finding the shows that push the boundaries of musical theatre. Our shows are typically described as “edgy”, which means, I think, that they go places musical theatre hasn’t yet gone. Being on the edge is scary. You could fall at any moment. But the thrill is what makes it worth it. We put our artistic souls on the edge with every production. In 2014 MTM’s unique lineup celebrates the idea of life lived on the edge. In Hostage Song, two people barely hover above insanity as their lives unravel. In Bonnie and Clyde a pair of star crossed lovers tries to balance themselves between national fame and inevitable death. And in our revue You’re The Flop, we explore the very idea of what defines a success or failure in the musical theatre world.
Edgar Allan Poe’s NEVERMORE, 2013 Photo by Sharon White
We can’t wait to share these wonderful pieces with our audiences this year. Thank you for joining us for our ninth season of professional, quirky musical theatre.
SHOW
PERFORMANCE DATES
LOCATION
Hostage Song
January 29February 1
The Frequency On sale December 1 121 W. Main St. via mtmadison.com
You’re The Flop
June 20-23
Regina Theatre On sale May 1 via 1000 Edgewood www.mtmadison.co College Dr. m
Bonnie & Clyde July 24-August 2 Bartell Theatre 113 E. Mifflin St. Miscast
July 25
Bartell Theatre 113 E. Mifflin St.
TICKETS
On sale June 1 via mtmadison.com No tickets necessary!
The Voices In My Head
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, 2013 Photo by Jason Atkins
Book by Clay MacLeod Chapman Music and Lyrics by Kyle Jarrow
January 29 - February 1, 2014 The Frequency, 121 W. Main St. Directed by Catie O’Donnell
In 90 breathtaking minutes, up and coming artists Clay MacLeod Chapman and Kyle Jarrow take their audience on a gut wrenching journey into the minds of those who have lost all hope.
In an unknown time and place, Jim and Jennifer are hostages, blindfolded, awaiting their fate and aching for their lives at home. In an effort to distract themselves from their inevitable doom, they invent a life together beyond prison walls. As the reality of their demise becomes clearer, the fantasy becomes more vivid. Stunning rock music leads the story forward as the two grapple in the dark for the last bit of love they will ever know.
“Hostage Song stunned me from the moment I heard the music. Once I got my hands on the script, I knew it was something MTM had to do. In a way it is our riskiest endeavor to date. But it’s a perfect opportunity to stir an audience to their very core and bring people to the theatre that might not normally find themselves there. That, for me, is the most exciting thing about Hostage Song: We will reach an audience that has no idea that musicals appeal to them.” -Meghan Randolph
MEET THE COMPOSER Kyle Jarrow is a Brooklyn based writer and musician. His work spans stage, film and television, including projects for ABC, The CW, FX MTV and Voltage Pictures. His stage works have been performed nationwide at The Old Globe, New York Theatre Workshop, PS 122, American Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival and more. Recently he collaborated with Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) on a concept recording of Whisper House. His other works include Gorilla Man, Love Kills, Consequences and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant, for which he won an OBIE award. He is also the recipient of the Boris Segal fellowship and numerous other honors. His musical Hostage Song , written in 2009, has received only three previous productions, yet has earned rave reviews in New York and Chicago venues. MTM is honored to work on it’s newest and most obscure piece to date with Jarrow’s electrifying show.
Book, Music and Lyrics by various writers including Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Stephen Schwartz, Boublil and Schonberg, and more. May 29-June 9 Regina Theatre, Edgewood College 1000 Edgewood College Dr. Directed by Ross Shenker
FACTS ABOUT FLOPS
A flop may be a financial failure...but does that make it bad? What makes a show "flop" on Broadway? Is it the composer? Could it be the lack of a star? Perhaps it's an unknown name? The truth is it’s often hard to know, and more often than not there is more than one reason. As much as we’d like to say it was quality, that is almost never the case. The question in everyone’s heads then becomes: What went wrong? In our new original revue, MTM will explore some of these musicals, from the ones that should have worked to the ones that had no hope.
“This idea came about as I was reflecting on how many of the shows we’ve done were failures commercially, but tremendous successes creatively. Sometimes there are shows that are great but can’t find their audience in a commercial venue. This show will celebrate those musicals, explore what went wrong, and beg the question of what exactly makes a ’flop’” -Meghan Randolph
They’ve often featured stars. Actors such as Lucille Ball, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Christine Baranski, Anthony Perkins, Yul Brynner, Jerry Orbach and more have appeared musicals that failed on Broadway.
in
They’ve sometimes had great, The Playbill for 1988’s popular source material. Mu- Carrie, typically cited as one of the biggest flops of all time. sicals have been based off of sources like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Oddysey, Dracula, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cyrano de Bergerac, A Doll’s Life, Goldilocks, Alice In Wonderland and Stephen King’s Carrie. Nearly every major musical theatre composer has had at least one flop. This prestigious list incudes Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Schwartz, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Loesser, Kander and Ebb, Boublil and Schonberg, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and more. A Broadway flop can become a regional hit. The world of Broadway is dependent on commercial appeal. Shows like Seussical, Chess and 9 to 5 flopped on Broadway but have proven popular regional theatre favorites.
Book by Ivan Menchell Music by Frank Wildhorn Lyrics by Don Black
July 24-August 2, 2014 Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St. Directed by Meghan Randolph
THE REAL BONNIE AND CLYDE
Composer Frank Wildhorn brings two of America’s most notorious criminals to vibrant life in this tuneful, action packed new musical. During the Depression riddled years of the early 1930s, one couple became notorious for their disregard for authority, their contempt for banks, and their passion for one another. They became known to the world simply as Bonnie and Clyde. Joined by Clyde's brother Buck and sister in law Blanche, they robbed, cheated and murdered their way across the country, evading authorities from several states and providing morbid entertainment for a country desperate for distraction.
“Bonnie and Clyde’s story brings together some of my favorite themes that we’ve explored in past shows at MTM: The idea of love turning to an unhealthy obsession, of the American public profiting from the misfortune of others, and of the idea that as Americans we are all entitled to happiness, no matter the cost. Throw in some fantastic songs and you’ve got this multifaceted musical.” -Meghan Randolph
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow became American icons during their initial crime spree in the 1930s. They were glamorously and violently revived as the title characters in Arthur Penn’s 1967 film. But the reality of their lives was in stark contrast to the alluring images portrayed by the press. The pair was incredibly young; only 23 and 24 at the time of their deaths. They were both average looking and of short stature. Both were physically handicapped: Bonnie from a terrible car accident while on the run in which her leg was severely burned, and Clyde from chopping off his toes while in prison to escape work duty. And their crime spree was not motivated as much by boredom as by obsession and anger. After a traumatizing stint in the brutal Eastham Prison Farm, Clyde Barrow went from a troublemaking youth to a cold blooded killer. But one aspect of their story is accurate, and that is the couple’s interminable love for one another. With Frank Wildhorn’s Bonnie and Clyde, MTM looks forward to exploring the history of the murderous duo.
2014 SPECIAL EVENTS MTM’s special events are all “Pay What You Can”. No reservations are necessary. Any contribution you are able to make is much appreciated! MISCAST 5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION July 25th at 10:30pm, Bartell Theatre Since 2009 MTM has been responsible for one of Madison theatre’s favorite annual events: Miscast. It’s the once yearly chance for musical theatre performers to sing songs from roles they have no shot of ever playing. In this 5th Anniversary Edition, we will bring back some of our greatest hits from past years while adding new ones to the mix.
THE VOICES IN MY HEAD
BONNIE AND CLYDE PREVIEW July 10 at 7:00pm, Sequoya Branch of Madison Public Library