LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DEAR FRIENDS,
While we’re not taking anything for granted—who knows what surprises may be ahead—the decline in the number of Covid cases allows us to be cautiously optimistic about welcoming you in the spring for three terrific plays: The Play That Goes Wrong, salt/city/blues, and The Most Beautiful Home…Maybe. There’s a lot of great theatre ahead in season 49.
ROBERT HUPP. PHOTO: BRENNA MERRITT.
Welcome to Somewhere Over the Border! We’re very glad you’re here today and truly grateful to you for sticking with us through this topsy-turvy season.
We’re thrilled to share this world premiere with you. It’s not every day that we get to produce a brand new musical. In fact, this is the first time Syracuse Stage has premiered a new musical specifically produced for the mainstage season. We are pleased to share the honor with our co-producers at Geva Theatre and Teatro Vista in Chicago. I’m grateful to Geva’s artistic director Mark Cuddy for introducing me to the amazing work of our playwright Brian Quijada. Once we had the opportunity to learn about the story and hear samples of the music, we knew we wanted Somewhere Over the Border to be part of our season. That this musical about a young girl’s journey filters its plot through the lens of The Wizard of Oz makes Somewhere Over the Border even more appealing to our Central New York audience.
workshops, re-writes, collaboration, and exploration. It’s not quite the same as working on a play or musical with an existing artistic footprint. Our creative team, led by director Rebecca Martínez and musical director Julián Mesri, continued to enhance and refine the story and the music throughout the rehearsal process. The fabulous result of their efforts is the opportunity for you to hear a new story told on the stage for the very first time. It’s a special privilege, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this journey. Thanks for joining us. Please enjoy Somewhere Over the Border!
It’s a big job to bring a new musical to life. It takes a village. What you’re seeing now is the result of numerous
Bob Hupp Artistic Director
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