If you’re seeking a good investment for your entertainment dollar, when it comes to musicals, you can’t go wrong with the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). The convergence of talent that sets sail this week in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes makes an especially attractive production, a singing-and-dancing spectacle that was a megahit from the moment it debuted on Broadway in 1934. Today the tale of love affairs and intrigue aboard a cruise ship feels campy, but it’s still a popular musical that gets revived regularly.
Assembling this production are director Ashton Byrum and music director Roger Grodsky. Byrum, master’s degree candidate in directing, has masterminded several memorable shows during his CCM studies: an inventive Godspell, the CEA-nominated Urinetown (2009) and last fall’s powerful staging of Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending; I look forward to his take on a big, classic show. Grodsky is the musical theater program’s resident musical director and vocal coach, whose prior experience includes work at Boston College and Harvard University. The cast features an array of CCM’s musical theater majors, all “triple threats” — actors, singers and dancers. Before you know it, these young performers will be doing their thing on Broadway and beyond.
Anything Goes runs longer than most CCM productions (through March 7), but don’t wait to order tickets, because performances frequently sell out. Tickets: $15-$28.
Get showtimes, buy tickets and read Rick Pender’s review here.
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2010.
