YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University Theatre will close its season with a musical with an unusual title.
A two-weekend run of “[title of show]” will open Friday. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. April 4-5 and 11-12; and 2 p.m. April 6 and 13,
in Spotlight Theater, lower level of Bliss Hall.
The one-act musical, with lyrics by Jeff Bowen and script by Hunter Bell, is a meta-performance of actors portraying themselves portraying themselves. It reflects the real-life actions of the playwrights and had an Off-Broadway run in 2006.
The play follows two characters – Hunter and Jeff – as they rapidly compose a musical they want to submit to a festival of new works with the help of their friends Heidi and Susan. The play showcases the struggles of writing for yourself compared with writing for a job, revealing the heartbreak of reality over the fantasy of writing for a living.
Adam Day Howard, YSU theater professor and director of the musical, said “[title of show]” is as much about the writing process as it is about what show business can do to friendships.
“Art creates jobs [and] art saves lives, whether it’s epic in scope or silly and fun,” Howard said. “I’d like to think ‘[title of show]’ is both.”
The student cast includes Liam Burk, Ben Podnar, Lex McCaughtry, Natalie Horvath, Sam Nabring, Maria Anastasiades and Owen Mills.
The crew includes Olivia Vargas, Adriana Rosario, Stephanie Simon, Sam Law, Sarah Robles, Grace Beil and Abby Underwood.
Faculty crew includes professor Katherine Garlick, costume designer; professor Todd Dicken, scenic designer; Gunnar Carwile, technical director; and Jonathan Zelezniak, lighting supervisor.
Tickets can be purchased in advance HERE.
Pictured at top: Natalie Horvath, Lex McCaughty, Ben Podnar and Liam Burk star in the University Theatre production of “[title of show].”