If you read that headline, you will likely fall into one of two camps: You will either be saying, “Adam Who?”, or you’ll be giddy with excitement.
If you’re in the latter camp, bear with me for a moment while I catch the rest of the world up.
Adam Guettel, for the uninitiated, is the superstar Broadway composer best known for the Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza. He also happens to be the grandson of Richard Rodgers – yes, THAT Richard Rodgers, one half of the famed Rodgers and Hammerstein duo.
Patrick Street Productions – the New Westminster-based theatre company that’s making a name for itself bringing less-familiar musicals to the Vancouver stage – put on his Piazza in 2011 and is staging his Floyd Collins this March.
Now, here’s the exciting part for those who already knew that: He’s coming to Vancouver!
Yes, courtesy of Patrick Street Productions, with the support of the Arts Club Theatre Company, Guettel will be appearing on stage on Friday, Feb. 21.
An Intimate Evening With Adam Guettel takes place at 8 p.m. at the Arts Club Revue Stage on Granville Island.
He’ll perform his own work (yes, as well as being a composer and lyricist, he’s a singer) and talk about his work, his career and his creative process. That will be followed by a reception with Guettel at a private home in Coal Harbour, where guests can mingle with Guettel and the cast of Floyd Collins.
“That’s going to be a really exciting evening!” enthused PSP’s Peter Jorgensen, who has arranged the visit. “On top of being an ingenious composer, he’s an amazing singer.”
Tickets are $40 for the concert, or $150 for concert and reception.
Purchase concert tickets online at vancouvertix.com or phone 604-629-8849. For reception tickets, email event@patrickstreetproductions.com.
Guettel will also be offering master classes for selected musical theatre artists on Friday, Feb. 21. And, the following day, he’ll be sticking around to work with the Floyd Collins cast on the upcoming show.
By the way, Floyd Collins is on at the York Theatre from March 11 to 30.
Patrick Street’s website notes that the musical, set in 1925 Kentucky, “is based on the true story of an American cave explorer and entrepreneur who, in his search for the ultimate tourist attraction, found himself trapped 100 feet below the earth.”
