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An assassin, a sponge and a goose go to a theater.
There’s no punchline here, but that’s exactly what’s happening at local theaters this weekend, with premiere productions from the Melbourne Civic Theatre, Titusville and Surfside Playhouses. They range from the gritty Assassins at the MCT to the endearingly silly SpongBob Musical at the Titusville Playhouse to the audience participation comic crime thriller The Case of the Golden Goose at the Surfside Playhouse.
The three shows all open on Friday 5th August. “Golden Goose” is only in town until August 14, so best hurry for tickets. SpongeBob will run until August 28th, while Assassins will end on September 11th.
Table of Contents
‘assassin’
If you’re looking for shows to get you started for MCT’s 70th anniversary season, director Peg Girard turned to her wish list.
Assassins was one I’ve wanted to do since I saw the original Off-Broadway production in 1990,” Girard said.
“I love its Twilight Zone-esque quality, its boldness.”
Disturbing yet funny, “Assassins” is perhaps the most controversial of all musicals. Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for this show, which he says is his favorite.
The topic is definitely not a typical music theater nonsense. Assassins explores the lives of nine people who assassinated or attempted to assassinate the President of the United States, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley.
“Far from glorifying the actions of the title character, it reveals the underlying isolation and disenfranchisement that led to their actions,” Girard said.
“Unfortunately, the decades that followed have only sharpened the focus on condemning gun violence as the solution to every problem on the show.”
John Weidman’s book bends the rules of time and space to allow the assassins not only to interact, but to inspire one another to terrifying acts in the name of a misguided American dream. Sondheim’s score follows American music through folk, ragtime, and even soft rock of the 1970s.
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“The SpongeBob Musical”
From the world of assassins, we head to a pineapple under the sea with The SpongeBob Musical at the Titusville Playhouse. Deputy Artistic Director/Education Director Niko Stamos grew up watching the eclectic children’s show and believes the stage production is appropriate for both the young and the lesser.
“The musical is really entertaining and makes people of all ages laugh,” he said.
“We always try to do one show per season that caters to a wider range of audience ages. When we decided on SpongeBob we thought it would be an exciting new show for our audience to fall in love with. The stage show takes some of the best moments from the television show and brings them together into a cohesive storyline.”
With a score that includes music by Steven Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend and many more, The SpongeBob Musical has quite a pedigree. The show even offers a kind of personal connection to the Space Coast.
“It’s about protecting the environment and we’re working together to save our own Indian River Lagoon,” Stamos explained.
Upon entering the playhouse, the audience joins the other residents of Bikini Bottom thanks to scenic elements that extend beyond the stage. Theatrical lighting by Jose Santiago and even the scent of a tropical island add to the immersive experience.
“We have a live Foley musician in the audience designed by Spencer Crosswell-designed cartoon sound effects, a larger-than-life trick-packed set by Christian Fleming, lush props by Jonathan Willis, and colorful and creative costumes designed by Jordyn Linkous,” Stamos said .
“The Case of the Golden Goose”
To continue the good times, head to the Surfside Playhouse and try to solve The Case of the Golden Goose. Part game, part musical, part trivia, part who-done-it, the show caters to an audience who loves to participate and the challenge of scooping the grand prize.
“We created the show to provide an evening of laughter and fun, but make no mistake, the audience will be dead serious about winning the grand prize,” said director Bryan Bergeron, who is also developing the screenplay Has.
“The Goose” in the title refers to a speakeasy the day before Prohibition ended. The remains of Greta from Flame’s husband, who was gunned down by the mob, rest in a gold, egg-shaped urn in the bar, where the ashes have become a strange tourist magnet. That is, until murder and mayhem take center stage.
Who committed the sneaky act? The bouncer, the sneaky judge, the hypnotist, the corrupt cop? Maybe it’s Greta’s partner Big Red! You have to find out! For some summertime fun in air-conditioned comfort, all clues point to The Case of the Golden Goose.
“Comedy is king in this part musical comedy and part improvisation,” Bergeron said.
when you go
‘assassin’
Where: Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne
When: 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays until September 11th
Tickets: $30
The information: 321-723-6935
On the Internet: mymct.org
“The SpongeBob Musical”
Where: Titusville Playhouse,
When: 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays until August 28th. Additional performances are scheduled for Saturday, August 13 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, August 18 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $25 to $27.
The information: 321-268-1125
On the Internet: www.titusvilleplayhouse.com
“The Case of the Golden Goose”
Where: Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach
When: 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays until August 14th
Tickets: $25
The information: 321-783-3127
On the Internet: www.surfsideplayers.com
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