GABRIEL BARRE, THE DIRECTOR OF "THE SIGN OF THE TIMES"
EPHIE AARDEMA AS CINDY IN "THE SIGN OF THE TIMES" PHOTO BY DIANE SOBOLEWSKI
Actor and director Gabriel Barre is no stranger to theater, on Broadway and internationally, having been at the helm for such productions as “Camelot,” “Carmen,” “Cinderella” and “Cyrano” as well as “Memphis,” “Magic to Do” and “Almost, Maine.” At Goodspeed Musicals and The Terris Theatre in Chester, he has worked on “Pippin,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Houdini” and “Finian’s Rainbow.” Now he is knee deep in the guts and glamour of a brand new musical “A Sign of the Times” set to debut at The Terris Theatre on Friday, July 29 and run until Sunday, September 4.
The inspiration for this 1965 song fest goes to Richard Robin, a real estate developer with a passion for the arts, one who has experience as a financial backer. Long fascinated with the 1960’s and the music Petula Clark and others those years generated, he decided one day, “I’d rather do my own show” so he purchased the rights to the songs of the era and created a basic story line for the show.
That’s when the comic genius of Bruce Vilanch was signed on as book writer, a man used to writing for television, the Oscars and a quarter of a century for Bette Midler. In Gabriel Barre’s mind, “Bruce brings a lot to the table. He was raised on musical theater and he knows the rules, when to follow them and when to break them. He’s flexible, cooperative and a laugh riot at rehearsals.”
Barre is also delighted that this time around he has a full four weeks of rehearsal time to take the songs of Petula Clark and use them as the basis for this innovative new work. To Barre, “We are enjoying a fantastic discovery period, with lots of changes and rewrites. It’s fun and entertaining and the cast is terrific. I’m so lucky to do what I do and make a living at the same time.”
To create the 1960’s for today’s audiences, Barre has a dual approach. The first is a visual one with scenery and projections, with direct localities of the times combined with the great costumes created by Jennifer Caprio, “a cross-section of looks of the mid-1960’s guaranteed to make you smile.” The second handle is the music provided by a fantastic five piece band led by Joe Church and Rick Fox who are “top-notch and give the songs a vibrant fresh sound.”
The show is stuffed with familiar tunes like “Downtown,” “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “My Love,” “Who Am I?,” “I Know a Place," “Boy from New York City” and “The Shoop, Shoop Song.” Tunes like “Color My World” create the pivotal moment when the heroine Cindy watches her black and white Centerville, Ohio environment transform into the Technicolor realm that is the Big Apple.
Cindy, an optimistic Ephie Aardema, is the mid-west girl who comes to New York City to find herself and create a purpose for her life. Her natural talent as a photographer sets her on a path. Through song and movement, she overcomes obstacles, coming of age just as America does, a mixture of vulnerability and strength. Barre calls her story “a mosaic, weaving a fresh
That’s when the comic genius of Bruce Vilanch was signed on as book writer, a man used to writing for television, the Oscars and a quarter of a century for Bette Midler. In Gabriel Barre’s mind, “Bruce brings a lot to the table. He was raised on musical theater and he knows the rules, when to follow them and when to break them. He’s flexible, cooperative and a laugh riot at rehearsals.”
Barre is also delighted that this time around he has a full four weeks of rehearsal time to take the songs of Petula Clark and use them as the basis for this innovative new work. To Barre, “We are enjoying a fantastic discovery period, with lots of changes and rewrites. It’s fun and entertaining and the cast is terrific. I’m so lucky to do what I do and make a living at the same time.”
To create the 1960’s for today’s audiences, Barre has a dual approach. The first is a visual one with scenery and projections, with direct localities of the times combined with the great costumes created by Jennifer Caprio, “a cross-section of looks of the mid-1960’s guaranteed to make you smile.” The second handle is the music provided by a fantastic five piece band led by Joe Church and Rick Fox who are “top-notch and give the songs a vibrant fresh sound.”
The show is stuffed with familiar tunes like “Downtown,” “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “My Love,” “Who Am I?,” “I Know a Place," “Boy from New York City” and “The Shoop, Shoop Song.” Tunes like “Color My World” create the pivotal moment when the heroine Cindy watches her black and white Centerville, Ohio environment transform into the Technicolor realm that is the Big Apple.
Cindy, an optimistic Ephie Aardema, is the mid-west girl who comes to New York City to find herself and create a purpose for her life. Her natural talent as a photographer sets her on a path. Through song and movement, she overcomes obstacles, coming of age just as America does, a mixture of vulnerability and strength. Barre calls her story “a mosaic, weaving a fresh
new story into the songs to form a complete picture of the times.” He is working to justify each song and make it “true to the integrity of the show.”
For tickets ($54 and up), call Goodspeed at 860-873-8664 or online at www.goodspeed.org. The Terris Theatre, 33 North Main Street, Chester (exit 6 off route 9) is the location for the performances Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
With a great team that also includes Paul Tate de Poo III for sets, JoAnn Hunter for choreography, Jay Hilton for sound, Ken Billington on lighting and Ben Pearcy for projections, Barre wants “A Sign of the Times” to resonate with today’s audiences. He wants a debate on patriotism to take place, to raise social awareness, to encourage people to make a difference, to grow and emerge hopeful. To work, “A Sign of the Times” must "celebrate life and living and what we have to give to each other."
For tickets ($54 and up), call Goodspeed at 860-873-8664 or online at www.goodspeed.org. The Terris Theatre, 33 North Main Street, Chester (exit 6 off route 9) is the location for the performances Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
With a great team that also includes Paul Tate de Poo III for sets, JoAnn Hunter for choreography, Jay Hilton for sound, Ken Billington on lighting and Ben Pearcy for projections, Barre wants “A Sign of the Times” to resonate with today’s audiences. He wants a debate on patriotism to take place, to raise social awareness, to encourage people to make a difference, to grow and emerge hopeful. To work, “A Sign of the Times” must "celebrate life and living and what we have to give to each other."
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