Rehearsals are underway for Signature Theatre's upcoming production of the Stephen Sondheim-Burt Shevelove-Larry Gelbart musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, with music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch, performances are scheduled for October 29, 2024–January 12, 2025, in Signature’s MAX Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
Watch the show's cast and orchestra perform Sondheim's "Comedy Tonight," the musical's opening number, in the video above.
The cast is led by Erin Weaver in the traditionally male role of Pseudolus with Cameron Loyal (Bad Cinderella) as Miles Gloriosus, Mike Millan (Titanique) as Hysterium, Tracy Lynn Olivera as Domina, Kuhoo Verma (Octet) as Philia, Christopher Bloch as Senex, Sherri L. Edelen as Erronius/Vibrata, Zachary Keller as Hero, Nolan Montgomery as Gymnasia, Kaylee Olson (Spamalot) as Tintinabula, Lawrence Redmond as Marcus Lycus, Ryan Sellers as Protean/Geminae, Harrison Smith as Protean, Emily Steinhardt (A Chorus Line international tour) as Panacea, and Hank von Kolnitz (A Christmas Story national tour) as Protean/Geminae. Dylan Arredondo, Rebecca Madeira, and Alicia Osborn are understudies with Graciela Rey and Quincy Vicks as swings.
In Forum, three households reside next to each other in
ancient Rome. Just outside their doors, the exploits of a quick-thinking
Roman slave, a braggart soldier, a beautiful courtesan, a lovesick
young man, and others devolve into uproarious chaos.
“I am excited to direct and choreograph A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum this holiday season, marking the 35th production of a Stephen Sondheim musical over the course of Signature’s 35-year history,” said Gardiner in an earlier statement. “Sondheim’s madcap musical comedy pulls from many influences—the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus to vaudeville to sketch comedy. Come and experience one of the funniest musicals ever written with a remarkable cast of brilliant comedians, including DC’s own incomparable Erin Weaver as Pseudolus. We promise to employ every device we know in our desire to divert you.”
Forum premiered on Broadway in 1962 starring Zero Mostel as Pseudolus, subsequently winning six 1963 Tony Awards, including the Best Musical prize. It has been revived on Broadway twice, with Phil Silvers in 1972 and with Nathan Lane in 1996. Whoopi Goldberg and, later, David Alan Grier succeeded Lane in the most recent revival.
The upcoming production will also have scenic design by Jimmy Stubbs, costume design by Erik Teague, lighting design by Jason Lyons, sound design by Eric Norris, wig design by Anne Nesmith, fight choreography by Casey Kaleba, and intimacy consultation and choreography by Chelsea Pace.
Casting is by Jorge Acevedo with New York casting by Whitley Theatrical, Benton Whitley, and Micah Johnson-Levy. Kerry Epstein is the production stage manager, and Genevieve Dornemann and Stefania Giron Zuluaga are the assistant stage managers.
Visit SigTheatre.org.
