Company, the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, concludes the summer season at Palm Beach Dramaworks with performances beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach).
Presented in concert as part of the Musical Theatre Master Series, Company plays a limited engagement through Aug. 18. The production is directed by Clive Cholerton with musical direction by Paul Reekie.
Quinn VanAntwerp, who made his Broadway debut in 2011 as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys after performing the role on the road for three years, takes on the leading role of Bobby, the charming, detached, 35-year-old bachelor.
Rounding out the cast are Laura Hodos, Barry Tarallo, Maribeth Graham, Wayne Legette, Alexandra Hale, Nick Duckart, Katie Amadeo, Leah Sessa and Natalia Coego.
Company (1970), which marked the beginning of the legendary artistic partnership between composer/lyricist Sondheim and director Harold Prince, is considered the first concept musical.
Based on 11 one-act plays by Furth, who adapted his material for the show, Company consists of a series of vignettes in which Bobby observes and interacts with his married friends as he struggles to make a commitment. The original production was nominated for a then record-setting 14 Tony Awards and won six, including best musical, best score, best book and best director.
The urbane score, which captures the pulse of New York, includes “Being Alive,” “Side by Side by Side,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Another Hundred People” and the title song. The original production ran for 705 performances, and the show has since been revived twice on Broadway, most recently in 2006.
The Musical Theatre Masters Series features concert versions of classic musicals, with limited instrumental accompaniment and minimal staging and design. These full-length presentations include both the score and the book.
For 13 years, Palm Beach Dramaworks has brought to the Palm Beaches a distinguished roster of plays under the guidance of William Hayes, producing artistic director.
Palm Beach Dramaworks is a nonprofit, professional theater and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Florida Professional Theatres Association, Florida Theatre Conference and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.
Performances are scheduled Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
All tickets are $35. Student tickets are $10 and group rates for 20 or more are also available. The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis St.
For ticket information, contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, open Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets and more information are also available online at www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.
ABOVE: Quinn VanAntwerp stars as Bobby in the show Company.
