USC's Musical Theatre Repertory is thrilled to announce that our 9th Season will begin with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in the fall, followed by Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along in the winter, and Songs for a New World in the spring!
MTR is very apprecitive for all our supporters and are especially thankful for this season's sponsors: Tom & Noelle Hicks Deborah & Michael Kranz Brian & Linnell McRee
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Book by Jeffrey Lane Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek Based on the film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
Directed by Brandon Baer Musical Direction by Anthony Lucca Choreography by Sarah Fanella Scenic Design by Selby Souza Technical Direction by Madigan Stehly Lighting Design by Austin Allen Costume Design by Marly Hall Assistant Direction by Victoria Pearlman Assistant Musical Direction by Nathan Heldman
Based on the popular 1988 film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels centers on two con men living on the French Riviera. Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health. After meeting on a train, they attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate, wins and the other must leave town. A hilarious battle of cons ensues that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing to the end!
Merrily We Roll Along begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). The show ends with a touch of rueful irony, as the three best friends at the start of their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the worlds waiting to be conquered.
Songs for a New World
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Jason Robert Brown's masterpiece Songs for a New World can be described as an abstract musical; it uses strong themes to tie together a collection of stories told thorugh song. Each song examines a decision in someones life that causes them to surrender to a new perspective of the world. As these characters confront and conquer these trying situations, they also learn to see the hope that is inevitably waiting on the other side.