Using Historical Anecdotes in Theater

I conceived, wrote, and directed a cabaret dedicated to the collaborations of Broadway producer Harold Prince and composer Stephen Sondheim entitled A Salute to Sondheim & Prince. I secured a venue in the Theatre Building, hired a pianist and lighting designer, and cast actors to perform. I conducted research on the history of the partnership of Sondheim and Prince and their shows that aided me in writing the script for the show. Based on this research, I selected songs from Sondheim and Prince musicals that best reflected their talents. On the day of the show, I ran a rehearsal with the actors and pianist; during the cabaret, I acted as the master of ceremonies. Outside the venue, I created a lobby display that featured photos of Sondheim, Prince, their shows, etc. as well as newspaper articles written about them.

After the passing of Harold Prince this past summer, I knew that I wanted to pay tribute to him in some way. When I was assigned to the Penn State School of Theatre’s production of A Little Night Music (featuring a score by Sondheim and originally direction by Harold Prince) as the dramaturg, I knew that I had found my way in. I wanted to share not only with the cast and crew the contributions that Sondheim and Prince had made to the American theatre, but with the greater Penn State community as well. Many audience members were grateful for the historical anecdotes that I provided over the course of the night and expressed that they were thankful for an opportunity to learn more about the great Sondheim and Prince.

My degree is in Theatre Studies; I spend the majority of my time researching theatre history and asking the question of “Why?” I credit my research efforts largely to my mentor Phillip Fazio (the director of A Little Night Music) who himself is a masterclass on musical theatre history. My program in the School of Theatre has taught me how to use our university resources to effectively research and interrogate an idea. My experiences working on School of Theatre productions has also instilled in me a sense of professionalism that I utilized during rehearsal.

I learned through this process specifically how to integrate research into the writing of a stage show. Not only did I have to research the lives of Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim, but I also had to research the origins of their shows as well as provide analysis for the pieces that I used in the show. This experience has inspired me to continue conducting research in the field of theatre history; this particular experience has opened up the possibility of pursuing a doctorate in Theatre History to continue my work as a theatre historian.