CCM’s proudly presents ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ running through Sunday, Nov. 3. Photography by Mark Lyons.
In honor of tonight’s opening performance of Singin’ in the Rain, CCM Professor of Musical Theatre and Singin’ in the Rain Musical Supervisor Roger Grodsky discusses the history of this film musical’s journey to the stage and details what makes CCM’s new production so special:
“Since movies learned to talk in the late 1920s, Broadway musicals were adapted into films. The reverse was not true until much later. The idea of a movie musical being a Broadway show, a trend that sometimes seems to have taken over today’s theatre, did not really begin in earnest until Lerner and Loewe’s Gigi in 1973. Many of these early efforts were not successful (Gigi ran just a few months and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers lasted a week in 1982).
Among these was Singin’ in the Rain, which ran almost a year beginning in 1985. The show, based on what was by then an acknowledged masterpiece, the 1952 film version, was directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, who had never directed a Broadway musical. Lambasted by critics and not what audiences were expecting, the show limped along for it’s 367 performances and won no Tony awards, certainly not the blockbuster envisioned by its producers.
This was followed by a more successful national tour that attempted to restore more of the feel (and the songs) of the original film, although as tours often do, the orchestration was reduced and pit parts such as harp and guitar were either eliminated or played on synthesizer. This is the version that has been licensed for production ever since, but still contained no big musical sequence in the second act. This last was rectified in 1992 when Craig Barna, the musical director at Music Theatre of Wichita restored the Broadway Ballet.
With permission from all involved, our production restores the ballet and through the hard work and research of our graduate students, Ryan Sigurdson and Craig Dalton, we have resurrected the harp and guitar parts, and as well have made many corrections.
As Lina Lamont might put it, we hope our efforts “ain’t been in vain for nothin’.” Enjoy the show!”
Singin’ in the Rain opens at 8 p.m. this evening (Oct. 31) and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3, in Corbett Auditorium.
Performance Times
- 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31
- 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1
- 2 & 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3
Location: Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village, University of Cincinnati
Purchasing Tickets: Tickets to Singin’ in the Rain are $31-35 for adults, $20-24 for non-UC students and $18-22 UC students with a valid ID. Customizable subscription packages are also available.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/singingintherain.
Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for information on parking rates.
For detailed maps and directions, please visit uc.edu/visitors. Additional parking is available off-campus at the new U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.
For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.
CCM Season Presenting Sponsor and Musical Theatre Program Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
Community Sponsor: ArtsWave
Mainstage Season Production Sponsors: Macy’s
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