Musical Theatre majors Kelsey Roberts '21 and Brian Sousis '19. (SUNY Geneseo photo/Ben Gajewski)
SUNY Geneseo Department of Music’s Musical Theatre Program’s latest production, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, runs this week, Jan. 30–Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. with an additional matinee performance at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2. All performances are in Wadsworth Auditorium on Geneseo’s campus. Tickets are $15, $10 for students, and are available online, or cash only at the door an hour before curtain. Due to language and suggestive situations, the show is most appropriate for ages 12 and over.
The musical, by David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane, is based on the 1988 international film by Pedro Almodovar. It is a farce set in Madrid, with Spanish inflected music, centering on an actress, Pepa, whose relationship is suddenly ending and several female friends with similar problems. Candela, a model, finds her latest lover is actually a terrorist, Lucia’s husband has left her while she was dealing with mental illness, the lawyer Paulina falls for a man she is suing, and Marisa finds she’s not in love with the man to whom she’s engaged. In this tightly woven comedy, all the stories cleverly intertwine.
The production’s musical director is Don Kot, lecturer in the Department of Music, and the director/choreographer is Melanie Blood, professor of theatre. The design team includes alumnus Brodie McPherson (scenery), Toni Elderkin (lighting), Janice Ferger (costumes), and Dave LaDue (sound). Geneseo alumnus and staff member Sean McGrath is technical director and the stage management team is students Catie Henzel, Emma Brune, and Tessa Hensler.
Student performers include Kelsey Roberts ’21 (Pepa), Erin Burris ’19 (Candela), Katelyn Brooks (Lucia), Erica Milliman ‘19 (Paulina), and Miranda Calarco ‘19 (Marisa). Principal male roles are played by Brian Sousis ’19 (Taxi Driver), Rocky Nardone ‘21 (Ivan), Brett Hammes ‘20 (Carlos). All are musical theatre majors. Josh DeBell, Patrick Jones, Sandra Kralik, Annie Levine, Kayla McGallian, Will Snyder and Tristan Strasser play multiple supporting roles.