Student-helmed "Allegro" caps local Rodgers and Hammerstein mini-fest

This could be called the summer of Rodgers and Hammerstein around Boston stages. First came the staging of "Oklahoma!" by the Reagle Players that used sets and costumes recreated from the original 1943 production, as well as Agnes DeMille's original choreography. They followed it with a new production of "The Sound of Music" with Broadway veterans Patrick Cassidy and Sarah Pfisterer that continues at their Waltham home until Sunday. (For more, visit In nearby Watertown the fringe company F.U.D.G.E. Theatre took on what some consider R&H" s="" greatest="" work="" -="" the="" dark="" "Carousel,"="" which="" -="" from="" all="" reports="" -="" proved="" that="" great="" things="" can="" come="" in="" small="" packages.="" (It="" closed="" its="" brief="" Watertown="" run="" last="" week,="" but="" will="" turn="" up="" at="" the="" NextDoor="" Center="" for="" the="" Arts="" in="" Winchester="" on="" August="" 18="" -="" 21,="" 2011.)="" For="" more="" visit="" the="" F.U.D.G.E. Theatre website.

But what may be the most intriguing R&H musical to be seen this summer is "Allegro" - the team 1947 follow-up to "Carousel" that was considered too innovative for its own good. Told on a bare stage with copious use of a Greek chorus, it told the cautionary tale of a man - a doctor - content with his small-town practice, but under the pressure of an ambitious wife to move to a big city where his ideals come into question and his marriage falls apart. Audiences were confused by the work and critics were divided. In spite of a huge advance and the highest ticket price on Broadway at the time, "Allegro" closed after nine months. It did tour, but has been little seen since. (Encores, the company that produces little-seen and failed musicals, presented a concert version in 1994; and revised version of "Allegro," re-written by Joe DiPietro, Tony winner for "Memphis," was produced at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in January 2004. This version cut the musical in size and scale. The cast was cut with some characters being combined; the original, lavish orchestrations were simplified.)

This may be why Lyric First Stage 2011 should be commended for staging a production of the show for three performances - August 10, 12 and 13 under the direction of Leigh Barrett, one of the city's leading musical theater performers. It will play in repertory with Shakespeare's "As You Like It;" both under the direction of actor/director Peter A. Carey.

In short, if you've been curious about "Allegro," this may be one of the few opportunities to see it performed. And see it done as part of Lyric Stage's unique educational program. According to its mission statement, Lyric First Stage has set out "to create an environment where a company of enthusiastic teens, with professional mentors, explore ideas through text, music, and movement, and refine their confidence and artistry in a series of workshops and a repertory theatre production experience. Lyric First Stage offers participants an emphasis in stage management as well as the acting emphasis. The 2011 program includes 21 teenagers from over a dozen Massachusetts cities."

According to a press release, Program Director Peter A. Carey explains "I don't know of a program that challenges young people in the way we are able to. The sense of community that is inherent in the work we do shows in the actors' work both on and off stage."

Lyric First Stage workshops include the areas of musical theatre and Shakespeare performances and focus on group ensemble work, musical theatre, text interpretation, scene work, song interpretation, audition workshop, musical sight reading and stage management. By working in teams and with theatre professionals, the students learn to develop skills in performance and production including the collaborative process with directors, designers and technicians. The philosophy of the program is that the infectious fun of a musical is brought into the process of working on Shakespeare - and the precision of a beautiful language-focused Shakespeare play is realized in the musical. Both are celebrations of language and relationships, and participating in one makes the other stronger.

"Allegro" and "As You Like It" will be performed
August 10-14, 2011 at the Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street, Copley Square, Boston, MA 02116. Performances are "Allegro" - August 10, 7:30pm � August 12, 7:30pm � August 13, 2pm. "As You Like It" - August 11, 7:30pm � August 13, 7:30pm � August 14, 2pm. TICKETS: $12 for adults, $8 for students/seniors Box Office: 617.585.5678 website:the Lyric Stage Company website.