Sunday in the Park with George at The Axelrod Performing Arts Center

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/9/24 at 11:49pm

I found myself overwhelmed by emotion four times during the Axelrod Performing Arts Center’s second preview today of Sunday in the Park with George. The opening number introduces us to George and six ballet dancers each symbolizing a color from his palette—red, orange, blue, green, yellow and beige.  It was a remarkable stage picture. I was also quite moved at the end of each act when Sunday comes alive with the entire ensemble. We Do Not Belong Together sung brilliantly by Talia Suskauer (Dot) and Graham Phillips (George) literally moved me to tears.

I also particularly liked the vocals of James C. Harris (Boatman/Charles) and Giuliana Augello (Celeste #1/ Elaine).  Music Director/Conductor Jacob Yates directed the 12-piece orchestra which sounded incredible as they played from each side of the auditorium. Can you believe it? 12 pieces with a Harp! 

I am glad that director/choreographer Eamon Foley got permission from Sondheim to work in the ballet dancers as I think they complimented the piece greatly. Recommended.

Lovely comfortable theater with easy plentiful parking. I sat in the first row B which was great. The stage is not high and there is at least 6 feet between row B and the stage.

https://www.axelrodartscenter.com/sunday-in-the-park-with-george

 

 

Updated On: 3/9/24 at 11:49 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 9:50am

Thank you for this. It’s my favorite show and hoping I can make it out to NJ to catch this. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 10:53am

Axelrod has turned themselves into a nice professional theater company down the Jersey shore. Leaps better than anything Surflight is putting out now. Axelrod always did some solid community theater shows before they went professional. Their productions of Rent, Billy Elliott & West Side Story were outstanding.

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 12:28pm

I go to the Shore a lot in the summer and didn't realize Axelrod existed (shame on me!) I know of Papermill Playhouse but not Axelrod. Will try to check this out one weekend this month! Thank you for sharing.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 12:42pm

Axel is excellent. Everyone is so nice.  Matilda was excellent at the theatre. I’d rather drive there than Papermill (15 minutes) any day 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 6:02pm

This is on TDF for 37 bucks in case anybody wants to go. I have my tickets.  I’m also going to see Kate Baldwin in A little Night Music also in New Jersey. 27 bucks on TDF 

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 7:01pm

He got permission from Sondheim or his Estate? 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 7:48pm

Who?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 8:28pm

ijay889: He got permission from Sondheim or his Estate?

Eamon Foley states that the ballet dancer idea was put in front of Sondheim. See 1 minute mark. 
https://youtu.be/y-MvKazMwlc?feature=shared

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 12:30pm

Thanks for the review!  I've been curious about this but I was a little dubious about the concept of combining dance with Sunday.  I'm still debating whether or not to go since I live in NYC and don't have a car so it would be around 3 hours each way by transit, but it also seems like a really unique production.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/17/24 at 3:26am

Saw this tonight.  Beautiful production.  The ballet dancers mostly take up space.  Graham Phillips as George sounds like Mandy Patinkin.  Talia Suskauer as Dot stole the show for me.  This theatre is in a Jewish community center and the auditorium feels like you are back in high school.  Lots of parking in front.  I heard a  train riding through a couple of times during the performance so I guess there’s a train nearby.   The 11 piece orchestra is on both sides of the audience.  The stage is pretty bare except for some lights hanging upstage, and a few latters.  Theres also a white curtain that is used for shadows.  I’ve never seen a production of this musical before so i was happy to be there.  The last revival was impossible to get tickets to.  

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 3:53pm

TheaterMania has a rave review for the production and leads:
 

https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-a-fresh-sunday-in-the-park-with-george-brims-with-color-and-light-in-new-jersey_1734364/

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:16pm

Graham Phillips was an absolutely smashing Georges in the Pasadena Playhouse production of SUNDAY a year ago. How thrilling to have someone so young (exactly Georges' real age as it turns out), and so precise in his delivery as he performs that score. I can't speak to this new staging, but I know Mr. Phillips is worth the price of admission wherever he performs this role.

[Mickey3309]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:20pm

Updated On: 3/18/24 at 08:20 PM

[somecheapfrenchthing]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:21pm

Add me to the list of people who found this production to be bold and stunning! Sunday is one of my favorite musicals, so I was excited but unsure about a more conceptual production but WOW - the direction and the performances (especially Graham Phillips and Talia Suskauer) were phenomenal. The whole thing was wonderful - Color and Light I found to be especially compelling in this staging.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:25pm

it's a shame their productions only run for 3 weeks.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:57pm

I actually found the ballerinas to be a distraction.  They really didn’t add much.  

[barcelona20]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 10:54pm

Saw it this past weekend. Thought it was stunning. From the lighting, to the dancers, and to the actors.  Not a weak link in the cast. Leads were phenomenal. Hope this production can somehow be repeated elsewhere.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 11:02pm

It is stunning.  It makes me want Little Dancer to come to Broadway. That musical was crafted to have dance in it which I bet makes a lot more sense. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/19/24 at 3:10pm

It's a beautiful production.  I saw Graham play George last year at Pasadena Playhouse (in the Sarna Lapine production), and his performance has deepened since then (in between he played Nick in Virginia Woolf with Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto which may have had something to do with it).  Was not, however, a fan of the recent Bway Elphaba who played Dot/Marie.  However, I seemed to be in the minority (she did sing it well).

Eamon Foley is a director/choreographer to look out for!

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/19/24 at 3:30pm

Owen22 said: "It's a beautiful production. I saw Graham play George last year at Pasadena Playhouse (in the Sarna Lapine production), and his performance has deepened since then (in between he played Nick in Virginia Woolf with Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto which may have had something to do with it). Was not, however, a fan of the recent Bway Elphaba who played Dot/Marie. However, I seemed to be in the minority (she did sing it well).

Eamon Foley is a director/choreographer to look out for!"

Not to nitpick, but the LA production of Virginia Woolf actually preceded the Pasadena Sunday by a year. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/23/24 at 9:45pm

I saw Kate Baldwin in A little night music directed by Hunter Foster.  She was excellent!!  Her Send in the Clowns was glorious!!  Cheap little community theatre production with only three musicians but it was fantastic.  I would absolutely love for a big revival of this musical to come in soon. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/24/24 at 12:29am

Love, that is not Community Theater if it starred Kate Baldwin and was directed by Hunter Foster. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/24/24 at 1:27am

Okay well a cheap production at a theatre that normally does community theatre. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/24/24 at 8:30am

ljay889 said: "Love, that is not Community Theater if it starred Kate Baldwin and was directed by Hunter Foster."

I thought Hunter Foster and his wife had their own theatre up in Syracuse...