Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
Two collegiate productions are heading your way next weekend as the virtual theater trend continues across area stages.
Sinclair Community College presents “The Cold Equations: A Play for Radio,” streaming free on Sinclair Theatre’s Facebook page @sinclairtheatre beginning Friday, March 26.
Wright State University’s first filmed musical, “The Theory of Relativity,” will stream online Friday, March 26 through Sunday, March 28.
Featuring music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award nominees Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (Broadway’s “The Story of My Life,” memorably produced in its local premiere by the Dayton Theatre Guild in 2012), “The Theory of Relativity” concerns the importance of interconnection. Through an assortment of joyous, witty and moving songs, scenes and monologues, a group of college students experience their first independence and all the highs and lows of human connection that comes with it.
In fact, one description of the show reads: “Take a Physics manual, blend it with the sound of ‘The Book of Mormon,’ the hilariously nerdy references of ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ a sprinkle of ‘Chicago,’ a few drops of ‘Glee,’ bake it in a Broadway bowl, use all the originality you can have…That’s the successful recipe for the spectacular song cycle, ‘The Theory of Relativity.’”
“Finding a cinematic expression for ‘Theory’ has been an exciting opportunity,” said director Greg Hellems, head of WSU’s Musical Theatre program whose recent credits include “A Little Night Music” and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” “The show is unapologetically about recognizing the need for human relationships and the experience of making and losing those interactions. The lyrics have taken on a whole new meaning now that many of those connections have been disrupted by the real obstacles presented by COVID-19. For theater artists, shooting a film has been a rewarding new challenge. Working without a film crew, the cast and production team have explored the medium of film in the most accessible of ways, our iPhones. For everyone working on this production, this was our first chance to be back in rehearsal and in performance since March of 2020. I was so moved the first night the cast sang together live, I was teary-eyed. After a year of waiting, having a chance to make art again has been joyful.”
Audiences can view “The Theory of Relativity” online at www.showtix4u.com and follow the prompts to purchase tickets for home viewing.
