LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — 1924 was quite some time ago.
However, it happens to be the year that helped guide the playbill for this year’s summerstock production in St. Mary’s County. At their 38th annual show, the cast of 36 county residents is set to take to the screen with their entirely original online production of older songs, being launched on Aug. 21.
“Why 1924?” Show Director Wade Thompson asked. “Because songs written then and earlier are now in the public domain, which means we can perform them without worrying about rights, royalties, permission, etc.”
But with the recent impact of COVID-19 on communities nationwide, it was not clear if a show would even happen this year.
“I wanted us to do something, so my music director and I brainstormed a show together,” Thompson said. “It will be an online concert/revue of “Songs from Olde Broadway.”
With a show full of older and somewhat classic tunes, Thompson discussed how he is excited to see the whole show come together this week.
“We discovered some awesome songs I’d never heard before, and were able to use some that ‘everyone’ knows, too,” Thompson said. “Songs from composers and lyricists today’s average theatre-goer knows well, and people most of us had never heard of.”
The video production which has been dubbed as “Broadway Brevities,” is currently set to air on the St. Mary’s County Recreation and Park’s Youtube page on Aug. 21.
Click HERE to see their channel.
Contact Zach at zach.hill@thebaynet.com