 | Wayne Bryan, now in his 18th season as producing director for Music Theatre of Wichita, has produced over 75 large scale musicals, and helped guide MTW to being the highest subscribed arts organization in Kansas. Broadway acting credits include Good News!, Tintypes, and Rodgers and Hart (supervised by Richard Rodgers). TV credits include "M*A*S*H" (CBS), "American History" (PBS), and "Keystone" (A&E). Awards: 1999 Brotherhood Sisterhood Award from NCCJ; 2002 Recipient of Governor's Arts Award; Joseph Jefferson Award (Chicago) as director; Atlas Award (San Diego) as actor. Co-authored new version of Good News! seen around the world, author of many articles on musical theatre. He can be reached at WBryanKS@aol.com, or at the Music Theatre office (316) 265-3253. |
Arts & Entertainment
2003-08-01 13:57:00
Music Theatre - 2003
: What is coming this year to Music Theatre? What is the schedule?
ANSWER: We are extremely excited by our upcoming 32nd Summer Season, which we're calling "Fancy Foot Work," a title chosen to reflect the great diversity of athleticism, dance skills, and swashbuckling prowess to be demonstrated by our resident company of performers, and by our Broadway guest stars. Throughout March, MTW will hold extensive auditions around the country. (In Wichita, they are Thu - Mon, March 6 - 10. Call our office for details and appointment times.) We will receive about 4,000 resumes, and we'll audition about 800 artists, before selecting the actors who will come to Wichita this summer. April 26 - 28 - Young People's Auditions (for selecting children and teens for some roles in the shows. Watch The Wichita Eagle for details.) Tuesday, May 13, the season kicks off with the INTRUST Festival of Broadway, during River Festival, a fast moving sneak peak at the upcoming season. Admission is free with a River Festival button.Sunday, June 1, MTW hosts the Second Annual Jester Awards, saluting excellence in high school musical theatre work presented in our area. It will be held at the Mary Jane Teall Theatre in Century II. June 11 - 15 - GOOD NEWS!Football fever grips the campus of Tait University in this high spirited collegiate romp. Set in the 1920s, the lively tunes include "Button Up Your Overcoat," "Keep Your Sunny Side Up," "The Best Things in Life Are Free," and the dance sensation "The Varsity Drag." This production marks the tenth anniversary of MTW's adaptation of this happy show, created by Wayne Bryan and Mark Madama in 1993, and subsequently performed in over 100 productions around the U.S. and Great Britain. June 25 - 29 - FOOTLOOSEBased on the popular Kevin Bacon film of the same name (and inspired by a true incident), Footloose tells the story of a young man who moves, with his mom, to a small Midwestern town only to discover that dancing is forbidden by city ordinance. The stage version brings to life all the great songs from the chart-topping movie soundtrack, including "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out for a Hero," and Kenny Loggins' catchy title tune. July 9 - 13 - OKLAHOMA!Even though this trailblazing Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is once again a hit show on Broadway, MTW was able to secure the rights so we could celebrate the 60th Anniversary of this classic show with our own energetic production. High stepping farmers and cowmen will bring the vivid score to new life, including "The Surry with the Fringe on Top," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," and the stirring title song. Current Broadway matinee idol Matt Bogart is scheduled to return to MTW to play Curly. July 23 - 27 - CHICAGOThe new film version is a smash hit, but you have to see the stage show to experience all the songs, all the dances, all the razzle dazzle. Sinfully delicious and decidedly adult, CHICAGO examines the link between "Show Biz" and the criminal justice system in America. If the conclusions reached aren't exactly encouraging, the results are always entertaining. Dazzling songs and dances include "All That Jazz," "Razzle Dazzle," "Mr. Cellophane" and "All I Care About Is Love." August 6 - 10 - THE SCARLET PIMPERNELBefore there was Spiderman or Superman, the first heroic crusader with a secret identity was the Scarlet Pimpernel, a brave English nobleman who risks his life to save innocent French aristocrats from the guillotine. Fancy swordplay and great pop tunes are complemented with hilariously funny routines, plus spectacularly lavish sets and costumes. Anyone with a sense of humor, a sense of adventure, or a sense of romance needs to meet the Scarlet Pimpernel! For more information, please visit our website at www.musictheatreofwichita.org or call (316) 265-3107.
