The cast of BLINDSIDED BY A DIAPER takes a break during rehearsal. Front row left to right: Ellen Krinick Porto, Elysia Jordan and Betty McCready, Back row, left to right: Kenneth Grace, Matt Dywer and Jeff Porper.
A brand-spanking new musical comedy born of the good, and not so good, of raising children will play for a limited run in Curtain Call's Dressing Room Theatre beginning May 12. BLINDSIDED BY A DIAPER will play Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm through May 28.
Do you remember when you first found out you were going to be a parent, and how suddenly the whole world seemed to have advice to throw at you? Did you have people saying, “Get ready for your life to suck” and warning you that you would never sleep again? And did it seem to you that people were almost gleeful as they described the myriad ways in which your life was now going to be in ruins? You’re not alone. In fact, that kind of unsolicited, "helpful" advice provides the framework for this hilarious and touching new musical.
Rehearsing a scene from the new musical BLINDSIDED BY A DIAPER are (left to right) Matt Dyer and Jeff Porper.
Based on the Three Rivers Press book of the same name, BLINDSIDED BY A DIAPER is a terrific new musical written by Dana Hilmer and William Squier with music by Jeffrey Lodin. The book is a collection of 30 essays written by men and women who give an unflinching portrait of how having a baby changed their relationship. Some of the essays are hilarious, some are sad, but all have a breathtaking honesty to them, as they tackle some aspect of parenthood. "The audience was roaring with laughter when we did a staged reading of this musical four years ago," said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call's executive director and producer for this project. "I was just waiting for Dana, Bill and Jeff to finish writing it so we could mount a full production and I'm so glad we now have that chance," he added.
Directing the show is Darien native, BT McNicholl who said recently, "This is a marvelous, tuneful new musical by two gifted songwriters whom I've been working with for 15 years. Since it's based on Dana Hilmer's astute source material, the whole piece is insightful, funny, clever and sweet. Anybody who's ever changed a diaper -- or, indeed, been in one -- will relate to it!" his current projects include serving as acting coach on a new Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock film; director of the overseas productions of BILLY ELLIOT and CABARET; and director of the national tour of SPAMALOT.
Playing the father who just learned of his first-born is Bristol, CT attorney, Matt Dyer appearing in Curtain Call's BLINDSIDED BY A DIAPER.
Featured in this cast are: from STAMFORD, Jeff Porper and Ellen Krinick-Porto; Elysia Jordan - NYC, NY, Matt Dyer - BRISTOL, CT, Kenneth Grace - SHELTON, CT, STAMFORD, CT, and Betty McCready - STRATFORD, CT. Music direction is by Issac Harlan with additional musical staging by Gail Yudain, and production design by Peter Barbieri, Jr. Costumes are by Megan Latte Ormond and stage management by John Zimmerman.
"While this may sound like a family-friendly event, it really has some language and topics that may be inappropriate for younger audiences - under 16 or so," Ursone noted. "But the cast performing the material is amazing," he said. Mc Nicholl noted, "The cast is very special: you'd want to see each one of them perform individually, so when they're all together, it's a treat."
Performances in The Dressing Room Theatre feature cabaret-style seating and a BYOEverything f picnic format, Doors open one hour before show time. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office 203-461-6358 x13 or online at www.curtaincallinc.com: Adults- $28, Senior Citizens - $20, Students/Children - $14. Thrifty Thursday pricing - All Seats $18.
Featured as the newest expectant mother in town is Elysia Jordan rehearsing her song BABYPROOF MY HEART.
The final show in Curtain Call's 20th anniversary season will be A CHORUS LINE, playing in The Kweskin Theatre, June 3 through 25. Curtain Call is Stamford's longest-running and only near-round, non-profit producing theatre company providing live performances as well as educational workshops by and for the community. Recently awarded The Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, Curtain Call has been Fairfield County's Best Local Theatre group since 2004 (Fairfield Weekly Readers' Poll).
