The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents “Company,” the Tony Award winning musical, at the Benedum April 16th – 21st. Variety said the hit comedy is, “sophisticated, intimate and in-tune with the currents of modern life, brilliantly conceived and funny as hell.”
The Revival of “Company”
The revival of this famous 1970 musical has changed things up. The protagonist is now played by a woman. Brittany Coleman plays Bobbie, a single 35-year-old woman.
The setting is Bobbie’s 35th birthday party. What should be a fun night with friends turns into a comical interrogation of her personal life — “Her friends keep asking, why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family?” Okay yeah, this is going to strike a chord with so many fans.
It’s interesting because Coleman herself is 35. “This is the realest, most meta role I think I’ve ever had,” Coleman told Playbill last year.
“Company” on Tour
Coleman also talked about the excitement of taking “Company” on tour, which hits 11 more cities this year.
“The idea of connecting with people is timeless,” Coleman said. “The beautiful thing about live theater, and touring in particular, is that we get to bring the show to parts of the country that will never have seen something like this before, and get folks to think and feel.”
As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21st-century could drive a person crazy.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Legendary Music, Revived
The play is famous for its music, with songs and lyrics written by the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim (“West Side Story,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Into The Woods”). In an interview last year with the Chicago Maroon, cast member Judy McLane talked about the music and different style of production this time around. She plays a married friend of Coleman’s character.
“You man know ‘Company’ and you [may] love ‘Company’ because the music is amazing. I mean, it’s some of the greatest songs [Sondheim had] ever written,” McLane said. “So that alone is great. But if you think you know ‘Company,’ you don’t really know (until) you see this production.”
Get Tickets To “Company”
“Company” is presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust from April 16th – 21st. Get your tickets here!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.