http://www.pcs.org/blog/ en sarahm@pcs.org Copyright 2013 2013-06-14T18:38:20+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/behind-the-scenes-somewhere-in-time/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/behind-the-scenes-somewhere-in-time/#When:16:58:37Z How many costumes and wigs will be seen onstage in Somewhere in Time? How was the turntable built into the stage? And is the music recorded, or performed by a live orchestra? Group Sales & Promotions Manager Mandy Morgan takes us behind the scenes of our world premiere production of Somewhere in Time. How many costumes and wigs will be seen onstage in Somewhere in Time? How was the turntable built into the stage? And is the music recorded, or performed by a live orchestra? Group Sales & Promotions Manager Mandy Morgan takes us behind the scenes of our world premiere production of Somewhere in Time.     Set Design The set of Somewhere in Time is probably one of the largest that our scene shop has ever created. A design of one of the early scenes in the musical is pictured above. The set was constructed in three separate locations. We would have needed a construction space the size of the Rose Garden arena to build all the scenic elements under one roof! The photos below show the set pieces being loaded onto the Main Stage. How beautiful are those hand-painted columns?     A Sophisticated Turntable The set floor contains a 20-foot turntable that can make a 360 degree rotation in less than 24 seconds. The stage floor was built nine inches taller than its usual height to accommodate all of the wires and cables needed to operate the turntable, as well as some other special effects used in the production.     Costume Design All the costumes for the actresses were designed and hand-made specifically for this production by our resident costume designer, Jeff Cone. We were able to purchase and borrow many of the costumes for the men in the production; however, our costume crafts department added many hand-made elements to the men's costumes to enhance their look or rig them for quick changes. For example, they created 24 collars to complement the formal wear worn by our male actors. The collars are rigged with snaps so that the nine male actors can quickly change into different costumes.         Change... Quickly! We are using a whopping 105 costumes and 26 wigs in this production! That requires a lot of costume changes, 24 of which happen in less than 60 seconds. We have three quick change stations backstage, but my favorite is located inside the turret of the Armory. It used to be the location of our green room, but that was moved to accommodate this dressing station. There are six dressers backstage to assist the actors with the costume changes.       A Live Orchestra, but Where? We have live music for every performance, but you won't see them in the orchestra pit. The 11-person orchestra (including the conductor) are set up backstage. The music is piped into the theater and the volume can be controlled by the sound technician. This production has an incredible 350 different sound cues and it takes two computers and a special sound board (brought in just for this show) to control the sound.     Somewhere in Time runs through June 30 on the Main Stage!   2013-06-10T16:58:37+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/behind-the-curtain/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/behind-the-curtain/#When:14:51:34Z There’s something incredibly special about bringing a new story to life on the stage. Everything is new – the script, the music, the dance routines. Fitting all of these moving parts together for the first time makes for an exciting rehearsal process. Stage Manager Emily Wells chronicles her experiences during the seven-week rehearsal process for the world premiere musical Somewhere in Time. Stage Manager Emily Wells chronicles her experiences during the seven-week rehearsal process for the world premiere musical Somewhere in Time. Week 1: New York City!   We’re spending our first two weeks of rehearsal in New York City with the cast and creative team. Although the creative team has been working on the show through several drafts, this week will be spent introducing the cast to the script and music.   Rewrites galore! Every day this week we’ve received new pages of the script from Ken Davenport, the book writer, and new pages of music from Doug Katsaros, our composer. Each page is copied for the cast, writers and creative team. On average, we are making 25 copies of each new page. That’s quite a Kinko’s bill!     Week 2: New York City   After a full week of learning music, workshopping some choreography and working on scenes, the director, music supervisor and cast are preparing for two industry readings before we hit the road to Portland. The actors will read and sing from their scripts, with only basic staging to indicate place or relationship to the scene. Broadway theater professionals and producers will be invited to the readings.   We’re still incorporating changes to the text, too. It always amazes me how quickly actors can adapt to new material and incorporate it into the existing framework of the play.        Week 3: On to Portland!   At last! We are thrilled to get started here in Portland this week. With a mostly New York City-based cast and creative team, it’s easy for work outside of the show to take priority when rehearsing “at home.” Now that we have the full company here in Portland, there’s definitely a more focused atmosphere in the rehearsal room. The director and choreographer are beginning to stage the show.   We’re working in two rehearsal spaces for at least half of the rehearsal day. Music or scene work in one, and choreography in the other. More rewrites. It’s so nice to have a big, big copier at our disposal.     Weeks 4 – 6: Portland!   We continue to stage the play. Some small fixes and adjustments almost every day. One of the most fun things to watch is the composer, Doug, in the room with the choreographer and cast working on a dance break for a big ensemble number. Doug will play something and the choreographer, John Carrafa, will listen, then try out a few steps.   Our final week in rehearsal we are doing many runs of the show – start to finish – with as few stops as possible. This gives the cast a chance to feel the rhythm of the show and the entire creative team to see their work in context. For the stage managers, it’s an opportunity to time the fast costume changes and set changes that we’ll face next week and into performances.   Week 6 finishes with a “sitzprobe” – German for a seated rehearsal, during which the cast and orchestra rehearse together for the first time. On a new show, this rehearsal is particularly exciting as it is also the first time the composer will hear the orchestrations with voices! There are lots of “oohs” and “ahhs” as we hear the full sound of the music fill the rehearsal hall.   The Somewhere in Time Sitzprobe. Photo via Hannah Elless.   Week 7: Portland   It’s tech week. All the technical elements will be added: scenery, lights, sound, costumes and orchestra. All of the technical departments have worked hard since the closing night of Clybourne Park to get ready for this day. An amazing feat in two weeks time!!     There’s something incredibly special about bringing a new story to life on the stage. Everything is new – the script, the music, the dance routines. Writers often work on the material for several years before it’s ready to be read or sung by actors and realized into a full production. Starting with the book (or script), the librettist will structure the musical based on the plot of the story, sometimes even highlighting big emotional moments where the spoken word is no longer adequate – and the character MUST sing or dance instead.   Audiences are a big part of this process too – experiencing the musical for the first time on stage! Enjoy the show. 2013-06-03T14:51:34+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/ken-davenport-on-stage-and-studio/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/ken-davenport-on-stage-and-studio/#When:17:00:47Z Curious how a Broadway musical is made? Dmae Roberts recently interviewed Somewhere in Time adapter Ken Davenport on Stage and Studio. Curious how a Broadway musical is made? Dmae Roberts recently interviewed Somewhere in Time adapter Ken Davenport on Stage and Studio. If you missed the episode you can listen to it in its entirety below. Davenport lets us in on the process of getting the rights, getting backers, funding and writing & collaborating with teams of artists to stage this. Not unlike the film process, this took him 10 years to create. A must-listen for anyone who has ever wanted to create a Broadway-bound musical from scratch.   Your user agent does not support the HTML5 Audio element.   2013-05-30T17:00:47+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/the-art-of-time-travel/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/the-art-of-time-travel/#When:18:24:24Z Time travel is a common theme within the science fiction genre. One of the most unique aspects of Somewhere in Time is that, through its use of time travel, it combines science fiction with a grand, sweeping romance. Crossover genre alert! But the concept of time travel was used as a plot device long before Richard traveled back in time to Elise. Let’s explore some other films that transport audiences to a different place in the past or future. Time travel is a common theme or plot device within the science fiction genre. One of the most unique aspects of the Somewhere in Time story is that, through its use of time travel, it combines science fiction with a grand, sweeping romance. Crossover genre alert!   The concept of time travel was used as a plot device long before Richard Collier traveled back to Elise McKenna in Richard Matheson’s Bid Time Return, the novel upon which Somewhere in Time was based. In fact, the notion of travelling through time can be traced back as far as 700 B.C. In ancient Hindu mythology, the Mahabharatha mentions the story of King Revaita, who travels to a different world to meet the creator Brahma. The King is shocked to learn that many ages have passed when he returns to Earth.   Other famous time travel stories include Back to the Future, The Time Machine, Slaughterhouse-Five, Planet of the Apes, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Frequency and Time After Time. Let's take a closer peek at each of these time travelling tales...       Back to the Future The infamous film Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, is story about a teenager named Marty McFly. He is accidentally sent back in time 30 years, from 1985 to 1955, with the help of scientist Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown, who created the time machine. In 1955, Marty meets his future parents when they are in high school. He learns that his existence at the high school is jeopardizing his parents from starting their relationship, and in order to make his parents’ love story carry on (and ensure his eventual birth), Marty must return to 1985. In the sequel, Back to the Future Part II, Marty travels in the future to the year 2015. I think it's safe to say we won't have hoverboards, flying cars and power shoelaces by then. The Time Machine The Time Machine, based on an 1895 novel by H. G. Wells, was produced as a film in 1960. The film starred Rod Taylor as the Time Traveller. It should also be mentioned that Wells' original novel was instrumental in moving the concept of time travel to the forefront of the public imagination. You can't mention time travel without mentioning the great H. G. Wells!   Slaughterhouse-Five Slaughterhouse-Five, produced in 1972, depicts a man telling a story about how he became "unstuck" in time and was abducted by aliens. The film starred Michael Sacks.      Planet of the Apes The original Planet of the Apes was produced in 1968 and starred Charlton Heston. The story surrounds an astronaut crew who lands on a mysterious planet in the distant future. Talking apes are the main species in the foreign land.   The Time Traveler's Wife Another romance! The Time Traveler’s Wife was produced in 2009 and starred Rachel McAdams (one of our favorite leading ladies). The film tells the story of a married couple. But their relationship is anything but ordinary; the husband has a condition that causes him to involuntarily travel back and forward in time. This ultimately - and obviously - causes troubles in their marriage.   Frequency Frequency was released in 2000 and starred Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. The story is about a father and son who come in contact with one another accidentally over a radio frequency. Although no one physically travels back or forward in time,  the father and son speak to each other through the radio, 30 years apart. The son tries to save his father’s life, but must pay the consequences for doing so.     Time After Time Time After Time was produced in 1979 and starred Malcolm McDowell. The main character, H.G. Wells (Malcolm), has his time machine stolen by Jack the Ripper during his pursuit to find the serial killer. You might say it was a spoof of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.       2013-05-29T18:24:24+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/somewhere-in-time-on-live-wire-radio/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/somewhere-in-time-on-live-wire-radio/#When:18:08:29Z Somewhere in Time creative team Ken Davenport, Doug Katsaros and Amanda Yesnowitz stopped by Live Wire! Radio to chat about the world premiere at Portland Center Stage. Somewhere in Time creative team Ken Davenport, Doug Katsaros and Amanda Yesnowitz stopped by Live Wire! Radio to chat about the world premiere at Portland Center Stage. Written by Davenport (with music by Doug Katsaros and lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz), Somewhere in Time is exactly what you think it might be: a Broadway musical adaption of that 1980 Christopher Reeve movie. It's a time traveling musical romance, and naturally the world premiere is right here in Portland. We will maybe ask them which Superman movie was their favorite.     2013-05-28T18:08:29+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/falling-for-an-epic-romance/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/falling-for-an-epic-romance/#When:21:36:52Z Romance is in the air at PCS. Perhaps it has something to do with our production of Somewhere in Time, which opens on the Main Stage later this month. The world premiere, musical adaptation of the epic love story between Richard Collier and Elise McKenna, Somewhere in Time has captivated romance enthusiasts ever since the film was released in 1980. What’s your favorite love story? Tell us all about it and you’ll be entered to win free tickets to see Somewhere in Time! Romance is in the air at Portland Center Stage. Perhaps it has something to do with our production of Somewhere in Time, which opens on the Main Stage later this month. The world premiere, musical adaptation of the epic love story between Richard Collier and Elise McKenna, Somewhere in Time has captivated romance enthusiasts ever since the film was released in 1980.     I am a sucker for a great romance. Or, let’s be honest, any romance. In the seventh grade, when students were choosing whether they would take French or Spanish language classes, I chose French – simply because I had heard people say that French was a “Romance language.” While compiling my class schedule I grew starry eyed as images of beautiful couples canoodling under the Eiffel Tower ran through my head. Oh, and I should mention that, in my seventh grade mind, all beautiful couples looked like this:     Needless to say, it would be years (YEARS!) before I learned that a “Romance language” is actually just a language derived from Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. And that Spanish (and Italian) is just as much a Romance language as French. Oy.   But back to being a sucker for romance. I’ve read more Nicholas Sparks novels than I care to admit, and am usually first in line to see their big screen adaptations. It was recently brought to my attention, through this Internet meme, that all Nicholas Sparks movies have eerily similar movie posters.     Trust me, I’ve spent countless hours trying to convince my coworkers here at PCS that, while the movie images themselves might have a thing or two in common, the the love stories most certainly are not all the same. And come on, who doesn’t love The Notebook? But I digress.   The point is, Somewhere in Time is the first big romance we’ve had on our stage in awhile (I don’t think we’d place Venus in Fur in quite the same category). And I’m excited. Aren’t you?   What’s your favorite love story? Whether it’s Richard and Elise, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Gatsby and Daisy or Jack and Rose, we want to know which love story, whether on screen or on the page, makes you root for romance every time. Tell us all about it in the comments section below!   A random winner will receive a voucher for two tickets to Somewhere in Time and dinner for two at the very romantic Coppia Restaurant in the Pearl. Entries must be received by Friday, May 31.   2013-05-20T21:36:52+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/fashion-in-1912/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/fashion-in-1912/#When:17:09:29Z The year is 1912. In Somewhere in Time, Richard Collier travels back to 1912 to find his true love, Elise McKenna. 1912 also happens to be the year that the Titanic sank, and the year that Matthew Crawley first shakes things up at Downton Abbey. What do all three of these things have in common? Fabulous, beautiful clothes! Let’s take a look back at the elegant men’s and women’s fashions that were all the rage in 1912. The year is 1912. In Somewhere in Time, Richard Collier travels back to 1912 to find his true love, Elise McKenna. 1912 also happens to be the year that the Titanic sank, and the year that Matthew Crawley first shakes things up at Downton Abbey. What do all three of these things have in common? Fabulous, beautiful clothes! Let's take a look back at the elegant men's and women's fashions that were all the rage in 1912.     In 1912, women’s fashions emphasized posture and corset design. The period of 1910-1912 saw the end of the Edwardian Era, a decade of very soft, feminine fashions with flowing trained skirts, ruffles and lace. By 1910 the silhouette of ladies dresses had simplified and become columnar, with a new, long corset design which gave the body an upright posture.There were different fashions for daytime and evening looks, and of course the materials differed too. Evening dresses were made from fine silks, and featured open necklines and short sleeves. Day dresses usually had long sleeves that were fitted to the arm. But women weren't just wearing dresses! Their clothing resembled an  onion, in that each ensemble consisted of what must have seemed like layers upon layers underneath each of the dresses. Together, the layers added to a woman’s overall physique and look.     Let’s start with the undergarment layer. This was an important part of a woman’s attire because it shaped her silhouette. The undergarment layer consisted of a chemise, corset cover, drawers and petticoat. The chemise was a sleeveless, fitted garment with a round, open neckline and drawstring, made in lightweight linen, cotton or silk. Usually the chemise was white so that it could be laundered easily. It was knee or mid-calf length, and was worn underneath the corset. The petticoat was worn over the corset to fill out the skirt of the dress and add a layer of warmth or a level of opaqueness. Next was the corset cover. This was worn over the corset to protect the dress from the corset hardware and add a little extra fullness to the figure.   Drawers were then worn over the top of the corset and the waist was fitted over the hips. The corset, the crucial accessory, was smooth and columnar, giving the wearer a small waist and hips. When worn, the stomach and hips of the wearer were reduced and smoothed. Bust support was minimized, necessitating the need for a brassiere. Brassieres were made of strong cotton, fit closely to the woman’s body and had shoulder straps.       The next layer, the garment layer, consisted of the silhouette. The basic silhouette, with a full-length skirt, gave the woman a raised waistline and a smooth fit over her hips. This could consist of many different designs, which varied depending on if it would be worn under a day dress or an evening gown. Finally, on top of the silhouette, the woman would don the actual dress, which would be a day or evening gown. No wonder the Crawley ladies on Downton Abbey spent so much time switching into their evening attire before dinner. They needed to change out of and into at least six layers of clothing!   Outside of their garment attire, hats and accessories were the cherry on top of the ensemble. Fans, gloves and purses were extremely popular. Jewelry also helped to pull an outfit together. Beads, broaches, pins, colored stones, pearls and gold bangle bracelets were among the popular items. Lastly, a lady never left her home without a proper hat. Hats were often very large, embellished with lots of ostrich feathers, large ribbon bows and flowers.     Women's fashions were obviously extremely detailed and elegant. But men's fashions were just as complex! Like women, males had day and evening wear as well. Their evening dress consisted of a black tail coat or tuxedo jacket. The tuxedo was considered more informal, and the tail coat was the most formal option. Similar to men's dresswear today, outfits also consisted of white dress shirts with collars, vests and bowties.        Daytime attire varied depending on the scheduled events or activities. A morning suit with a cut-away coat was very formal, worn for an afternoon tea or wedding. Wool suits were also popular and knickers could be worn for sporting occasions. Men also donned accessories. If a man was going to a formal event, like a ball, white gloves were worn. Black patent leather dress shoes were worn too. A black top hat was worn when traveling to or from an evening function, but it was removed once in the ballroom.   Fashions in 1912 were elegant, to say the least. Whether one was male or female, he or she was always dressed appropriately for the occasion. We are excited to showcase some of this beautiful fashion in the world premiere of Somewhere in Time, opening in just a few weeks here at PCS! To purchase tickets, please click here.         2013-05-16T17:09:29+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/an-interview-with-somewhere-in-time-producer-stephen-simon/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/an-interview-with-somewhere-in-time-producer-stephen-simon/#When:16:22:42Z Stephen Simon is a Hollywood movie producer, best known for his films Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come. After reading the novel Bid Time Return, upon which Somewhere in Time is based, Stephen was deeply touched by the love story between Richard and Elise. In the late 1970s, Stephen left his career as a lawyer to pursue his dream of becoming a producer. One of his very first projects was Somewhere in Time. Today, Stephen Simon lives right here in Portland! We asked him about his experience making his dream project into a reality. Stephen Simon (previously Stephen Deutsch) was the producer of the 1980 film Somewhere in Time. Captivated by the timeless love story after reading Richard Matheson's original novel, Bid Time Return,  Stephen begged to become an assistant producer and made his way into the movie industry. As luck would have it, he soon had the opportunity to meet with Richard Matheson. During the meeting, Stephen told Richard about his aspirations to make the novel into a movie. The deal was sealed with a simple handshake. Three years later the film Somewhere in Time, based on Bid Time Return, became a reality. Today, Stephen Simon lives right here in Portland! We asked him about his experience making Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.     What was it about Somewhere in Time that captivated you?    In 1975, I read the book (which was titled Bid Time Return) and was transfixed by the beauty and poignance of the love story. I had always loved fantasy love stories like It's A Wonderful Life and Lost Horizons and had also always known I would eventually find my way into the film business. My father, who died in 1950 when I was four, had been a very successful producer/director in the 1940s when he made films with Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Abbott and Costello and others. At the time I read Bid Time Return, however, I was a young lawyer. After reading the book, I begged my way into an assistant's job for a legendary film producer named Ray Stark who produced Funny Girl, The Way We Were and many other films. My first day on the job in February 1976 I found Richard Matheson, the author of Bid Time Return, had lunch with him, and told him that I got into the movie business to make his book into a movie. We shook hands and three years later we made the film, which we retitled Somewhere in Time.   When you were casting the lead roles, why were Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour perfect for the parts?     Chris burst upon the scene in Superman in December 1978. The next month, Universal told me that it would only make Somewhere in Time if we got a big star. I mentioned Chris and was told "Yes, if you get him, we'll make the film. If not, we won't." It's a long, rather comical story about how we finally got Chris to read the script but he he did read and love it, and we got our green light to make the film. We really wanted the Clark Kent persona for Richard Collier and Chris delivered it beautifully. As for Jane, we auditioned dozens of young actresses who came in to read with Chris. Jane came to the audition in a vintage dress and remained in character as Elise McKenna throughout our entire meeting. Her chemistry with Chris was also off the charts. After she left, we all looked at each other and said "Well, that's done. Cancel the rest of the auditions."   Why did you pick the Grand Hotel as the filming location?    The book was set at the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego, California. We needed a location, however, that could easily be believable (with a very, very small budget) as being circa 1912. The Del's surroundings were just too modern. That's when we heard about the Grand Hotel, built in the 1870s and set on Mackinac Island, Michigan, where they allowed no motorized vehicles--hence, no parking meters or other modernization. I sent the script to Dan Musser, the new owner of the hotel, and promised him that his hotel would be one of the stars of the film. He invited us to come see the hotel and we absolutely fell in love with it, him and the island. Dan made the whole process incredibly easy (including a special ordinance that allowed us to bring our equipment trucks) and became a good friend. Before his untimely passing earlier this year, I was thrilled when Dan told me that our film had generated $30 to $40 million in revenues for the hotel in the 30+ years since its release. He was a great man and we will miss him. The film would not have been anywhere near what it is if it had been set anywhere else.   What was the biggest challenge when making Somewhere in Time into a film?    Getting Universal to give us the $4 million we needed to make the film. Our film was a gentle, Old Hollywood romantic fantasy during a time when all the studios wanted Saturday Night Fever. If Chris had turned us down, I'm not sure the film would have ever seen the light of day. The actual making of the film was utterly magical. No egos, no real curveballs during production...just great fun for all concerned.   Are you still active with the Somewhere in Time community?  Have you ever attended the Somewhere in Time weekend on Mackinac Island?    Yes, we've been to a few of the weekends and they are absolutely wonderful fun. It's gratifying and rewarding beyond words to meet the fans who have made our little film into a cult favorite. What many people don't remember is that the film was a box office disappointment and critical dud when it opened in 1980. That really broke our hearts. The film then quickly disappeared for several years until it was resurrected during the early years of HBO and other cable stations. People discovered the film and it developed a following which really came to fruition when Bill Shepard founded the film's fan club INSITE (International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts). Bill was also the one who got the Grand Hotel to start the yearly weekends over 20 years ago. If there is one person who is most responsible for saving the film from oblivion, it's Bill. Why are you most looking forward to seeing the musical version of Somewhere in Time here in Portland?    Most people don't know that the title Somewhere in Time came to me one day when I heard Barry Manilow's song "Somewhere in the Night." So the whole project was born to be a musical! Also, producer Ken Davenport has put as much time, love and passion into getting this musical produced as we did with the film so I'm very happy to support his efforts. I'm also just blown away that our little film from over 30 years ago has found its way into enough hearts to launch a musical. I'm extremely excited and curious to see how the film has been adapted into this new form and, of course, to hear the music.     How did you feel when you found out the world premiere of the musical would be first produced in your own community?    That was the icing on the cake, the cherry on top of the sundae. Now, my wife Lauren and I can see the musical a few times while it's here and share it with our kids and friends. I so hope Portland embraces the musical and gives it the kind of momentum it needs to send it to Broadway, London and everywhere. How great would that be?   Is there anything you’d like to add?    Yes. Two things. First, I want to salute the real genius behind Somewhere in Time which was, is, and always will be Richard Matheson who wrote both the novel and the screenplay. Richard has been my dear friend and mentor since our first meeting in 1976 and none of this would be happening without him. Second, I want to thank all the fans of Somewhere in Time for their love and support through the years. They are the ones who have made the film what it has become and their passion also helped launch this musical. From all of us who had the unique pleasure to work on the film, to all of you: we send our deepest gratitude and warmest love.       Stephen Simon will be joining us for two special events during the run of the show here at PCS!   A special prologue on June 7 from 6:40 to 7:10 p.m. A post-show Q&A on June 16 following the 2 p.m. matinee. Both are FREE. Join us!       2013-05-08T16:22:42+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/somewhere-in-time-a-sensational-hit/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/somewhere-in-time-a-sensational-hit/#When:15:57:59Z Somewhere in Time combines the concept of time traveling with a captivating, enduring love story. Why has the film become such a cult classic? One factor could be that the geographic location of hotel, which was the setting for the film, actually, physically exists. This allows ardent fans the opportunity to travel to the hotel and be in the same places where the actors once stood; where the love story itself took place. Relive that love story with the world premiere musical of Somewhere in Time, opening later this month at PCS! Whether you were into science fiction or romantic love stories, Somewhere in Time was a movie that captivated audiences in the 1980s (and still does to this day!). The story left people fascinated by the love story between Richard and Elise, and the concept of finding your destiny in another time. There is even an official Somewhere in Time fan club, INSIGHT, for the movie that offers collectibles, jewelry, apparel, videos, DVDs, books, music, news and a place for dedicated fans to connect. This phenomenon is considered a cult classic and there is a passionate community dedicated to preserving the legacy of the movie. Now that movie is has been adapted into a musical!   Somewhere in Time is based off of a novel by Richard Matheson. Richard, a young playwright, is in awe over a portrait of a  beautiful woman, Elise, which was taken in the early 1900s.   Through the use of self-hypnosis he travels back in time to find the woman he saw in the portrait. This movie was filmed in an actual location, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, which made the story more “real” to its viewers. Because this destination still exists, fans of the movie travel there each year to experience the world of the film. Some even dress up in period garb to honor the film, feeling that it is the closest thing to actual time travel as one can get.     Mackinac Island, located in Michigan, is home of the Grand Hotel from Somewhere in Time. Each year, the hotel hosts a “Somewhere in Time Weekend.” This year, the event will take place from October 4 - 6. Lovers of the movie arrive each year for this event with the hope of “reliving” the film and making a “cameo appearance” in costume.     So, the question remains: Why is Somewhere in Time such a hit? One factor could be that the geographic location of hotel, which was the setting for the film, actually, physically exists. This allows ardent fans the opportunity to travel to the hotel and be in the same places where the actors once stood; where the love story itself took place. Somewhere in Time combines the concept of time traveleling with a captivating, enduring love story. So the film catered to some pretty diverse interests and genres.   It is one of only three movies that has an established fan club solely dedicated to the motion picture. The other two are Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, which is significant when you consider that both of those films were instant commercial successes when they were released. The film was not only popular in the United States; it played at The Palace Theater in Hong Kong, and for 18 months crowds came to see the movie. Today, it ranks as one of the top ten highest grossing films of all time in China.     Essentially, Somewhere in Time generated its own marketing, by word of mouth, and via the medium of cable, which started showing the film when cable stations were brand new to the television scene. Cable stations received hundreds letters, asking for the movie to be run again, and again. Consequently, the studio belatedly realized how much the movie was loved.   Relive the love story with the world premiere musical of Somewhere in Time, running May 28 - June 30 at PCS!                 2013-05-07T15:57:59+00:00 http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/marc-kudisch-leading-june-17-masterclass-with-staged/ http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/marc-kudisch-leading-june-17-masterclass-with-staged/#When:17:38:20Z Staged!, a Portland musical theater company, is offering a great opportunity with Somewhere in Time principal Marc Kudisch on Monday, June 17. Portland area musical theater freaks REJOICE! Staged!, a Portland musical theater company, is offering a great opportunity with Somewhere in Time principal Marc Kudisch on Monday, June 17.    Staged! is proud to present a master class with one of Broadway's leading men, Marc Kudisch. A three-time Tony Award nominee over the past decade, his Broadway credits include 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Apple Tree, Assassins, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bells are Ringing, The Wild Party, The Scarlet Pimpernel, High Society, Beauty and the Beast, and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His recent Off-Broadway performances include The Holiday Guys (co-creator) at The York Theatre, The Blue Flower at Second Stage, A Minister's Wife and The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center, The Pirates of Penzance and A Little Night Music at New York City Opera, and Girl Crazy and No Strings at Encores. Join Staged! for an evening with Mr. Kudisch, and watch a master artist at work with a select group of advanced students.   Tickets to observe/audit are $10 at the door or may be purchased in advance by clicking here.   Portland area musical theater freaks REJOICE! See you there.   2013-06-14T17:38:20+00:00