The “ship of dreams” has arrived in Northeast Ohio. And Broadway has returned to Baldwin-Wallace College. Titanic, the 1997 Tony Award-winning musical, will run November 8-20 in the John Patrick Theatre in the Kleist Center for Art and Drama. The Kleist Center is located at 95 East Bagley Road on the Baldwin-Wallace campus in Berea, Ohio.
Nearly 100 years ago, the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic disappeared into the cold, icy Atlantic en route to New York from Southampton, England. Titanic’s glorious maiden voyage would also be her last. We all know the story of the ship, but this beautiful and touching musical version is also the story of various passengers, all based, in one way or another, upon real survivors and casualties. Businessmen John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, and Isidor and Ida Straus, co-owners of Macy’s department store, were among the wealthiest citizens in America at the time. And they are also among the most famous of the many Titanic passengers. But what do we know about those in second class or the many emigrants in third class/steerage? And what do we know about the crew? Their lives, too, had value and meaning, and their stories are worth being told. Titanic tells us some of these stories, and in doing so, pays homage to all of Titanic’s passengers.
April 10, 1912: Act I opens with Thomas Andrews, the ship’s architect, marveling at the wondrous accomplishments of mankind. Soon the crew and passengers board the ship. And as they wave goodbye, the journey begins. Within the next “four days,” we learn more about those making this historic trans-Atlantic crossing… their lives, hopes, dreams, and future aspirations. But when Titanic hits an iceberg at 11:40 pm April 14, the peril sets in.
April 15, 1912: In Act II, the sinking is showcased, some passengers struggle to survive, and others reflect on what fate has in store for them. In the end, the survivors stand united on the decks of the RMS Carpathia, dreaming of the still hopeful future ahead of them.
I could not have imagined that Baldwin-Wallace could top last February’s superb repertory of Rent and La Bohème, but it has… and masterfully. In fact, B-W’s Titanic is better than most touring productions that come to PlayhouseSquare, and it is a lot more economical. Perhaps, this is why Baldwin-Wallace College is so revered for its exceptional theatre and conservatory programs.
The stage of the John Patrick Theatre is quite large for a college auditorium, and it works very well for a show of this magnitude. The audience members often feel as if they are right there “on the ship” with the cast. Titanic’s sets are of the modern Broadway style, yet the staging is much more like a traditional, “old-time” musical. The score is elegant, majestic, and at times, somewhat operatic. The strong, powerful, and well developed voices of the cast deliver the musical numbers in a glorious and poetic fashion. And the show features plenty of singing parts for various characters. Titanic also features several big ensemble numbers, very reminiscent of the bigger production musicals of Broadway’s golden years.
April 15, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. More than 1500 lives were lost in what has become, perhaps, the most famous and most tragic disaster of the 20th Century. Titanic is a very entertaining show, but it also pays an appropriate tribute to both the survivors and to those who perished on that cold, dark April morning. One cannot help to feel a bit heavy at heart, and find a tear in his eye, as he leaves the theatre. After all, the story of the RMS Titanic… be it on film, on stage, or in real life… does not have a happy ending. Still, Titanic, the musical, provides for an enchanted evening and a spectacular voyage… a voyage well worth taking.
Titanic is just one of the highlights of Baldwin-Wallace College’s 2011-2012 Performing Arts Season. Next spring, Baldwin-Wallace will present Mozart’s operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni (February 1-5, 2012), the plays Mr. Marmalade and Some Girl(s) (in repertory, February 18-26, 2012), and Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Hamlet (April 18-22). If you have not seen a production at Baldwin-Wallace College, now is a perfect time to check out one of Ohio’s best private college’s for arts and drama.
The 80th Annual Bach Festival, a premier Northeast Ohio event, will run April 13-15. And don’t forget all of the great orchestral and choral concerts, presented by the Conservatory of Music, many of which are free to the public. A complete calendar of events can be found at www.bw.edu/news/calendars.
Baldwin-Wallace College was founded in 1845 as one of the first colleges in Ohio to admit students regardless of race or gender. Presently, the college has over fifty areas of academic study that lead to a bachelor’s degree. And it offers master’s programs in both business and education.
For more information on Baldwin-Wallace College, Titanic, and the 2011-2012 Performing Arts Season, please visit the college website at www.bw.edu.
– Submitted by Christopher S. Musselman
