26 musical hits you always wanted to see
Jerome L. De Silva and below Anoj Wijayaratne
The Workshop Players have set the bar high once again with their musical revue, “The Greatest Shows” this October.
The production –a revue of diverse multi-theatrical productions combining music, dance and acting has 26 scores that “you wanted to see, you don’t know about but which have been the hits over the years” the show’s producer Jerome L. De Silva says teasingly. To date details of the production’s two-day programme are being kept under wraps.
Taking place from October 11 to 14 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, the already large Workshop Players family has extended to include a cast of 200! Another first for the theatre company are the varied styles of 20 directors, choreographers and music directors producing this two-programme show.
Taking on the presidency of the Workshop Players, seasoned actor Anoj Wijayaratne informs us that this will be the theatre company’s first large scale production following ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ in April.
“It’s crazy how we started!” Anoj chuckles, relating how this mammoth show sprang from a random phone conversation with Jerome.
“We thought about repeating My Fair Lady in February or March,” Jerome says. However, with the Wendt booked in October for their annual show and the need to find a production to meet the high expectations of the public he knew he had to up his game. “We nearly ended up calling this production ‘The October Show,” he laughs.
After burning the midnight oil on numerous occasions the committee, who Jerome lovingly dubs his “government”, filtered over 100 scores and 50+ musicals they hadn’t done. Their careful evaluation saw 26 musical numbers with a diverse mix of musical genres from children’s to classics to contemporary etc being pitched. “It’s a two day programme that will have something for everybody,” Anoj smiles.
“You wouldn’t be able to understand the plot of the story with what we’re doing as we’re only tackling a few selected numbers (roughly 2 to 3 scores per musical),” he cautions.
With some three rounds of auditions, a separate audition for dancers and instrumentalists the company has accommodated all 200 cast members who initially auditioned – 80 % of the cast being new to the WSP. “There was a lot of talent that came in,” Anoj recalls, mentioning the 90+ children (aged below 15) taking part. “They are exceptionally brilliant!”
The “logistics” for this production have also been “crazy” Anoj shares, having to book various practice halls around Colombo to accommodate the Sri Lankan-parliament sized cast and crew, practising Monday to Sunday for the past three months. “If you stroll along on an evening to the NADA Auditorium, on Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7, you will see a range of performances,” Jerome laughs.
Anoj who initially condemned all theatre was thoroughly converted from his first production — the Christmas Carol in 2010 going on to work in Jehan Aloysius’s “Rag- the musical” then entering Workshop five years ago as Peter in “Jesus Christ Superstar”. “I always try to vary my roles,” he shares – his role in Jesus Christ Superstar being one of his most memorable to date. He also had lead roles in “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables”.
“The beauty of Workshop is the alternate roles you play,” he adds. “One day you are playing a lead and then the next day you’re in the ensemble. The highlight of our productions has always been the ensemble and for me they’re the stars of the show -the people who carry the weight of the musical.”
The 20 directors, choreographers and music directors are bringing their own unique styles to each musical enactment, Anoj comments.
Having recently completed their first run-through of the whole programme Anoj sighs in relief. “It was nice to physically see that we have a good show on our hands. The cast got to see the magnitude of the show as everyone has been working in their own space and wasn’t sure what the whole scale of the show was going be.”
The children’s performances are also a must-see, Anoj says. “The talent in this is crazy.” Jerome is in agreement.
“The Greatest Shows – It’s everything you ever want” will be on from October 11 – 14 at the Lionel Wendt theatre with two matinee shows also on October 13 and 14 at 3 p.m. Box plan and tickets are yet to be released - please check their Facebook page @theworkshopplayers for more updates.