An Honest Look at the Creative Process and all that Comes with the Industry
“Show me the formula for a successful Broadway musical” is one of the killer phrases of Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell’s Title of Show. A production that premiered 21 years ago at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. New Village Arts’ season opener brings New York to Carlsbad in this piece that not only echoes the creative process behind new work, but also the vices of the industry, the stress, and the insecurities it brings.
The musical feels real because it is. Jeff (Tommy Tran) and Hunter (Caleb Wohlgemuth) are in New York in between jobs and projects when Hunter decides to enter the New York Theatre Festival and calls Jeff to start creating. Enter Susan Blackwell (Becca Myers), a friend and semi-retired actress who has surrendered to the corporate marketing world, and Heidi Blickenstaff (Esmé Birndorf in the performance I saw), an actress with two Broadway productions to her credit. The quartet gets to work and while they come up with songs, plots, and choreos, and the title of the show once the form is ready to be submitted to the festival.
NVA gathered the best from other theatre companies and had a cool production team themselves. Moxie’s Desireé Clarke Miller directed the lively 100 minutes with no intermission; reality and truth are presented through song and movement, not only about the process of creating, in this case, a musical, but also about the standards and vices imposed by the industry. ‘Title debuted in 2004, and this might as well have been 2024 and from the looks of it, 2034, as it continues to be relevant. Theatre critics are mentioned as well (lol), as is the never-ending question “Do people care about reviews?” and another favorite “Don’t read reviews”.
I appreciated the amount of harmonies between Tran and Wohlgemuth, as this type of dynamic is rare. Erin Vanderhyde’s musical directions landed every song that synced with OTC’s Kevin “Blax” Burroughs’ movement, boosted by Evan Eason’s sound and Marcus Rico‘s engineering.
Tommy has a great voice and awesome moves with an ’80s vibe, and Caleb has a charm and sensitivity that emphasize the happenings. The actors interact with each other and the audience, maintaining an upbeat rhythm.
Happy to see Becca Myers on the stage again, bringing sparkle and flair to Susan, along with good comedy. Esmé Birndorf is the female swing, and this is her NVA debut. You know, dear reader, I love me a show, company, or flat-out debut. Birndorf blended flawlessly with her cast mates and also brought beautiful harmonies and a softness to the role. A pumped Kylie Young, who plays Heidi, was in the audience, cheering her fellow cast members as well as Esmé.
I took some notes from Atria Pirouzmand and Ali Roustaei’s set design, as it had full-on walls as a chalkboard and bulletin boards, which is a creative (and a person with ADD)’s dream. Kendra Baros’ props also had their moments as they appeared and disappeared, which contributed to the show’s rhythm and comedy. I can easily say that Sammy Webster‘s lighting design is one of the best I have seen this year and in New Village. Popping colors, a la Hollywood Squares, with a clubby feel that queued entrances and exits, then… nothing, with beautiful silence and surprise.
Janelle Arnold’s costume design was cute. I appreciated it more for the actors than the actresses, as it felt more detailed and layered.
The musical has 18 enjoyable songs. My absolute was “Change It, Don’t Change It.” which might come as a surprise, but hey, I am a true Rice Krispies Treat. (IYKYK).
Title of Show is currently playing until September 21.
Nathan Waits is the Stage Manager, and company members also include Vanessa Duron as Intimacy Coordinator, Zach Elliot as Set Painter, and Greg Ertel on Set Construction.
