Sometimes, last-minute plans are the best ones. So why not head to Brooklyn Park’s Chesapeake Arts Center this weekend to catch one of the final performances of the quintessentially Jewish musical “Falsettos,” presented by the Maryland Theatre Collective?
“Falsettos” is about a Jewish family thrown into disarray when Marvin, the husband and father, leaves his wife and child to run off with his male lover. In turn, Marvin’s wife, Trina, takes up with Marvin’s psychiatrist.
Meanwhile, Marvin and Trina’s son, Jason, is preparing for his bar mitzvah, and his divorced parents must work together to plan the reception.
“Falsettos” premiered on Broadway in 1992, but takes place in 1979 and 1981. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards, and won for best book and best original score. A 2016 revival was nominated for five Tonys.
“It’s one of those shows that’s really fun,” says MTC executive director Rachel Sandler, director and musical director of “Falsettos. “There’s a lot of really upbeat comedic moments, and there’s a lot of serious moments as well.”
A Pikesville native who lives in Howard County, Sandler earned a bachelor’s degree in music at James Madison University and a master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute.
“I grew up going to Camp Louise and had my bat mitzvah at Temple Isaiah,” says Sandler, who for the past decade has run a private voice lesson studio. “I’ve always been a musical theater person.”
In 2018, Sandler and Tommy Malek, the collective’s artistic director, founded MTC by merging three pre-existing companies — the Heritage Players, the Purple Light Theatre Company and the Baltimore Theatre Collective.
“Falsettos” is the final production of the MTC’s first season. Previous productions include “Freaky Friday: The Musical,” “Agnes of God,” and “Ragtime: The Musical” in concert with a 35-piece orchestra and six actors.
MTC’s next season will open July 12 with the Tony Award-winning play “Spring Awakening.”
The collective also presents a cabaret series at The Collective Encore, at 10221 Wincopin Circle in Columbia, with programs throughout the season. The next cabaret performance is a Mother’s Day brunch event on May 8. A children’s cabaret will take place on June 1.
Sandler looks forward to sharing “Falsettos” with Jewish audiences. “We think and hope it will really resonate with them,” she says.
Performances of “Falsettos” take place at the Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park, on Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, May, 5, and Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m.
For tickets and more information, visit mdtheatrecollective.com
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Directed by Johanna Gruenhut, the production is based on of the 1998 novel and 2003 film of the same name.