REVIEW: K and E Theater Group, “Sunday in the Park with George”

K and E Theater Group, Northampton, MA

www.ketg.org

through October 19, 2025

by Michael J. Moran

The original 1984 Broadway production of this play, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, won a Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards. A fictionalized version of how French artist George Seurat painted his 1884-1886 masterpiece A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, its strong visual component can be daunting for local theaters to replicate. But KETG’s moving production shows that it can be done exceptionally well.

Act I, set in Paris, shows George creating the painting and interacting with the people who appear in it, including his lover, Dot. When George’s immersion in his work seems to leave no room for Dot in his life, she marries Louis, a baker, and they move to the United States with her newborn daughter, Marie. Act II follows George's great-grandson, an American artist, also named George, as he loses and then regains his artistic muse, with help from his ancestors, on a visit to La Grande Jatte.

There is no weak link in the 13-member ensemble cast, each playing two or more roles, with many local stage credits and some beyond. Michael

 Graham is compelling as both Georges, finding their human vulnerability and gritty determination. Nicole Elledge-Hickey is extraordinary as Dot and, in Act II, 98-year-old Marie. Her gleaming, lyrical soprano captures the full range of their emotions. Gene Choquette is a winningly sardonic boatman. Elizabeth Monte, Carol Wrobleski, and Eddie Zitka shine in smaller roles.

Musical highlights include: Elledge-Hickey’s hilarious title song; her touching “Children and Art” as the elderly Marie; two of her soaring duets with Graham – a shattering “We Do Not Belong Together” and an inspirational “Move On;” Graham’s virtuosic voicing of two dogs in a kaleidoscopic “The Day Off;” Wrobeski’s wistful “Beautiful” with a reflective Graham; and a rapturous “Sunday” by the full company. Music Director Cavallin’s eight-member onstage band offers colorful, stylish backing.

Director-choreographer-actor Zitka (the “E” of KETG, with co-founding “K” partner Ken Comia) deploys his cast seamlessly to move his flexible set on and off the Northampton Center for the Arts stage. Elegant costume design by Moonyean Field and the protean Zitka is period-perfect. Creative projection design by Nicco Palazzi and Comia keeps the painting front and center. 
 

This impressive mounting of a peak Sondheim show is highly recommended for mature theatergoers.

REVIEW: K and E Theater Group, “Promises, Promises”

K and E Theater Group, Northampton, MA

www.ketg.org

through October 20, 2024

by Michael J. Moran

 

The original production of “Promises, Promises” in 1968 boasted a witty book by Neil Simon, a brilliant score by Burt Bacharach, and clever lyrics by Hal David and won two Tony Awards. Its mix of light-hearted satire and serious drama can be challenging to balance and may explain why the show has only been revived on Broadway once. But K and E’s ebullient production seems to have found the sweet spot for putting it across to modern audiences.   

 

Based on Billy Wilder’s 1960 film “The Apartment” and set in 1962 Manhattan, the story focuses on Chuck Baxter, a junior executive in a large insurance company, who hopes to advance his career by lending his apartment to his married superiors for trysts. Chuck also falls for Fran Kubelik, a waitress in the company cafeteria. Romantic complications ensue, taking an unexpected turn for the worse, before a hard-won happy ending for the leading couple.

Dion, Choquette and Berube

Casey Dion is an appealing Chuck, softening his fierce ambition with self-deprecating
narrative asides to the audience. Shealyn Berube is a sympathetic Fran, whose ambition is more for love than status. Joshua Aaron Mason is haughty as company personnel manager J.D. Sheldrake. Myka Plunkett is a hoot as flirting Marge MacDougall, and Gene Choquette is hilarious as Chuck’s neighbor, Dr. Dreyfuss, who delivers some of Simon’s funniest lines with perfect timing. The vehemence of Aileen Merino Terzi’s parting words to Mr. Sheldrake as Miss Olson, his secretary, also reveals an edgy MeToo sensibility in the script of this “Mad Men” era tale.

Musical highlights include: an exuberant “Overture,” which showcases Bacharach’s catchy irregular rhythms and wordless choruses; Berube’s stunning “I Say a Little Prayer” and “A House Is Not a Home;” the playful “A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing,” by Dion and Plunkett; and Dion’s powerful take on the title song. Music Director Elizabeth Monte’s seven-member onstage band offers animated support, notably Laura Ross’ mellow guitar and Pete Grimaldi’s hot trumpet.

 

Director-choreographer Eddie Zitka (the “E” of K and E, with co-founding partner Ken Comia) keeps his 13-member cast in constant motion, rhythmically moving elements of his ingeniously minimal set on and off the Northampton Center for the Arts stage. Period-appropriate costume design by Moonyean Field and Zitka adds further zest. 

 

This entertaining trip down memory lane is highly recommended for mature theatergoers.

PREVIEW: K and E Theater Group, Hedwig and the Angry Inch

K and E Theater Group, Northampton, MA

www.KETG.org

June 23-25, 2022

The Tony Award-winning glam rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” comes to Northampton Center for the Arts for 5 performances this summer. Marking its fourth full mainstage production of its Supersized Season Two, K and E Theater Group is also presenting this show as its first of an annual tradition to celebrate queer forward stories in their “Coming Out with Pride” series.

Innovative, heartbreaking, and savagely funny, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is the landmark rock’n’roll musical with text by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask that broke the mold and captured Broadway. This genre-bending, fourth-wall-smashing musical sensation, with a pulsing score and electrifying performances, tells the story of Hedwig Schmidt, an East German punk rock goddess whose botched sex change operation left her with just “an angry inch.” Now, she and her band are out to right many wrongs.

K and E Theater Group's production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch features Eddie Zitka as Hedwig, Kelly Gagner as Yitzhak, and David Webber as The Angry Inch. The band led by musical director Devi Badea, features Justin Rodzen, Charlotte Ross, and Mitch Tilghman. Direction is by K and E Theater Group Artistic Director Eddie Zitka.

This production contains mature themes, explicit language, and sexual content. Recommended age is 14+. Stage effects include strobes and bright moving lights.

Preview: K and E Theater Group, Altar Boyz

Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA

www.KETG.org

March 24 - 27, 2022

"ALTAR BOYZ" is a foot-stomping, rafter-raising, musical comedy about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national 'Raise the Praise' tour. The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. The Boyz perform their signature hits such as 'Rhythm In Me,' 'The Calling,' and 'I Believe' along with spectacular choreography. Not just great singing troupe, there is a plot to this musical as the Boyz  question their loyalty to each other and ask whether or not faith is really holding them together.

Full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing and irreverent humor, "ALTAR BOYZ" has been adored by audiences all over the world. With an extraordinary mix of side-splitting songs, uncontrollable laughs and light-hearted fun, this award-winning and totally original musical is 90-minutes of heavenly delight that is destined to rock the masses of all denominations!

Bill Martin is the musical director. K and E Theater Group Artistic Director Eddie Zitka is the director and choreographer.

Performances run from Thursday, March 24, through Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA. 

Tickets are general admission for $27.00. There is no reserved seating.

For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit KETG.org.

 

* There are strobe light effects used in this production.

** Proof of vaccination and face coverings that cover the nose and mouth will be required for entrance and while seated at the Northampton Center for the Arts.