No Square singers grouping for concert

TOM TITUS

Harmony will take center stage next weekend at Laguna Beach High

School when the No Square Theater shifts the spotlight to Broadway’s

best-remembered ensemble songs.

“All Together Now: Broadway’s Greatest Group Numbers” will be

staged Feb. 4 and 5 in the Artists’ Theater at the school, and it

promises to be a memorable occasion.

The show will be a last hurrah in Laguna for its director, Adam

Hemming, who will be relocating to New York to pursue a professional

show business career. Hemming, director of the Gay Men’s Chorus in

San Diego, is bringing that group to join the production in the Art

Colony.

Those who’ve seen “Les Miserables” certainly will remember the

bawdy number “Master of the House.” The No Square concert will

feature James Leo Ryan -- who has performed the role of Thernadier in

the show’s national tour -- rendering that song, along with “Easy

Street” from “Annie,” a number he’s also sung in the role of Rooster

in the Broadway production.

On the distaff side, the women’s a capella chorus Hooked on

Harmony will entertain, offering vocal stylings with a comic twist.

The troupe is headed by Pat Kollenda, who chairs the Arts Alliance

and is director of Laguna Tunes.

Bree Burgess Rosen, founding artistic director of the No Square

Theater and the creative force behind Lagunatics, also will be

vocalizing, along with Melissa Verdugo, No Square’s current artistic

director. Other familiar faces will include Randy Hatfield, Pam

Plummer, Michelle Merlino, Carol Robinson and Sophia Tupy.

Other performers include Seana Brief, Tony Duncan, Gary Greene,

Julie Burrows, Kristen Burzynski, Mary Miskelly, Julia Wood, Rae

Goldenfield, Betts Harley, Regina Hartley, Amy Pal, Roe Piccoli, Mary

Schmidt, Ellen Starratt, Lucy Angelo, Kami Henderson, Kiki Henderson,

Christy Muncey and Andrew Wong.

The program runs from such oldies as “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” from

“Anything Goes” (circa 1927) to the snappy “Everybody’s Gotta Be

Somewhere” from “City of Angels.” Aging hippies will remember

“Aquarius” from “Hair,” while their parents will get a kick out of

“Steam Heat” from “The Pajama Game.”

Other familiar ensemble numbers on the No Square bill include

“Elegance” from “Hello Dolly,” “Song of the King” from “Joseph and

the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Lida Rose” from “The Music Man,”

“You Could Drive a Person Crazy” from “Company” and “Sit Down, You’re

Rocking the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls.”

In other words, something for everybody. Curtain time is 7:30 both

evenings, and admission is $20 for general audiences and $12 for

students and senior citizens. Call (949) 497-1950 for reservations

and additional information.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.