After touring night spots across southern Vermont and New Hampshire in the last few months, Main Street Arts’ long-running production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris will conclude at Putney’s newly renovated Next Stage Theater Company at 15 Kimball Road. The Directors of both Next Stage Arts Project and MSA hint that this show will be the beginning of many other projects in the future. The final performance on January 16. Showtime is at 7:30. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
Jacques Brel is not a household name in the United States but his music became an essential part of the soundscape of Europe and French Canada. He developed a virtual cult following among singers ranging in styles from Marlena Dietrich and Frank Sinatra to Sting and Nirvana. In the late 1960’s folk musicians and antiwar activists routinely incorporated his music into their song sets.
By the late 1960’s Brel’s flair for music and theater had become such a part of the French speaking world that when he suddenly quit public life he caused a sensation. His English language translators and friends Eric Blau and Mort Shuman tried to answer the question of his whereabouts and to provide some insight into his world view. Their answer combined Brel’s songs with excerpts from his favorite stage pieces creating a cabaret-style musical that became an off-Broadway legend. What was intended to be a short term review in Greenwich Village ran for years. When the show began to tour nationally, it developed cult-like following in city after city. A two week engagement in Cleveland was extended for 522 performances.
According to Main Street Arts Managing Director, when MSA discussed forming a touring theater group “Jacques Brel” was the obvious choice for its first show. “We knew the show has staying power. It has remained fresh and relevant for a generation. It has also proven to be extremely adaptable. Brel has been performed before intimate supper clubs and large concert halls, so we were confident we could take on tour locally and do a great show in both local restaurants and performance centers like Next Stage. We had the additional advantage of having David Stern as a Director. He knows the show intimately. We even had Matt Blau, Eric’s son on hand to provide insight and advice. “
Stern agreed. “We wanted to be true to the spirit of this musical revue. And one of the qualities that makes it unique is how well it adapts to differing locations. It is both a different show in every venue while still retaining the qualities that have made it a timeless work. Come to Next Stage. This is a night you will not soon forget.”
Ghia and Stern hope that Brel will lead to further collaboration between Next Stage, Main Street Arts and other area arts and theater organizations. Ghia said, “We wanted to connect with the other wonderful area organizations that do so much for arts and culture in our area,” Stern agreed. “There is so much more we can all do to promote the arts and ensure the vitality of our communities if we work together.”
Stern noted Next Stage and Main Street Arts “are only a few miles apart. Our audiences overlap, and we have friends and supporters in common. Our performers include people like Steve Griffiths and Libby Cowen, who have deep, long-standing ties to the Putney community.”
Sterns noted that Next Stage’s renovation and revitalization of its has been taking place even as Main Street Arts was completing its own renovation and expansion project. “What a beautiful space Next Stage has created! Having always admired the efforts and accomplishments of our neighbor to the south, I am thrilled to have ‘Jacques Brel’ begin what I hope is a long and mutually supportive relationship.”
Next Stage Executive Director Maria Basescu agreed, saying she looked forward to finding more opportunities to work together in the future. “I’m so happy we’ll be doing this presentation together! Next Stage is proud to collaborate with Main Street Arts. The audience for ‘Jacques Brel’ is going to have a great time.”
For more information or to order tickets, call Next Stage Arts at 802-387-0102 or go to http://nextstagearts.org/event/.
