Tulane University’s musical theater summer season slips into history with one of Stephen Sondheim’s multiple Tony-winning shows: the delicate, delightful farce “A Little Night Music” opening July 30.
Penned in the early 1970s and based on Ingmar Bergman’s comedic film “Smiles of a Summer Night,” Sondheim’s show won awards as best musical (besting “Pippin”) and for Glynis Johns, who sang the iconic “Send in the Clowns,” written specifically for her. All the show’s numbers are written in three-quarter time, like a Viennese waltz.
Donning his director’s hat, Ricky Graham said directing fulfills a dream for the local entertainer.
“I had the pleasure of seeing the original production in the spring of 1973,” he said. “Since then, it’s always been one of my all-time favorites — Sondheim or otherwise. I’m thrilled to finally get to direct it with a splendid cast, orchestra, and the outstanding Summer Lyric tech team.
“It’s a perfect midsummer musical — a sexy, witty, adult fairy tale with that glorious, sweeping score and one of the best books written for a Broadway musical.
Summer Lyric’s artistic director Leonard Raybon, right, will appear as Fredrik Egerman in the 2026 Tulane version of the show, taking the role previously played by Chris Carey, left, in 2013. Raybon played Count Carl-Magnus.
Set in Sweden at the turn of the last century, the show focuses on Johns’ character, actress Desirée Armfeldt, and those who love her, including her current and past paramours. They’ve married jealous women, but all agree to head to Desirée’s mother’s country estate for a weekend.
What could happen? Much, indeed. Misplaced affections, timing and age differences all come into play, with Desirée opining in her signature song that now might be a time for the clowns. The phrase, according to Sondheim, points to a theatrical director’s technique of diverting attention from an onstage calamity with something ridiculous. Written over a couple days to fit Johns’ singing style and give the character a song in the second act, the song encapsulates the emotions.
“By the second act, the audience is ahead of all the characters and thinking, ‘You fool, you’re with the wrong person,'” notes Graham. “But, much like ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ by the end, the power of love finally gets the right combinations.”
Ashley Smetherman Lemmler takes the role of Desirée, with Summer Lyric artistic director C. Leonard Raybon as suitor Fredrick and Austin Adomitis as Carl-Magnus. Also in the cast are Katherine Ambrester, Linda Gaille Bartlette, Luke Boucvalt, Leslie Claverie, Sakinah A. Davis, Audrey Gotham, Darren Hayes, Rachel Looney, Joseph Mace, Hadley Magaziner, Eliza Mullins, Claire Shackleton, Luke Sirinides, Donnie Stafford and Juan L. Williams. Jose C. Simbulan is the musical director, and Jauné Buisson is choreographer.
Graham credits the slate of veterans of Uptown shows and stages near and far as a bonus for the show.
“What would be difficult for any production is the strength of a Summer Lyric show — we have magnificent voices,” he said. “I’ve never been involved with a musical that had such glorious singers. The cast is small but mighty.”
The show opens at 7:30 p.m. July 30-Aug. 1 and 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at Dixon Hall on Tulane’s Uptown campus. Tickets start at $32. Visit liberalarts.tulane.edu.
In production July 23-29
“GILLIGAN’S ISLAND THE MUSICAL:” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; 19106 Playmakers Road. Playmakers Theaters stages the hit television sitcom about a three-hour cruise turned into shipwrecked hilarity and adventure. Tickets start at $23. playmakersinc.com.
“THE ROSE TATTOO:” Opening 7:30 p.m. Thursday (preview) through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 9; Loyola’s Marquette Theater, 6363 St. Charles Ave. Tennessee Williams Theatre Co.’s production about a Sicilian widow living somewhere in Mississippi with her daughter, who deifies her late husband, in spite of his all-too-human foibles, sheltering herself and her daughter. She begins to come out with the arrival of another truck driver named Alvaro. Tickets start at $45. twtheatrenola.comtwtheatrenola.com.
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