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For similar reasons , large orchestras are avoided in favor of single piano accompaniment , sometimes with another instrument or two . This approach enhances rather than detracts from the overall mission of Being Revived .
“ For me , this helps focus the ears more on what the composer wrote ,” says artistic director David Norman .
According to Norman , initial audience response to the forgotten offerings of Being Revived has been much better than even he expected it to be . Though getting folks to come see an unknown musical can be a challenge at first , once the productions are over the company often hears audience members saying such things as , “ Why haven ’ t I heard of this show before ? It ’ s great .”
To Norman and the rest of the folks at Being Revived , there can be no greater compliment .
But if there are so many great musicals collecting dust in back catalogs all over the theater world , why do so few companies mount productions of them ? Norman and others involved in the “ lost musical ” experiment think it has a lot to do with risk aversion ; the fear that audiences won ’ t pay money to see something they don ’ t already know and love . Norman understands the risk , but opts to take it anyway with the company ’ s productions .
That isn ’ t to say that there is no fame at all attached to the projects . Certain names may act as a draw for audiences in the future , even if the titles do not . Even the great Cole Porter wrote shows that are largely forgotten today , and Being Revived hopes to work out a production of some of these shows in the near future .
“ Birds of Paradise ,” their April show , is written by Winnie Holzman , one of the writers of the perennial Broadway smash hit , “ Wicked .” A story of a group of community theater actors struggling to put together a musical , the show has many parallels with the real-life story of Being Revived .
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SPRING 2015