Ordinary Days
Ordinary Days | |
---|---|
![]() Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording | |
Music | Adam Gwon |
Lyrics | Adam Gwon |
Productions | 2008 Off-West End 2009 Off-Broadway 2011 Off-West End 2012 Australia 2015 Paris 2015 Barcelona 2016 Israel 2016 Brazil - Rio de Janeiro 2016 Scotland 2016 New Zealand - Wellington 2017 Off-West End 2018 Buenos Aires 2019 Off-Broadway |
Ordinary Days is a musical with music and lyrics by American composer Adam Gwon.[1]
Synopsis
Set in New York City, the musical follows four characters, Claire, Jason, Warren and Deb, exploring how their ordinary lives connect in the most amazing ways. Originally directed by Marc Bruni with the Roundabout Theatre Company at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre,[1] the show includes 21 songs which tell the story of these two men and two women.[2] The original cast included Lisa Brescia (Claire), Hunter Foster (Jason), Jared Gertner (Warren), and Kate Wetherhead (Deb).[3]
Characters
- Claire
Claire is in her 30's and is embarking on a new stage of her life with boyfriend Jason. The decision to share an apartment is the catalyst for Claire to face her past. Her cathartic "I'll Be Here" provides the audience the final clue to her arc.
Required vocal range: Soprano[4]
- Jason
Jason is in his 30's and is the boyfriend of Claire. A romantic at heart, he spends the bulk of the musical attempting to further his relationship, at first by moving in ("The Spaces Between") and then by proposing. Claire consistently resists his attempts leading to the central conflict of their story arc ("Fine").
Required vocal range: Tenor[4]
- Deb
In her mid twenties, Deb is a cynical and defensive grad student who is struggling to find focus in her life. She meets struggling artist Warren when he finds her thesis notes in the street.
Required vocal range: Mezzo[4]
- Warren
The cheerful and sometimes annoyingly optimistic Warren sees beauty in the simple things in life, delivering the musical's message and final number ("Beautiful").
Required vocal range: Tenor[4]
Musical numbers
- "One by One by One" – Warren and Company
- "Don't Wanna be Here" – Deb
- "The Space Between" – Jason
- "Let Things Go" – Claire
- "Dear Professor Thompson, Pt. 1" – Deb
- "Life Story" – Warren
- "Dear Professor Thompson, Pt. 2" – Deb
- "I'm Trying" – Claire and Jason
- "Saturday at the Met" – Company
- "Favorite Places" – Jason
- "Sort-Of Fairy Tale" – Warren and Deb
- "Fine" – Jason and Claire
- "Big Picture" – Company
- "Hundred-Story City" – Jason and Company
- "Party Interlude" – Claire
- "Calm" – Deb
- "Life Story" (Reprise) – Warren
- "Gotta Get Out" – Claire
- "Rooftop Duet" / "Falling" – Company
- "I'll Be Here" – Claire
- "Beautiful" – Warren and Deb
There were two additional songs, written for Claire and Jason respectively, entitled "Canceling the Party" and "Seeing You There", which were cut from the production.[5][6]
Productions
In 2012 Squabbalogic and Darlinghurst Theatre[7] premiered the Adam Gwon penned chamber musical Ordinary Days, with Michael Falzon originating the role of Jason in Australia.[8] Directed by Grace Barnes and under the musical direction of Paul Geddes, the show starred Rachael Beck as Claire, as well as Erica Lovell (Deb) and Jay James-Moody (Warren). Set in New York, Ordinary Days was sung entirely acoustically, with the sole support of Paul Geddes on piano.[9]
In 2015, Ordinary Days played La Comédie Nation in Paris, France, marking the musical's French premiere. Produced by Broadway au Carré, the show was directed by American director Colton Pometta with musical direction by John Florencio at the piano. The show starred Prisca Demarez as Claire, Emmanuel Suarez as Jason, Lauren Taylor Berkman as Deb and Lisandro Nesis as Warren.[10]
In 2017, Ordinary Days will grace the Loft at Chapel Off Chapel. Produced by Pursued By Bear, the show is directed by Tyran Parke with musical direction from Stephanie Lewendon-Lowe at the piano. The cast is made up of Brittanie Shipway as Claire, Matthew Hamilton as Jason, Nicola Bowman as Deb and Joel Granger as Warren.
The amateur London Revival took place from 27th-30th September at the Bridewell Theatre, Fleet Street. Produced by Sedos, with direction by Yojiro Ichikawa and musical direction from Ed Curry. Kate Gledhill and Glen Jordan play Deb and Warren, while Louisa Roberts and Inti Conde play Claire and Jason. [11]
In 2018, Ordinary Days played Teatro Border in Buenos Aires, Argentina, marking the musical’s Argentine and Spanish language premiere, adapted by Marcos Micheloni. Produced by Mario Micheloni, the show was directed by American director Colton Pometta with musical direction by Mariano Homps and Rocco Aguado at the piano. The show starred Sofía Rangone as Claire, Argentino Molinuevo as Jason, Manuela del Campo and Maca Giraldez as Deb and Lisandro Nesis and Michel Hersch as Warren.[12]
Previous casts
Production | Year | Claire | Jason | Deb | Warren |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finborough[13] | 2008 | Julie Atherton | Kenneth Avery-Clark | Hayley Gallivan | Lee William-Davis |
Adirondack Theater Festival[14] | 2009 | Amy Justman | Will Reynolds | Dana Steingold | Adam Armstrong |
Black Box[15] | 2009 | Lisa Brescia | Hunter Foster | Kate Wetherhead | Jared Gertner |
Trafalgar Studio, 2[16] | 2011 | Julie Atherton | Daniel Boys | Alexia Khadime | Lee William-Davis |
Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney[17] | 2012 | Rachael Beck | Michael Falzon | Erica Lovell | Jay James-Moody |
London Theatre Workshop[18] | 2014 | Marcia Brown | Oliver Watton | Olga-Marie Pratt | Anton Tweedale |
Comédie Nation, Paris[19] | 2015 | Prisca Demarez | Emmanuel Suarez | Lauren Taylor Berkman | Lisandro Nesis |
Versus Teatre, Barcelona[20] | 2015 | Gracia Fernández/Maria Santalluisa | Víctor Gómez/Ferran Guiu | Lourdes Fabrés/Laura Daza | Xavi Duch/Albert Bolea |
Cameri Theatre[21] | 2016 | Naama Nahum | Shachaf Ifhar | Shani Shauli | Ben Naftali |
Teatro Serrador, Rio de Janeiro[22] | 2016 | Gabi Porto
Fernanda Gabriela |
Hugo Bonemer
Mau Alves |
Julia Morganti
Tecca Ferreira |
Caio Loki
Victor Maia |
Backyard Theatre, Wellington[23] | 2016 | Laura Loach | Martin Tidy | Brigid Boyle | Michael Stebbings |
London Theatre Workshop,[24] | 2017 | Kirby Hughes | Alistair Frederick | Nora Perone | Neil Cameron |
Pursued By Bear | 2017 | Brittanie Shipway | Matthew Hamilton | Nicola Bowman | Joel Granger |
Amateur London Revival - Bridewell Theatre | 2017 | Louisa Roberts | Inti Conde | Kate Gledhill | Glen Jordan |
Great Canadian Theatre Company | 2017 | Jennifer Cecil | Gab Desmond | Katie Ryerson | Zach Council |
Soho Upstairs @ Soho Theatre[25] | 2018 | Harriet Taylor | Guido Garcia Lueches | Wallis Hamilton Felton | Nir Kitaro |
Teatro Border, Buenos Aires[26] | 2018 | Sofía Rangone | Argentino Molinuevo | Manuela del Campo | Lisandro Nesis/Michel Hersch |
Recordings
- Original cast recording
Original Release Date: 2010[27]
Label: Ghostlight Music and lyrics: Adam Gwon
- Lisa Brescia – Claire
- Hunter Foster – Jason
- Jared Gertner – Warren
- Kate Wetherhead – Deb
- Miscellaneous Recordings
"I'll Be Here" is included on the album Go Back Home, by Audra McDonald, released in 2013.[28]
References
- ^ a b Isherwood, Charles (October 26, 2009). "Where Little-Town Blues Melt Away, So Can Dreams". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ "Musical Numbers". Rodgers & Hammerstein. Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ "Foster, Brescia, Gertner And Wetherhead To Star In Roundabout's Ordinary Days, Runs 10/2-12/13". BroadwayWorld.com. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d "ORDINARY DAYS and SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE - Equity Principal Audition". Broadway World. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ "Canceling the Party". New Musical Theatre. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Ordinary Days Musical Numbers". Rogers & Hammerstein Organisation. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "From showstoppers to stripped-back charm". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/out-about/from-metal-to-mature-acts/story-fn9d31nx-1226250942267
- ^ Bridget Cormack (23 January 2012). "Ordinary Days". The Australian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ Patrick Honoré (27 January 2018). "Ordinary Days - La Comédie Nation, Paris". MusicalTheatreReview.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- ^ "ORDINARY DAYS". Sedos.
- ^ Daniel Falcone (22 September 2018). "Ordinary Days - Crítica- "CÓMO TODOS LOS DIAS"". Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ Mark Shenton (5 November 2008). "Ordinary Days". The Stage Reviews. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Ordinary Days at the Adirondack Theater Festival". Adirondack Theater Festival. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "Lisa Brescia Chats with Journal News about WICKED, Ordinary Days and Andrew Lloyd Webber". Broadway World.com. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Orr, Jake (14 February 2011). "Review: Ordinary Days". ayoungertheatre.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ Jo Litson (28 January 2012). "Ordinary Days foursome hits sigh note". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Ordinary Days at London Theatre Workshop". London Theatre Guide. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Ordinary days" (in Catalan). Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "DIES NORMALS (Ordinary days)" (in Catalan). Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Jo Litson (9 December 2015). "Ordinary Days foursome hits sigh note". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Elenco de 'Ordinary Days' apresenta canções do musical". Globo.com. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ Friday, Shannon (1 October 2016). "Ordinary Days - Delicately moving". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Lukes, Edward (1 June 2017). "Review: Ordinary Days". onceaweektheatre.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/OrdinaryDaysinLondon/
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/bordercomunidaddearte>
- ^ "Ordinary Days [Cast Recording]". Amazon. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Cover of I'll Be Home