Florida Players presents ‘Sunday in the Park with George’

March 10, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Players is pleased to announce the third production of its Spring 2008 season, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Sunday in the Park with George.”

Directing the monumental musical is University of Florida senior and Florida Players artistic director Danny Sharron, who directed last year’s Florida Players production of “Proof.” “Sunday in the Park with George” will be making its University of Florida premiere at the Phillips Center Blackbox Theatre from March 28-March 30.

Show times for this limited engagement are at 8 p.m. on March 28-29, at 2 p.m. on March 29-30, and 7 p.m. on March 30. As always, the performances are free and open to the public. Tickets can be reserved through the Florida Players Web site at http://www.floridaplayers.org.

The musical, which is one of six in history to have received a Pulitzer Prize for drama, is inspired by the Georges Seurat painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” “Sunday in the Park with George” is a compelling musical fantasy which celebrates the art of creation and the creation of art. The first act of the musical, set in 1884 Paris, France, sees the painting and its rich comic tapestry come to life in a world where, for Georges, art comes before love. In the second act, set in 1984 Chicago, Ill., we see the great-grandson of Georges and his search for true inspiration amongst the unfolding world of contemporary art.

Sondheim’s music is notorious for being chilling and beautiful, but difficult at the same time. For this reason, the Florida Players production of “Sunday in the Park with George” is a landmark for the theatre company as it marks a turning point in its artistic maturity. Students as well as members of the Gainesville artistic community are urged to attend the opening of this historic theatrical work as it makes its UF premiere later this month.