The cast of the Fredonia Performing Arts Company production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.”
A musical featuring some of Stephen Sondheim’s best-known songs will be the next offering from Fredonia’s Performing Arts Company.
PAC will present three performances of “Company” in the Alice E. Bartlett Theatre of Rockefeller Arts Center. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 13.
Tickets are available online 24/7. Tickets may also be purchased on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by phone at (716) 673-3501 or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center during the same hours.
The plot of “Company” centers on confirmed bachelor Bobby who contemplates his unmarried state on the eve of his 35th birthday. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and a wedding, Bobby’s friends explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse.
The original 1970 production earned a record-setting 14 Tony Award nominations, of which it won six including Best Musical. It was lauded for being one of the first musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage and divorce.
Director Riley Stanton, a senior Psychology major and Dance minor, said “Company” takes place in New York City, specifically Manhattan.
“The pace of the show matches the quickness the city brings,” Stanton said. “The show will be performed in the Bartlett Theatre, immersing the audience in these hectic, city lives of the characters. The audience are like flies on the wall, entering the homes and memories of the characters. The show ties in humor with serious themes, while accompanied by beautiful music written by Stephen Sondheim.”
In addition to the title song, the musical includes “Being Alive,” “Getting Married Today,” and “The Ladies Who Lunch.”
At its heart, Stanton said “Company” is about love and the many forms it takes in different scenarios.
“Love is a driving force of social interaction; love is something that motivates feelings, actions, and thoughts,” the director said. “I hope audiences can walk away with a new perception of how love can vary in their lives, from their platonic relationships, to familial, to romantic.
“Most importantly, I hope audiences will take in and think about the effect love has had on them, and how love has brought them to where they are today.”
More than 30 Fredonia students are involved in this PAC production.
PAC, a Student Association organization, is Fredonia’s second largest student organization. In addition to productions like “Company,” PAC produces original student work and offers workshops and master classes. The organization’s goal is to provide opportunities to all students looking to pursue their interests in theater.
