Julia helped enlighten me a bit, “Getting to perform some of the most beautifully classic Bernstein songs is such a privilege. And BUG SPRAY!” Julia made sure to remind me, always keeping a positive attitude.Īs a theatre major at USF, I’ve come across many of Bernstein’s songs and music throughout my schooling, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like for the performers to perform such well-known songs. “Hydrate, prepare, communicate, and keep an open mind. It takes a lot for performers during a normal show indoors, but keepingĬalm and collected onstage with some added visitors takes hyper-focus. Julia Rifino was wearing a wig for this show – imagine having that as part of your costume on a warm Florida Spring night! Julia helped share some of her tips for combating the weather with me, saying, “The unpredictable Florida weather and surprise bug encounters absolutely force you to be adaptable as an actor! Last night, Emanuel had a run-in with a June bug during his gorgeous ballad “Lonely Town” and he played it off like a pro!”
On the flip side, there were also nights where the humidity got to them and bugs wanted to have their moment to shine, too.įreeFall has some of the strongest performers, especially when you add the Florida elements to their performance. April has been temperamental with whether or not it wants to warm up or stay cool, so there have been some final rehearsals and shows where the performers were shivering a bit. With any outdoor theatre venue, you run into some obvious hazards – rain, bugs, and outside noises being just a few of them. Leonard Bernstein solidified his spot in history as one of America’s greatest composers and you can sing along with “Maria” and “I Can Cook Too” and tap your toes to some tunes you may not have heard before at freeFall for two more weeks. “This joyous concert revue explores the music of Leonard Bernstein and the city that inspired so much of his life and work,” and even highlights the famous friendships he forged with Comden and Green, Sondheim, Robbins and Copland! As the plot comes together, the audience is brought along on a ride through upbeat duets and entrancing ballads alike that almost transport you 1500 miles away to the city we’re all missing a little extra right now. This fun drive-in concert runs for about an hour and paints a sweet story of a man who’s new to the city, played by Emanuel Carrero, and a woman who’s accustomed to the city’s speed, Julia Rifino. You may be unfamiliar with his name, and I’ll let that slide, but you’re sure to have heard his music in shows like West Side Story, On the Town and Wonderful Town. If you’re missing Broadway, the city, and all it has to offer, you can itch that scratch at freeFall Theatre through May 9 with their current drive-in concert experience – Leonard Bernstein’s New York ! I know travel envy is rampant right now, but there is a way to reminisce about the magic of NYC from your own backyard – and what’s better, you can still see the stars!
Walking through the avenues, shopping and souvenir bags in hand as the sun sets and those famous twinkling lights start to flicker on compares to no other. Not to mention all the other Instagram-worthy dining the city has to offer. If you haven’t had the chance to visit The Big Apple in the last year, take a moment to remember with me what it was like to grab a slice of pizza that burnt the roof of your mouth – in the best way – or the line that formed as you waited for a rainbow bagel. It’s been a good while since we’ve been able to travel around the U.S. Can you believe that? Even adjusted for inflation, your orchestra ticket would only be around $45 bucks, which is still cheaper than the farthest seat in any Broadway theatre today. An interesting fact I learned from Leonard Bernstein’s New York, currently playing at freeFall Theatre, is how low an orchestra ticket was on Broadway in the ‘60s – $4.85, not $485. Like any theatre lover, I looked forward to watching the wonderful talent on Broadway – though it surely left my pockets light.
I’ve mourned my trip and cut my losses and even welcomed the time spent holed up at home, but I can’t help the aching in my heart for that insomniac city. Show tickets booked, my bags as good as packed, and a global pandemic knocking at our doors – I’m sure you know what came next. Let me set the scene for you – it’s March of 2020, I’m gearing up for the spring break of my junior year, and I’m fleshing out the itinerary for a trip to New York City on the 28th of that month.
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