The madcap jukebox musical 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet,鈥� set in a rock 鈥榥鈥� roll Shakespearean spaceship, comes to University Theatre this March. Associate Professor Cecilia Pang directs the production, which promises nonstop laughs, infectious tunes and a generous nod to the Bard.
First seen in 1989 on London鈥檚 West End, 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� places the plot and dialogue of Shakespeare鈥檚 play 鈥淭he Tempest鈥� in a futuristic space setting with performances of classic songs from the 1950s and 1960s. This particular production features flying, light saber fights and a shaking, stage-sized spaceship.
When he wrote the script, librettist Bob Carlton took his inspiration from campy, low-budget science fiction films from the 1950s and 1960s. So did CU-麻豆影院 doctoral candidate Jenn Calvano, the show鈥檚 choreographer, when she started planning dance routines.
鈥淚 was watching a clip of 鈥楤atman鈥� from the 1960s [starring Adam West], and there鈥檚 a moment where he鈥檚 under some kind of spell and starts go-go dancing,鈥� said Calvano. 鈥淪o I鈥檝e been focusing on the kind of dance that was popular when all these songs were written鈥�1950s sock-hop swing, East Coast swing, a little bit of Lindy Hop鈥攂ut with a lot of humor thrown in there.鈥�
The performance showcases a cast of CU-麻豆影院 students who take turns acting, singing, dancing and playing instruments. The onstage band members are also actors in the show, and almost all the lead actors get the opportunity to show off their instrumental chops.
鈥淚f we found out that, say, someone was proficient at guitar, we asked that person to play a guitar solo,鈥� said the play鈥檚 music director, David Nehls. 鈥淚t might not always fit with the character the person is playing, but I think that鈥檚 part of the fun.鈥�
If it鈥檚 not entirely clear what 鈥渇its鈥� into 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� and what doesn鈥檛, it鈥檚 because Carlton left many of the play鈥檚 elements open to interpretation. His nebulous instructions inspired Pang to get creative and add a few more fantastical elements to the production, including beat boxing, punk, puppet dancers and a gender swap.
Actor Melanie Iris Schultz says her favorite thing about 鈥淩eturn to the Forbidden Planet鈥� is that 鈥渋t鈥檚 so tongue in cheek that the tongue鈥檚 not even in the cheek anymore.鈥�
She also has a list of about a hundred reasons why the musical is a must-see.
鈥淭his whole theater will become a spaceship that moves,鈥� said Schultz. 鈥淧eople will fly. There鈥檚 fire. There are roller skates. There鈥檚 a giant octopus. There are screens everywhere projecting giant asteroids. And, seriously, how many times do you get to see 鈥楾he Tempest鈥� in space?鈥�
The production runs March 4-13. For showtimes and tickets, visit the .
