Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the new Offutt Center at Lachat Town Farm will be transformed into an Irish pub as the hit Broadway musical “ONCE” comes to Weston.
Tickets are on sale now. Don’t be surprised if they go fast. More about that in a minute.
The show represents a number of firsts for theater at the farm. It will be the first musical arts production in the new Offutt Center, the first designed for adults (not just adult-friendly), and its first licensed theatrical production.
ONCE is a standout for its music. The show was a certified smash on Broadway, singular for its music having won a Tony, a Grammy, an Olivier, and an Oscar (a movie version was released in 2007).
The story
Immersed in the setting of a charming pub filled with patrons and musicians, you will meet Guy, who then meets Girl.
He is a heartbroken Dublin street musician who is about to give up on his dreams. She is a beautiful young pianist with unresolved issues of her own. As they are drawn together by a shared love of music, friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful love story. But a complicated one.
With a few props, Marc Fontaine, Anita Dinwoodie, Amy MacRae
A casting call to Off Broadway actors drew a great response. Auditions were held last weekend and a cast of professional actors and community talent has been assembled. Producers Amy MacRae (the show’s director), Marc Fontaine, and Nikki Brancati are deep into production details as, for the next several weeks, rehearsals will be held and sets will be built.
“Everything about the show will be intimate and immersive,” said Mr. Fontaine. “You will feel like you’re in a different place.”
The core production team also includes musical director Paul Maxwell Smith and lighting director Aidan Baker, whose designs at popular shows like the farm’s “Adventures in Oz” and “The Village of the DamNed” amazed everyone.
At Lachat, said Ms. MacRae, we have “a beautiful setting for the beautiful music and story of ONCE,” and a glimpse into how memorable music is inspired and composed.
“We see and hear the journey of these two people,” said Mr. Fontaine. Without giving away how the story ends, he said ONCE is “a perfect fit for Weston, a celebration of artists and people who don’t give up.”
Tickets
Performances of ONCE are on March 15, 16 and 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), and then the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.
To purchase, scroll down on this page for tickets on available dates. If you like, arrive early for a pre-show to enjoy musical performances and an adult beverage.