Theater -- Tom Titus

When you’ve covered the local theater scene for the better part of

four decades, you approach the opening of a new, unfamiliar play as a

virtual oasis in a desert of endlessly repeated revivals.

For this reason, you come to appreciate the innovative theater

department at Orange Coast College, and drama instructor/director John

Ferzacca in particular. Ferzacca, it seems, is continually discovering

meaty plays heretofore unseen by local audiences.

Earlier this year, there was “North Shore Fish,” and before that shows

such as “The Mineola Twins,” “The Memory of Water,” “Epic Proportions”

and “Approximating Mother.” All unfamiliar -- and all highly involving

productions from scripts ferreted out of the play catalogs by Ferzacca.

Now comes “Side Man,” the opening shot in OCC’s summer theater season,

bowing in tonight for a two-weekend run. Jazz fans in particular will

relate to this Tony-winning drama about the New York music scene in the

1950s.

Written by Warren Leight, “Side Man” is, Ferzacca says, a “tribute to

the jazz men who struggled to keep jazz alive.” Framed as a memory play,

it’s a haunting portrait of a family torn apart by a side man’s

single-minded devotion to his music. The side man, Gene, watches

helplessly as his music career on the big band circuit crumbles with the

advent of Elvis and rock ‘n’ roll.

Playing this central character will be Steve Sloan, returning to the

OCC stage after an absence of 20 years. An architect by profession who

starred in a number of OCC shows in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Sloan

also is a trumpet player, and he’ll solo live in “Side Man.”

“Having Steve as the trumpet-playing lead is a great asset for our

production,” Ferzacca says of the fortuitous circumstances that landed

him an actor and a musician in one package. “The Broadway production had

to dub all the trumpet playing.”

Much, one would imagine, like Kirk Douglas in the movie “Young Man

With a Horn.”

The side man’s alcoholic wife, Terry, is played by Joni Ross, a

theater veteran and professional jazz and pop vocalist who starred in

Ferzacca’s production of “Company” at Golden West College some years ago.

Michael Cavinder, another OCC stage veteran, plays their son.

“The cast is extremely seasoned and very polished,” Ferzacca enthused.

The company also includes Travis Woods, Angel Correa, Sean Hesketh,

Isabella Melo, Manual Cisneros, Jenny Maurer, Lynne Mosakewicz, Jessica

Rubinstein, David Reider and Emily Rued.

“Though a heartbreaking story, the play offers up a valentine to

jazz,” Ferzacca said. “It’s a complete and fulfilling theatrical

experience, a funny and poignant tribute to jazz and the men who played

it.”

FYI

WHAT: “Side Man”

WHERE: Orange Coast College Drama Lab, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Until June 29. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays

and 2 p.m. Sundays

COST: $7 to $10

PHONE: (714) 432-5880