Suzie Harrison No Square Theatre performers may...

Suzie Harrison

No Square Theatre performers may not be eligible for any Tonys,

but they could be formidable competition in the singing and dancing

department.

The No Square group plans to bring down the house with “The World

Goes Round” by Broadway’s John Kander and Fred Ebb.

No Square’s production of “The World Goes Round” will be Feb. 7

and 8 at the Artists’ Theatre and will bring legendary show tunes to

the stage.

“The music is fantastic,” performer Carol Robinson said. “It’s so

timely because of the popularity of ‘Chicago’ -- a lot of people

haven’t been exposed to the music, people who know it will definitely

be more inclined to see it.”

Kander and Ebb are the longest-running music and lyrics

partnership in Broadway musical history with works including such

greats as “Cabaret,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Funny Lady” and

“Zorba.”

Pat Warren is part of No Square’s group and has the credentials of

being with the Broadway company of “Evita.”

The director, who is also in charge of the choreography and

musical direction, Adam Hemming, said the talent is unparalleled.

“The talent is wonderful, the best caliber,” Hemming said. “It’s a

joy to glean material from Kander and Ebb -- it’s quite a vast array

to glean from.”

Hemming said that it’s a celebration of Laguna Beach people, young

and old, who will be performing. Many have graduated from Laguna

Beach High School and go back several generations.

Of the songs, “Cabaret” is the most difficult to perform. But it’s

also the most fun and well known, Hemming said. He said their version

is a Manhattan Transfer type version that is stylized.

“We have an extraordinary amount of talent,” No Square Theatre’s

founder and artistic director Bree Burgess Rosen said. “There’s so

much talent in the cast.”

During a recent rehearsal, local Rufino Cabang, who is a member of

the Screen Actor’s Guild and whose family owns Royal Hawaiian, was

practicing the song “Sara Lee” -- his talent was apparent as he sang

about his love.

Rosen couldn’t say enough about the local professionals who

volunteer their time and talent to bring Broadway to the West Coast.

Unlike the movie “Chicago,” in which the song “Class” was cut, No

Square is making it a part of the repertoire.

“It’s called ‘Class,’ but it’s anything but,” Rosen said.

She said that Phoebe Ward, volunteer stage manager, will be

performing the duet with her. “The performers in the company are the

salt of the earth,” Rosen said. “We rehearse very little, they’re

very self-motivated, committed -- it’s very capsulized. There’s no

script. We have such high caliber people.”

Running down the list of people in the show, Rosen named their

credentials like a proud mother -- from Screen Actors Guild members

to key touring performances, Broadway experience and L.A.

productions, Rosen is thrilled with the talent.

David Stoneman first auditioned for last year’s “Rodgers with

Heart” to become one of the players who is also in this show.

“He’s phenomenal operatic baritone. Of course, no one is getting

paid,” Rosen said. “There’s a lot of professionals who are doing this

solely as an entertainment mercenary. Everybody is here out of the

generosity of their hearts.”

The sets have been either recycled from previous performances,

such as one of the “Lagunatics” and “Bugsy Malone,” Rosen said as she

looked around the room and pointed to various pieces.

Either that or they’ve been donated by Laguna businesses and

people, which really makes a difference to a nonprofit group such as

No Square Theatre.

Plus, the Business Improvement District has given them some funds.

Looking around the rehearsal space and listening to the sounds,

Rosen has a lot of pride about the community theater she started in

Laguna.

The concert is at 8 p.m. at the Artists’ Theatre at 625 Park Ave.

Tickets are $20 each with a sellout expected.

For tickets or information, call 497-1950.