HCT to Present Civil War Musical Starring Merrill Osmond

For Merrill Osmond, starring in the upcoming Hale Centre Theatre (HCT) production of “The Civil War” will not only be a homecoming, it will also be a musical memorial to the 620,000 North and South soldiers who didn’t have one.

Osmond, lead singer of the internationally acclaimed Osmond family and established solo artist and producer, will take his first turn with community theatre as Captain Emmett Lochran in the HCT production opening Feb. 19. Performing close to his Ephraim, Utah home is not something Osmond has the opportunity to do often. He was excited for the chance to take on the role and work with the HCT and also to be close to his family before setting out on The Osmond’s 50^th Anniversary Tour in May.

“Having attended productions with my family at Hale and knowing its high reputation nationally, I am glad they asked me to become part of their family,” said Osmond. “The talent base is extremely high and I am amazed at the vision they have to produce this caliber of quality with each show.”

The talent featured in “The Civil War” includes a nearly all tenor cast who have the challenge of portraying characters with historical accuracy and vivid emotion. As the production weaves in actual narratives from Abraham Lincoln, Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass and others among expressive musical numbers, the audience’s visual senses will be heightened with an intricate projection set. The back wall of the theatre features a wraparound screen that will display imagery of sites and battle figures from the Civil War. A circular truss that lowers from the catwalk during the show has eight additional plasma screens and will provide facts, figures and dates from the war throughout the play.

“The Broadway show was produced with a lot of projection and we have worked to stay to true to the original,” said Andrew Barrus, director, who personally visited and photographed every battlefield in the play in preparation for the show. “By providing images and facts along with authentic costumes and props, the result is an experience that is as accurate as possible more than 160 years after the event.”

Authentic costumes and props like belt buckles, canteens, haversacks, gun replicas and sabers were purchased from a Civil War sutler in Tennessee. Civil War expert Jaimon Murton provided additional direction from dialect coaching to what would be in the tents of the soldiers during the time period.

The actors were also challenged to do their own research to portray their historical character as accurately as possible. Osmond, a history buff, loved the opportunity to gain more knowledge in an area he had not previously examined in depth.

“Studying the Civil War, I feel I can identify more with Lochran,” said Osmond, who jokes that already having white hair and a beard, like his character, made it easier. “My goal now is to be able to pace the beginning, middle and close to bring each part together. I want to completely edify the audience with this poignant musical.”

Composed by Broadway veteran Frank Wildhorn (“Jekyll and Hyde,” “The Scarlett Pimpernel”), “The Civil War” takes the audience from the beginning to the end of the war in an oratorio-style production. Musical numbers range in song styles from Broadway, country, rock and ballad to relate to today’s audience. Narrative is presented not in scripted form, but extracted from actual diary, poetry, letters and other accounts of historical leaders, social commentators and everyday people living through the tragedy. Themes of slavery, war, family bonds and country are explored through each scene without blackouts.

During its run on Broadway, “The Civil War” garnered two Tony nominations for “Best Musical” and “Best Original Score,” five Drama Desk nominations and won two Outer Critics Circle Awards.

“The Civil War” is directed by Andrew Barrus, and stars Merrill Osmond as Captain Emmett Lochran; Bradley Robins and Regan Whimpey as Nathaniel; Carey Drisdom and Trevor Jerome as Frederick Douglass; Joseph Paur and David Weekes as Pierce: and Emily Morgan Jeppson and Adrienne Swenson as Sarah. The music director is Anne Puzey, choreographer is Marilyn May Montgomery, costume designer is Peggy Willis, technical director and set designer is Barrus, prop master and projection specialist is Kacey Udy, lighting designer is Spencer Brown, sound designer is Mike Williams, and the production assistant is Seth Larsen.

Performances run Feb. 19-April 5, 2008. Show times are Monday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinees each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and occasional weekdays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are Monday–Thursday evenings and matinees, adult $21, child (5-11 years) $15; Friday and Saturday evening shows, adult $25, child (5-11 years) $16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.halecentretheatre.org,via telephone at (801) 984-9000 or at the Hale Centre Theatre box office, 3333 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, Utah.