American Voices Foundation, an organization dedicated to cultural engagement in countries emerging from conflict, is putting together a Broadway show with a local caste this weekend.[break] John Ferguson and Michael Parks Masterson from the Foundation will present a compilation of Broadway acts including the ever popular “Rent” and “Grease” on April 3 at Moksh Bar in Pulchowk, Lalitpur.
“It’ll be a surprise,” the duo said, who was on an invitation by the Embassy of United States in Nepal.
But it will have all the elements of Broadway, said Ferguson, a pianist and executive director of the Foundation.
“Broadway is a play that uses music, dance and acting to move the story forward. So any given moment of the story someone can break into a song and start dancing,” he elaborated.
“Since we only have three working days, we’ve chosen some repertoire of songs that are not too long, and [usage of] English isn’t not too complicated, but they’re still very effective pieces on stage.”
The show, a collective effort from a majority of the participants from the audition, will be a mix of combined performances: dance piece from the dancers, singing and staging piece from the actors, an all singing piece from the singers and a group piece, Masterson said.
At the audition on Tuesday, a large group of theater, music and dance enthusiasts showcased their skills to be a part of Saturday night’s performance.
“I’m looking for basic skills, people who are not going to give up immediately,” Masterson said of the judging criteria. “They should be able to do basic movement, be able to carry a tune.”
But after the audition, he said everyone who participated and are willing to be a part of the show would be a part of the final act.
“Exclusion is not really what we do,” Masterson said, who have had roles in Broadway shows like “Grease” and “Phantom of the Opera.”
As a part of the American Voices Foundation, Ferguson and Masterson have toured different countries spreading the words of cultural diplomacy. They have not presented a part of broader American culture in post-conflict countries but also have helped enhance the skills of artists in those countries and find ways to express the idea of peace through performing arts.
“If we’re working with the musicians, we’re helping them to play better technically,” Ferguson said, talking about an aspect of their work.
And in Nepal, working with the local talents, they are here to share their experiences and let the Nepali artists experience a new taste of performing arts.
“No matter where you are, there’s going to be a pool of young people who are interested in expanding their knowledge of performing arts and expanding their abilities to perform,” Ferguson said of the commonality between places they visit, either a developed country or countries in conflict.
“But people in industrialized countries are very spoiled, lazy, and take things for granted,” Masterson added. “Here, they want it, they need it and they practice a lot.”
And the show on Saturday will exemplify the group’s hard work and their talents under Ferguson and Masterson’s guidance; Nepal will have its first taste of Broadway.
“Broadway Bridges to Kathmandu” is organized by the Embassy of the United States, Kathmandu, and is scheduled for April 3 at Moksh, Lalitpur. For details, visit the website of American Embassy in Nepal.
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