By Bailey Lucero-Carter
Ever wanted to help make a musical? This Saturday, at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, you can.
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is a musical comedy performance that the actors and actresses make up during the show, and with the audience’s participation, the show does go on.
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is an impromptu act that incorporates lyrics, melodies and scenes with the help of suggestions made by the audience. Rob Schiffmann—performer, co-producer and co-director of the show— said he delights in the show’s ability to blow audiences away.
“It’s really very difficult for them to believe that we’re up there making up songs and scenes and full musicals based on their suggestions, but that’s in fact what we’re doing,” says Schiffmann.
The 90-minute performance begins with cast members composing whimsical show tunes based on the audience’s input. Then, the audience votes for its favorite song, which the cast transforms into an improvised Broadway-style musical. The show comes complete with memorable characters, inventive dialogue and plenty of plot twists to provide loads of laughter and fun.
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical originated in New York City and has been touring in cities around the country since 2011. Many times, the show has stopped in Virginia. “We’re constantly in Virginia,” laughs Schiffmann. “We get booked there a lot.”
While this weekend will mark the show’s first time in Manassas, Schiffmann and his team have a special way of fitting in with the local scene. “Whenever we go to a new community, we try to learn about the community so we can infuse that information into the show, so certainly Manassas will take a large role in the show itself,” Schiffmann says.
Become a part of the musical production that features Manassas and you. Tickets are on sale now.
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical
Hylton Performing Arts Center
10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas
Sept. 20, 8 p.m.
$44, $37, $26
