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KSO presents ‘Stop the World — I Want to Get Off,’ a musical adventure to whisk audiences across globe


The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-19 Passport to musical adventure continues to whisk audiences across the globe.

On January 26 and 27, the KSO dusts off the 1961 musical Stop the World — I Want to Get Off by the British team of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, for the first Cincinnati performances since 1978.

The performances will be 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27 at NKU’s Greaves Concert Hall.

The KSO has produced a number of semi-staged, concert performances of Broadway musicals in Greaves Concert Hall — Kismet (1993), Jesus Christ Superstar (1997), Sweeney Todd (2002), Evita (2005) and West Side Story (2008).

“While programming the orchestra’s 27th season, I was looking for a musical that was small and lesser known, and recalled this quirky little show from the ‘60s that offered three big songs, a small cast and orchestra, with a title that seems more relevant today than it did in 1961,” said KSO music director James Cassidy.

Stop the World — I Want to Get Off is a thought-provoking musical pointing out the ephemeral nature of worldly success, often achieved to the detriment of one’s personal happiness.

Littlechap (played by Joshua Steele) finds himself a father before his time and agrees to marry Evie, the boss’s daughter (played by Brooke Steele). Though this helps him climb the business ladder, Littlechap (the everyman) finds himself trapped in the responsibility of a premature family. He turns to women of the world, yet finds only empty fulfillment. In the twilight of his years, he finally discovers that he has wasted his life looking for something that he actually had all the time — his wife’s true love. Hit songs include: “Gonna Build a Mountain,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “What Kind of Fool Am I.”

As with West Side Story a decade ago, the KSO again partners with NKU’s School of the Arts as faculty member and stage director Brian Robertson, along with the show’s seven-member chorus, all hail from the University’s Theatre Department. The original 14-piece orchestration will be performed by members of the KSO under the musical direction of James Cassidy.

Stop your world, and join The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra for a rare opportunity to experience this charming, tuneful musical at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 26, and 3 p.m., Sunday, January 27, at Greaves Concert Hall on the campus of NKU.

Reserved seating tickets are $19, $27, $35 (children ages 6-18 are 50% off) and are available online at kyso.org, by phone—(859) 431-6216, or at the door.

Music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

Cast
Littlechap Joshua Steele
Evie, (Anya, Ilse, Ginnie) Brooke Steele

Chorus

Susan Victoria Avery
Jane Mary Mills
Victoria Avery
Halee Hood

Mary Mills
Courtney Mulford
Chloe Price
Danielle Ullman
Adria Whitfill
Stage Director Brian Robertson
Music Director James Cassidy
Music Preparation Stephen Variames


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