Jacob Butler in Titanic, The Musical – Courtesy of MEG & Associates. Used with permission.
During my 45 years of covering the performing arts in Central Indiana and beyond, I have had the great fortune of experiencing an extensive volume of exceptional work. But there have only been a few that had as much of an emotional impact on me as a concert version of Titanic, The Musical presented by Actors Theatre of Indiana in collaboration with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the Indianapolis Arts Chorale. I saw the production on Friday, at the Payne & Mencia Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
L-R Darrin Muell & Julie Lyn Barber in Titanic, The Musical – Courtesy of Ghost Light Photography. Used with permission.
Titanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone. It is based on the story of the RMS Titanic , which sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. The musical, directed by Richard Jones, opened on Broadway on April 23, 1997. Winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, it ran for 804 performances. The musical is not related to the 1997 film of the same name.
As far as the musical’s reviews when it premiered, many were raves, including the New Yorker, which noted “It seemed a foregone conclusion that the show would be a failure; a musical about history’s most tragic maiden voyage, in which fifteen hundred people lost their lives, was obviously preposterous…. Astonishingly, Titanic manages to be grave and entertaining, somber and joyful; little by little you realize that you are in the presence of a genuine addition to American musical theatre.” Even though not fully staged with a set, special effects, etc., in my estimation, ATI’s concert interpretation mirrored the observation of the critic who wrote the above observation regarding the original production.
A world-class artistic achievement, ingeniously directed by actor Michael Blatt, the ATI concert production featured a company of twenty-two superb vocalists, most of whom were local, all of whom exhibited first-rate training and boasted impressive credentials. Portraying an array of characters based on the Titanic International Society archives that the original producers consulted, the top-notch singers were guided brilliantly by music director and pianist Ginger Stoltz, who also conducted nine high-caliber members of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.
L-R Cythnia Collins & Adam Shapiro in Titanic, The Musical – Courtesy of Ghost Light Photography. Used with permission.
It is not easy to single out any one vocalist because they were all outstanding, not only as singers but also as actors, with all turning in convincing portrayals of the doomed Titanic passengers and crew. However, I would be deeply remiss if I did not at least acknowledge the performances of Jacob L. Butler, who showed star quality as Frederick Barret, along with a few others who caught my attention. They included Peter Scarbrough as Thomas Andrews, Devan Mathias as Caroline Neville, Keith Potts as Charles Clark, Brett Mutter as Harold Bride, Julie Lynn Barber as Alice Bean, Cynthia Collins as Ida Straus, and Adam Shapiro as Isidor Straus.
The show’s score, which I was previously unfamiliar with, turned out to be a pleasant surprise because, upon hearing it, I became completely enamored with its scope. It faithfully captured the spirit, tone, and symphonic style of the great British composers of the time, in which the story is set and was literally pitch perfect Standing out were Act 1 songs that included I Must Get On That Ship #1 and #2, I Give You My Hand, The Night Was Alive and Doing the Latest Rag, wonderfully choreographed by Carol Worcel.. Act 2 favorites were In The Grand Salon, We Will Meet Tomorrow, and The Foundering.
Titanic, The Musical – Courtesy of Ghost Light Photography. Used with permission.
The concert’s production values were comparable to those I had seen at top venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in NYC. So were the production elements that included Jay Ganz’s scenic design, Nick Brown’s lighting design, Ben Dobler’s sound design, Elizabeth Ektefael’s historically accurate costumes, and Drew Bryson’s spot-on era wigs. all of which added to the show’s rich ambience. Adding to the scale and grandeur of the experience, which reflected that of the Titanic itself, was the magnificent, imposing Palladium stage itself. Using my imagination, all the components listed above contributed to the rare quality and artistry of the occasion.
For tickets and information about Actors Theatre of Indiana’s 2025-2036 season, visit atistage.org.
