EPAC & My Fair Lady Celebrate Milestones with a Musical Performance

This March, for the first time in seventeen years, My Fair Lady appears in a Broome County regional theater. The Endicott Performing Arts Center (EPAC) and Theatre Street Productions are collaborating on the production. In addition to reintroducing a musical classic to the area, the two companies are also celebrating the musical’s 60th anniversary, and 100 years since the building of EPAC’s Robert Eckert Theater. Andrea Gregori, founder and artistic director at Theatre Street, and cast member in the show (she plays Eliza Doolittle), is looking forward to the performances.

“It’s been on my bucket list for a long time,” Gregori explains. “I’ve had the idea in my head for so long, just trying to figure out how to make it work.”

Making it work, of course, involves the time and talents of the many people contributing to the show, particularly in a joint production. She is especially grateful for those promoting the cooperative efforts, and gives special mention to stage director Connor Gates, and musical director Paula Bacorn. “They both see this as such a collaborative project. [They are] open to ideas from everyone.”

Of course, the show cannot go on without a cast of performers, all of whom are local community members. It is an all-adult cast of talented actors and singers, accompanied by a full orchestral recording. According to Gregori, the small, intimate cast has a powerful presence on stage and puts on an incredible performance. “I am very proud of this cast; it’s very strong. Every time I hear them it is remarkable - the sound we get from such a small ensemble.”

A noteworthy ensemble seems an appropriate homage for such a well-known classic. Still, although it is well known to many, Gregori believes numerous people have missed seeing the theatrical presentation: “So many people are familiar with the movie, but have never seen it on stage. I see this as a wonderful opportunity for the performers, the community, to experience this masterpiece.”

My Fair Lady is based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play, Pygmalion. In the late 1950s, it was adapted into a Broadway musical. Then, ten years later, it was adapted again for the film version. Set in 1912 Edwardian era London, it tells a story of transformation: a young girl’s journey from loam into full and beautiful bloom. “It’s really kind of a Cinderella story,” Gregori explains.

The show is full of culture and history - a story mixed with humor, heartbreak, triumph, and cockney accents. With beautiful costumes and classical set design, it transports the audience back in time. My Fair Lady is a family-friendly musical that has a little something for everyone. Its classic score contains many familiar tunes that even those less acquainted with musical theatre may recognize.

Gregori would like to give special mention of her gratitude toward EPAC for providing the opportunity to share this production with the area and give local performers the chance to be a part of it. This is the second time that Theatre Street has worked with EPAC. Since that first collaboration, Theatre Street had been seeking another joint effort. When Gregori’s suggestion of My Fair Lady was well received, she was thrilled at the chance to work with a company she considers an essential part of her adopted hometown of Binghamton. “[EPAC is] a gem in the community,” she says.

My Fair Lady runs from March 3rd through 12th, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sunday matinées at 3pm. the Endicott Performing Arts Center is located at 102 Washington Avenue in Endicott. Admission is $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/children (12 and under). Tickets are on sale and can be reserved online at endicottarts.com or by phone (607) 785-8903.