Downtown Chicago – The entire 14‑person cast of Kokandy Productions’ revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer‑winning musical “Sunday in the Park with George” gathered at the Art Institute of Chicago this September. The troupe, performing at the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park, spent an afternoon in Gallery 240, where Seurat’s monumental “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” dominates the space.
Producing artistic director Derek Van Barham described the experience as a personal rehearsal. He sat on a bench for three hours, listening to the cast recording and visualizing each scene beside the painting, effectively staging the show in his mind before the first rehearsal.
Cast members share personal connections
Actors recalled how the masterpiece first entered their lives. Lauren Miller, who portrays Seurat’s mother, remembered seeing the six‑by‑ten‑foot canvas as a child and being struck by its size. Missy Wise Vanderzee, now playing Dot, said a friend introduced her to the original 1984 cast recording, which inspired her move to Chicago and her love for the score.
Arizona‑born Z Moore admitted the painting was a mystery at first glance, noting its “sense of mystery” when they first entered the gallery.
Historical ties between art and the musical
Seurat’s pointillist technique, developed in the 1880s, initially faced criticism in Paris but later became iconic, influencing pop culture from “The Simpsons” to “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Sondheim’s musical mirrors that journey: despite mixed reviews and a modest original Broadway run, the show has earned a lasting reputation and a dedicated following.
Music director Nick Sula explained how the painting’s visual rhythm informs the score’s staccato notes and dissonant chords. “You hear the dots, you hear the clusters of chaos coming into order,” he said, emphasizing the artistic dialogue between canvas and composition.
Local theater scene thriving
Kokandy Productions will keep Chicago’s cultural calendar busy, with three shows running concurrently: the current run of “Sunday in the Park with George” through Nov. 1, a spirited production of “Hair” closing Sept. 13, and a revival of “Jekyll and Hyde” opening at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
The Art Institute’s staff noted only one prior full‑cast visit in 2012 by Chicago Shakespeare Theater actors, making this pilgrimage a rare and celebrated event for the city’s theater community.
“Sunday in the Park with George” runs at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., through Nov. 1. Tickets and details are available on the theater’s website. “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” remains on permanent display at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
