Musical Theatre Meets Physics in CCM s 'The Theory of Relativity'

Art and science unite in the next Studio Musical Theatre Series production at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Using Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity

as a beautiful and thought-provoking metaphor,

The Theory of Relativity

offers a crash course in physics while telling the story of a group of interconnected people who are searching for love.

The musical runs

Thursday, March 29

through

Saturday, March 31

 at CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater. Admission is free but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, March 26 through the

CCM Box Office

.

From Drama Desk Award nominees Neil Bartram and Brian Hill,

The Theory of Relativity

presents an array of characters experiencing life’s joys and heartbreaks and the inevitability and wonder of human connection.

The physics metaphors are expressed through lyrics, formulas and movement on stage, says CCM Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre

Katie Johannigman

, director and choreographer of

The Theory of Relativity

.

CCM’s production invited

Dr. Richard Gass

, Undergraduate Director of UC’s Physics Department, to give the cast a crash course on General Relativity to prepare for the show. What was planned as a 30-minute lesson turned into an over two-hour interactive lesson about light cones, Newton’s laws, The Theory of Relativity and more, Johannigman says.

“Our students became enraptured by the physics and it launched a huge discussion about technology usage in our generation, perceptions people try to maintain through social media and how important our every action is during our time here on Earth.”

Gass listened to the musical and applied all of the physics lessons through the lyrics in the songs. He later brought ten of his students to watch a rehearsal of the show and had a discussion with the cast of CCM Musical Theatre students about how art and science overlap. Johannigman and

The Theory of Relativity

cast are grateful for Gass’ help, she says.

“We sing about the cosmos and our insatiable need to connect with each other through witty and contemporary lyrics that often reference Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein’s findings,” Johannigman adds. “

The Theory of Relativity

is funny, sad, heart-warming and familiar — a whirl of stars figuring out where we fit into every expanding universe.”

____________________

THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram

Book by Brian Hill

Katie Johannigman, director and choreographer

Stephen Goers, musical director

CAST LIST

• Delaney Guyer as Amy
• Madison Deadman as Caroline
• Camila Paquet as Catherine
• Zoe Grolnick as Jenny
• Kendall McCarthy as Julie
• Mikayla Renthrow as Mira
• Bailee Endebrock as Sara
• Zach Triska as Adam
• Dylan Mulvaney as Anthony
• Dylan Dougal as Oliver
• Jack Brewer as Mike
• Sam Pickart as Paul
• Frankie Thams as Ryan
• Swings: Eli Goykham, Elle Zambarano

PERFORMANCE TIMES

• 8 p.m. Thursday, March 29
• 8 p.m. Friday, March 30
• 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31

LOCATION

Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village

University of Cincinnati

ADMISSION

Admission is free. Reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, March 26. Please visit the

CCM Box Office

or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

PARKING AND DIRECTIONS

Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit

uc.edu/parking

for information on parking rates.

For detailed maps and directions, please visit

uc.edu/visitors

. Additional parking is available off-campus at the U Square complex on Calhoun Street and other neighboring lots.

For directions to CCM Village, visit

ccm.uc.edu/about/directions

.

____________________

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation

Studio Series Sponsors: Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. Fischer, Ms. Margaret L. Straub and Mr. Neil R. Artman

Theory of Relativity

is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com