Believe it or not (insert sarcasm here), the title above is also the title of a song, and for something completely different (more sarcasm), I’m actually writing about the theatre—a subject I never tire of, and one that I hope piques your interest from time to time. Admittedly, I write about the theatre somewhat often, in between columns about my dog, or visiting pumpkin patches (you know it’s coming), or art, or music, or… well, you get the idea, but yes, my first love is live theatre.

Where was I? Oh, right—the title. The song is from the 1970 Broadway musical “Applause,” written by the incomparable team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green (“Bells Are Ringing”), with lyrics by Lee Adams (“Bye Bye Birdie”) and directed by Ron Field (“On the Town”). 

Based on the classic 1950 Bette Davis film “All About Eve” (stream it tonight!), “Applause” centers on aging star Margo Channing (Lauren Bacall) who, according to Wikipedia, “innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man. The original Broadway production was nominated for 10 Tony awards, snagging four, including Best Actress for Bacall.

Why am I referencing all this? Because I’m just coming off of spending three days and three nights of eating, drinking, living and loving brand-spanking-new, all original never-before-seen theatre as only “In the Works ~ In the Woods at the Forestburgh Playhouse” (ITW) can provide.

Look, I do the best that I know how in covering all of the theatrical venues, housing great companies like River Rep, the Delaware Valley Opera Center, Shadowland Stages, the Tusten Theatre, the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop and the Ritz, to name but a few. I try to get to them all, and I’ll let “Margo Channing” tell you why. Fortunately for you, you’re not here to hear my impression of Lauren Bacall, known for her rasping, mannish (IMHO) singing voice. 

Welcome to the theatre
to the magic, to the fun
Where painted trees and flowers grow
And laughter rings fortissimo 
And treachery’s neatly done

Now you’ve entered the asylum
This profession unique
Actors are children
Playing ego hide-and-seek

Each year, as summer winds down and the playhouse season of main stage offerings draws to a close, something magical happens. As if on cue, more actors appear, this time with writers, musicians, singers, technicians and directors in tow, as the playhouse flings the barn doors wide open, welcoming scores of incredibly creative “show folk” (as my mother would say) to the Catskills, where they rehearse, rewrite, prepare and practice, practice, practice, honing their craft while working on new projects. 

At the end of an incredibly intensive week of all that jazz, the doors are once again flung open and hundreds of folks like me line up to get a glimpse of their work, hear their words, listen to their songs, and experience theatre that has not been professionally produced—not yet. 

The schedule is dizzying. First looks at new musicals, new plays, new cabaret acts and new one-person shows are always on the docket, along with a fresh new musical for young audiences, and intimate conversations (replete with Q&A)  with Broadway notables—all of which adds up to an exhausting, exhilarating and just-plain-inspiring few days of live theatre.

Welcome to the theatre
With some luck you’ll be a pro
You’ll work and slave and scratch and bite
You’ll learn to kill with sheer delight
You’ll only come alive at night
When you’re in a show

Yes, I took some photos, and yes, I shook some hands. Along with audiences of like-minded individuals, I sat in the dark, inspired by the team that presented “The Homefront,” described as a show “set in the aftermath of World War II, which follows two best friends, one black, one white, as they lead a movement to fight for the factory jobs women held during the war.” 

“Blending American history, pop-rock music and the spirit of the feminist revolution,” the description declares “this moving new work explores friendship, resilience and the cost of progress.” My humble opinion? Freakin’ brilliant. Some of us will be able to say that we saw it first at “In the Works ~ In the Woods.”

There is so much more—I caught the presentation of a new musical for young audiences called “The Color of Things” based on a much beloved book by Vivienne Shalom. Yep, she was there!

The show revolves around her story of “two villains who drain every bit of color and joy from a town where a determined 11-year-old sets out on an unforgettable adventure to bring it all back.” Wildly entertaining.

I had the great good fortune to see Broadway’s Lauren Chapman (“Frozen”) work on a new cabaret act, and sat in on a conversation with Tony award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Kimberly Akimbo”) before seeing an intense new modern drama called “Hut, Hut, Hike,” about ‘a college football star who is one bad grade away from losing everything, and his relationship with his coach, his girlfriend and a “bookish theatre major.” In one word? Riveting. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

I don’t know all of the performers’ names, and have no clue how many will make it to the “Great White Way” (look it up!) but what I do know is that theatre is alive and well and “in the works” in the Upper Delaware River region. There is no lack of creativity in them thar hills and I feel fortunate to be seeing it, hearing it, and basking in the glow that incredibly creative folks are able to present at festivals like ITW. As Bacall would croak out during 896 performances in Tony award-winning style… welcome to the theatre!