Please note the opening of the play was delayed because of a cast member’s injury. Click this to see a post from the theater.
When Scott R. Brill was a sophomore at Shelton High School in the early 1980s, he shared with his English teacher in a writing assignment that he loved musical theatre. His teacher was Gary Scarpa, and thus was the beginning of a future in the theatre.
Scarpa, who is the co-founder, along with his wife Francesca, and Artistic Director of Center Stage Theatre, said, “I called Scott up to my desk after class and seized the opportunity to get Scott involved as a performer on the stage, encouraging him to try out for the Drama Club spring musical.”
Ironically, when audition time came around, Brill did not try out.
Scott explained, “Since I was 11, my parents lovingly honored my requests to take me into New York to see Broadway musicals, so by the time I was in high school, I had seen over a dozen Broadway shows. However, I was very shy in high school and although loved seeing theatre, I wasn’t quite sure yet that I wanted to be onstage myself.”
However, a year later, Brill auditioned and was cast in “The King and I” at Shelton High School, and in his senior year, he delighted SHS audiences as Ko-Ko in “The Mikado”. “I had to discover the performer inside me and the Scarpas helped me find that in my life,” said Brill.
“When Scott played Ko-Ko, it quickly became clear that we were dealing with a wonderfully and uniquely talented individual,” said Scarpa.
Brill went on to Gettysburg College where he majored in Political Science and minored in Theatre and then continued his education at Emerson College in Boston, earning a Master’s Degree in Theatre Directing. While in college, Brill would also continue performing in Scarpa directed productions in the summers with the Youth CONNection as well as acting in and directing numerous productions at both colleges he attended.
Directing really became his calling though, and in the ensuing years, Brill would go on to direct over 100 productions, many throughout Fairfield County with such groups as the New Canaan Players, the Westport Community Theatre, the Wilton Playshop, and the Darien Players to name a few.
After Scarpa and his wife Francesca opened Center Stage Theatre, Brill soon found his way back to Shelton and was cast in the role of Banjo in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and as the Duke in “Big River.” The Scarpas then took Brill up on an offer to direct, and he took the directing helm for “The Importance of Being Earnest” in 2014.
“Working at Center Stage feels like coming home again and being with family,” said Brill. “The Scarpas are so encouraging and inspiring, not just to me, but to countless other youths they have mentored over the years, that to be able to help them by directing is both an honor and a great joy.”
Brill is currently the guest director for Center Stage’s upcoming production of “Lend Me a Tenor,” by Ken Ludwig which opens on Friday April 10th.
The 1989 Broadway hit is a madcap comedy that takes place in 1934 as the Cleveland Grand Opera company prepares to welcome world-famous tenor Tito Morelli for a sold-out, one night only performance. It’s all downhill from there. What transpires is an hilarious farce full of mistaken identity, slamming doors, and bawdy humor.
“I originally saw ‘Lend Me A Tenor’ before it was on Broadway, in London in 1986 and knew that I wanted to direct the show someday,” said Brill. “With its fast-paced action, interplay between characters and hilarious dialogue, ‘Lend me a Tenor’ provides both the director and actors involved a chance to hone their skills and to shine creatively. I am blessed with an outstanding cast who are both working hard and having a very fun time in rehearsals. They have matched my energy and enthusiasm for doing this show with full measure. We are so looking forward to be able to give this gift of comic mayhem to the Center Stage audiences.”
Scarpa adds, “It’s nice to have Scott as a guest director and to be able to put one of our productions in his capable hands. Our friendship spans more than three decades and means a great deal to Fran and me both personally and professionally.”
“Lend Me a Tenor” will run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 through April 25th, with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. on April 12th, 19th, and 26th, and a 7:00 p.m. performance on Thursday April 23rd. Tickets are $ 25.00 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased by calling 203 – 225-6079 or by visiting www.centerstageshelton.org. Center Stage is located at 54 Grove Street in Shelton.