Top Hat first to present musical ‘Amazing Grace’

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

From the first time he saw “Amazing Grace,” Brian Palumbo knew he had to get the rights to perform the musical in his own theater.

Palumbo, founder and director of Top Hat Productions, saw “Amazing Grace” in Chicago five years ago, which was before it opened on Broadway.

Based on the story of the man who composed one of the most beloved hymns of all time – “Amazing Grace” – the musical is an inspirational and true story of redemption.

“The day after I saw it, I started contacting the company about getting the rights to it,” said Palumbo. “I kept contacting them, not taking no for an answer. I told them it’s a perfect production to go with the mission of our theater, a multi-cultural story that we need to tell.”

Palumbo didn’t get anywhere at first but his persistence finally paid off.

Top Hat recently became the first community theater in the country to be granted the rights to “Amazing Grace.” The musical will open Friday for a three-weekend run at Top Hat’s theater on Youngstown-Poland Road.

“Amazing Grace” had a short run on Broadway in 2015 and a touring production is still on the road.

It is based on the story of Sir John Newton, a slave trader turned clergyman who went on to write some of the world’s favorite hymns – “Amazing Grace” among them.

A willful but musically talented young Englishman, Newton came of age while Britain sat atop an international empire of slavery. He is an atheist who found himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father – a slave trader – and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart.

Newton’s conversion came during a perilous sea voyage in the mid-1700s during which he is captured and enslaved.

While the story is compelling, the most powerful hook of the musical is that it is about the origins of one of the world’s most well-known songs.

“I was surprised how many times I heard the song ‘Amazing Grace’ and knew nothing of the story behind it,” says Palumbo in his director’s notes. “‘Amazing Grace’ is so much more than a song; it is a reminder that no matter where we are at in our lives and how bad things may seem to get, God can always turn our lives and bad situations around. Sometimes he even uses us to then take a part in helping someone else turn their life around also.”

Being the first community theater to produce the musical is an honor but it also comes with pressure. But Palumbo is confident because he believes that Top Hat was the natural choice.

“We are the guinea pig,” he said. “Is there pressure? Definitely yes, but no, too. From the first time I saw it, I knew it was a show I needed to produce.”

The musical is in Top Hat’s wheelhouse for several reasons.

“Since the start of Top Hat, we’ve made it a point to do as many multi-cultural productions as we can each season, with great story lines and meaning,” said Palumbo.

“Amazing Grace” marks the second time Top Hat was the first community theater in the nation to get the rights to a musical. The first was “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” which it first staged in 2001.

Palumbo is directing “Amazing Grace,” which has a cast of more than 30 that includes Anthony Villa as Newton; and Jessica Murphy, William Marr, Darlene Griffin, James Locker, Alan McCreary, Nikita Jones, Mark Samuel, Tylor Zuniga, Gene Seifert, Joe Borzacchiello, Taeshawn Madison, Andrea Cika Heschmeyer, Monique Jordan, Liz Samuel, Angel Febres and Antonio Bonilla.

Assistant director is Julie Palumbo Villa, and musical director is Emma Watson.

The musical is a fast-moving piece that has frequent costume changes.

Making all those elaborate period costumes has been a time-consuming project for Top Hat.

“At last count, we had 15 people working on the costumes,” said Palumbo. “We thought we needed 50, but that has turned into more than 70, and almost all of them have been created from scratch. We had to, because we have never done a play from this era.”

Palumbo and his crew designed and created clothing native to the 1700s and in several locations: England, France, the American colonies and an island.